sea toilet

[pugandwoody]

my sea toilet has bust, im thinking of a chemical toilet, for space and being a cheap option, does anyone have any ideas of types, and how to stop the thing moving around?

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[Happy1]

I have a Porta Potti, it clips to the deck, one clip each side, so they must be available, ask a dealer.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple> "You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know" <font color=purple>

 

[jhr]

Yeah, Porta Pottis (as fitted to most American Cuddy sportsboats) clip firmly to the floor - ours has never come loose. I'd think long and hard before fitting one, however. They have smallish tanks, fill up quickly and are a pain to have to empty regularly. Also (though this may seem weird) they are more of a pollution creator than yer average sea bog because they generate a vile slurry, consisting of unmentionable objects carefully preserved in formaldehyde (I think) as opposed to natural organic matter that can be left to rot down in the sea. But they are cheap and compact, as you say. P'raps too compact - anything more than a wee is, ahem, a bit of an undertaking.

Too much information? But you know what I mean.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[jfm]

cheap option?

A manual sea toilet is only £110 or so, surely a p-potti must be nearly that, so why not get a proper sea bog then no need to empty?

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[HeadMistress]

Re: cheap option?

There are portapotties made to be permanently installed and fitted for pumpout. Though it's not worthwhile to do that with a small 2-3 gal model, the larger 5-6 gal "pumpable portapotties" are a very viable option. Because of the small amount of flush water used, they hold about as many flushes as 12-15 gal tank connected to a manual marine toilet. I spent a weekend on a boat on the Thames equipped with one a few years ago...there were 4 of us...we came aboard Saturday around noon, went home early Monday morning...we had not maxed out the loo. And, because they have to be vented, same as any other holding tank, it's not necessary to use toxic chemicals in them...the same bio-active products preferred for any other holding tank work very well.

The only downside to one--and then only if you go offshore...if you only boat on lakes and rivers, it's not a factor--is the lack of ability to turn a valve and flush directly overboard at sea. Otoh, the tank can be dumped overboard using a macerator, same as any other tank.

As for wanting to get out as cheaply as possible, that can often be false economy because a $100 toilet is likely to need replacement every few years, whereas a somewhat better one for around $200 will last a couple of decades with only minimal maintenance (keep it lubricated, rebuild about every 5 years), plus can often "swallow" flushes that choke cheap toilets.

So my advice: if the boat is already fitted with a tank--and you're in waters where you must use one at all--or, if you can flush directly overboard...replace your toilet with a decent one, not the cheapest. If there is no tank, but you expect to need one, consider a 5-6 gallon "pumpable portapotty."

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[steverow]

The Company that makes these things are Thetford and are in Nuneaton.
A caravan dealer will have a much better range than a chandler.
If you have a bulkhead with space behind in your toilet compartment, have a look at the swivel bowl cassette types as fitted to the modern caravan, very space saving.
We use a porta pottie 165 in the winter whilst out of the water generally for number ones and nightime use. These cost about £79.95, so not a lot of difference to a cheap manual marine toilet.

Try www.jacksons-camping.co.uk for nice piccies of the various contraptions available.


Steve


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