Replace holding tank

[Souvenir]

I've located a Camano 31 that has had the waste holding tank removed at some point in the past. A composting toilet is now being used instead. Didn't make an offer primarily because of this.

I'd prefer to have a holding tank rather than composting toilet. Does anyone have experience in replacing a holding tank for this model boat? How big of a job would it be to revert this back to the original design with holding tank.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Comodave]

Not familiar with this exact boat but if it previously had a holding tank then it should not be a huge job to put one back in. Ronko makes excellent tanks and has hundreds of stock tanks. They will install the fittings to your specs. Use Raritan SaniFlex hose only. It is extremely flexible and won’t permeate. I like the Raritan Marine Elegance head. Very nice head and with the Smart Flush panel it can use very little water to flush. All the mechanical parts are in the head so you don’t have to give up any more room for parts except for a small circuit board. Good luck.

 

[HeadMistress]

Ronco Plastics(which Dave insists on renaming "Ronko") Ronco Plastics marine Tanks is your best source for a tank. They make TOP quality thick-walled water and waste tanks for a very reasonable price and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular, and they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank. There are retailers who sell Ronco tanks, but Ronco sells direct for a much lower price...and they're great to work with.
When looking at drawings it's important to know that there is no top or bottom until the fittings go in, and YOU decide where they go. So rotate, flip in any orientation to find the tank that fits your space.


--Peggie

 

[Comodave]

Ok, my bad spelling…

 

[backinblue]

I've located a Camano 31 that has had the waste holding tank removed at some point in the past. A composting toilet is now being used instead. Didn't make an offer primarily because of this.

I'd prefer to have a holding tank rather than composting toilet. Does anyone have experience in replacing a holding tank for this model boat? How big of a job would it be to revert this back to the original design with holding tank.

Thanks for any advice.

When I bought my boat a few years back, I did not know and the surveyor didn't find it, But the holding tank had a crack around one of the top fittings. I had it replaced professionally. They were able to find the exact replacement. It was quite a bit of work to replace it. The tank and guage were cheap, labor was fairly expensive because of the tight fit, but I really had no choice and didn't want to do the job myself. If you want to do the work, it should be pretty inexpensive for the tank, but if you have to get a new toilet and run new hoses and everything for the whole system, it's a bit of a job. Can you maybe get $10K off the price?

 

[Comodave]

The entire system can probably be bought for about $1K or so. If you are good at DIY it may be a tight install but certainly doable.

 

[Barking Sands]

My Ronco is being delivered any second now. When I ordered it stated it would be a month. But in reality its been about 7 or 8 days. This job on difficulty scale is probably a 5 or a 6 depending on access. But as Comodave says...if it had a tank it really cant be all that bad. Getting the old crusty used tank out is likely the hardest part. Some people love the composting toilets? Have you looked into it enough to be sure?

 

[nussbda]

The factory Camano holding tank is under the removable deck by the galley and holds approximately 14 gallons. It appears easy to remove - it is a poly tank held in by straps and is totally visible when the deck is removed. It has a discharge line to a macerator pump which is behind an access door under and to starboard of the sink in the head, and a line to the deck pumpout which is on the starboard side near the head. If I recall correctly, it was a two day project to replace all of the hoses (raw water line to head, line from head to holding tank, 2 holding tank discharge lines and vent hose), the macerator pump, and the drain and drain hose from the sink in the head (which I broke in the process of removing the lines to/from the holding tank). I can send you pictures of everything if you'd like when the boat is uncovered next month.
Dave

 

[Snapdragon III]

I would use the composting toilet for awhile before you get rid of it. I have owned boats with salt water flush heads, freshwater flush electrics, and composting. If I had to choose a 15 gallon holding tank system, or a composting head, I would take the composting every time. The best is composting, with the urine part piped to a holding tank. That way you don’t have to empty the urine bottle all the time.

I feel strongly enough about it that if I bought a boat with a 15 gal holding tank, I would definitely spend the money to convert it to composting. 15 gal holding tank is a pain in the butt. My wife and daughter could fill that up in a day or two.

 

[HeadMistress]

14 gallons is pretty small for a boat on an inland lake (assuming you'll be on the one near knoxville). Last time I was there, pumpout availability was pretty skimpy.


We should be able to find a good location for a larger one...send me a PM if you'd like my help.


--Peggie

 

[porman]

There was a Camano owner that installed an additional tank in the lazarette with PVC pipe going to it. I believe the newer version, the Helmsman 31, has a larger tank but don't know where it's located.

 

[Souvenir]

As usual, a wealth of knowledge is provided by the folks on this site. Thanks so much. Don't know yet what I'll do. The trawler search continues...