Rebuilding 88 St. Tropaz 32'

[Jamesk]

Hi there, great forum..
I pick up my 88 32' St Tropaz a couple of months ago.
In process if rebuilding both 454 engines.
Thousands of crack below the water line so I have been sanding off almost all of the gell coat getting ready to paint.
Will also be rebuilding the Owen generator last.
I am going to clean and fill every through hole in the stringers below deck.

No real idea how the head and storage tank works. Some one told me the tank get vacuumed out at the marina.

The circuit board under the step is shot. But I haven't been able to find one to replace it yet.

The boat did come with a full set of manuals so that's been pretty handy.

It's a beutiful boat and I am really exited to get it out to an ocean somewhere, as I am quite landlocked.

Nice to meet you all
James

[CptBill]

That sounds like a huge project. What type of head is it? electric flush or vacuum flush

[Billm]

The head pumps directly into the holding tank. Then it is pumped out through a two position Y valve that either allows you pump it out overboard through your macerator pump or take it to a pump out facility at a marina. So that is what they meant by being vacuumed out at a marina. They will have a powerful suction hose that attaches to your waste fitting on the gunnel. So first you must locate the Y valve and determine which position it is in before you do anything. Unfortunately the holding tank is only 13 gallons, okay in 1988 when everyone routinely pumped overboard but now everywhere is no discharge zone. I recommend installing a tank monitor. I like the Scad Technologies one. There are 2 seacocks associated with the head system. Make sure they operate freely and the bonding wires are attached okay. It is okay to leave them open when the boat is in the water as long as they are double clamped and the hoses are okay.

I see you are rebuilding engines. Did you pull them? If so, now is the time to replace hoses going to the holding tank. Otherwise they are impossible to reach from the engine compartment. But, there is a way of doing it without pulling engines. If interested, I can tell you how to do it. Maybe a job for another day.

[Jamesk]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen
Not sure what type of head it is , I'll do some research.
Everything but the tanks have been pulled from the engine compartment.
Have not seen any y valve or sewage pump.

Did find the heat exchangercoil in the hot water tank was cracked from being frozen. Same with both engine blocks.

I think I should increase the size of the black tank and add the y valve and pump if there isn't one.

I picked this boat up from an auction in Minnesota online.
So being a lake boat I think they would not be allowed to dump anything.

? The fibreglass elbows and straight section on the exhaust system are really cracked up inside. Can I replace them with SS tubing.

? This boat has two large sand bags, one in the engine compartment back port side and one beside the port side passenger seat. What for. They're almost 3' long each

Thanks
James

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[CptBill]

That tank is your holding tank and it looks like there's no valve or macerator pump on it , so that would mean its set up for marina pump out only. Easy problem to fix if you want to

[Billm]

You’re lucky, the hose connections are on rear side of tank so that you can get to them. Mine are on the front side, hard to get at. Looks like there is also room to install a larger tank. The white hose is the one that goes to the Y valve. It looks like it is original to the boat and they were not of very good quality. I would replace it with a quality marine sanitation hose like Trident. Make sure the tank is empty before you loosen that lower hose clamp!!! Because it was a lake boat, it may not have had the Y valve and macerator option. I would recommend installing it as a safety for emergency use only. The Y valve and macerator mount on a plywood board in front of the fresh water tank. I can show you a photo of my setup. You will need to add a thru hull below the water line. Do you already have a push button switch and fuse in the head for a macerator?

[Jamesk]

Thanks Bill
Your right no maceration pump. I think I am going to add the pump and y valve with through hole. Hopefully a bit larger tank as well.
Just finished rebuilding my first motor. It was a lot of fun learning and completing it.
Sanding all the gel coat off below the water is taking a lot of time.
Would love to see you pump and valve set up
Thanks James

[Jamesk]

Anybody have some ideas for strengthen stringers.
Definitely found some rott.
Currently thinks of removing the rot and filling with reinforced epoxy resin

Thanks
James

[CptBill]

Not uncommon in that year boat, I'm not sure strengthening is the answer. You should test the rest of the stringers to find out how involved it is