[fox]

I have recently purchased a 2004 31 open. I have discovered black water leaking into my bilge.the leak is sufficent to put an inch or more of BW into the bilge per day.I will pump out holding tank tomorrow and will flush with frsh water. I cannot find an obvious leak at any of the hose connections and am afraid the tank may have a crack near the bottom. Any help in how to fix(or replace) would be appreciated.Does anyone know of a tank sevice company in the Naples.Fl. area.

[Chris Burkard]

Sorry to hear about your black water leak.

Your 2004 Tiara 31 black water tank is made of polypropylene. They are really good tanks, but they are subject to over pressurizing and cracking. This occurs when the tank is overfilled and waste travels up the vent line, clogs the charcoal filter, and then pressurizes the tank.

I would definitely take the boat to the pump out station and empty the tank. Due to the vent line most likely being clogged, you may have to turn the fresh water pumps off, turn the head breaker off and have someone hold the Vacu-flush pedal down while you pump the tank out to relieve the vacuum created when you begin to pump the tank dry. Once you have pumped the tank out, I would fill with fresh water through the pump out deck fitting (make sure you do not stick the fresh water hose into the fitting and contaminate it). Then pump it out again.

Vent system - You have a vent line coming off the tank going through a disposable charcoal filter then through the hull side. The hull side fitting has a small screen in it. You are going to have to replace the charcoal filter (on a 31, I believe it is in the engine room mounted on the hull side that has the deck fitting and vent). Then you are going to have to clean the vent fitting screens. You may have to disconnect the vent line from inside the boat, and remove the fitting to clean it and then reassemble it.

Tank and hoses. Your 2004 is now 9 to 10 years old. If you are going to replace the tank, it would be wise to replace the waste lines. Waste hoses only last about 10 years before they begin breaking down and odors begin permeating through them.

Molly's Marine is an authorized Tiara Service Center in Naples. Her people have replaced many waste tanks in Tiaras. They are better equipped to do this job than other mechanics that may not have ever tackled a waste tank job like this. She also has all of the parts sources for the correct factory parts. Molly's Marine - 239.262.2628 or molly@mollysmarineservice.com.

Good luck & have a great day!

Sincerely,