Aux. fuel vs. holding tank

[Rickysa]

Previous owner on our 45C converted the holding tank to an aux. fuel tank. We don't need the aux. fuel (although it's nice to have), but since we may start cruising, we need a holding tank.

What do you think would be easier...add a small holding tank and a pump-out thru hull, or re-convert the fuel tank back to a holding tank?

Rick

 

[Maynard Rupp]

I would re-convert it. I am sure that all the Hatteras stuff is still there, maybe even the Y valve.

 

[garyd]

Depends on your situation. If your normally don't go offshore and just sit on the boat at the marina then you might want to convert it back. If you go offshore then a 25 gal plastic tank would be easy to locate and plumb. I love extra fuel when I'm boating or flying just can't get enough.

I've used fuel at an alaming rate when caught in some pretty tough stuff. Your cruising range can be reduced by more than half under the right BAD conditions. If you've never experienced this it is a site to behold. Fuel keeps going down in rough seas and wind and you don't seem to be getting much closer to port. Nerve racking, exrtra fuel keeps the butteryflies to a minimum.

Plus he must of added it for a reason!

Have fun but I'd keep the fuel. garyd

 

[Paul45c]

Even if you think you might want to keep that 45c forever, it's possible you may sell her sometime and that new owner is going to expect a holding tank with a decent capacity. Plus, you shouldn't need a new overboard thru-hull -- that should still be there. Mine's under the fwd half of the port motor. I'm gonna guess yours should be in the same place.

Sooo...I'd reconvert. Having said that, I have NO idea how you get the last remnants of fuel residue out of that tank short of cutting it open with a big enough hole to be able to get in through the top with oil absorbent diapers and lots of degreaser. Doesn't sound like fun!

 

[luckydave215]

I bet some of that enzyme holding tank treatment would eat the remnants of diesel right up. Yum!

 

[MikeP]

Lat year I re-converted the forward 105 gal waste tank from fuel back to waste on our 53. It was full of fuel at the time. I pumped all the fuel that could be reached from that tank to the main tanks. I then dumped several gallons of Marine Grease off into the tank and filled it with water. A few days later I had it pumped by the pumpout boat. Nobody complained!

IRONICALLY - I have now re-re-converted it back to fuel, having decided, as did the previous owner, that the additional fuel capacity was more useful than the waste tank.

 

[mike]

Add an Lectrsan or similar unit and a small holding tank, and keep the xtra fuel capacity. You can never carry enough fuel.... but you can always find other legal ways of dealing with waste issues, esp if you are offshore beyond the 3 mile limit.

 

[tomrealest]

I bought a 46 that had the tank coverted to fuel. I bought a LectraSan and put it under the bottom berth in the V-berth.

 

[MikeP]

Yep, the LectraSan eliminates the issue. The fact that it can treat waste better than sewage treatment plants do it seems to be lost on the lawmakers. Fortunately, one thing great about laws in the United States is our long and proud history of ignoring stupid ones!

 

[Rickysa]

Thanks for the responses all....

I looked into the Lectra-San, which I had on a previous boat, and was quite happy with...but, since the vacu-flush uses fresh water, it complicates using a Lecta-San. ( In speaking with Raritan, I can add an "ElectroScan" with a 4 gal salt feed w/ pump that ties into freshwater system and bypasses Vacuflush head...no extra thru-hull...that may be the ticket)

Putting in a new holding tank, will require a new hole in the deck, which I'd really like to avoid...not to mention where I'd put the tank.

We fish about 45-60 miles out so we really don't need the extra fuel, but I do like the warm/fuzzy feeling of knowing it's there. (previous owner fished out of Savannah)

All of the previous plumbing is history, and access doesn't look all that user-friendly as the only thing I can see is the sender from the hatch...re-converting may be a bit of a biatch..

Mulling.....mulling....mulling....and thanks again for the input

Rick

 

[Liquid Asset]

Convert the Tank back. I just did this last year too. It turned out to be great, but you want to make sure that you get all of the fuel out of the lines. If you do not, it will ruin your new high dollar waste hose. Don't ask me how I found out, but I know. It turned out to be easier that I thought.