plastic tank or bladder for holding tank?

[RSB333]

My current holding tank Is a Nautor bladder. It is now a bit stinky. I have priced plastic tanks that but they will require additional surgery to get one in. Would a new bladder be a reasonable replacement that might be expected to be odor free for five years or more?

RSB333

[Peregrine1983]

Don't know much about bladder tanks, but you should consider changing out the hoses as well. Hoses were the main source of smell for us. Good luck..

[peghall]

Bladders are ok for water and fuel, but not the best choice for waste holding. Rigid plastic (polyethylene) is the recommended material. If you've only checked out what's available from marine retailers, you may not be aware of how many different shapes and sizes are available from other sources.

Ronco Plastics Ronco Plastics marine Tanks (no relation to the VegoMatic Ronco) is your best source for a tank. They make TOP quality thick-walled water and waste tanks for a very reasonable price and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, over 100 of which are non-rectangular, and they install fittings in the sizes and locations specified by the customer when they make the tank. When you browse the drawings, be aware that the tanks don't have to be oriented as they're shown...there is no top or bottom till the fitting are installed, and you decide where they go. So be sure to rotate 'em, flip 'em end-for-end, orient them any way that'll fit.

Having said all that...as Peregrine noted, unless your bladder tank is leaking at a seam or fitting, it may not be the odor culprit...permeated sanitation hoses are the leading source of odor inside a boat.