[C320-list] Holding Tank Vent and spiders

Fred LEcuyer fred.lecuyer at live.com
Tue Apr 17 09:51:07 PDT 2012 

Paul:

Thanks for this. I changed out all the hoses last year and installed a charcoal filter but I couldn't get the L shaped vent off from the inside (was afraid of breaking it).

Are you saying I should have tried to take off the vent from the outside? If it's as simple as "twisting off".... why the three hour estimate?

Fred

> Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:18:50 -0700
> From: ilove2sail at verizon.net
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent and spiders
> 
> Fred,
>  
> From my personal experience with the original vent is that I flushed it
> last fall with my last pump out. It is possible that the spiders got in and
> built a nest during the winter but based on the mess I found yesterday,
> a flush won't do it. Accepting the fact that the tank needs something
> bigger and the original vent needs to be changed I would twist off
> the outer fitting and clean it, then using a hooked wire or pipe cleaners,
> run it in and out of the L shaped fitting then flush it, then twist the outer
> fitting back on. You may also what to use some spider control in the
> valve. Afterward you may need a pump out depending on how
> much flushing you do.  This is the procedure I would use if I didn't want
> to change the fitting. It is at least a three hour project. Could be much 
> longer depending on how prepared you are in advance, all required tools
> and parts in hand before you start.
>  
> New subject: What do we do about spiders, how to control them, how to
> rid your boat of all spiders. I do use a spider spry, but obviously this is
> not enough. 
>  
> Paul
> Affinity 657
> Bay Bridge Marina 
> Chesapeake Bay, Maryland
>  
>  
>  
> 
> ________________________________
>  From: Fred LEcuyer <fred.lecuyer at live.com>
> To: Catalina320list Catalina320list <c320-list at catalina320.com> 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 11:26 AM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent
>   
> 
> Karl,
> 
> The vent on the hull is L-shaped. You just run a hose on it and it's enough?
> 
> Fred
> First Light
> Hull #926
> 
> > Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:52:58 -0400
> > From: kmielen at suddenlink.net
> > To: C320-List at catalina320.com
> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent
> > 
> > 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
> > >>
> > >>

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