[C320-list] Holding tank leak

[Jon Vez]

Had the same problem and used the method Jeff describes to resolve the problem. Was dreading the project but it was straightforward and not messy! 

Sent from my iPad

> On Oct 9, 2015, at 4:26 PM, Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi Brian,
> 
> We had what could be exactly this problem a few years back.  In our case,
> it was because the lower fitting on the holding tank was not tight.  Not
> hose clamps, those rarely leak in my experience because of how tight the
> hoses fit on the barbs.
> 
> The lower fitting is an elbow that has to be oriented to point up directly
> at the macerator pump.  This is a decent challenge because they have to get
> just the right amount of sealant/Teflon tape/whatever built up on the
> threads so that when the fitting is completely tight, it ends up at the
> proper orientation.  Too much or too little Teflon and the elbow will be
> pointed at the wrong angle when it's tight and leak proof.
> 
> I pumped out the tank, flushed it once more and then removed the tank.
> (Surprisingly Easy and quick job really and not nearly as nasty as I
> expected).  I got that fitting loaded with Teflon tape and really tight and
> oriented perfectly without much trouble.  Then dropped the tank back in and
> never had another problem.   Remove/ReAttach the lower hose to this fitting
> while the tank is out and save yourself a lot of work.
> 
> While I was doing this, I used the opportunity to replace the black rubber
> stock hose with high quality OdorLoss (?) hose. Measure the original hoses
> carefully along the outside of each bend radius NOT THE INSIDE radius or
> you'll find yourself a couple inches short.
> 
> You can tell if your rubber hoses are shot and permeated if you rub your
> fingers on them and you can smell it on your fingers.  If you replace the
> hoses, you'll probably never have to do it again.  While the tank was out,
> wipe down the area with some bleach wipes and use the opportunity to clean
> up in there.
> 
> Good luck!
> -Jeff Hare #809
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
> Of Amiraults Family
> Sent: Friday, October 9, 2015 11:30 AM
> To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Holding tank leak
> 
> All:
> 
> 
> 
> Over the past couple of weeks I have been finding brownish liquid collecting
> in the aft bilge section. In a seven day period it was never higher than
> would allow it to drain into the main section where the bilge pump hoses are
> located. Never malodorous, it was always sponged up and disposed of (I'm a
> fanatic for latex gloves on the boat thankfully). The leak leaves a trail
> from the bilge back under the starboard side head area.
> 
> 
> 
> Thursday I did my first (and final) pump out for the year as I am readying
> the boat for haul out and winter storage. The process is to pump 15 gallons
> of fresh water thru the head, pump out the tank, and repeat. The result of
> this was to find a small amount of clear water in the bilge where I had been
> finding brown. I rather think that this is a holding tank leak. That the
> aroma is not objectionable I credit to this being the first year since
> getting the boat that we only day sailed and raced; managing no overnights.
> Thus I suspect the content is a little urine and a lot of local river water.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> If anyone has experienced this, please feel free to contact me directly. I
> am swamped with a host of family and personal commitments that will likely
> prevent me from doing any research on the matter until after the boat is on
> the hard on November 01. If anyone can give me a jump on possible cause and
> corrective action it would be a boon. Not having had the opportunity to
> actually look, I am not even sure at the moment whether the fill/empty
> fittings are on the top of the tank. If they are, then it must be a tank
> failure but if they're not, then it could be a hose failure or a loose
> fitting.
> 
> 
> 
> Insight would be appreciated. If a tank failure, then I need to confirm this
> before closing up Bear for the winter - allowing me to source a new tank.
> And writing of that, if anyone has done a tank replacement, then information
> on source and the pitfalls of the replacement process are likely also
> timely.
> 
> 
> 
> Regards;  
> 
> 
> 
> Brian Amirault
> 
> 797 Waltzing Bear, too
> 
> 
> 
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
>