A. J. Matthews, Ay Mon, #605
I put my holding tank in the area underneath the V-Berth on the port side. I plumbed a Ronco Plastics model number B280, and it fit like a glove. The capacity is 8 US gallons, and Ronco plumbed the tank where I wanted them to. On the bottom aft end (the tank is wedge shaped, with the wider side against the interior bulkhead of the V-berth, the skinny side is toward the hull), they placed a 1 1/2 discharge nipple, and on the top (aft end) they installed a 1 1/2 intake nipple and a 3/4 vent nipple.
All plumbing was sent into the head through the forward bulkhead using a hole saw. These holes were sealed with epoxy before I sent the hose through. The vented loop is mounted on the reverse of the bulkhead and the vent is installed just above the head locker. The discharge line is led through the locker from the access/storage area below the locker and plumbed to the deck.
I have also rigged a Y-valve from the head to feed the tank and/or overboard discharge. In addition, I split (another Y-valve) the discharge line to permit both a pumpout and an overboard pump-out using a macerator pump into the original discharge thru-hull.
As a result, I am very legal and I have options as to how and where I can or should pump out my tank. Besides, having an overboard discharge from my tank gives me an excuse to sail offshore once in a while. Control is good!
Dave Harwood, BLUE FLOUNDER, #155
Comments on use of the Lectra-San:
1) Yes, the unit draws considerable current during the two minute treatment cycle. You need a hefty "house" battery bank to use this system. The extra battery capacity will take a considerable amount of the load off the alternator if you need to flush while motoring.
2) No-Discharge Zones do not forbid use of a Lectra-San, they only forbid discharging the waste overboard. Treating the waste before putting it into a holding tank helps decrease the "head odor".
Another odor-reducing trick: install a y-valve in the intake line which allows you to input water from the thru-hull or from a bucket of fresh water (via an open-ended hose installed on the y-valve). Then do a fresh-water flush with water obtained dock-side before leaving the boat (another item for the check-list). This reduces the amount of microscopic organisms (naturally occurring in sea-water) drying out and decomposing in the intake plumbing, which causes a considerable part of the odor. For increased effectiveness, add some bleach to the bucket. Leave the valve set to the bucket-tube until you return (in order to retain the fresh/bleach solution in the plumbing), and don't forget to switch back to the thru-hull before the next flush (item fore the boarding check-list).
Rob Squire, Head over Heels, #96
I installed a holding tank in Head over Heels. She is a west coast boat, and the water tank is under the main cabin sole, so I put the holding tank in the bow, under the V-berth. Ronco Plastics in Tustin, CA has a whole bunch of tanks that are of various shape and sizes. They are roto-molded seamless polyethylene (?) units that you can spec placement and size of the fittings (don't forget the vent!). If you can't find a tank to fit your needs, you can design your own, although it cost a bunch more. When I did the project, gosh, I think 5+ years ago, the tank, fittings and all, was 75 bucks. I used spray cans of polyurethane foam to hold the tank in place.
On the recommendation of the guys at Ronco, I used enough foam under the tank to fully support the bottom panels of the tank. That stuff is sticky, and goes everywhere, and I think that the tank will be in the boat for a very long time. For plumbing, I installed a deck plate for the clean out, and chose a Y valve to allow me to dump overboard should I choose to. Salt water is salt water, I think. Whale Y valve, white head hose, double clamps on everything (just because), Marelon valves on bronze through hulls. Anyway, never a leak or a sniff of odor! I could not be more pleased with the Ronco product.
Hugh Kabler, INKA, #667
I had a stainless holding tank made to fit under the forward port bunk.