Holding tanks are both a blessing and a curse. They make it possible for us to anchor in beautiful bays, keep harbors clean, and comply with environmental regulations. At the same time, they are one of the most common sources of frustration on board.
A clogged or overflowing holding tank does not just create inconvenience — it can quickly turn into an unpleasant, time-consuming, and sometimes expensive problem. Repairs are rarely simple, and prevention is far easier than fixing an issue once it has occurred.
Please take a few minutes to understand how the system works and follow the guidelines below. A little care from everyone on board keeps the boat comfortable, hygienic, and enjoyable for all Pyraegeans.
Most people think that the toilet itself clogs. But that’s usually not true. Especially manual toilets are very capable of passing anything that fits through the bowl.
The problem is the holding tank. Even the tiniest pieces of toilet paper can collect at the outlet of the holding tank. This area is colored red in the picture.
Unclogging is very complicated. Most blockages occur underneath the holding tank. This means you cannot fix the problem by simply dismantling the toilet. The only way to unclog it is to dive under the boat and push something into the outlet from the outside. Success is not guaranteed. This is why many boats take the toilet out of service instead of attempting to unclog it.
Unclogging: In general, unclogging is done by pushing air from outside using a dinghy pump. One person needs to dive under the boat with the end of the hose while another person pumps from the dinghy. You can create an airtight seal by wrapping a piece of cloth around the end of the hose.
Most holding tanks are retrofitted inside cabinets behind the toilet. However, you may also find them under the floorboards or in other locations.
They hold around six flushes. The holding tanks on our yachts are not very large. They are usually just big enough to accommodate the crew for one night.
Don’ts:
Do’s: