Cruising / Liveaboards with small holding tanks

[simonpickard]

Hi there,

Few more details..

We're going to be hopping around the Med this season, then doing the ARC rally over the pond. So we're not going to be spending too long in any one place I guess. Few days at a nice place, try to take it in, then onto the next place.

The boat is a Hanse 385 (37'). 95% of the time it'll just be the two of us, and of course we'll be trying to use on land rest rooms wherever possible.

[svseachange]

Saw the videos of the Hanse 385. Looks like a comfortable and roomy boat. I wonder why they skimp on the holding tank?

We have a 16 gallon tank and pumped out weekly on the US east cost. Pumping out is a pain especially on the move because it seems like half the time the pump outs are broken, the pump out boat forgets to do our boat or their is a strong wind/current at the pump out dock. Pumping out when staying at one place is easier because we learn the quirks of the local system.

Pumping out in some major US ports (eg: NYC) is a joke despite strong funding for public pumpouts. I've only sailed once I the Med (Cyclades) for a week as a passenger and did not take notice of the facilities.

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[simonpickard]

Originally Posted by shanedennis

Saw the videos of the Hanse 385. Looks like a comfortable and roomy boat. I wonder why they skimp on the holding tank?

I guess these smaller boats have to skimp on something, the space inside, for a 37' boat we're really happy with. I'm sure we'll make do, once we get it I'll look to see if there's room to increase the tank size.

[svseachange]

Originally Posted by simonpickard

I guess these smaller boats have to skimp on something, the space inside, for a 37' boat we're really happy with. I'm sure we'll make do, once we get it I'll look to see if there's room to increase the tank size.

Sounds like you are going to have a great cruise on a nice boat. Hope you have wonderful time.

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[simonpickard]

Well I couldn't have done it without this forum that's for sure.

Not that I've done ANYTHING yet, but just getting to the point where I semi understand a lot of these ideas has been a huge learning curve for me and this forum has been by far the best resource one could wish for.

[chuckr]

simon -- we crossed over last may - but not on the arc thanks goodness - just the 2 of us by the way

we are in the med and have run into a few boats here that have no holding tank - so your little one is not much of a concern - specially since you will be hoping around a bit -

we will be in sicily, sarinia, italy, adriatic sea and back to tunisia for winter -- hope to see you along the way

[Painted Skies]

We are long time liveaboards, currently in Australia. One of the best items we have aboard is a small, self-contained camp toilet. Even with two working marine heads on board, this portable toilet gets quite a workout. It is a great back-up for times when the boat toilets need maintenance or the holding tanks are full. The camping toilet comes apart in two sections, the part with the waste looks like a suitcase and can be easily taken ashore and emptied into a land-based toilet or dump station. It often solves our problem of locating a pump out station (even rarer in Australia than in the US) - and we take it with us on road trips.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by JK n Smitty

That is still considered a discharge and is illegal in no discharge locations.

Originally Posted by Horror Hotel

Most of the US is a no discharge zone.

People get so confused about this.

1. In the US, the discharge of untreated sewage inside the 3 mile limit is illegal. Period dot.

2. There are marine sanitation devices (type I and II) that constitute treatment and allow discharge over the side in most places.

3. "No Discharge Zones" are specifically identified and no sewage, treated or not, can be discharged.

[shorebird]

The whole "pee" thing irritates me. You can't pee over the side a mile out to sea without getting a fine? Pee is 95% water, every sea creature on the planet pees into the ocean. Its bio-degradable, and diluted by billions of times within a few minutes. Its
a tempest in a pee-pot. (sorry Will.)