Holding tank quantity indication?

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SLyle01

Well-known member
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Mar 22, 2019
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138
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
Vessel Name
Aurelia
Newbie Question: Still learning the new R27 O/B Ranger. Not 'overnighting' much yet, so infrequently use Head. Same for Fresh water supply: showers, dishes...but which I understand use only fresh water and pump overboard (AND have a quantity gauge)
However, we haven't found any way to determine when Holding tank needs to be pumped out (uses seawater, right?)
No indicator provided, so is there one available/recommended to install (simply)?
-Or should we just plan to pump out (i.e. with our typical use) at every 3d-4th Refueling?

Thanks again,
Steve L.
2019 R27 O/B
 
If you can access a side of the tank you could install a Tech-Edge Smart Mini system. I have a 25SC and installed one, just love it. You install self adhesive strips down the side of the tank and then wire them to a small control/monitor panel. It was a royal pain to pull the wires from the tank to the control panel, which I installed in the galley but once I won that battle it all worked great. Now we know exactly how full the holding tank is and when to pump out. Anybody else wish the builder installed wire raceways to get wiring from the engine compartment to the electrical panel and the electronics mast to the instrument panel or am I the only one who curses when running wires??
 
For the early R27/OB models (maybe the newer ones have a holding tank level indicator) the holding tank is completely hidden along with the fresh water tank fwd of the fuel tank. The only way I could figure to know how full the holding tank was when I owned the early R27/OB model was to install a flow meter in the toilet's input hose and fwd of the raw water wash down T. Do a search for "flow meter" and/or "Fill Rite" to gather up more information on the flow meter method.
 
On my 2018 R31, the holding tank indicator is integral to the master head toilet. It is a green/yellow/red light system, explained very well in the manual for the toilet. In fact, once the holding tank is near full, the toilet will shut down after only six more "emergency" flushes !! Also, you very likely have fresh water heads. there's one way to be sure, but i don't suggest it !! (LOL)
Pete S
 
IF the newer R27 O/B heads ACTUALLY use fresh water for flushing (there's no specific info. in manuals), then even if I monitor the water quantity gauge (40 gals) in the Galley, I'd only get a rough estimate of the MAX. possible level in Holding (30 gals) because as I understand it, all (non-head) fresh water used simply flushes overboard, so i.e "1/2 full" on the fresh water gauge gives LITTLE clue as to how much has been retained in the Holding tank.
The only other "non-mod." method to monitor Holding tank level is to assume i.e. 1/2 gal. per flush -and keep count of flushes??? Sighhhh, nothing on boats seems easy.
 
SLyle01":2azrm2ai said:
IF the newer R27 O/B heads ACTUALLY use fresh water for flushing (there's no specific info. in manuals),
Click to expand...
The 27OB uses raw water to flush with. Page 11 of the latest manual, version 9, shows this although not very clearly.
 
Hi Steve,

On our newer R27s, we have a red indicator light next to the toilet that turns on when the holding tank is at full capacity. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

Thanks!
 
I installed the Tank Tender monitoring system. Easy install and absolutely accurate gage system.

tanktender.com
 
Todd":3aglf71c said:
I installed the Tank Tender monitoring system. Easy install and absolutely accurate gage system.

tanktender.com
Click to expand...
Easy and accurate, IF you can access the holding tank. I was looking to do this with my 27OB and you can't even see the tank, never mind install any sort of measuring system.
 
Jim: I would assume that when your R27/OB holding tank becomes full the head contents simply will not be expelled.... time to pump out for sure.

The unknown holding tank level was one of the biggest complaints I had for the R27/OB and I solved this to a large degree by installing a flow meter in the raw water line leading to the head. With its readout in gallons I knew approximately how full the holding tank was likely to be.
 
MarcoArias":4qvd5rs4 said:
Hi Steve,

On our newer R27s, we have a red indicator light next to the toilet that turns on when the holding tank is at full capacity. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

Thanks!
Click to expand...


My 2021 doesn’t have this? Can the dealer add it?
 
My 2020 27 OB has the red indicator. I bet the 2021 has one too. If you’ve never noticed it, that’s a good thing.

I have found that when I am a few flushes away from the light coming on, there will be some odor outside the boat from the vent no matter what product I have used, and the ride of the boat subtlety changes. Hard to explain but it’s now obvious to me and I can tell when I’m close.

Once the light comes on I feel ok using the system briefly 4-5 more times. No issues at all. It’s probably ok more than that but that’s a problem I don’t want to push to the limit!
 
As I have said in earlier posts, the simplest solution is to put a $10 digital counter next to the switch panel for the toilet. Keep track of your flushes and you know when you are getting close. What I don't like about the red light (you have one on your 2021) is that by the time you get to it, Murphy's Law says you are going to have trouble finding the time or a place to pump out. We found out the hard way that the detector was not working and it is an unpleasant learning experience. Tracking flushes is cheap and simple. On our Techma, the flush is .7 gallons. When I reach approximately 2/3 full based on flushes I go to the pump out station. That leaves me room for error. The biggest challenge is remembering to hit the counter when you hit the flush button.
 
Although using an abacus to count flushes sounds like a great use of time, I decided to just have a gauge installed. The boat yard doing some other work said they could cut out and patch a small area of fiberglass and get and ultrasonic one installed while it’s there. They went thru the head compartment and didn’t find a high level alarm panel. They also ran some cameras thru test holes they drilled to the tank area and there are no floats or any wires at the tank. I guess I didn’t get a high level alarm like some other new 27’s. They recommended we add another vent to the tank or upsize the current vent pipe. Never heard of that before but I guess it helps with bacteria and odor so it looks like more holes in the boat will be drilled.
 
For those of us with electric macerator toilets, like our Dometic Master Flush 8112, there is no constant volume per flush. The volume depends on how long the wet flush button is pressed.
We have measured the volume pumped out over time and have concluded we add just under 3 gallons per day to the black water tank. For our boat, that means going 9 days between pump outs with out resorting to workaround measures.
That said, it would be nice to have an tank indicator. The Gobius Pro Single Bluetooth Sensor Kit - 2 Levels ($215 at Defender) looks like an interesting solution. Anyone using this system?
 
Depending on your model of Ranger the simplest solution may be a flashlight and a line of sight to the holding tank. On my 2012 R27 I find my self going into the engine compartment on a regular basis for either maintenance checks or opening / closing seacocks which provides me ample opportunities to check the holding tank status. While I cannot see the entire holding tank, I only need to see a sliver from top to bottom in order to gauge the tank level. I hold a flashlight up to the tank and get all the information I need. See pic below...

Looking aft towards holding tank on starboard side: https://photos.app.goo.gl/5uqU2ioxjMQJXB2C8
 
Just did my 'training' on my 2021 R27. No mention of a red light, but we were shown an 'inspection window' on the side of the holding tank. Remove the step cover between the head and the hanging closet and using the camera on my phone I can take a picture slightly aft and starboard. Can't see it without a camera or mirror.

You can see a picture at:
https://gypsymoth.smugmug.com/Boat/i-qvZdcLF/A
 
MarcoArias":iuabd79t said:
Hi Steve,

On our newer R27s, we have a red indicator light next to the toilet that turns on when the holding tank is at full capacity. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Our 2021 R27 does not have this either.
 
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