A27 Holding Tank Question

[SkipRocks]

Would anyone happen to have the dimensions & size of the holding tank on the A27? I doubt there is a difference between the FC & SC models as it was originally mounted on the starboard shelf alongside the engine. The system had been removed by a PO and had been replaced with a camp toilet when we acquired the boat.

[motthediesel]

Well, it's tiny

I took mine out when we installed a composting head. We replaced it with a fuel day tank.

This afternoon I'll look for it, as it's buried in snow right now. I can shoot some pictures and take some dimensions for you too. Or -- if you want, I'll send it to you for whatever the shipping cost would be. As far as I know, there was nothing wrong with it.

Tom

[tego]

The capacity is only about 10 gallons but that lasts the wife and I about a week when we're cruising and primarily on the hook. It's located on the shelf on the stbd side, just in front of the rear ER bulkhead in my '87 FC. Ben

[SkipRocks]

Tom, Thanks for your response. Definitely interested and just may take you up on your offer.

Ben, Appreciate the information. That is small, but that would not be an issue for us. Our A27 is a sport cruiser and 80% of the time our trips are just day trips fishing or chilling.

Skip

[motthediesel]

Skip,

OK, I found that tank. It’s 14” wide, 17” long, and 10” high.

I’d be happy to send it to you, but I can see that there is a crack above the uppermost hose connection. It probably would not leak, and could easily be sealed, but I thought I should tell you. I’d guess it would be fine, but on a risk/reward basis, you might not want to take that chance. This coming from a semi-professional plumber

I can’t attach a picture from my phone here, so I’ll email it to you.

[Bearkeley]

We just replaced our original tank on Mary Jo and doubled it to a 20 gallon from Todd. Highly recommend it if you plan to anchor out.

http://www.toddusa.com/productdetails.aspx?id=83&f=21

[DesertAlbin736]

I did similar with our A25 in 2016. See SkipRock's follow up plumbing thread. We do anchor out a lot on extended cruises, and the 9 gallon tank we had just didn't cut it, especially up in the BC Gulf Islands in Canada where pump out facilities are few and far between and are coin operated costing $5 to $10 CAD (Loonie and Toonie coins for folks familiar with Canadian money) At 76c US to $1 CAD that's $3.80 & $7.60 US respectively. But it's more about the scarcity of locations than the cost.

Here's the 20 gallon tank we got for $325 from Ronco in L.A. area.

DSCN3419R.jpg

We may tentatively be on the Chesapeake later in the season closer to September or early October this year, still TBD. If so probably the closest we would get to the Wicomico River would be Bivalve on the Nanticoke.

La Dolce Vita in Bivalve Marina, June 22, 2015

DSCN2846.JPG

[DCatSea]

Q for Mott: Regarding the composting head. I'm giving some serious thought to this but would welcome your inputs on your experience with the changeover from holding tank etc. or even a pic of the completed install.

Thanks

[motthediesel]

Doug,

Careful— I’m kind of an annoying crank when it comes to composting heads I’m 66 years old and I’ve been around boats and campers since I was a tyke, and I will never own anything with holding tank again. I also run our family business, which is a vacation cottage rental place, so plumbing, (in all it’s glories) has been a big part of my life, I think I know my sh1t.

My wife and I also have an old Avion camper trailer, and when we bought it, the first thing we did was take out the toilet and replace it with a “Natures Head” composting unit. We both LOVE IT — it never smells, and we never have to deal with the “Stinky Slinky” pump out hose.

Sure, it’s not perfect, you do have to deal with the “pee tank” every couple of days, but that’s no big deal. And (depending on use) you need to change the solids medium monthly or so. Still, neither of those jobs are really unpleasant to do, and I don’t mind them at all.

In the Albin, we went with a “C-Head” unit. It’s somewhat different than the “Airhead” or “Nature’s Head” types. It’s simpler, and uses standard one gallon milk jugs for the pee tank. It’s also (subjectively) better looking I think. It’s also a couple of hundred bucks less, none of these are cheap. Here’s a picture as installed in our boat, pretty snazzy I think.

[DCatSea]

Mott - thanks for the heads up. No picture I'm afraid, but you've given me a lot to think about.

[motthediesel]

Let me try again.

Chead.jpg

See that?

Tom

[DCatSea]

Tom,
That's a very nice piece of work. I was wondering how you fit it in the space available.

[motthediesel]

Thanks Doug!

C-head makes a special “boat version” that has the rear bottom corner trimmed off to fit better against the typical curving bilge area of most boats. We ordered that model — we also paid a little extra for the teak finish and the black seat.

To fit it to the boat, I just made a paper pattern of the bottom of the unit. We removed the old head, marked the base with the pattern, and sawed it out with a jigsaw. The head base area is super-thick, with two layers of 3/4” plywood under the glass, but it cut OK.

Unlike the “Airhead” and “Nature’s Head” folks, the C-head people are not that insistent on a powered vent, but I’m fitting one anyway. I’m running a flex hose in the same path as the old head discharge line into the engine room.

I couldn’t think of a good way to discharge it without cutting another hole through the deck or topsides, so I’m going to try something different. I have bought a stainless steel wrapped charcoal air filter, and I’m going to try discharging through that directly into the engine room, thereby abating any objectionable smell. In case you are wondering, those filters are used to eliminate tell-tale odors from the ventilation systems of indoor greenhouses. Yes, those greenhouses used to cultivate valuable crops of questionable legality — if you get my drift

The fan will run continuously, but as it’s a tiny laptop unit, it only draws a minuscule amount of current.

We like the clean look of the C-head, though we haven’t used it much yet. We just love the Natures Head we have in our camper, but it wouldn’t have worked as well in this space. The “agitator” handle on the C-head is removable and fits in the top, so that is way better here.

Tom

[saltypaws]

Shiprocks, when we bought our Albin 25 7 years ago one of the first decisions was get red of the portapotti. Year 2 we installed a Natures head. Installation was simple. We did not use the electric exhaust fan. On the roof of the forward cabin inside the head as far forward as possible we installed a solar vent. Connected the vent which continuously vents the boat through the head. We have never had any smell inside or outside the boat from the head. The added benefit is the continuous air flow even when the boat is not in use.
Lola Girl our A 25 sat on a lift in Florida for 10 months a year closed up.