Installation of blackwater holding tank in1986 Carver Mariner 32.

[Doc o bay]

Hi, I'm buying this well maintained Carver 32 to use as a part time live aboard. It has never had a black water holding tank, and I'll need to install one.
Does anyone have advice on how to approach it? Is it a do it yourself project or best to hire a professional?
Thanks

[km1125]

I'm surprised that vintage and model NEVER had a holding tank!! Are you sure about that?

Is there a space for one, or have you scouted out where you would put it? Do you need to install head(s) for it too? Have you thought about how large a tank you'd want/need?

And, if you're handy at all, I'd say it was a do-it-yourself project. Something like that could get VERY expensive just in labor alone.

[Midnightsun]

Sure sounds odd. I assume there is a toilet on board? Where does the flush go if you have no black water tank?

[Doc o bay]

The head pumps through a macerator and out the side. I don't know if the previous owner was actually doing this, but I would never.
There's a space in the hull, beneath the forward bunk where a tank could fit - and that's where the wastewater hoses run to...
I've been calling around, but no one can really give me a straight answer about it.

[km1125]

Well, if the previous owner was really doing that, I hope they were WELL offshore!! You'd get cited with such a contraption on any inland waters! (even if you never used it!).

Once locate a place where you can put the tank, then I'd check out greatlakesskipper dot com site. They have a lot of tanks from various OEMs and you might find one that fits your needs at a great price. I bought a couple for a Larson boat that I used in my Carver. You can always buy new though and get exactly the size and shape you want, but it'll be more expensive.

[bud37]

Welcome to the forum.....do you have a pump out ( waste ) fitting in the deck somewhere....if so just follow the hose from that, should find the tank or the place it was.

Just to be sure, black water is head waste material and grey water is from the sink and shower discharges, grey water tanks may be required in some areas, check local codes.

[Doc o bay]

Thanks! I'm looking into it. I'm on San Francisco Bay, and basically looking to make this a liveaboard that I take out once a month.
Thanks for the resonse, and if anyone else has input, I would be grateful.
- Doc