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Holding Tank

L

larry

Larry McClure
We sail the Great Lakes and can not overboard our black water. With only a 15-18 gallon holding tank it is not enough when anchored for more then five days. Would like to add a tank under the port salon settee. Has anyone done this using 2 tanks the keel tank and an additional one?
Regards
Larry & Leslie
Morgan 384
"Romance"
 
I don't think anyone has done that and left the keel tank in place. I think you would be introducing some problems and the likelihood of clogged lines between them. You would probably need an electric pump between them. You can fit a 30 gallon tank under the port settee.
 
Maybe you should test the integrity of the keel tank first. A majority of the keel tanks have been compromised by improper hauling out processes in the past. To test the tank, simply fill it with water until it's totally full. Then will one person listening at the bilge above the tank, have another person in the head pump more water into the tank. If the tank is good, you won't see or hear water blowing from the tabbing near the bilge floor. If the tank is bad you will see and hear water & stuff Seeping or blowing into the bilge from the tabbing. Don't be afraid to pump the head hard to create pressure in the tank. If the tank is good you may choose to still use it. If not good it might be best to abandon it completely. Those how have attempted to repair the tabbing, myself included, have found the repair almost impossible because of the lack of space to work.

If you continue to use the tank it is possible to install a second tank with a Y or T valve in the head discharge line that will be shift from one tank to the other when the first is almost full. Of course there would need to be separate vent lines and deck pump out lines for each tank.

Jim
 
I recommend against that procedure. If the tank is full, the potential pressure can be quite high, and damage the tank if not already. Brand new HDPE tanks can fail that test. You should do that test with the tank only about half full or even less.
 
The same way. If bubbles appear in the water in the bilge. You could also fill the bilge with water, and see if over time it drains down into the tank. But for sure, if the tank is full, you are going to create a leak by overfilling it.
 
If the tabbing has never been abused by faulty blocking up then pressurizing a full tank will not create a leak. it should just create a back pressure on the head pump. We will have to agree to disagree.

Jim
 
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