‘Julie Marie’ and I arrived back in North American waters recently. My boat was shipped to london UK from new, so as per European regs she was never fitted with a waste tank, instead I have 3 ally tanks and around 160 gallons of fresh water capacity , which gas been useful.
But , now I’m in the USA I need a waste tank, perhaps I can turn my alloy tank into a waste tank? Or maybe there is a reason (smell?)why I have to buy a new plastic tank?
Simon Cleaver
Nonsuch Ultra #423
Florida.
It’s been my experience that poly tanks are better for waste as they resist acids much better.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
The waste tank in my 1988 boat failed about 10 years ago. Uric acid was the cause. My wife who has the sense of smell like a bloodhound discovered it before I did.
Switched to poly.
My waste tank is aluminum. No odors. Odors do not penetrate aluminum, but they can penetrate the plumbing when it gets old.
Others will probably sing the praises of composting toilets. You seem to be in an ideal position to install one.
Brian Godfrey
Vela, NS33, San Diego
I delivered one boat in my career that had a composting head. Never again.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
If the aluminum tank has only held fresh drinking water, it is probably fine. You could double check that it has no pinhole leaks, etc. The killer with aluminum tanks is decads of use holding uric acid aka urine.
But … what actually is the main culprit behind “smelly tanks” is the HOSE. You cannot cheap out on bargain hose, Simon. You need to spend the bucks on top-of-the-line Raritan (or other brands of) sanitary hose. They are specially lined and will not store or leach out any smell at all. The tank is rarely a smell problem unless it’s actually leaking.
All of that said, poly tanks are not affected by what is sitting in them in th same way that aluminum ones are.
Ernie A. in Toronto
And if you didn’t already know, INA members can order custom poly tanks made for Nonsuch at discount to regular retail price. Check INA web site for more info.
Don
Have you considered keeping your fresh water capacity and switching to a composting head? I don’t know anyone who has made the switch that would go back. I certainly won’t.
Just a thought…..
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
Better to swap out the aluminum talk for a poly tank now. The Aluminum tank will develop pin holes and leak at some point as mine did 10 years after the boat was built.
Mike
BIANKA
1986 30U
Long Island
My wife an I own the boat one number up from you. It was delivered to the south shore of Long Island, New York and it too came with all freshwater, no holding tank. When we bought it in 2002, the starboard aluminum water tanks was converted to a holding tank with a macerator pump and lots of hoses and clamps. In 2009, the tank started leaking and I pulled it and the head out (along with the 47 hose clamps that were in the system), and we installed an Airhead composting head. I cannot imagine going back. People often say our boat has no odor. If you don’t go with a composting head, I would suggest doing the poly tank now versus in a few years when you will have to. Unless you are doing all the labor yourself, in the long run the poly tank now will cost you little over the aluminum conversion now and then the inevitable future replacement. You also do not have to worry about the hassle of disposing a seriously nasty tank in the future. Not easy to get out of the boat without making a mess.
lloyd herman
Rendezvous, 30U 424
Port Washington, NY
I’d ditch the aluminum regardless of whether you decide on a poly tank or a composting toilet. You only want to do this once, and aluminum guarantees you’ll either replace it, or a surveyor will comment on it when you sell. If you go with a holding tank, as has been commented, it is the hoses that will be the source of odor, not the tank. Practical Sailor has tested, and I’d go with their recommendations. Also, make sure the hoses run without low points, to drain completely into the tank- no bellies for waste to sit in (big reason odors get through). Specify that in your work order if you are not doing the work yourself. And you should flush with fresh, not salt water- it makes a real difference in what bacteria grow, and the Nonsuch carries enough water that it shouldn’t be an issue- in the scheme of things the toilet is a small water use. Finally, I recommend two vents, not one: cross-ventilation will promote the aerobic bacteria, instead of the stinky anaerobic bacteria.
Dan Weinstein
Look Farther, 30C 205
East Greenwich, RI
On Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 6:16:46 PM UTC-5 Julie & Lloyd on Rendezvous wrote:
I agree with Dan, On White O’morn our NS26Ue we put in a poly holding tank and kept the original Starboard tank to use for flush water only. All new Raritan hoses leaves us with zero odors. We would have gone with the Airhead composting toilet since we had one on our previous Cape Dory, but there is no room on the 26U for such a toilet, the 26C has a perfect spot though.
Tim in STL
White O’morn NS e26U #216
Harbor Point Yacht Club
West Alton, MO
Also, water from the bay, ocean or lake contains small organisms that die and stink up the lines and waste water. I closed off the thru hull intake and place a 2+gallon container of fresh water under the sink and stick the head water intake hose in it. 2 gallon plastic drinking water dispenser at Walmart is about $4.
I also use the shower nozzle as well.
Thanks all for the advise.
It seems that a aluminum tank that is in as new condition will probably last 15 -20 years , so I will go with that option,
Simon
Nonsuch 30u #423
Florida
One last kick at the can: we had a brand new aluminium holding tank on our Westwind 35 on which we lived full time. It only lasted 10 years before it corroded through - and of course, leaked. I took it out (yukky job) and replaced it with a polypropylene tank. Cheaper and much more reliable.
The Nonsuch 30 I am purchasing also had an aluminium holding tank and was replaced with a polypropylene tank. (This is now used for fresh water and the “official” holding tank is 25 litres and the head uses the fresh water from the new tank.)
So, based on personal experience, I’d recommend plastic, not aluminium. Cheers.
If the aluminum tank was originally used and plumbed as a fresh water tank, does it have correct size discharge fitting for holding tank application?
Don