Any ideas on replacing the holding tank?

It is stainless and has developed a leak. My hope is that the tank is standard for Corbins and that there is a company that makes a plastic replacement. I have read that plastic is the best choice for sewage. The tank is located under the berth, more or less built in, sort of wedge designed and maybe a bit of a parallelogram. Any advice is very much appreciated. Take care, Gene S. (#158, Swell Dish).

a. Gene, in response to your mail to Lester, I respectfully submit my experience with the Waste Tank. Somehow I don’t think it’s a standard fit. I replaced my tank in its entirety with a stainless, reason being that I easily pulled the old one out through the forward hatch and had a model for a new one. I had the new one made out of heavier gauge stainless, c/w baffles, extra welds in all the seams & corners etc. and enlarged it a bit as well. BTW, I did look into a plastic and bladder type of tank but it just did not work for me as I felt that a stainless tank would be less prone to collapse during a pump out. (That’s how my original tank failed in the first place). Here is a mistake I made: When installing the new tank, I sealed it in place with “expanding foam” which worked very well, but I should have wrapped the tank in plastic first and then foamed it in place. This would have made future removal very easy and may have given the new tank that extra seal in event of a leak ….. Just a few thoughts, good luck with the project. Frank B. s/v #186, Visitant.

b. I have a holding tank under the forward cabin, on the centre line, and another one under my port, aft cabin. Both were custom made by me of fibreglass. First, I made a mold using Masonite/Hardboard for the flat panels with softwood lumber for the edges and corners. Then I painted it with polyester resin to seal it. Next, I polished the mold with paste wax, 2 or 3 coats. After this hardened, I applied a mold release agent. Then, the tank was laid with 3 layers of fiberglass, alternating matt/roving/matt, of suitable weights. I believe I used 1&1/2oz matt and 24 oz roving (the specification weights apply to different areas!). See Holding Tank (without lid). Note the interior anti-sloshing baffle. I made the lid of the tank separately and bonded it to the top of the main tank. Finally, I installed a cleanout hatch, an inlet, an outlet, and vents. You may want to have a method of gauging. I originally used oil tank float level gauges but they always corrode. Now, I have to check the level by opening the cleanout (ugh!) and looking in with a flashlight. David S., s/v #050, Opportunity.

Category: TOILET SYSTEM