Porta potti "holding tank"?

S

Straightman21

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 Jan 2011
Messages
106
Visit site
My older style yacht has the dubious benefit of a single heads that frankly is not big enough to encompass all one's bits and has the usual pipes and potential for blockages that we all know and love. As I sail mainly either single handed or with one other, I am seriously considering doing away with the present arrangement, including the seacock [which is no bad thing], together with all that pesky pipework and installing a porta potti. From caravanning and motorhome experience, I know that it is not inconvenient to empty them when required and that they have sufficient capacity for my needs for some days. The modern versions are also smell free and hygienic. So just before I take the plunge [sorry], any words of wisdom would be welcome. Many thanks.
 
When I moved my boat from UK to Baltic (Latvia) - the registration required I replace the 'pump to sea' Blakes bog with a closed tank system. The simplest and easiest way was to get a Porta Potti camping bog.

I used to have a 'Sea-Toilet' Porta Potti on my previous Snapdragon and it was a disaster ... a PP supposedly designed for boat use ... it had no sealing arrangement to the lower part .... so it was a case of never allowing it to be filled to more than 1/3rd before the terrible job of trying to get it out for emptying ...
So onto the one I bought for present boat - its the split type common now where the bottom holding tank is very well sealed and it could literally be turned upside down and still not leak. Has carry handles and emptying spout built in ... in all respects a much better and useable PP.

Did I remove the Blakes .... shoooooosh !!

mmmmmm the PP provides very good service in my workshop ........ shooooosh !!

Recc'd ? Yes actually ...

Where to get ? Caravan Dealers / RV service ..... they will have a range and you can talk all day Bogs with them !!
 
Concerto said:
Sorry for thread drift, but did you know some of the old Blakes loos are quite valuable and worth getting restored as they are wanted in classic yachts that have been "modernised" with a Jabesco.
Click to expand...


I am quite well aware of the value of the Blakes .......

Seen the price of a service kit ? Let alone the 1200 quid I've seen whole un-recon'd units go for.
 
Yes - replaced a Lavac with a Portapotti some years ago. You need to keep plenty of fluid going through it, so don't 'economise' on tip outs by peeing over the side. I also have a black plastic soil water can (from the camping shop) to extend tip out times when required. I fitted on of those small screw in sealed hatches to it to make pouring in easier.
 
neil_s said:
Yes - replaced a Lavac with a Portapotti some years ago. You need to keep plenty of fluid going through it, so don't 'economise' on tip outs by peeing over the side. I also have a black plastic soil water can (from the camping shop) to extend tip out times when required. I fitted on of those small screw in sealed hatches to it to make pouring in easier.
Click to expand...

Years since I had a touring caravan ... your mention of the black can ...... for collecting 'grey water' .... its funny. I hated emptying that more than the PP !!
 
Straightman21 said:
My older style yacht has the dubious benefit of a single heads that frankly is not big enough to encompass all one's bits and has the usual pipes and potential for blockages that we all know and love. As I sail mainly either single handed or with one other, I am seriously considering doing away with the present arrangement, including the seacock [which is no bad thing], together with all that pesky pipework and installing a porta potti. From caravanning and motorhome experience, I know that it is not inconvenient to empty them when required and that they have sufficient capacity for my needs for some days. The modern versions are also smell free and hygienic. So just before I take the plunge [sorry], any words of wisdom would be welcome. Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Just do it, assuming the have the space and you have substantial hold-down fastenings designed to retrain, say 30kg, of pp in a big sea. I have my portapotti mounted (detachable for emptying) on a plywood base that screws into the same holes as the Jabsco seatoilet so I can switch between the two. If visiting non-tidal area I temporarily swap the Jabsco for the PP.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I replaced the head on my Albin Vega with a PP and had no regrets. Now I have more room I have a separator loo built from a kit by the Swedish company Separett and it's even easier to deal with. The separator loo replaced an all electric fresh water flushing into a massive holding tank toilet that I dismantled and cleaned twice and was, to me, horrendous. Horses for courses...
 
We repurposed the Portapotti from the festival kit when we gave up doing the festivals and now it lives under the steps in the aft cabin. When necessary, there's just enough space to put it in the heads

Keep the seal between the tank and the top clean. Do NOT use bleach, ever (it ruins the seal)

Use a decent quantity of Aquachem Blue (you can economise on Elsan Blue if you can stand the smell) but always add it to the tank before attaching the bowl (it will stain the bowl)

Don't bother with Aquachem Green, it's useless

As already mentioned, it's essential to add sufficient liquids to the solids. It won't rot down otherwise

Don't put quilted bog roll down the loo (the cheapest, preferably recycled, stuff will however rot away to nothing in no time at all - actually this applies to sea toilets as well, especially if like ours it always goes via the holding tank)

It can be difficult to find Elsan emptying points. Be very cautious if emptying it down a conventional toilet. Don't dump the whole lot in in one go, even the smallest Portapotti tank will need the loo to be flushed several times during the emptying process

(And be aware that if the toilet block is using a digester system, as many at a distance from the mains sewage system do, the contents of your Portapotti, and specifically the chemical you put in it (which you really don't want to do without, trust me!) can and often do kill the bacteria in the digester stone dead which for some strange reason is deeply unpopular with t'management!)

And if push comes to shove, you can always empty the damn thing over the side out at sea. Just don't drop it (or be ready to rn an instant "toilet overboard" procedure if you do! Actually, I wonder how long one would float for?
 
  • Like
Reactions: pvb
Replaced toilet with porta potty but positioned it between bungs in fore cabin and gained a big space after seacockes eliminated.Porty potty can be fixed in place or moved to cockpit whilst anchored if required
 
An idea I might use is to connect a bilge pump to the PP, so it acts as the holding tank. When outside the harbour limits, pump it out.
This is if I don't go the compost route, with something like an AirHead.
 
DownWest said:
An idea I might use is to connect a bilge pump to the PP, so it acts as the holding tank. When outside the ha
Click to expand...

Be warned, it is possible to collapse the tank if you don't open the flap first! (Don't ask me how I know this! It wasn't me, I didn't do it, but I was rather to close to the action for comfort!!)

Thetford actually used to make a tank with a hose connection for exactly that purpose. Latterly it was only available in the USA and I think it's now completely discontinued
 
Bru said:
Be warned, it is possible to collapse the tank if you don't open the flap first! (Don't ask me how I know this! It wasn't me, I didn't do it, but I was rather to close to the action for comfort!!)
Click to expand...

I will remember your wise words and close shave when I get around to it and fit a pressure relief valve :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bru
Plum said:
Just do it, assuming the have the space and you have substantial hold-down fastenings designed to retrain, say 30kg, of pp in a big sea. I have my portapotti mounted (detachable for emptying) on a plywood base that screws into the same holes as the Jabsco seatoilet so I can switch between the two. If visiting non-tidal area I temporarily swap the Jabsco for the PP.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
Click to expand...

The 'Sea Toilet' ... actually I think its labelled name was Cruiser Loo .... had an overcentre latch each side to hold it down under the removable centre part of V berth fwd.
 
We have a Pp 365 on our boat. If you are weather bound in a marina it saves the trip up to the toilet block every time you need to use the loo. I just take it up once a day usually early morning or late evening with and empty it. Never had a problem with blocking a loo and we use reasonable quality loo paper. I take some spray cleaner and kitchen towel, toilet is left as clean out cleaner than before.

When sailing the boat action helps break everything down. We didn't use any chemicals in the holding tank this time as we were emptying over the side when in open water if we were weren't going into a marina.
 
Bru said:
Be warned, it is possible to collapse the tank if you don't open the flap first! (Don't ask me how I know this! It wasn't me, I didn't do it, but I was rather to close to the action for comfort!!)

Thetford actually used to make a tank with a hose connection for exactly that purpose. Latterly it was only available in the USA and I think it's now completely discontinued
Click to expand...
You obviously have a different model. My porta potti has a releive valve built in that you press while emptying. If you open the flap instead and it is very full you may make an awful mess!

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Plum said:
You obviously have a different model. My porta potti has a releive valve built in that you press while emptying. If you open the flap instead and it is very full you may make an awful mess!

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
Click to expand...

Yes, you can open the relief valve instead on the 265 and upwards (the very compact and elderly 165 we've got hasn't got such a thing which is why I forgot about it!). But relief valve or flap, if you don't open one or the other and attach a pump to the tan ... beware :D

One does have to be somewhat careful with ones emptying procedure if the Admiral has disregarded her junior officer's pleadings and overfilled the dratted thing. Too rapid opening of the flap is undesirable to say the least. A pause after (carefully) removing the cap and upending the beast is generally adviable :cautious:
 
The PP I have .... you turn the emptying pipe and upend ... it does the typical Glug Glug Glug of air in / muck out ... then when you are 'comfortable' to hold one-handed - then you press the relief button .......

Fitting a pump ?? mmmmmm dunno if I would ..
 
Straightman21 said:
My older style yacht has the dubious benefit of a single heads that frankly is not big enough to encompass all one's bits and has the usual pipes and potential for blockages that we all know and love. As I sail mainly either single handed or with one other, I am seriously considering doing away with the present arrangement, including the seacock [which is no bad thing], together with all that pesky pipework and installing a porta potti. From caravanning and motorhome experience, I know that it is not inconvenient to empty them when required and that they have sufficient capacity for my needs for some days. The modern versions are also smell free and hygienic. So just before I take the plunge [sorry], any words of wisdom would be welcome. Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Great idea. I had one in my last boat and it worked well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top