Replacing Sea Toilet with Porta Potti...

[V1701]

Seriously considering this, not bothered about having to empty the tank, no more blocked pipes, can use it in a marina, I'll have a holding tank. It will need to be properly secured which can be done. What do you think? Has anyone done so and do you regret it or prefer it?

Thanks,
Dave.

 

[pvb]

Porta Pottis are horrible things. If you're happy to fit a holding tank, why not just plumb your sea toilet to it? If you're getting blocked pipes, the toilet isn't being used properly.

 

[RupertW]

Porta Pottis are horrible things. If you're happy to fit a holding tank, why not just plumb your sea toilet to it? If you're getting blocked pipes, the toilet isn't being used properly.

+1

The last thing you need is the smell of a chemical toilet in the boat. With a holding tank you may get occasional smells but far less and leaves you able to continue to flush through with nice clean water instead of chemical pong. If I really had to downgrade from a sea toilet my next step would be a bucket.

 

[planteater]

I've "replaced" a missing sea toilet with a Thetford electric flush chemical toilet. It's cheap, maintenance free and there are now two less holes in the hull. My 22'er doesn't have room for a tank.

The smell isn't as bad as people claim - it just smells like bathroom cleaner to me. Mine is in a separate, well ventilated heads compartment - I'm not sure I'd want it in the forepeak. Actually being able to use it whenever you want is a big advantage.

I glued some plastic lugs onto the side of it so it can be bungied to the floor. The idea of it breaking loose in a swell was most unappealing!

 

[onesea]

If you are that determined to go for porta potty I would recommend this style.
http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan/water/product_34987/Thetford_C-200CWE_toilet.aspx?aff=122

If there is space, allot of canal boats are going this way because of the cost of pump-outs rising. They are remarkably clean and easy to use, also has the advantage of being all but sealed when not in use.

Must admit never had problem with sea toilets, just make sure they are flushed properly and "if it has not been through its not for the loo!"

 

[Vaila1]

What about a composting toilet as an alternative? Anyone have a good thing to say about them? They seem a bit expensive but do away with holding tanks, holes in hull

 

[pvb]

What about a composting toilet as an alternative? Anyone have a good thing to say about them? They seem a bit expensive but do away with holding tanks, holes in hull

Is there a problem with having holes in the hull?

 

[PlankWalker]

What about a composting toilet as an alternative?

Not a lot of call for compost on a boat.

 

[maxi77]

Porta Pottis are horrible things. If you're happy to fit a holding tank, why not just plumb your sea toilet to it? If you're getting blocked pipes, the toilet isn't being used properly.

A decent chemical toilet is no worse than a sea toilet. Modern ones properly used are not unpleasant. I seriously considered a cassette type instead of a holding tank but the layout did not fit our boat.

We had a basic one in the Seawych which worked fine and never bothered Mrs Maxi who has a pretty sensitive nose.

 

[NickRobinson]

vote for p/potti

almost the first job I did on my Macwester.

Reasons? It was to spend the winter on a dry mud berth then be used (last three years) in a tidal creek (Wainfleet, Gib Point) with winters on hardstanding.

I would have been surrounded by s**t and loo paper at low tide when I stayed onboard when not at sea, most of the time for most of us.

Also more acceptable in sea-locked marinas too I think. I emptied o/board at sea or put the tank in the car boot for disposal in a drain.

No smells usually, most interesting time was chasing it round the cabin in a seaway.. later secured!

Nick
(anybody got a boat for sale?- see my wanted ad )

 

[rotrax]

Seriously considering this, not bothered about having to empty the tank, no more blocked pipes, can use it in a marina, I'll have a holding tank. It will need to be properly secured which can be done. What do you think? Has anyone done so and do you regret it or prefer it?

Thanks,
Dave.

Back in the seventies an inland waterways magazine gave a glowing report in its April edition to a refined Porta-Potti. It was called the Chemi Karsi.........

 

[chewi]

almost the first job I did on my Macwester.

Reasons? It was to spend the winter on a dry mud berth then be used (last three years) in a tidal creek (Wainfleet, Gib Point) with winters on hardstanding.

I would have been surrounded by s**t and loo paper at low tide when I stayed onboard when not at sea, most of the time for most of us.

Also more acceptable in sea-locked marinas too I think. I emptied o/board at sea or put the tank in the car boot for disposal in a drain.

No smells usually, most interesting time was chasing it round the cabin in a seaway.. later secured!

+1
properly used they do not smell, you can use them when and where you want (low tiide, aground, in marinas, on mooring, and you can empty without need of a discharge marina.

To secure mine I have a flat thin upholstery rubber that fits between top and bottom halves of a Portapotti 365 and the hard ends are clipped (under tension) to the floor. It took some vilent seas to dislodge it from there ad then just stood it up again. I don't think I would trust glue.

A word of warning, don't ever be tempted to use seawater as a flush medium... you''ll be forever flushing it with milton to kill the sealife!

 

[neil_s]

Kicked out a Lavac and replaced it with a Portapotti 135. Perhaps it doesn't suit all, but I find it much easier and more pleasant to use (no violent pumping for many strokes, no nasty smells, more comfortable, no pipes, no seacocks, no leaks). You must use the blue and pink fluids in the proper proportion to render the contents inert - especially in hot weather. I use fresh water in mine because it uses so little per flush. I have an older model for which I had to make my own hold down device, but Portapotti do a version for boats, now, with a securing frame.

Neil

 

[VicS]

I am part way removing a defunct sea toilet.

I cannot fit any of the currently available sea toilets in its place although I did consider a second hand SL400. That would fit.

I would fit a Porta potti if it were possible .... well it is but I'd have to re-site the echosounder transducer to do it. We used one when camping for many years

I am a bit concerned about the chemical smell but the modern formaldehyde free ones are probably not so bad.

I will, I think, end up with just my old Elsan mini toilet from our early camping days. Very probably use it bucket and chuckit style rather than with the chemical. It fits the space nicely, has a tight fitting inner lid and can be fastened down.

If you decide go the Porta potti route take a look at the "Fiamma Bi-Pot range" some say better than Porta Pottis. Certainly less expensive, have a plunger pump rather than the bellows thing that Porta Pottis have and I am I am told a more generous sized seat. They can also I believe be fastened down.

http://www.fiamma.it/products/QMP.asp?Fam=P06

 

[stuhaynes]

Cautionary Tale.....

Seriously considering this, not bothered about having to empty the tank, no more blocked pipes, can use it in a marina, I'll have a holding tank. It will need to be properly secured which can be done. What do you think? Has anyone done so and do you regret it or prefer it?

Thanks,
Dave.

We did this in 2007 and removed the holding tank to fit a 2nd fresh water tank. We've had no problem with smells and it's free to empty. But previously.....

In 2002 I had a marine survey and while CV was in dry dock I paid the yard to strip and paint the hull + antifoul etc. They made a smashing job and the old girl looked lovely. I sailed her the 5 hours necessary to get back to my home mooring and got on with work and life in general. Time went by but over the weeks I started to notice that the loo was getting harder to flush. I thought that the plunger handle probably needed lubrication so made a mental note to get some glycerine and promptly forgot. Some time later (days or weeks, don't remember) I used the loo, stood up and tried to flush it. By this time it was very difficult because the flusher was so tight. The toilet started making 'belching' noises and seconds later the contents of the holding tank came flying up through the toilet, hitting the roof and mushrooming over the entire area which included me, from head to foot. I was in total shock. Bloody awful.

It turned out that when the yard did the paint job they'd used filler over the vent and over time the pressure built to a point where an 'explosion' was inevitable.

So, if you or anyone else paints your boat, MAKE SURE THE VENT ISN'T COVERED!!

Alternatively, get a Porta Potty!!!

 

[LadyInBed]

I had a Porta potti on my last boat which served us (family of four) well.
It was great when I was on the French canals, easy to empty at lock toilets.

 

[Seajet]

The only reason a chemical loo may generate smells is leaking seals.

Yes I know one can get seal kits but I didn't have a handy YTS bod to do it...The trick is to get a new one every 10 years or so, so no smell and NO HOLES IN THE HULL at all.

Also can be used in marinas without embarassment, and when the boat is dried out aground.

I left my last Portapotti at the right rubbish removal space,but it was there for 3 weeks; we reckon it eventually went to Porton Down.

 

[alexrunic]

I repalced my sea toilet with a porta potti one of there basic ones. Its the best thing I ever did. It sits in the four peak and it never smells. Lots of people I know such as Nick Robinson from this forum has done the same and I've never heard any one moan. Unless your at sea for weeks at a time its got to be the best method. Least you can use it when ever you want to, which is the biggest advantage.

 

[chewi]

I would fit a Porta potti if it were possible .... well it is but I'd have to re-site the echosounder transducer to do it

Surely not a big job for a man of your calibre?

 

[Seajet]

Of course Porta Potti's should be sourced through caravan shops, not chandleries at 3 X the price !

Usually the most critical measurement to check is headroom, ie height of loo.

Top Tip, I have a bungee across my PP to secure it for going to sea; I've often thought that if the boat sank, this might be one of the most buoyant things to cling onto...