Ball Head? or similar name,Marine toilet.

[jmp]

Looking for service parts for a small lightweight toilet commonly installed in small yachts some years ago.
Does anyone know anything about the chances? I beleive they were of American origin.
Unfortunately their simple direct opening to the sea,with a rubber dome on the lid to expunge,makes alternative replacement quite a job!

Michael

 

[VicS]

Yes American design also made in Uk by Yachtex. as the Mini Toilet. Fitted in Jaguars, I believe, and Seawyches (thats how I know about them) in the '70s.

Production ceased eons ago. Some spares were availble for a short time but not now. About all you can do is renew the neoprene foam on the flap valve if you can find a source (don't use a hard material tho') and maybe improvise some sort of seal for the lid with foam strip from somewhere like Seals Direct. No chance of replacing the diaphragm though.

What do you need?

I am in the same position. I dont want the expense of a new toilet plus sea cocks so am considering a Porta potti but I'm not keen on that either. Some people are quite happy with them and I suppose they are good in so much that you don't discharge sewage into sensitive locations.

 

[HeadMistress]

The Ball toilets are so obsolete that I only learned of their existance a couple of years ago, even though I've been in the marine potty biz for almost 20 years. They were simple, but not very safe or environmentally friendly by today's standards.

If your boat is under 27', a permanently installed portapotty, fitted for pumpout and dumping at sea is the best replacement option. The plumbing is simple--a vent for the tank and a pumpout line that can include a y-valve and a pump to dump at sea...and they use so little flush water (from a reservoir) that they hold at least as many flushes as 12-15 gallon tank...and best of all, they have no moving parts to maintain. Thetford makes several...I recommend that you go with a 5-7 gal model.

If your boat is 27' or larger, we prob'ly should discuss other options. There are some that are relatively simple and don't require any more holes the boat.

 

[VicS]

I am interested in what you have said about Pota Pottis. Are you saying that Thetford supply them with vent and pumpout connections or are you suggesting it as a modification. I have been wondering if that would be possible.

In my case I could only fit the smallest PP though. Is there any reason why they should not be filled with sea water for flushing (perhaps with something like the normal chemical toilet fluid added to prevent nasty smells).

The range of PPs available in the UK may not be the same as in the USA of course.

We used to use one for camping and its weak point seemed to be the bellows pump as that split on ours. Unfortunately it is too large for the boat!

(Michael's boat is a 28ft Julian Everitt designed Highlander according to his profile.)

 

[jmp]

Thanks to all contributors. The boat concerned is my sons and is somewhat smaller than mine,a Vivacity 24.I shall report back to my son and consider the very helpful comments.

Thanks again.Regards Michael.