Holding Tank

[marksandyham]

I have a 2019 R-27OB and spend most of my time on rivers and The Great Lakes. I can't use the macerator to empty the holding tank. I have no idea how full it is. I would like to add a gauge. Has anyone had success doing this? I have seen the capacitive gauges using the strips of copper or aluminum but not sure I can get to the tank. Thought about using a handheld counter and looking for a pump out after xx flushes.
Also is there a vent filter? If so where is it located?

 

[SJI Sailor]

Unless it was added after the factory there is no vent filter. Some folks recommend the big orange filter or build a similar one (or convert to freshwater flush).

As for fill level, do you have the Tecma push button flush control with green light? If so, the light turns yellow at about 50% full (if I remember correctly) and red at 90% after which it won’t flush unless given override presses.

 

[Mastercraft]

I have a Tecma flush on a 2017 R29. It has a green light when less than half full. Yellow light when half. I filled the black tank with a garden hose thru the pumpout cap. When full, the toilet started to back fill. THE RED LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I wonder why. I hooked up a $175 TM1 SCAD gauge. I still have to calibrate it with a full and empty tank. So, I can't speak on how well it works yet.

 

[SJI Sailor]

That is a great idea. When we've tested ours similarly the red light works. I'm guessing that there is an upper sensor that might be out for you. Light is also possible but seems less likely.

Maybe try filling it and using one of the oxygen type additives (e.g. odorlos or zaal) overnight, then pump out and see if it might just be a dirty sensor?

I have thought about the scad gauge as a backup, would like to hear how that goes.

 

[Brian 27 OB]

I have a 2019 R-27OB and spend most of my time on rivers and The Great Lakes. I can't use the macerator to empty the holding tank. I have no idea how full it is. I would like to add a gauge. Has anyone had success doing this? I have seen the capacitive gauges using the strips of copper or aluminum but not sure I can get to the tank. Thought about using a handheld counter and looking for a pump out after xx flushes.
Also is there a vent filter? If so where is it located?

I had the high level red light added as well as a vent filter. Bunch of screws in the quarter-berth and the tanks are exposed. But I have a 2021 and I think my dinette is elevated a bit more than the earlier 27ob’s. So perhaps you have an entirely different design in the cave.

 

[Mastercraft]

I believe that the factory sensors for the yellow and red lights are outside the tank. I saw two factory sensors stuck on tank.

 

[marksandyham]

Unfortunately I have no lights that I can find. I was hoping to get information from the factory about how to add a level indicator or what method they suggest to monitor holding tank. I could not find a panel to remove in the "cave". I could not find any access to the tank from the removeable step access where the shower sump is located.

 

[philbyrd]

I was just thinking about this. I am about to order this product: https://www.gobiuspro.com/

Comes in around $200 shipped. Would mount in the sight port under the step. Easy power from the shower pump there for me.

My only concern is the height of the sight port on the R25 holding tank. Hopefully it is 3/4 ish and this product will give some warning.

It has bluetooth to an app., plus a hardwire LED that shows green then red when the tank hits the sensor level. I figure I would mount the LED on the bulkhead under the step. Not thrilled with the “fish” shape, but better than the current warning system of the toilet being full. Would see it every time I go from v-berth to cabin.

 

[philbyrd]

Further to this, on my R-25 the sight port is under the step to the v-berth, but is is up in the starboard corner, so you really have to get low to see it. II missed it when I first tried to find it. t is a about 2 1/2 inch hole cut in the fiberglass to show the tank. The problem of course is by the time the level is visible, it is most full, and there is no gauge or warning light.

 

[philbyrd]

The Gobius is too big to fit in the sight port. I am not going to try and open the port up due to tank puncture issues. The sensor would fit if round, but the spur for the wiring is the problem. I plan to do some Dremel work over the winter to modify it to have the wiring output on the top. I ordered direct from Sweden, it arrived in a few days with reasonable shipping.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

Here’s our fix for this situation. The R-23 reportedly has an 11 gallon black water holding tank. We use 10 gallons as our baseline. We only use fresh water to flush and we have a gallon container of fresh water in the head marked off in 1/2 gallon increments. We use 1/2 gallon per flush and make a mark on a board after each flush so we know exactly where we stand or sit depending on…you get the point. A 10 gallon tank using 1/2 gallon of fresh water per flush gives you 20 flushes. Four flushes a day gives us 5 days of use before we head to a marina for pump out. Easy Peasy and full proof. We refill the gallon container from our fresh water tank.
Karl

 

[Robvic]

Philbyrd, did you ever solve the tank monitoring with the Gobius?
Rob