Hello,

I have purchchased a 40 ft. Harbor Master, and am putting on a land locked lake in nashville tn. When i bought the boat, the previous owner told me it had a holding tank, but it is no where to be found. I was told by a boat yard that it would cost the same to put in a tank with new hoses, as it would to add a raritan system at about $2000, which is what they recommended. First of all i dont know that i could do that on this lake, secondly i cant see how that would cost the same. could you please give me my best options that would work in my case.

thank you... i'm lost

I really DO wish y'all would put just a LITTLE bit of information in
your profiles...it would make my job SO much easier, and you'd get
answers to your questions instead of questions.



The first thing you need to do if learn the what's legal in your
waters...that information is readily available on the net by simply
googling "TN marne sanitation law," which is what I did. And if you
read this: http://www.boat-ed.com/tn/course/p4-13_wastedischarge.htm
y ou'll see that if you're one of these bodies of water in TN, you can
use a treatment device: Barkley; Caulderwood; Cheatham;
Chickamauga; Cordell Hull; Cumberland River; Dale Hollow; Ft. Loudon;
Kentucky; McKellar; Melton Hill; Mississippi River; Nickajack; Old
Hicklory; Pickwick; Reelfoot; South Holston; Tellico; Tennessee River;
and Watts Bar.



However, if you're on one of these bodies of water, you must have
a holding tank that can ONLY be emptied by pumpout: Beech River
Lakes; Boone; Center Hill; Cherokee; Chilhowee; Douglas; Ft. Patrick
Henry; Great Falls; J. Percy Priest; Lake Graham; Nolichucky; Normandy;
Norris; Ocoee 1, 2 and 3; Tims Ford; Watauga; Wilbur; and Woods.



Depending on where you are and where you plan to cruise (or can), you
may be able to use both--the treatment device where it's legal, a tank
where it's not. Or just go with a tank, which is legal in all waters.



$2k seems more than a bit high to install either system.



But how you could buy a boat--or anything else--without first verifying
that everything the seller claims is on it is actually on it and in
good
working order? Which is kinda hard to do without also determining
where everything is...something that's also important to know. Do
you even know whether the toilet--or anything else--works properly?



If the seller is honest (most are, at least about something THAT
obvious), it prob'ly does have a tank...I suggest you call him to ask
where it is before you spend money for another one/



And btw...marine sanitation systems are NOT septic systems...in fact,
they they're just the opposite of a septic system. To understand what
they are, and how to operate and maintain 'em correctly (which is how
you PREVENT problems instead of constantly being forced to cure
problems), I suggest you check out the _link_ my signature.


peghall38741.8734953704

I was not able to give any information on my profile that i thought would be useful, like city or state, or type of boat etc...therefore I gave you the city/state and type of vessel. anyway, I thank you for the information for the bodies of water in tennssee. I have searched the web looking for help. I undstand that knowing that info is second nature to you, but again thats what you do in order to do your job and sell your book.

[QUOTE=Aquaholic]
I was not able to give any information on my profile that i thought would be useful, like city or state, or type of boat etc...therefore I gave you the city/state and type of vessel. anyway, I thank you for the information for the bodies of water in tennssee. I have searched the web looking for help. I undstand that knowing that info is second nature to you, but again thats what you do in order to do your job and sell your book.



Did you find what you were looking for?

I cannot imagine that Harbor Master ever built a boat without a holding tank or that they could sell one with a head and no tank. Now a prior owner may have had a leak and gutted the tank and was too cheap to replace it. Surely there are hatches that you can stick your head into and shine a light to see what is in the bilges. Call Harbor Master and ask them where that tank would have been placed. Usually they are dead center over the keel and midships or further back.

My friend, it appears you are like a lot of us when we started and acted on impulse rather than knowledge. Have no fear, knowledge can be gained and if you have money then anything on a boat can be fixed. I agree with Peg that $2000 sounds high for installing a Purasan on an existing toilet.

If the boat was built after 1978, it more than likely DOES have a holding tank, but if it's older than that, it may not. $2000.00 isn't out of the ballpark at all, for a Raritan system, especially if you include installaiton charges. Holding tanks, for the most part, are priced by size. An 80 gallon tank, depending on where you buy it, can be in the $600.00 range. Then there's transportation costs - it has to be shipped by truck. Ancillary parts (through hull fittings, vent lines, hose, clamps, adapters, etc.) all add to the cost. To install a holding tank, sometimes requires cutting large holes in the decking for access. Labor costs could be as much as 2 or 3 full days worth.

The present Marine Sanitation Laws were originally scheduled to be implemented in 1978, however a waiver was granted by the EPA. The laws finally [i]did go into effect in March, 1980.

And yes, as Peggie mentioned earlier - everybody take note - the more info you can include in your profile (or in your first posting), the better. We don't need your home address and phone number, but it does help to know what type of boat it is, how big it is, how old it is, and where you keep it and use it (body of water). Rules, regulations and other applications vary according to size of boat and body of water where it's kept. Lake Cumberland's requirements in Kentucky are completely different from those at Lake Mead, Lake Travis or Lake Lanier, for example.

Also, if you can give a little information on what type of system is on the boat will help, as well. Simply to say you have Jabsco System or a Raritan System doesn't really mean much, unless you can come up with the model of the actual item. Also, check to see how the plumbing is run, where it goes, and to what. Our crystal balls get a little hazy without sufficient input...
Vic Willman38834.4464583333

Vic:

Since Peg is gone will you watch over us and shower us with your pearls of wisdom?

Rodd, as long as you don't request a golden shower, I'll try to accomodate...! Have a great weekend!