Remote control holding tank valve?

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Minerva

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As part of the jobs to do before launch, is replace the sea cock outlet for the heads. (Delightful!).

As part of this it would be comparatively trivial to fit one of these holding tanks.

Vetus WW 25L Sanitary Water Tank White | Waveinn

Which was recommended by a friend.

However one slight fly in the ointment is where I would locate it is right at the back of the cockpit locker and getting to the outlet valve each anchorage would be a pain in the proverbial.

Other than ropes and pulleys which would be a little heath Robinson, Has anyone seen a 12v or remotely mechanically activated valve? Or any other suggestions how to solve this puzzle? Thanks.
 
Minerva said:
As part of the jobs to do before launch, is replace the sea cock outlet for the heads. (Delightful!).

As part of this it would be comparatively trivial to fit one of these holding tanks.

Vetus WW 25L Sanitary Water Tank White | Waveinn

Which was recommended by a friend.

However one slight fly in the ointment is where I would locate it is right at the back of the cockpit locker and getting to the outlet valve each anchorage would be a pain in the proverbial.

Other than ropes and pulleys which would be a little heath Robinson, Has anyone seen a 12v or remotely mechanically activated valve? Or any other suggestions how to solve this puzzle? Thanks.
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Assuming you have a ball valve, depends on the orientation of the valve but I have twice made a remote linkage. One had a long tube that you rotated with a short lever on the end that was inline with the axis of the ball valve and attached to the ball valve lever. The other method was a push-pull rod attached with a clevis pin in a hole at the end of the ballvalve lever. (Sorry, no pictures)
 
Boathook said:
25 litre tank isn't very big unless you are the only person on board.

Whilst fitting the tank may be trivial, it’s all the pipe runs that complicate
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The one I linked too would take the line what currently goes to the sea cock to the top, then a new gravity line to the seacock from the bottom of the tank. In normal operation it’ll be open so fluids pass straight through it once anchored it gets held. Other than a breather pipe, there would be minimal extra plumbing. Unless I am missing something…?
 
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Minerva said:
The one I linked too would take the line what currently goes to the sea cock to the top, then a new gravity line to the seacock from the top of the tank. In normal operation it’ll be open so fluids pass straight through it once anchored it gets held. Other than a breather pipe, there would be minimal extra plumbing. Unless I am missing something…?
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Don't you mean bottom of the tank to the seacock ?

I suspect that there are 12 volt activated valves but I would put it on the end of the existing seacock to appease surveyors and insurance companies.

Much cheaper is @Plum suggestion which i must look into for my engine seacocks.
 
Boathook said:
Don't you mean bottom of the tank to the seacock ?

I suspect that there are 12 volt activated valves but I would put it on the end of the existing seacock to appease surveyors and insurance companies.

Much cheaper is @Plum suggestion which i must look into for my engine seacocks.
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Yes - sorry I should have been more explicit; I intend a standard seacock cock at the hull, but a remotely activated one at the bottom of the black tank, above the water line.
 
Minerva said:
As part of the jobs to do before launch, is replace the sea cock outlet for the heads. (Delightful!).

As part of this it would be comparatively trivial to fit one of these holding tanks.

Vetus WW 25L Sanitary Water Tank White | Waveinn

Which was recommended by a friend.

However one slight fly in the ointment is where I would locate it is right at the back of the cockpit locker and getting to the outlet valve each anchorage would be a pain in the proverbial.

Other than ropes and pulleys which would be a little heath Robinson, Has anyone seen a 12v or remotely mechanically activated valve? Or any other suggestions how to solve this puzzle? Thanks.
Click to expand...
You don't need a valve at the outlet to the tank. It just goes straight to your existing seacock (which I assume is accessible). You leave it open when you leave the boat. Close it when you want to use the tank and open again to empty at sea. Pump out optional but you need clearance at the top to get the fitting and deck pipe in.

25L is not a lot. You would fill that in a day with a family of 4. I have fitted 2 similar to that in both cases just under 40L which is really the minimum. The type is almost universal on modern production boats. which are designed to have them in sensible locations. Retrofit is always a challenge.
 
Tranona said:
You don't need a valve at the outlet to the tank. It just goes straight to your existing seacock (which I assume is accessible). You leave it open when you leave the boat. Close it when you want to use the tank and open again to empty at sea. Pump out optional but you need clearance at the top to get the fitting and deck pipe in.

25L is not a lot. You would fill that in a day with a family of 4. I have fitted 2 similar to that in both cases just under 40L which is really the minimum. The type is almost universal on modern production boats. which are designed to have them in sensible locations. Retrofit is always a challenge.
Click to expand...
Sadly the main outlet sea cock is at the bottom of the locker, and for the most part inaccessible - at least when consisting morning and evening access when we stop in an anchorage.
 
Minerva said:
Sadly the main outlet sea cock is at the bottom of the locker, and for the most part inaccessible - at least when consisting morning and evening access when we stop in an anchorage.
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Never straightforward fitting a holding tank in a boat that was not designed for one. One alternative is to have a pair of Y Valves so that you can either pump to the tank or direct out. I think there is a schematic for this on the Tek Tanks website - they have much more information and choice of tanks than Vetus Of course you end up with lots of bulky 1.5" piping and valves plus remembering to open and close in the right sequence. I put a valve on the outlet of the first tank I installed but it took up a lot of room and I needed to make some convoluted connections to link it up to the Blakes seacock. Did not bother in the next boat and my last Bavaria had as standard the simple type with easily accessible outlet seacock. Always left it empty when not in use and flushed with freshwater when leaving the boat.
 
Minerva said:
Sadly the main outlet sea cock is at the bottom of the locker, and for the most part inaccessible - at least when consisting morning and evening access when we stop in an anchorage.
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Seems like it might be better to move the seacock to a location where it is accessable.

The cheaper option is to forget about a holding tank !
 
PCUK said:
Presumably you still have to access that valve anyway?
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Yes - but having to empty the lockers of fenders etc every afternoon would be a faff I’d rather not have to do. What I’d prefer is a lever, just inside the lip of the cockpit locker or the heads which would change between discharge & hold.
 
I agree 25l too small and not worth bothering installing.

I have 40l and would like twice that. I have two valves. I should have left the tank one open when I came ashore. Now it is stuck and needs investigation. Not looking forward to that.
 
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