Home

Installing a Raritan holding tank in a newer A30


Some years ago, there was a group purchase of Kracor #5022 holding tanks. These tanks hold about 15 gallons, and were chosen because they would fit under the port V-berth in place of the drawer, in the space that many owners had previously installed the Mansfield TDX Type 1 treatment system, but with double the capacity. A sketch of the proposed installation was published in the Maintenance Manual, and a number of A30 owners installed these tanks. The fit was a bit tight in the older boats (but that's another story), but fit well in the newer boats, as you can see in this photo of Gilleleje's installation.

More years passed. Some people who had recently bought Alberg 30s, and some who had not participated in the earlier group purchase but had since given up on keeping the now-unsupported Mansfield TDX system running, wanted to follow suit. Of course, Kracor no longer made the same tank.

But Raritan could supply a tank of the same dimensions (model #14D208014, labeled as a 14 gallon tank). There was much discussion on the email list, checking dimensions to make sure everything was the same as the Kracor tank, and solving the issue of the inch-and-a-half fittings being too close together for the elbow fittings. After much measurement, confusion, and angst, we ended up sending this drawing to Raritan for another group purchase.

Special thanks to Mike Lehman of Gilleleje, #505, and Jim Mennucci of Quest, #433, who blazed the trail with the Kracor tank.


Offshore Sailing book cover Offshore Sailing by Bill Seifert with Daniel Spurr

We went to a Windjammers lecture to hear Bill Seifert and I was impressed enough to buy the book on the spot. I've heard a lot of people talk about ways to improve a boat, but I've never heard one person suggest so many good ideas that I hadn't considered. Part of the charm is the specificity of the suggestions. Everyone says you should secure your floorboards, hatchboards and batteries. Bill shows good suggestions on how to do so.

The suggestions are very practical for the do-it-yourselfer, too. Many show how to make or adapt inexpensive solutions. Tip #12 on closing the deck blower vents is one that will pay off for me without ever going offshore. I'll implement that one to stop the wintertime storms from finding their way belowdecks.

Besides modifications, the book also includes advice for operating offshore, cooking, boat selection, dealing with bureaucracy, and more.

Bill Seifert has worked at Tartan, TPI, and Alden Yachts. He's a veteran of many Marion-Bermuda races and now runs his own yacht management company. His tips are born of experience--not of book-learning--and it shows. He obviously knows his stuff.

(Note: commissions earned from this link help defray the costs of this website)





Amazon Associates logo

Privacy and other policies
Site copyright © 1995-2024 by George Dinwiddie, all rights reserved
Site history
Send inquiries to webmaster@alberg30.org
Page last modified: Friday 03-Feb-2023