Best replacement holding tank

[zboss]

We are looking at a boat that has a 15 year old plastic holding tank that -lucky us- is really easy to access and remove. I guess that at one point the inspection port was not screwed on correctly and it stripped the threads, so it leaks smell / fluid from the port. Figuring that it may be time just to replace the whole thing:

1) What is the order of preference for holding tank materials? Stainless is obviously impermeable but its heavy and susceptible to corrosion.

2) Are there specific manufacturers that are more preferred than others? For example, it would be nice to have two holding tank vents, a port for a gauge, and so forth... rather than have to drill them out myself.

[peghall]

Thickwalled rotomolded PE is the recommended material for waste holding. And Ronco Plastics Ronco Plastics marine Tanks (no relation to the VegoMatic Ronco) is your best source for a tank. They make TOP quality thick-walled water and waste tanks for a very reasonable price and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular, and they install fittings--as many as you want--in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank.



Depending on the tank location, a single 1" vent line may be as effective at preventive odor as two. You won't need a port for a gauge if you go with a tank level indicator that has senders which attach to the outside of the tank.


All that said, if a leaking inspection port is the only thing wrong with your existing tank, you may not need a new one. Inspection ports don't thread into the tank itself, a threaded cover threads into a flange that's secured to the tank using screws and sealed by a rubber gasket. A rubber o-ring seals the cap. I suspect that reinstalling the screws and replacing the gasket and o-ring just might solve your problem. Worst case scenario, you make the hole larger and install a larger inspection port. Ronco also has the inspection ports and replacement gaskets and o-rings.


--Peggie

[zboss]

Thanks Peggy!