Centaur Owners replacement Heads

[Lodds]

I need to replace my original sea toilet and am considering using a Porta Potti Qube 335. Has anyone replaced their loo with a more environment friendly Porta Potti type loo.

Would appreciate your thoughts on what model you choose and what you would do differently if you had the project to do again.

 

[VicS]

I need to replace my original sea toilet and am considering using a Porta Potti Qube 335. Has anyone replaced their loo with a more environment friendly Porta Potti type loo.

Would appreciate your thoughts on what model you choose and what you would do differently if you had the project to do again.

I removed the "sea toilet" from my boat because it was obsolete no longer serviceable.

None of the current range of sea toilets will fit the space available, Height is the problem.

My plan, possibly, was to fit the smallest available Porta Potti or similar. ( old Elsan Mini from our early camping days pressed into service as a temporary measure.)

Id suggest you fit the largest suitable PP if you do go down that route

Good to see that the hold down kit is now standard on some models. That is relatively new. Don't know what is new about the Qube range compared with previous models... not obvious whatever it is.

Main objection to any chemical toilet is the need to remove it , carry it through the cabin and empty it. "Over the side" is no more environmentally friendly than using a sea toilet. Proper disposal points ashore are not common and tipping it down an ordinary "lav" is not considered hygienic or acceptable. Just what do you do if you normally use a swinging mooring? Tip it into the harbour at your mooring ? Take it home with you ?

Type of chemical you use needs consideration and it is difficult to find out just what they are. The traditional formaldehyde based stuff is not acceptable in sceptic tanks. It also smells pretty strongly!


Personally if I could I would fit another "sea toilet" and, in a boat large enough, a holding tank.

 

[prv]

"Over the side" is no more environmentally friendly than using a sea toilet.

If you've put chemicals in the tank, as is normal for porta-potties, it's considerably less friendly to the environment!

In the US, many people dose their conventional holding tanks with chemicals (we don't do that here). There's a campaign to get them to stop, because the pump-out is killing the sealife in popular locations, whereas simple human waste would be absorbed.

My choice would be for a sea toilet every time.

Pete

 

[BruceDanforth]

A previous owner replaced the sea toilet with a Porta Potti and I replaced that with a bucket on a bit of rope.

 

[Lodds]

None of the current range of sea toilets will fit the space available, Height is the problem.

.

For me it looks like the issue is with both height and depth, more about depth than height. I have created a wooden template for the heads area that is designed to accommodate the 335 model. I fear though that it will not fit the area.

I must find a solution to this issue and if a holding tank is needed then the area where the sea cocks are is probably the most suitable. Don't suppose there are many pump out facilities around either.

Emptying the cassette over the side is far worse than using a sea toilet as you would not only be putting a large amount of sewage into the sea but lots of harmful chemicals. One thing is for sure I would rather take it home than add to the already polluted waters. Imagine if you will. Sitting on a mooring enjoying the day and perhaps a dip in the icy UK waters and then seeing a load of sewage pass by.

The sea is our playground and we should not be polluting it with sewage. Obviously having a pee is one thing but i'm talking about "Big Jobs" and the like!

There are obviously irresponsible people that will have a dump on a swing mooring or costal water and give no consideration to their products being washed up on a bank somewhere, only for some un-expecting person out walking with their family to find it.

Preaching finished!!!

 

[VicS]

.....their products being washed up on a bank somewhere, only for some un-expecting person out walking with their family to find it.

They'd be on the look out for "doggy dos". :disgust: Unless the paper was still with it they'd not know the difference.

I must find a solution to this issue

An adequately sized holding tank is the closest you will get to a perfect solution IMHO.
Even taking it home with you is not a solution if there are several people on board for more than a short period if you can only accommodate one of the smaller PPs.

Even a holding tank could mean a detour to a pump out facility at the end of every ( coastal) trip on the way home.

 

[BruceDanforth]

For me it looks like the issue is with both height and depth, more about depth than height. I have created a wooden template for the heads area that is designed to accommodate the 335 model. I fear though that it will not fit the area.

I must find a solution to this issue and if a holding tank is needed then the area where the sea cocks are is probably the most suitable. Don't suppose there are many pump out facilities around either.

Emptying the cassette over the side is far worse than using a sea toilet as you would not only be putting a large amount of sewage into the sea but lots of harmful chemicals. One thing is for sure I would rather take it home than add to the already polluted waters. Imagine if you will. Sitting on a mooring enjoying the day and perhaps a dip in the icy UK waters and then seeing a load of sewage pass by.

The sea is our playground and we should not be polluting it with sewage. Obviously having a pee is one thing but i'm talking about "Big Jobs" and the like!

There are obviously irresponsible people that will have a dump on a swing mooring or costal water and give no consideration to their products being washed up on a bank somewhere, only for some un-expecting person out walking with their family to find it.

Preaching finished!!!

My turds don't tend to be strong swimmers, to be honest.

 

[Heckler]

My turds don't tend to be strong swimmers, to be honest.

We use the cheapest Lidl bog paper, it falls apart immediately in seawater. By the time my tur ds get past the joker valve, turds they aint, just bits of brown stuff. I doubt very much if any ever gets near a beach!
Stu

 

[dylanwinter]

I myself

We use the cheapest Lidl bog paper, it falls apart immediately in seawater. By the time my tur ds get past the joker valve, turds they aint, just bits of brown stuff. I doubt very much if any ever gets near a beach!
Stu

I have spent many, many hours walking strandlines on beaches and although I have seen loads of plastic, Qtips, paper wowells, sanitary pads, tons of plastic and yet have never seen human turds or loo paper

I did an experiemtn with loo paper - placed it in a bucket and swilled it around and it fell apart

the joker valve does seem to shred the stuff

so I feel far less guilty about feeding crabs than I do about the black gunk that comes out of my exhaust or the fuel/petrol mix that used to come out of my old seagull

D

 

[elton]

I'll be fitting a porta pottie just as soon as the fish start wearing nappies.

 

[aquaplane]

You are wrong, a PP is a pain, not a more environmentally better boatbog.

We had a PP365 on our Centaur and it worked OK but disposal of the contents was a pain. I ended up using it like a marine toilet with a holding tank, emptying it over the side outside the harbour/marina. Of course to use it like that I didn't use chemicals.

as soon as the seal went on the holding tank I was happy to put the marine toilet back in.

Anyway, if you think you are being in anyway green by pissing about with a PP there are pics of the plinth I had to make for ous here:

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o360/aquaplanebob/Chiron/chiron head/P1010402_zps967c09c8.jpg

 

[l'escargot]

I've toyed with the idea of fitting a skin fitting in the side of the tank of a portapotti and then connecting it to a seacock via a pump and looped pipe, like a Lavac, so that it can be used as small holding tank but still pumped out in situ the same as a sea toilet. Seems such a simple solution that I am surprised it hasn't been done before.

 

[dylanwinter]

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/sailing-around-britain/seagulls-and-sea-toilets/

 

[JumbleDuck]

I need to replace my original sea toilet and am considering using a Porta Potti Qube 335. Has anyone replaced their loo with a more environment friendly Porta Potti type loo.

Would appreciate your thoughts on what model you choose and what you would do differently if you had the project to do again.

I have a good Raritan Compact (original Centaur fitting) and brand new service kit sitting in my garage, looking for a new home in exchange for a small amount of cash ...

 

[Seajet]

When I bought their teak cleaner & restorer recently, Wesex Chemicals included some blurb about their completely eco-friendly loo chemical for porta potti's etc.

http://www.wessexchemicalfactors.co.uk/product-detail.php?id=18

No connection, just satisfied teak cleaner customer; think I'll try this stuff for the porta potti though.

 

[NickRobinson]

I've toyed with the idea of fitting a skin fitting in the side of the tank of a portapotti and then connecting it to a seacock via a pump and looped pipe, like a Lavac, so that it can be used as small holding tank but still pumped out in situ the same as a sea toilet. Seems such a simple solution that I am surprised it hasn't been done before.

I viewed a boat with a, I think American, ppotti which though free standing had a second pump system for emptying- anyone know the model?

Toilets? Depends, my last boat on a mud berth only floated six hrs/day so the seatoilet git swapped out for a ppotti.

Nick

 

[FairweatherDave]

there are pics of the plinth I had to make for ous here:

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o360/aquaplanebob/Chiron/chiron head/P1010402_zps967c09c8.jpg

I built a similar plinth for our porta potti with a slightly higher raised bit around the front and sides and bolted the plinth to exactly where the old toilet cistern fittings were. Very easy. However as Aquaplane's pictures reminded me, our 365 makes you way too high off the floor for comfortable sitting. Fortunately we also have the smaller porta potti too and then the seat was the right height for all users. Some of the Thetford PP products have greener credentials than others. For our sailing and beaching a porta potti is the best solution, and out at sea its a doddle to empty and wash out . A larger full porta potti tank would be heavy work though tipping over the side.