Holding Tank - Sadler 34'

[cliff]

Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

O.K. I know it is a cack subject but I am considering fitting a holding tank in my Sadler 34' (to complement the electric pumped head SHMO wants) so the question is do I bother and if so, where to fit one?.

As I see it I have 4 options
1) Forget the holding tank and continue to discharge overboard (worked well upto now)
2) Forward section of the portside salon underseat locker
3) Rear section of the portside locker space in the forward cabin
or
4) above the head, on the hull below the shelves.

I think I could make up a tank to fit neatly behind the and above the head but it would be a lot of work making the mould etc but possibly worth it as I don't like the idea of sleeping with a few gallons of cack slopping around under my head.

Anyone retrofitted a holding in a 34'? or any useful snippets of advice?
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

 

[oldsaltoz]

Re: Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

G'day Cliff,

I'm with you on not sleeping on cack tanks.

Have you considered making your tank using one of the harder core materials?

Cut to required shape, clue with micro-fibres and glass, glue the top in and glass the outside; fair with microballoons and coat.

Job done.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Aja]

Re: Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

Cliff

Why are you considering it. Just curious.

Donald

 

[samwise]

Re: Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

Just completed this job on our Westerly Storm 33. First question to ask is where you are going to cruise. We are bound for the Med and eventually Greece and Turkey where the regulations are pretty strict.
Legislation on new boats cannot be too far away in Europe but older boats will, I'm sure have a dispensation for a while. However if you are keen to do the right thing for the environment, go ahead.

I spent a long time planning and drawing the installation. We are using a manual Lavac toilet and a two diverter valve system that allows us to pump through to sea, pump to tank and pump out the tank using the same pump.

We put ours down in the bilge, behind the bulkhead between the heads compartment and the cockpit locker. In the end we managed to get a tank with 91 litres capacity which is not bad for a retrofit job. Three is a formula based on number of berths and days on board.

Don't try to make the tank yourself. Talk to Tek Tanks or look on their website where there is tons of valuable info.
I made up a ply dummy to fit the space and transferred the measurements to a design sheet. You can send them the mock-up if you really want to be sure.
Be very carefuly about siting the various inlets and outlets on the tank and the pipework routes. Will you be installing a macerator?

I feel sure I tested the patience of the Tek Tanks people but they were fully prepared to check over my proposed layout and provide helpful advice. Tank production takes about seven weeks and is a real quality job. Good luck!

 

[longjohnsadler]

Re: Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

My 34 has a holding tank under the forepeak berth on the port side.
It was fitted when the boat was new (1988), but never been connected - presumably fitted in case the boat was ever sailed to some country/time when this would be required.
I'm wondering what else the space could be used for...

 

[Sheff]

Re: Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

The beauty of the "above heads" option is that you don't need to fit a pump to get rid of the waste.
When you pump the waste out of the toilet it goes up into the tank above the waterline. When you want to empty it you simply open the valve at the base of the tank and gravity does the rest.
Simplest option IMHO.

 

[Rick]

Re: Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

I made mine to fit under the side deck in the head compartment, and have it plumbed so the tank is effectively a "blister" in the discharge hose. To use as holding tank, I don't open the outlet seacock, and tank fills from electric loo, with 1" air vent allowing filling. To empty, I open outlet in permitted discharge areas, and then flush using the loo.

 

[cliff]

Re: Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

Brian,
The moulding / fabrication is not a problem - I am a "dab hand" with resin and epoxy so plan would be polyester and mat with epoxy lining one piece - no seams - only one "inspection hatch".

Donald,
I get pi$$ed off (no pun intended) trekking up to the bogs in the marinas if staying overnight and do object to "dumping" in the marina basin.

Sam,
I cannot fit one in the bilges as the Sadler 34's do not have bilges per se. What space I have below the salon sole is fully taken up for wine and beer storage / cooling. The tip on the volume is interesting - circa 100l - seems a lot of cack but I bow down to your experience and will keep that figure in mind. As for a macerator - yes - can't have big turds blocking the outlet.

John,
That would be the second choice location but at the moment I keep reserve stocks of beer and wine etc in there.

Sheff,
Above and behind the head is the preferred location but I doubt I could fit a 100l tank in there so maybe have to make do with a 50l jobbie (pardon the pun).

Rick,
Followed you reasoning hence my first choice of location would be above and behind the head.

Might just fit the new head and forget the holding tank - I mean a macerator should turn everything into a slurry and eject it below water level and hopefully no floaty bits.
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

 

[rogerthebodger]

Re: Holding Tank - Sadler 34\'

I am making my own like you but using flat sheets of made up GRP and stiching together to form the shape then using epoxy and glass inside to seal and make up required thickness. I am also using ceramic filled epoxy on the inside to create smooth and cleanable finish.