Dickerson Owners

Hello All,

Just starting to plan out how and where to add a holding tank to our new pride & joy. The previous owner had removed the marine head and replaced it with a port-a-pot. I would like to put a head back in with holding tank to make it more family friendly So, I need some help. Can you kind 36 owners please share with me where your tank is located and how big it is? Much appreciated.

Happy dreaming of sailing to come.

Dana
S/V TrueNorth

Hi Dana,

We replaced the useless 6 gal. waste tank on our 37 with a 25 gal. flexible tank ( bag) works great. Make sure you have a manual pump and plenty of valves to give you complete flexibility.

Al Sampson

Al,

Thanks for the reply. Where did you put the holding tank? Any problems with leaks of pump out/collapsing issues with the tank?

Dana

Dana,

Keep in mind we are not talking the same boat. We put it under the settee just outside the head. No leak problems with leaks. The bag is surposed to collaps as you pump it dry! Easy to monitor how full it is.

Al

I own a 36 CC dickerson ketch 1972 (Compass Rose, Annapolis MD). My holding tank is probably about 30 gallons. It is located in the engine compartment under the mizzen mast. It is behind the engine but before the aft stateroom . It is mounted just under the deck. The holding tank was installed in 2001 right before I purchased the boat. My best guess is it is the same location as the original holding tank. I think the tank is constructed out of hard plastic. Tank can be pumped out via an outlet on the deck and has a macerator pump to discharge overboard.

Dana,

Notice you have changed vessel name to True North and hailing port to Annapolis (according to USGC data base). I have made those changes to our DOA records. Glad to see you tackling the "mucky projects" first. See you at the rendezvous.

Crew Rest,

Good catch. Yes, I did make the changes. May True North bring our family many years of fun memories. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

To all,

For those of you with the 36 CC, did your boats originally have the holding tank under the cockpit like Gcarneal's? I have two water tanks back there, but did not see anything indicative of a holding tank; however, there is an unused seacock. Hmmm, the investigation continues. Please keep the comments coming...

Hi Dana,
Thought I'd weigh in from the wilds of New Hampshire. I've got a "73" aft cockpit ketch "IRIS" - a bit different than the center cockpit ketch, but here we go.....

We had no holding tank on the boat when we bought it, so we installed a complete holding system from scratch....

I had read about "gravity" drain systems for off shore work & wanted to minimize the runs or hose to minimize leaks & smell in hose & complexity of valves & pumps. So I mounted a 22 gallon tank just aft of the bulkhead between the head and the main cabin. The tank is a hard heavy gauge polyethelene waste tank & sits behind the sette backs. It takes about 1/2 of the space.. Hose drains into the top direct from head - no y valve in line. Drain hose out of bottom to deck pump out. Another drain out of the bottom direct to thru-hull fitting for overboard drain when offshore. The offshore drain works via "suction" - open the valve while moving & everything drains. Oh...a 3/4 inch air vent out of the top. The whole set up has been in place for 5 years ..no issues. Simple & easy.

Dave Heminway has a "composting: head theat he just loves on "tenacity". Might be worth a look since it would cost less to install & no aggravation of holding tanks. Hmmmmmmm
Mike



No "Y" valves. Minimal hose runs ;drain

Mike,

Thanks for the reply. I ended up purchasing a 20 gal tank that I will be installing under the v-berth. I will have to cut a bit of the berth access area in order to get the tank in; once in, there is plenty of room. I also purchased (through e-bay and other places) all of the fittings (tank and deck), y-valves and vented loops. This project will begin in about 1 week. Can't wait to keep making progress on her. Thanks again for the post. Happy Spring!

Dana

I built a 25 gallon tank out of marine plywood, coated with epoxy and FRP cloth. Its been in the engine room of my 35' CC Cygnet for 20+ years. I sized the tank based on the maximum dimensions I could sneak past the engine, after removing the alternator and any other bits sticking out. I used a combination of hose (use only that specified for waste water) and PVC pipe to plumb in the tank. The boat came with 2 plastic tanks with moulded in hose barbs which failed within a few years of my ownership (1977). I removed the aft head and put in a desk in its place. I sometimes wish I had it back. Also wish I would have kept the folding sink from the aft cabin. Try finding one of those now days! Good luck, Tom