[C320-list] Holding Tank Vent and spiders

Fred LEcuyer fred.lecuyer at live.com
Tue Apr 17 12:03:58 PDT 2012 

Paul:

Thanks. I've taken the medicine cabinet out before and have no desire to do it again. Three hours makes you a speed champ on this one!

Fred

> Date: Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:58:52 -0700
> From: ilove2sail at verizon.net
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent and spiders
> 
> Fred, 
> The reason it takes so long (short of a miracle ) is that you have to
> disassemble the vented loops inside the medicine chest, push the
> four hoses out, sew string to the the hoses to pull them back thru,
> take off the shelf rail, take out the chest, cut a bigger hole in the side
> of the boat, put in a new vent hose from the tank to the new vent,
> then put it all back. Maybe you work faster than I do. I estimate
> the time and then double it.  
>  
> The current vent is in two pieces, the outside piece twists off and is
> a two walled vent to allow the tank to breath. The inside piece goes
> thru the boat and the vent hose connects to it. Mine is glued in place
> with some sort of caulk.
> The outside just twists on to the threads and holds the entire piece until the caulk
> or what ever was used, dries. I was able to put a rag around the outside, use channel
> locks and twist it off. Not only was the entire piece clogged with spider web but
> it was also partially blocked with caulk. Catalina didn't do us any favors with this
> one. 
>  
> Any more questions, let me know.
>  
> Paul
> Affinity 657
>  
> Best of luck.
>  
>  
>  
> 
> ________________________________
>  From: Fred LEcuyer <fred.lecuyer at live.com>
> To: Catalina320list Catalina320list <c320-list at catalina320.com> 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 12:51 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Holding Tank Vent and spiders
>   
> 
> 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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