Prior to 1985, Ouyang installed on many boats a bow-shaped holding tank with a discharge outlet fitting at the top forward section of the tank. Inside the tank, a tube is attached to this outlet and goes to the bottom of the tank allowing the tank to be drained. 

Since these tanks are fairly old by now, the inner tube in the tank can loosen, or break off all together which means the tank cannot be drained.  Once this happens, especially if the tank is full, you are faced with a serious problem - how do you drain the tank?

Draining the tank

You must drain the tank through the 3-inch inspection hole located on the top of the tank.  Through the forehatch, drop the hose of the pump-out facilities being used directly into the tank (add an extension hose to the pump-out hose if necessary). As a precaution, place a cover on the hose at the hole (a wide strip of plastic sheeting, for example), taping the cover to the hose with duct tape and taping it to the tank top; this will help prevent any splatters.  

Repairing the tank

The tank can be repaired by replacing the inner tube.

Buying a new tank

On later Aloha 27 (8.2), Ouyang installed a bow-shaped holding tank with a discharge outlet fitting at the bottom aft of the tank, such as that on on Ross Dickson’s 1985 A8.2 #157 "Shequila" pictured below.

Click on photo to enlarge

Since there was a manufacturer’s name on the tank Ross was able to track down the manufacturer, Shirlon Plastics who are located in Cambridge, Ontario and manufacture a variety of models of marine tanks. Although the original Aloha part number was M24-24, the current Shirlon Model #8000 29 gallon tank below is the same model that was used on A8.2. You can purchase a tank directly from Shirlon Plastics and the company will also install the fittings to your specifications.

More details can be found on the Shirlon Plastics Website, including an on-line catalogue and contact addresses and numbers for their Head Office in Cambridge, Ontario and their US office in Buffalo, New York.  As well as this tank, which would probably suit a wide range of other boats, they have a variety of models and sizes available. Should you choose a tank larger than the previous tank, you might need to reposition the wooden blocks (that retained the old smaller tank in place and prevented it from moving aft), fit them to the larger tank and fibreglass them anew to each side of the hull. 

Editors Note: In their covering email, Francine and Bill advised that Shirlon shipped via UPS within a few days of ordering and that the total cost including installation of fittings to their specification, taxes and shipping was CDN$159. They warn that their local marine store had quoted $450 for a rectangular 18 gallon model (or $650 for a rectangular 23 gallon version) with a 2 week delivery time. When challenged that marine catalogues gave prices averaging from $125 to $175 the salesperson said they must be very old catalogues (they weren't) because today marine tanks are in the $400 - 700 price range. Always pays to shop around!

Last updated  13 January, 2006 - © Aloha Owners Association