[C320-list] Holding Tank Vent

Mon Apr 16 16:52:58 PDT 2012

I run a stream of fresh water through my vent line every time I pump
out. Keeps the line clear and the shower of clean water helps keep my
level gauge clean.
Just be sure to let the water get sucked in in a way that still allows
air to be drawn in. You don't want to risk collapsing that tank.

Karl

On Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 4:41 PM, Paul Rickman <ilove2sail at verizon.net> wrote:
> Today I started taking everything apart to replace the holding
> tank vent. What a job and I'm not done yet. What I found when
> taking the outside fitting off is a cotton like substance that was
> plugging up the vent. I took a small screw driver and raked it
> into and back out of the thru hull portion and found the same
> substance. It was completely stopped up. Now with some
> reasoning and logic, there was no stink when I bought the
> boat but over time the stink became worse and worse until
> last year it was unbearable.  Since I now have the cabinet out,
> and messenger lines tied to all hoses and so fourth, I'll complete
> the job and replace the fitting -- I don't want to have to do this
> again. Now, for those of you who have not started I would take
> the outside fitting off and clean it out, using something like pipe
> cleaners back and forth in the thru hull. You could even run
> a little water thru it. Put it back together to see if you have any
> improvement. If so, keep cleaning it once every 5 years or so.
> So far I haven't looked for the thru hull but I think it must have
> an L fitting, otherwise the hose will eventually colapse onto itself
> and stop the venting process.
>
> Paul
> Affinity 657
> Bay Bridge Marina
> Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
>
>
> ________________________________
>  From: Mike Ott <wmo48 at yahoo.com>
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Sent: Monday, April 2, 2012 2:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent
>
> Pat,
> Thanks. I sewed seizing line to the hoses and will lube the hell out of them
> when I put it back together.  I tried the technique before I went to far and it
> work, so on to replace the vent.
> Mike
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Pat Ireland <cherie320 at gmail.com>
> To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> Sent: Mon, April 2, 2012 1:58:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent
>
> Mike
>
> There are two approaches.  Use a messenger line tied to each hose to pull
> them back into the holes in the cabinet.  Wire worked better for me.  The
> other approach is to take the back off the closet and access the hoses from
> behind the liner.  I did the messenger route.  It's not a snap, but works.
> The closet back sounds like the trick, but I have not tried it yet.  Search
> the forum history.  Jeff discussed.  Would never have figured it out
> without the help.
>
> Pat, Cherie, 801
>
> On Mon, Apr 2, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Mike Ott <wmo48 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Jeff,
>> I checked out your photo gallery but I'm having a real bear of time
>> getting the
>> 'medicine cabinet' out.  I have removed 4 screws holding the cabinet to
>> the IGU
>> and the 2 anti-siphon valves so now I have a loose cabinet with 4 hose
>> sticking
>> into it.  The cabinet won't swing out far enough from the top to pull it
>> out,
>> there is not enough clearance in the IGU cutout.  There is a lot of slop
>> in the
>> hoses so they can be pushed below the cabinet which would free the cabinet
>> but
>> how would I thread the hoses back into the cabinet ?  Did you have this
>> same
>> problem ?
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Jeff Hare <catalina at thehares.com>
>> To: "C320-List at Catalina320.com" <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Sun, April 1, 2012 7:49:46 PM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent
>>
>> Hi Mike,
>>
>> The holding tank vent from the factory is a 5/8" fuel vent and vents out
>> the
>> side of the boat.  The hose leading to that is 3/4".  The factory used a
>> makeshift technique to adapt the 3/4" hose to the 5/8" fitting. Not only
>> is this
>> prone to leak fumes, it isn't particularly waterproof.  If you have a boat
>> with
>> the Black plastic vent, this is designed in a way that can actually vent
>> gasses
>> back into the boat since no sealant is used on the fitting.  On top of
>> that the
>> baffles or screens in the vent prevents the tank from breathing.
>>
>> Last summer I did a fairly simple project to replace the vent hose with a
>> quality hose and installed a 3/4" thru hull fitting similar to the bilge
>> pump
>> outlet thru hull.  The result was instant and dramatic.  Went from having
>> holding tank smell in the head and aft cabin closet whenever the head was
>> flushed to zero smell inside or outside the boat.
>>
>> This is (in my opinion) a must-do project.  Even though we flush with fresh
>> water, there was always a smell in the aft cabin closet.  That is
>> completely in
>> the past now.
>>
>>
>> There are pictures in my c320 website photo gallery of this project.  It
>> took me
>> a few hours one evening after work to do.
>>
>> Jeff Hare
>> #809 Woodbine II
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mar 30, 2012, at 7:03 PM, Jane & Ken <obuoy4848 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>
>> > Mike,
>> > On hull #219 (OBUOY) the tank vent is the one under the rub rail and no
>> >stantion vent is present.  The "old" catalina boats did use the stantion
>> as a
>> >vent--bad stuff on deck when over full.  Ken
>> >
>> > --- On Fri, 3/30/12, Mike Ott <wmo48 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> > From: Mike Ott <wmo48 at yahoo.com>
>> > Subject: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent
>> > To: c320-list at catalina320.com
>> > Date: Friday, March 30, 2012, 12:53 PM
>> >
>> >
>> > According to my owners manual ('98), it shows the holding tank vent
>> exiting
>> >into
>> >
>> > a deck stanchion.  The stanchion has a small hole (1/8" +/-) through
>> which the
>>
>> > tank vents.  I also have, what appears to be, an overflow vent located
>> in the
>> > hull just below the holding tank pump out deck-fitting.  Is this also
>> acting a
>>
>> > vent for the holding tank ?  The reason for my question is the Feb '12
>> article
>>
>> > in Practical Sailor that says holding tanks should have at least a
>> minimum 3/4"
>> >
>> > vent to have an effective bacterial reaction.  Now maybe in '98 this
>> > installation was acceptable but now ?  If my vent is only the 1/8" hole
>> in a
>> > stanchion, maybe I should go back to using bucket.  Knowing our group,
>> I'm sure
>> >
>> > someone out there can give me the poop on this fragrant issue (I know,
>> pretty
>> > bad puns).
>> > Mike Ott
>> > 'Amanda Lu'
>> > #508
>>
>>