09/29/2009 04:40:28 PM
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chuckr
Member
Posts: 22
Joined: 08/12/2009
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We bought our first houseboat a couple of months ago and I have been doing some things that that the former owners have, let's say, need improving on. I have several questions but I will start with these. What is the capacity of the freshwater tank and the holding tank? The boat came from a lake where they could discharge the head directly to the lake. On our lake we have to use the holding tank. I can't seem to get the head to discharge to a holding tank. I hope it hasn't been removed. Should there be a vent or an overflow line on the holding tank? There was on the last express cruiser I had.
I would appeciate any info that I can get as this will be my winter project to get all the little things corrected.
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09/29/2009 04:59:31 PM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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" I HOPE it hasn't been removed"
I think you're going to have to start crawling around in the belly of the beast and trace some lines/hoses. FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF where that head discharge actually goes and whether or not you even have a holding tank. There may be a selector valve. If there is, switch it to the holding tank and LOCK it so it doesn't get moved. You can be fined if it's not.
IF there's a holding tank there should be a vent; but in your case who knows???
Sounds like a fun winter project! Have fun!!!!!
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
Edited: 09/29/2009 at 05:00:10 PM by stmbtwle
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09/29/2009 05:11:19 PM
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Pirate
Admin - super moderator group
Posts: 1346
Joined: 10/08/2002
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Carlcrafts did not come with holding tanks, it had to be ordered. in those days there were no pumpout stations. I doubt it has one. What lake are you on, a landlocked one?
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The pirate
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09/29/2009 05:12:03 PM
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Pirate
Admin - super moderator group
Posts: 1346
Joined: 10/08/2002
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Freshwater tank held 100 gallons
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The pirate
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09/29/2009 06:48:42 PM
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chuckr
Member
Posts: 22
Joined: 08/12/2009
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I forgot to mention that the boat is a 37 footer. There is a pump out fitting on the deck and a hose from the fitting goes into the bilge. There are two valves in the discharge line from the head. One goes to a thru-hull and the other under the floor. I have closed the thru-hall and open the other, but the head won't flush. Maybe after all the years of not being used the gate is stuck in the valve?
I seem to have to fill the water tank quite often for being a 100 gallon tank.
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09/29/2009 07:56:39 PM
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Pirate
Admin - super moderator group
Posts: 1346
Joined: 10/08/2002
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They put some 50and 60 Gallon tanks in 37s. If the holding tank is full it will not flush. I would bet that the holding tank was installed after it was purchased. I was at the factory at least twice a week in 1978 and very few ever had a holding tank. I doubt it is the valve.
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The pirate
Edited: 09/29/2009 at 07:57:55 PM by Pirate
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09/29/2009 09:04:08 PM
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Ej
Admiral
Posts: 620
Joined: 05/15/2005
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My 57' came with a 40 gl tank from the factory. Located mid-ship under the floor joists and between the stringers. It was a aluminum tank that I had to replace because it was leaking. For reference my water tank was located between the stringers by the rear bedroom.
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09/30/2009 05:31:51 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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Sounds like you have the holding tank and a "Y" valve between the head and the holding tank. Closing the seacock by itself will not switch the head to the holding tank; you have to crawl down there, find the "Y" valve and move it to the holding tank position.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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09/30/2009 02:50:40 PM
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chuckr
Member
Posts: 22
Joined: 08/12/2009
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What I have is a tee, one side goes to a valve then to the seacock. The other side of the tee goes to a valve then to a hose that goes under the floor to I assume a holding tank. I closed the valve to the seacock and opened the other one, and when I flused the head it filled with water. It wouldn't empty until I opened the valve to the seacock.
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09/30/2009 03:43:29 PM
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boatlover
Member
Posts: 82
Joined: 11/10/2008
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My Carlcraft has the same thing as yours. I have a tee, a valve and a hose that goes under the floor to who know where. I have never opened the valve to try the hopefully there tank and probably never will
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1991 70' Pluckebaum Baymaster
10' AB RIB 25hp Suzuki
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09/30/2009 06:34:57 PM
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SomeDumbGuy
Member
Posts: 134
Joined: 08/21/2008
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Pirates answer seems most logical. Unless the hose from the head to the tank is capped off or there is another valve, the tank may be full, or the line plugged. I suppose the vent could be blocked too. Have you attempted to pump out the tank through the pump out fitting? On a lot of boats, when pumping out you can tell which through hull is the vent cuz you can hear it sucking air when pumping out. Another way to tell if the vent is plugged is to take off the pump out fitting cap (which then becomes the vent) and try to flush. I would think (and Pirate probably KNOWS) if you have the lines that would go to the tank, you probably have the tank.
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Gettin' Dumber Every Day
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09/30/2009 06:50:58 PM
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Pirate
Admin - super moderator group
Posts: 1346
Joined: 10/08/2002
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Like I said these were special order and Somedumbguy is right if you have the lines you should have the tank. Everything he said is correct, He must not be the dumb guy. It seems that I remember there was a y valve from the factory when holding tank was ordered. You know out of all the 37s I saw I do not remember seeing one with a holding tank. you may have turned the valve in the wrong position as a Y valve is off left right.
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The pirate
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09/30/2009 07:04:56 PM
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Pirate
Admin - super moderator group
Posts: 1346
Joined: 10/08/2002
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What are you calling a Seacock? It would be the intake, I have never seen a Seacock on a houseboat on the discharge line from the factory. I have seen a couple that were done later on head dischage line that were below the waterline as a safty precaution if the hose went. Most all large Cruisers are equipped in that manner
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The pirate
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10/01/2009 09:03:52 AM
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chuckr
Member
Posts: 22
Joined: 08/12/2009
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I have decided to give up and leave everything as it was when when I got the boat. I tried to have the tank pumped but nothing came out. The cap looked like it had never seen a deck key. I replaced the deck fitting as the hose connection to the fitting had rusted through and broke off when I was tracing the lines. I can not see where the head discharges as it appears to discharge underwater, is this possible?
Last question for awhile, what was the aluminum tank for that is located behind the bulkhead where the bathroom vanity is about mirror height? There is a fill cap and a vent like on a gas tank on the outside cabin side. The fill cap says "gas" but the lines from the tank has garden hose on it and runs to where the house water pump is located, but it has been plugged off. Another mystery.
Pirate you asked earlier where we boat. We are on Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, the boat came from Old Hickory Lake.
Thanks to all for your input.
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10/01/2009 09:33:53 AM
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stmbtwle
Admiral
Posts: 2142
Joined: 04/22/2003
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If it is indeed discharging underwater (and yes it IS possible) your decision to "leave everything as it was" could prove to be expensive if you get caught.
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Willie She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw
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10/01/2009 11:02:00 AM
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RCPILOT
Admiral
Posts: 274
Joined: 07/11/2007
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And gee, their has to be a million 37' Carl Crafts on that lake, right?
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10/03/2009 06:35:12 PM
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Pirate
Admin - super moderator group
Posts: 1346
Joined: 10/08/2002
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On priest he will not have a problem , he has a crown head and the holding tank is there. no one to check anyway.
I can almost guarantee that I sold that boat when it was new. I was going thru some stuff and he did put holding tanks to comply but that started in 1978. Most were never used as like I said there were no pumpouts. What year is your boat?
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The pirate
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10/06/2009 05:36:34 PM
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chuckr
Member
Posts: 22
Joined: 08/12/2009
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The boat is a 1978 and there is a pump out fitting
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10/09/2009 05:33:56 PM
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houseboat8972
Admiral
Posts: 307
Joined: 05/05/2006
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From what I understand, the marina owners on Priest are keeping track of who pumps and who doesn't and making the list available to USCG and TWRA. If nothing else, give "Captain Commode" $5.00 each month to pump out your deck fitting. LOL
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10/10/2009 01:00:12 PM
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soundTech41
Member
Posts: 26
Joined: 07/25/2008
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I had a 37' CarlCraft and live in the Hendersonville area. I also work with the Pirate brokering boats. Drop me an IM and maybe I can help you with your problem!
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SoundTech41
Loving Life!
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