Holding Tank(s)

[NauticalNovice]

I have been looking through the specs of a number of really nice, well-specified and rather expensive motor yachts.

I notice that many of them don't specify a "holding tank". Is this correct or just an ommision in the spec? Is it possible that a well-specified, expensive motor yacht would not have a holding tank?

For example, the spec that I am currently looking at reads:-

Water Tanks : 1
Water Capacity : 100 gallons
Holding Tanks : 0
Holding Tanks Capacity : 0

NN

 

[rafiki_]

If the boat is used only on the sea, then it will not need a holding tank. Some marina's will stipulate no black waste in the Marina, so a black tank is compulsory, but I done think this is the case on somewhere like the Hamble for example. Having said that, most boats over say 30 ft would have the option of using a holding tank or sluicing waste straight to sea. On all inland waterways you will need a holding tank.

 

[NauticalNovice]

Rafiki, thanks for your reply.

Assume the boat is used exclusively on the Med. Let us assume that you arrive at a marina and intend to spend a week there. If you don't have a holding tank what happens to all the waste from the heads, showers, galley, dishwasher, washing machine..... and so on?

NN

 

[jfm]

Beyond say 50 feet, black tanks are pretty universal for the last 10 years. Below that, they can be optional

The 4 lines you quote look like a cut n paste from a broker listing. Some brokers are great, but plenty are a bit lazy and have no eye for detail, and they quote this kind of info incorrectly all the time. So, don't believe what you read on all broker listings; the boat may well have a black tank

 

[jfm]

Rafiki, thanks for your reply.

Assume the boat is used exclusively on the Med. Let us assume that you arrive at a marina and intend to spend a week there. If you don't have a holding tank what happens to all the waste from the heads, showers, galley, dishwasher, washing machine..... and so on?

NN

Heads is "black". Showers, galley, d/washer, wash m/c is "grey". With superyachts and occasionally on a smaller boat, the grey goes to a grey tank, but mostly it is just dumped overboard and I've never found a med marina that doesn't allow that. Black is an entirely different matter and should obviously be tanked and dumped offshore, not dumped in the marina

 

[SteveSarabande]

Rafiki, thanks for your reply.

Assume the boat is used exclusively on the Med. Let us assume that you arrive at a marina and intend to spend a week there. If you don't have a holding tank what happens to all the waste from the heads, showers, galley, dishwasher, washing machine..... and so on?

NN

You wont be allowed to use them. You will need to use the shore facilities.

 

[NauticalNovice]

Thanks jfm and Steve for your replies and the info provided.

My gut feel is that the broker is lazy or not informed or...... well yes, in the current economic climate you would hope that the broker would try a little harder.

I will contact the manufacturer directly and ask the question.

What are the chances that a holding tank can be retro-fitted? And the cost? Or is that like asking "how long is a piece of string"

NN

 

[jfm]

You wont be allowed to use them. You will need to use the shore facilities.

Steve, I think that's true only for black, not grey.

 

[jfm]

What are the chances that a holding tank can be retro-fitted? And the cost? Or is that like asking "how long is a piece of string"

NN

It is a piece of string question but generally it's do-able only just into 4 figures price wise. If you tell us the exact model of boat we can comment much more

 

[Pinnacle]

Thanks jfm and Steve for your replies and the info provided.

My gut feel is that the broker is lazy or not informed or...... well yes, in the current economic climate you would hope that the broker would try a little harder.

I will contact the manufacturer directly and ask the question.

What are the chances that a holding tank can be retro-fitted? And the cost? Or is that like asking "how long is a piece of string"

NN

Perfectly possible to have one retro fitted. You just may not like the price!

 

[rafiki_]

Even in a marina our grey water (sinks, showers, galley) all sluice straight over the side, although we have a grey tank on board. Black waste from the heads toilets goes into a black tank, and can be ditched when offshore, or pumped out at the Marina facility.
On brokers, some quote only from the original standard spec of the boat, and do not bother to find out what else is fitted.

 

[adey]

I think we should have an anonymous poll "Have you ever pumped black waste into the marina (Med or otherwise)?"

 

[longjohnsilver]

Beyond say 50 feet, black tanks are pretty universal for the last 10 years. Below that, they can be optional

The 4 lines you quote look like a cut n paste from a broker listing. Some brokers are great, but plenty are a bit lazy and have no eye for detail, and they quote this kind of info incorrectly all the time. So, don't believe what you read on all broker listings; the boat may well have a black tank

There's a well known forum poster who bought a boat, (not a mobo) a good few years back, who only realised he had a holding tank after owning her for quite a few months!! Isn't that right J@@i?