Experienced Cruisers: Waste holding?

[SteveB]

Hello everyone!

We have the marine head with holding tank option on our Ranger 21EC, but we haven't used the head on any outings yet, mainly because we're not sure about best practices concerning the waste holding tank.

I bought a few packets of Microtabs to use to treat the holding tank. These are the microbes that break down hydrocarbons and coliforms into fatty acids, supposedly a safe and effective waste tank treatment. I mean, it's still waste, but these are supposed to work well controlling odor in the holding tank itself.

So, on to my question: How long can we go before having the waste tank pumped out? We're only going to be doing extended cruising every few weeks, and it seems rather gross to keep waste in the tank for too long. So... how long can you continue to use the waste holding tank before you must get it pumped out?

**We'll rarely, if ever, be far enough out to discharge the tank overboard.

Thanks,

-Steve

 

[Byrdman]

We have used the PETT Toliet and Wagg-Bag systems for years and love it particuarly on smaller boats. You may want to take a look at it. Some of us have used the wagg bags with a 5 gallon bucket and snap on lid, others have enjoyed the use of the "suit case folding toilet" set up. End of the day...just toss it with the rest of the trash. We sold our porta-potty.... and never liked pumping or dumping. Just a thought.

http://www.thepett.com/index.php?PageLa ... &pageID=98

 

[j&lgray]

The Laurie Ann uses the holding tank quite a bit. We always pump it out at the end of the adventure, whether it be two days or two months long and regardless how much is it. Before we hit the boat ramp to take her home, we will put a lot of water into the tank and let the boat's movement do the "wash cycle" then we pump out. Leftover liquids are not so much the concern as solids and no matter how thorough we are in the cleaning, there is always residue left in the tank, but these have not been a concern or a problem over almost two years and over 400 engine hours.

Now, we use very little chemical additives because of the frequency of pumping. We do clean the marine head with some vinegar and fresh water and pump that through the system.

Today's manufacturing materials have eliminated many issues. Use the system as needed, add a lot of water at the end of the adventure and pump her out.

 

[Gregg]

This may not direcly relate to SteveB concerns, but I thought I would share our thinking in this matter with our R21ec. There was much debate originally on going with either the permanet head and holding system vs. what we did.
We installed a 2.5 gallon thetford porta-pottie that is plumbed for dockside pumpout. We also installed a quick disconnect system so we could take the pottie out entirely in the event there is no dockside pumpout but facilities for "emptying" were available. Our concerns were the same as SteveB's. We were concerned about leaving contents in the tank for long periods, odour, etc. I think no matter what system is in use, frequent pumpouts is the best practise, especially if the the boat is going to be trailered a fair bit. The "natural" ( ie: non-formaldehyde) treatments work well and do a pretty good job of keeping it smellin' pretty, at least for a little while.
thanks,
Gregg