Drilling holes...

Doris

If I may pick your collective brains again...?

I'm installing water, black and grey tanks (to try and conform to the rules in inland Europe as well as Turkey and Greece) as well as some pipes for wet heating from a webasto diesel heater.

So the questions for today are...

-Has anyone run anything between the inner and outer skins either over the bridge deck under the wheelhouse/saloon sole or in the forward cabins under the cubby holes but above the sole boards.

-Is this possible?

-How much room is there?

Plus any other wisdom there may regarding trying to fit tanks and link them together (I'm trying to avoid having a pump out setup in both hulls ).

I hope this makes sense. Please ask for clarification if not.

Thank you

Cy

Think_Again

Hello again Doris, it's difficult to say what you may find, as each boat might vary slightly from the next but we did find a gap from the rear port locker into the steering locker and then a small gap that went under the door to the starboard side. A couple of other alternatives one being the rear cockpit bulkhead, which some people forget about but there is quite a bit of room there. Secondly I think another alternative is to go through the rear cabin bulkhead under steps and at the back of lockers to the front bulkhead you can then decide whether to cross over behind or in front of the bulkhead, I have not done this but it's worth thinking about, remember if you go through a bulkhead, make sure you seal it afterwards.... Bob

Doris

Hi Bob.

I've got some of those options in use already but you are right, I'd forgotten about the transom route! Do you know anything about behind the skins in the forecabins for mounting radiators or under the saloon sole. I'm trying to save myself a long run with pipework for grey water!

I'm trying to save myself the trauma of cutting holes to see if there's room for a pipe or worse still putting self tappers into places I can't get a backing plate (I suppose worst of all is finding no void at all and going straight into the hull!).

Thanks again for the advice.

Cy

Think_Again

Hi Doris, are we talking about a fresh water tank in each hold that you want to common up ?
Have not come across any one with a wet heater system, prefer warm air ! Bob

Think_Again

Hi Doris, sorry I was thinking of the wrong tanks. With grey water from sinks, it could gravitate into a container which could be carried ashore. Shower water could be manual pumped into a container,
Black water can be something else, easy to drain into the sea but not something you want to be containerising !
I think it's a case of not getting to complicated. You perhaps need to look at your sailing area and the quantity of solutions that you need to transfer over a period of time ! Both black and grey ! Are you going to be land locked for long periods of time or will there be regular trips offshore ? Bob

Doris

Hi Bob,

Unfortunately (as far as plumbing goes) we'll be crossing Europe from France to the Black Sea via the Danube (humanitarian disaster and politics allowing (no flippancy intended)), so I reckon a good 5 months inland, not to mention overwintering in Greece or Turkey. Looking at all the different bits of legislation is pretty daunting and although I really like the Keep It Simple systems we already have aboard, my wife will appreciate a slightly less Spartan approach, especially as she's not a sailor (until now). Also without her indulgence this adventure would never have seen the light of day!

We're considering a composting toilet to deal with the worst of the pump out but I believe we still need to tank our grey water to satisfy the Turkish blue card system (I've given up thinking what they'll think about a composting system!).

As far as the heating goes, we've got raw water cooled yanmars so I was hoping to use the Webasto Thermo Top to heat a calorifier for the shower as well as radiators in the forecabins and a fan matrix in the saloon.

Oh well, only next season to get all this (and more) done, so maybe we'll end up keeping it simple anyway!

Thanks for listening.

Cy

Think_Again

Hi Cy, There does not seem to be any other takers on your problems ! I have sailed a 9m that had a holding tank, the other side of the bulkhead to the forward of the loo. I just thought it would be nice if you could put 2 tanks in the transom lockers, probably not the best place to add weight but I am sure this could be balanced out, also it would be better for venting the smells and also a discharge system. Have you tried any other boating forums ? I know you won't get reply's from Catalac owners but you might get more information on discharging waste in the canal systems ! Will keep the brain working ! Bob

Doris

Hey Bob, thanks for your ideas anyway, they've helped me move on a bit. Forward of the heads bulkhead was where I was thinking too, so that helps. Unfortunately I have fuel tanks in my transom lockers so they're already taken. I think I've just about got the design sorted it's just whether and where it's safe to cut through the inner skin or just go traditional and run everything through the bilge and assume long runs.

I'll try a couple of other forums as you suggest and have a word with the yard too when she comes out after Christmas.

Thanks again for sticking with me, it's been really helpful.

Cy

Scubacat

I've been following this discussion, but had nothing to offer that was better than Bob's comments, I have a holding tank just forward of my toilet in my 8m , But I have no idea what is between the inner and outer mouldings. I thought that there was virtually no space there, although I know I have some vestigial electrical wiring dating from when she was made that seems to have been put between the inner and outer skins. Personally, I would be hesitant to cut a large enough hole to explore putting in any water or waste piping if there is a void, so I have not previously commented.

 

One thing that I think might be of interest to all other members is the issue you suggest of Grey Water tanks.

I had assumed that toilet stuff had to go in a holding tank, but that washing up water etc could drain overboard. 

Quite a few members have traversed the French Canals, so should be able to authoritatively say what is required there. You may be the first here to deal with the Turkish Blue Card system, and if so I hope you will let us know about your experiences!

Dagnall 

ACHILLEA

We fitted a holding tank  just forward of the heads(vent in anchor locker ) . It only holds about 10 gal and uses gravity to empty. I did fit a a pumpout fitting in the anchor locker but have not used it yet.The tank was fabricated from polycarb with a 10mm ply case. it has been in use for 5 years with no problems.

Doris

Thanks guys. I'm still tentatively working my way through the jobs list... As Doris is a 9M the heads is aft so I'm putting the pump out black water tank under the starboard main sole. The grey water flexible tank will go under the shower that was the port quarter berth. I've decided to keep the two systems separate and discharge the grey over the side using a diverter valve off the manual bilge pump. Plumbing this way negates the need to link the two tanks and so avoids trying to run pipework across the bridge deck. Those should make things a little simpler. I hope that makes sense, I fear the whisky is making it all seem so easy!