Holding tank problems-gctid350267

[Guest]

I have a 1987 38' bayliner, just spent the weekend and when we went to get it pumped out

very little in the holding tank, there was some water in the bilge but my ac drains there the next morning the water was gone. But when we flushed the toilet i went outside and the bilge pump was pumping out sewage so i am assuming the holding tank is cracked. It appears to big to remove without cutting the floor, is it possible to use some type of bladder holding tank inside the leaking one. Any body that has had that problem with the 38 i would appreciate any help.

[boatworkfl]

First check the hose connections through-out the system, if in fact the holding tank is cracked you will need to replace it. A holding tank rarely cracks unless frozen when full. Check all hoses and connections, if this does nt provide a solution,; then you need to empty the holding tank and fill with water and a food coloring, not brown or green, red works well; then go from there, if this does not work, ask us again.

[smitty477]

"But when we flushed the toilet i went outside and the bilge pump was pumping out sewage so i am assuming the holding tank is cracked."

On a 1987 38' it is much more likely to be the "Y" valve cracked and/or broken.

Hope this helps

[Guest]

I sincerely hope the holding tank is not cracked. If it is, there are a few possible fixes. But let's talk about the problem you described first...

You indicated you suspect water from the holding tank is entering the bilge. First and foremost, your nose will be able to tell you whether this is the case. Liquid from the holding tank would definitely get your attention.

One more way to tell whether there is a leak in the holding tank is to perform a simple vacuum test. This will require disconnecting some undesirable-odor infested pipes, but if you need to be sure it is a necessary evil. First, purchase a brake bleeder vacuum pump with a gauge. They're relatively cheap and widely available. Next, disconnect the hose feeding waste into your holding tank and plug the opening. Then disconnect the line at your holding tank pump out receptacle and plug it up. Finally disconnect the vent line, and run a hose from the brake bleeding pump to the holding tank. Pump it only until the gauge registers a few inches of vacuum. Hold it and observe the gauge to see if it looses vacuum. If it does, check the areas you plugged up and try the test again. If it loses vacuum again, you probably have a leak.

If you do have a pic, take some pics and post them. I'm sure other 38xx owners or people familiar with 38xx series have gone though this and can offer assistance.

Best of luck!

[Guest]

At times i could smell waste in the front bedroom, not strong sort of like an old boat with bad hoses. When i opened up the front bilge area where the waste tank is as i said there was water there but clear with just a little yellow cast and no oder. Huckins marina installed a vacuflush toilet in the mid bathroom and we left the electric head in the master, that gives us two different types of toilets and from two water sources. We use the vacuflush almost exclusively. Huckins also put new hoses on all the toilets.

When i first noticed the oder i saw the the master bath toilet was dry so i put some water in there

to keep fumes from coming back thru that.

I had my wife flush the vac u flush toilet while i watched the holding tank, i could feel vibrations

like it was emptying into the holding tank, and i saw no big leak. And yet after 6 days of use

it appeared to be empty. The thru hull just outside the front hull is where i noticed the discharge

and it smelled like sewage.

[boatworkfl]

randy30655 wrote:
At times i could smell waste in the front bedroom, not strong sort of like an old boat with bad hoses. When i opened up the front bilge area where the waste tank is as i said there was water there but clear with just a little yellow cast and no oder. Huckins marina installed a vacuflush toilet in the mid bathroom and we left the electric head in the master, that gives us two different types of toilets and from two water sources. We use the vacuflush almost exclusively. Huckins also put new hoses on all the toilets.

When i first noticed the oder i saw the the master bath toilet was dry so i put some water in there

to keep fumes from coming back thru that.

I had my wife flush the vac u flush toilet while i watched the holding tank, i could feel vibrations

like it was emptying into the holding tank, and i saw no big leak. And yet after 6 days of use

it appeared to be empty. The thru hull just outside the front hull is where i noticed the discharge

and it smelled like sewage.

Could be 2 different issues, one would be the vent line, second would be a leak in a connection, open up the hatch near the holding tank, put food coloring into the toilet and flush and flush, look for the color you use, be sure the food coloring is non staining, check for leaks.