TOLLY 48 OEM HOLDING TANK

[Pete Jung]

I'm looking for information on the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) holding tank(s) configuration on the aft-cabin motoryacht version of the Tolly 48.  In particular, my '78-vintage Tolly 48 now includes only a single holding tank, located under the galley, but with only a 22 gallon capacity.  As both heads are plumbed to it, this tank is woefully inadequate for more than a few days of use.  So, did the OEM installs include a 2nd tank, somewhere near the aft head?  Or no holding tank(s) at all?  I don't recall when the federally-mandated no-discharge policies were first implemented, resulting in routine OEM installations of holding tanks.  It may be that 40 years ago, Tolly 48's were delivered with no holding tank(s), and mine may be a later attempt to add one.  Sure wish the thing was bigger!

Regards,

Pete

[Rico Adams]

My 48 has two tanks, one up front under the floor between the V berths and a second one under the bed in the aft stateroom. I have replaced both tanks and got them from Marine Sanitation next to Fisheries. Let me know if you want more details.

Rico

[Pete Jung]

I've received information from two other Tolly 48 owners on this subject.  Thanks to both!  Based on my research to date, and information from these other owners, it appears that the answer to "what's the OEM holding tank setup on a 48 Tollly" is "it depends"!  And that's not particularly surprising.  Given the long production run, and the number of hulls built, there seems to have been numerous changes made during the boat's production life.  In particular, mine is an early launch (hull #32 out of something like 125), and has an offset double berth in the aft cabin opposite a single berth, separated by a door to the cockpit.  Both the gentlemen I corresponded with have later models, both with centerline queen berths, and no aft cockpit door.  Both the later model hulls appear to have two holding tanks, the aft tank being located under the queen berth, atop the cabin floor.  And both other boats have their water tanks UNDER the floor, in the bilge in the aft cabin.  My water tank is in the same place, so apparently THAT detail of the build didn't change over time!

There is no evidence of a holding tank under my offset double berth, as the space is taken up with built-in drawers.  There is (obviously) no room on centerline of the aft cabin above the cabin floor for another tank, so I'm at a bit of a loss as to where an aft OEM holding tank may have been, if there in fact ever was one.  I'm going to pull the carpet, and poke around under the cabin floor between the aft end of the water tank and the aft bulkhead in the bilge area to see if I can find a suitable void in that location for another tank.  If I can locate a suitable void, I'll investigate adding another tank in that area.  Or failing that, I'll look into increasing the volume of the forward holding tank.  As a last resort, I can do some major carpentry and rip out my under-berth drawers, and maybe stuff a tank in there.

Frankly, tankage of all kinds (water, holding, and especially fuel) is a MAJOR issue with ownership of an older boat, Tollycraft or otherwise.  To the marine industries' profound and utter discredit, NO production builder to date (and few custom builders, either) provide adequate access for either inspection, or particularly inevitable replacement of tankage.  Us poor saps that end up owning a boat towards the end of its service life bear that heartache directly.  There.  End of rant....

Regards,

Pete