DIY Holding Tank Vent Filter $cheap

Midnightsun said:
Because you need to buy the original product first which costs $100. Obviously if you already have one, it would be just as effective and not be any cheaper to modify your existing as shown in Ken's link.
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These were/are standard issue on a Sea Ray. But, OK, I see where you are coming from.


Holding tanks... top or bottom:

I can't speak for the Sport Yacht and Yacht segments, but Vince's post shows how the holding tanks are on all the Sport Cruisers. At least as far as I know for that last 10 to 15 years. Could be longer, but I can't comment on that.

PS: Thanks, Vince! I'm awful at getting pictures off the web and into a post!
 
Midnightsun said:
In a conventional system there is no need to close any valves, just pump out. Thanks for the info on how a vacuflush works. Learn something new every day. :thumbsup:
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Excuse me? A vacuflush system is the "conventional system" on Sea Ray these days...

Oh wait... You own a freekin' BAYLINER and you are on here giving tank cleaning advice to SEA RAY owners and you are saying a vacuflush is not "conventional"!!!

Vince: Note that all the tank fittings are at the top... Those are "schematics" on functionality and they are how my boat works... They are not installation instructions though. I'm pretty sure you have to put a loop in that goes above the waterline in installing a macerator otherwise if the seals leak, you'll get sea water back into your holding tank... and if your tank is above water the top-of-tank connections prevent sewage from leaking out through the macerator if the seacock is accidentally left open.

Bottom line is... if you have a macerator, you better not pour bleach down the pumpout fitting on deck. BAD ADVICE.
 
Gary, you bring up a good point. But, with those tanks, they have a built-in spot for the mac to be mounted on top of the tank.
 
Lazy Daze said:
Gary, you bring up a good point. But, with those tanks, they have a built-in spot for the mac to be mounted on top of the tank.
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Not all of them... only the "small one"... And when you look at a boat, don't confuse the top mounted vacuum tank with the macerator... they look the same but are different.
 
FWIW, my holding tank discharge is located on the bottom of the tank. I can post a picture if necessary.
 
Four Suns said:
Not all of them... only the "small one"... And when you look at a boat, don't confuse the top mounted vacuum tank with the macerator... they look the same but are different.
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Yes, you're right, I understand that. I can't speak to anything larger than the 40 gallon, but the newer models could even have both the vac and the mac on top. A good space server for the engine room, but does make accessibility a little bit more of a bear.
 
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LTD.330 said:
FWIW, my holding tank discharge is located on the bottom of the tank. I can post a picture if necessary.
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Not necessary :smt001. I'm surprised, but thank you for the clarification.

I'm certainly not saying all Sport Cruisers have it top mounted. I was over-generalizing in my "10-15 year" statement above. I really just wanted to point out to Midnight that it is more common for them to have it top mounted than bottom mounted.

But, it does depend on a couple of variables, like when the particular model was added to the SR line-up... has the holding tank been changed over the years, etc.
 
Let's make this clear. A Vacu flush is another animal and no it is not conventional. It normally is an upgrade just like on freekin Bayliners as you called it. I have several dock neighbors who own Sea Rays and none have this option. Mind you no one is bigger than a 31. Here is a link to this years 310 express options, please note the vacuflush is optional. http://www.searay.com/Page.aspx/pageId/10231/pmid/171174/310-Sundancer.aspx

I have edited my post about bleach to reflect the problem with treating a vacuflush system. :smt001
 
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here's what comes standard

Head


Handrail, Stainless Steel
Head (VacuFlush®)
Head, Enclosed - Full Fiberglass w/Shower & Curtain
Mirror, Head Door - Full Length
Storage, Medicine Cabinet w/Mirror
Towel Holder
 
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TurtleTone said:
here's what comes standard

Head


Handrail, Stainless Steel
Head (VacuFlush®)
Head, Enclosed - Full Fiberglass w/Shower & Curtain
Mirror, Head Door - Full Length
Storage, Medicine Cabinet w/Mirror
Towel Holder
Click to expand...
"Head"

 
Midnightsun said:
Let's make this clear. A Vacu flush is another animal and no it is not conventional. It normally is an upgrade just like on freekin Bayliners as you called it. I have several dock neighbors who own Sea Rays and none have this option. Mind you no one is bigger than a 31. Here is a link to this years 310 express options, please note the vacuflush is optional. http://www.searay.com/Page.aspx/pageId/10231/pmid/171174/310-Sundancer.aspx

I have edited my post about bleach to reflect the problem with treating a vacuflush system. :smt001
Click to expand...

Hans, you are correct that it is sometimes optional. But, with a Sea Ray, it is standard much more than it is optional. Even on 26 footers, it's become more "the norm" for Sea Ray to make it standard. The 2010 310DA has the "overboard discharge" optional. The VacuFlush is standard.

By the way, with my current boat, I could dump bleach directly into the holding tank without the bleach entering the mac or the vac.... as long as I then don't go and use the mac. I have a Vacuflush. It's more about the whole set-up and how it's plumbed... As Gary showed in his drawing. Which, by the way Gary, I'm still jealous of that thing!

EDIT: The 305 is a non-US model... they have all kinds of crazy ideas across the pond! :grin:
 
Lazy Daze said:
Hans, you are correct that it is sometimes optional. But, with a Sea Ray, it is standard much more than it is optional. Even on 26 footers, it's become more "the norm" for Sea Ray to make it standard. The 2010 310DA has the "overboard discharge" optional. The VacuFlush is standard.

By the way, with my current boat, I could dump bleach directly into the holding tank without the bleach entering the mac or the vac.... as long as I then don't go and use the mac. I have a Vacuflush. It's more about the whole set-up and how it's plumbed... As Gary showed in his drawing. Which, by the way Gary, I'm still jealous of that thing!

EDIT: The 305 is a non-US model... they have all kinds of crazy ideas across the pond! :grin:
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Man oh man, I even have to correct you Sea ray owners as to what is what. :grin: That link to the 305 is the US site. :wow: Maybe a new 2010 model?

Here is what a conventional, non vacuflush system looks like.
http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/maintenance/marine-sanitation-systems/
 
from the site

Please note: This model is available in areas outside the US and Canada.
 
Thanks, missed that. I am surprised they show it on the North American site.
 
Midnightsun said:
Thanks, missed that. I am surprised they show it on the North American site.
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It's currently serving double duty. The international site does not currently (at least as of a few days ago) have 2010's.
 
Our current boat has the model 35 holding tank. It has the dip tube setups, no bottom inlets or outlets. Our '95 had the older system with the bottom outlet to the deck plate. The new system works really well in so much as when sucking the tank out, there is very little left inside. The old model always left about 1 1/2 inches (one hose diameter) of waste in the tank. ( had to pour in more antifreeze)
But unlike Gary's setup, the line from the deck plate goes staight into the top of the tank and will accept all the water a hose can put in it when flushing it. The dock side pump out and the overboard discharge have seperate dip tubes. everything mounts on top of the tank, nothing bolted to the floor as on my old boats.
So I guess all the systems are a little different per application.

I was always under the assumption that If the model number of a searay ended in a "5", it was an international model. Our 360 is a 395 across the pond.:huh:
 
bad assumption on all the internationals ending with "5".
most of the "sport boat" series do not
I never went to the international section of the web site before now. sorry
 
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OK... I was wrong in that some boats have their pumpout/discharge connection to the bottom of the tank. That's right... I was wrong.

GARY WAS WRONG

W-R-O-N-G

Needless to say... regardless of if the discharge connection is on the top or bottom, if you have a macerator/overboard discharge pump plumbed such that it stays "wet" with the juicy juice, you should not put harsh chemicals/bleach in your holding tank... and good luck with the whole stupid "ice in the tank" idea.

However, all "modern" vacuflush systems (which are pretty much the norm on Sea Rays with heads that are used a lot) have Dometic tanks which have top mounted fittings...
 
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Here's a link that explains the loops, Y-valve, and overboard discharge pump requirements:

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Environmental/pumpinfo/Design.aspx

Note the hose connected to the discharge pump is not supposed to stay "wet"... hence the loop... so I'm not crazy... and my picture is not a "one off"... It's properly designed.

So even though they sell holding tanks with a bottom connection for a discharge, if you have a macerator with a y in the plumbing, you have a loop and pouring stuff down the deck pump out fitting isn't going to do much good...
 
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