How Long Does it Take to Fill your Holding Tank?

[Sabbatical II]

On looking at specs for the new Jeanneau 509 in Cruising Helmsman magazine I'm horrified to see that it has only an 80 litre holding tank. Is this typical and how long would this usually last with say 6 people on board? I find it hard to believe that all these production boats anchored in the Whitsundays here are all "doing the right thing" if that is their holding tank capacity.

[kthoennes]

I assume it must be plumbed like ours - sinks and showers plumbed to drain overboard ("gray water") but only the toilets go to the holding tank. 80 liters - roughly 20 gallons, depending on the amount of water used per flush - we have a jabsco forward and raritan aft, average flush maybe half a gallon, roughly. We have 20 gallon tanks too, although two of them, one for each head. That's 40 flushes per tank, not too bad, although of course you don't and probably can't "top off" a holding tank. Hmm. I guess that is kind of small if you've only got one.

[Sabbatical II]

Originally Posted by kthoennes

I assume it must be plumbed like ours - sinks and showers plumbed to drain overboard ("gray water") but only the toilets go to the holding tank. 80 liters - roughly 20 gallons, depending on the amount of water used per flush - we have a jabsco forward and raritan aft, average flush maybe half a gallon, roughly. We have 20 gallon tanks too, although two of them, one for each head. That's 40 flushes per tank, not too bad, although of course you don't and probably can't "top off" a holding tank. Hmm. I guess that is kind of small if you've only got one.

OK, that tells me what an average flush would be (approx 2 litres) which means 40 visits. If we average say 5 visits per 24 hours per person, that means that 1 person would fill the tank in less than 8 days or and with 6 aboard (what the Jeanneau 509 seems to be designed for) in 1.3 days. Since the charter boats here in the Whitsundays are chock-a-block with beds and therefore people and they are standard spec production boats, how can they be complying with the strict regulations regarding pumping out holding tanks if this is typical for capacity?

[Boracay]

About 150 litres lasts us 10 days of moderate use by two, or about 7.5 litres per person per day.

With extreme care (i.e. using marina toilets whenever possible) that can be extended to 20 days.

[FSMike]

Depends. Are any of your crew politicians?

[settingsun]

Our 2008 Hunter 44DS has a 45 gallon black water tank (170 liters). We fill it in about a week.

[Matt sachs]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Depends. Are any of your crew politicians?

I needed a good laugh today. Thanks!!

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by FSMike

Depends. Are any of your crew politicians?

haha..
a local small community just accidentally dumped 40,000 gallons of raw sewage the other day. happens all the time... sometimes it's in the millions of gallons if it's Seattle.
Meanwhile, here we are trying to figure out how to crap on a boat a couple times a year....

[bstreep]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

haha..
a local small community just accidentally dumped 40,000 gallons of raw sewage the other day. happens all the time... sometimes it's in the millions of gallons if it's Seattle.
Meanwhile, here we are trying to figure out how to crap on a boat a couple times a year....

Yup. We have a purasan and a recent guest thought it disgusting. Meanwhile her city water company averages one spill a month over 100,000 gallons.

[pjandart]

I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THE PEOPLE ON THE BOAT EAT AND DRINK ***

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by Boracay

About 150 litres lasts us 10 days of moderate use by two, or about 7.5 litres per person per day.

With extreme care (i.e. using marina toilets whenever possible) that can be extended to 20 days.

I'll bite: What is "moderate use" Cap?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Sabbatical II

On looking at specs for the new Jeanneau 509 in Cruising Helmsman magazine I'm horrified to see that it has only an 80 litre holding tank. .

Per head.

You have a holding tank in each head. So if its a 50 footer you'd have at least 3 heads so its 240 litres.

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Per head.

You have a holding tank in each head. So if its a 50 footer you'd have at least 3 heads so its 240 litres.

In real numbers that's 60 gal of poo. For newbies, 60 gal of poos is more than a 55 gallon drum! of poo!


Added to the oceans' poo-pourri. I think we should keep talking up desiccating heads.

[Piglet]

Whale poop is.....impressive.

[bobconnie]

If yall have ever been down tide and wind of a Sea Lion Rookery, you mite just have an Idea of the amount of poo put in the sea everyday from just seals and sea lions LOL It would really suprise ya !! your little 60 gals of poo is nothing !! LOL