Portable Toilet

[Rono007]

As the rain falls today and we hit nearly 60 degrees (it won't last), I'm starting to daydream of spring and a few things I would like to do to our new-to-us boat.

It's a 23' 230BR Signature Series and the port console has an enclosed head, but no portable toilet. Having 2 little girls (7 and 5 when the season starts) and a wife, I want to have a toilet in place when we splash her the first time.

I have a couple of questions since having a head on-board is new to me.

- There's plenty of room, so, what size should I get for a boat my size?
- Is there a particular brand or model I should be shopping for that has "features" that would be beneficial?
- How should I install it? I don't think a "pump out" makes sense (or so I was told by a friend of mine who is much more experienced than I at boating). Another boating friend said I should think about using large velcro strips to secure it so it's removable and doesn't move while under way. Make sense?
- If it's not a "pump out", what do you do with the waste once you are back in your slip?

I am shopping and fact-finding now, would like to purchase in the next couple of weeks, and get it installed the frist week of March.

Thanks in advance for your input and advice!

 

[Lazy Daze]

There's a number of companies that make them. We primarily deal with Dometic (Sealand). There's not a whole lot of "technology" that goes into a porta-potti. Most manufacturer's include a hold-down kit - it takes about 30 minutes (if that) to install it.

I don't think I'd trust velcro. Depending on the potti you get, it could easily weigh 40+ pounds when full. A potti is not the sort of thing you want to have bouncing around inside that compartment, you know? :smt089

Basically, you're looking at either about a 2-1/2 gallon or a 5 gallon holding capacity. You'll need to check the specs as the 5 gallon will be taller (headroom clearance in the compartment).

Here's a link to the manufacturer's page of the ones we carry - but like I mentioned, there's others available.

You'll see the 960 series and the 970 series. The 970 is newer - has an air-actuated (powered) flushing system. It's neat and effective, but not absolutely necessary.

If you see a "MSD" after the model number, those are the ones designed for pump-out use.

To use a porta-potti, just disconnect the top half (which contains the fresh water for flushing) from the bottom half. The bottom half contains the juicy stuff. When you disconnect it, don't worry... it will be sealed. Then, carry the bottom half, like a briefcase, to a regular toilet and dump it in.

There's a little "Potti 101" - hopefully I didn't confuse you more. :smt001


EDIT: Ooops... here's the link: http://www.sealandtechnology.com/prodsmtoilet.asp

 

[Rono007]

Thanks Dennis. A pump-out would be overkill for a boat my size? I will get the measurements from your stock and measure the headroom when the rain stops and I can get into the boat. I think I want the largest I can fit ... my girls have little bladders.

As far as the hold down kits go, I assume you have to place/drill a hole in the floor/deck?

It all sounds simple enough, and a necessary feature for our family.

Thanks!

 

[tdappleman]

A pumpout might not be considered overkill - but it would be much harder to add. You'd need an external holding tank with the associated plumbing from the toilet, a deck pumpout connector and a water intake for the toilet (usually raw water). You will need to drill holes - but it will much less involved the holes drilled/cut for the actual toilet/pumpout installation. The porta potti option is good - I have on on my Parker. Funny thing though.... the rule is if you use it you have to empty it. Been used once since we bought it!!! But... it is nice to have as not everyone wants to use the 5 gallon bucket method!

Here's a good description and some diagrams which may help you as well:
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...dvisor/10001/-1/10001/Heads-Holding-Tanks.htm

 

[Rono007]

Thanks Travis. Being mostly kids that will use it, I think the porta potti method will be the one to go with. The pump-out will be just too much work for the use it will see (it's a bow rider, so no overnights, just some long days at most). Doesn't sound like it's too much work to disconnect and bring the lower half home to empty it, clean it, and then bring it back the next time we go out.

 

[Lazy Daze]

As Travis said, it's not really overkill. It all depends on how you will use it and, most importantly, do you have access to a pump-out facility?

Just an FYI: A "pump-out" porta-potti can be used as a regular, portable one. There will be screw-on caps that come with it (the pump-out version) to close off the pump-out holes. A non-pump out porta-potti can not be converted to a pump-out version.

One note... MSD or "Pump-Out" porta-potties use the lower half as the holding tank, so you wouldn't need a separate holding tank. But, as TRavis mentioned, it does involve drilling two holes on the top side of your deck for the pump-out and the vent. Although, it is quite easy on your boat as they would be drilled directly on the outside of the head compartment.

 

[Rono007]

Dennis...

Was at your site today and was ready to order the Dometic 975 (because of the large capacity), however, after getting n the boat and measuring, it doesn't look like any portable toilet will fit w/out some modification.

Here are some pics I took.

You can see here that the port console space starts out wide (about 15 1/2") and gradually gets narrower.

As you go forward to 15 1/4 inches (the length of the Dometic 975), it narrows to less than 13" (the Dometic is 13 1/8" wide). The other obstacle is that the the port side of the level, textured floor, it gradually slopes up.

Any ideas on how to overcome this or to be able to fit a portable toilet in this space?

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[thirtydaZe]

As the rain falls today and we hit nearly 60 degrees (it won't last), I'm starting to daydream of spring and a few things I would like to do to our new-to-us boat.

It's a 23' 230BR Signature Series and the port console has an enclosed head, but no portable toilet. Having 2 little girls (7 and 5 when the season starts) and a wife, I want to have a toilet in place when we splash her the first time.

I have a couple of questions since having a head on-board is new to me.

- There's plenty of room, so, what size should I get for a boat my size?
- Is there a particular brand or model I should be shopping for that has "features" that would be beneficial?
- How should I install it? I don't think a "pump out" makes sense (or so I was told by a friend of mine who is much more experienced than I at boating). Another boating friend said I should think about using large velcro strips to secure it so it's removable and doesn't move while under way. Make sense?
- If it's not a "pump out", what do you do with the waste once you are back in your slip?

I am shopping and fact-finding now, would like to purchase in the next couple of weeks, and get it installed the frist week of March.

Thanks in advance for your input and advice!

kind of funny you should bring this up. i'm contemplating a porta potti for our bow rider as well. we don't have kids but it would make things easier on the wife while out on the river.

i wanted to actually consider the one the put on the 210 sundeck. it's very little, and seems it would be convenient for our boat.

anyone have any info on that particular model?

 

[Rono007]

thirtydaZe ... Good call. We have 2 little girls (will be 7 and 5 in a couple of months) and my wife. This is a MUST HAVE addition for our boat and will be our first season out as a family. I just need a way around the obstacle I posted above. Do you have a port console to fit it? Is your entire floor in there level, or is it sloped like mine?

 

[thirtydaZe]

thirtydaZe ... Good call. We have 2 little girls (will be 7 and 5 in a couple of months) and my wife. This is a MUST HAVE addition for our boat and will be our first season out as a family. I just need a way around the obstacle I posted above. Do you have a port console to fit it? Is your entire floor in there level, or is it sloped like mine?

My boat has a flat floor, and 2 jump seats in the back. The on the port side, when you remove the seat cushion, provides a little walk way so you can access the rear of the boat more efficiently. my thought was to purchase the sundeck porta potti, and place it there.

it would be visible from the front, but the seat cushion would cover it.

the one posted in this thread, if you look at the dimensions, will be to big for the area i have available.

EDIT: it's on pg 43 of this manual:
http://www.searay.com/boat_graphics/electronic_brochure/Company1729/_24_1292009113449AM.pdf

actually it's a pump out, so it probably wont work for me. I don't see where it gives the dimensions either.

 

[Lazy Daze]

The 210 Sundeck toilet is simply a Dometic 964 or 964MSD. Remember that MSD simply means pump-out.

Ron, you are correct that the 974 (or 974 MSD) would work better for you since it is narrower. PLUS it is easier to lock down to the floor. With the 964, you need to be able to use the flip-down handles on the side. You definitely don't have room to be able to easily access both sides.

Now, what can you do? Good question. Making a potti fit into a boat that wasn't designed for it is always a challenge.

-- It might be doable to mount the potti facing forward. How much that impedes access into the "head", you won't know until you try it. But kids are very bendy and typically women are just glad to have a potti. :smt001

-- It might just fit facing aft, since the potti is somewhat rounded on the bottom.

-- You may be able to put a spacer of some sort - maybe a false floor - to raise the potti up just enough to help it clear. It could be as simple as laying a piece of 3/4 plywood (cut to the floor dimensions) on the floor, then attaching the potti to the plywood.

-- Last resort would be to lock it in there any way that works, then pull it out when someone wants to use it. I know, that presents other problems.:smt101


By the way, just an FYI, we don't have an online web catalog.

 

[tobnpr]

Any ideas on how to overcome this or to be able to fit a portable toilet in this space?

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I'd do as Dennis suggested.
I'd build a platform (or false floor) in the area next to the door. Porta-Potties are notoriously low anyway (or maybe it's because (I'm 6'-2") so I think it's helpful to raise it up anyway. As you go "vertical" you're extending the width available. Then something around the bottom (wood strips, perhaps) to "box" it in and hold it in place.

Space is tight and I can't tell if you have the room, but that's what I'd pursue...

 

[Mick & Denise]

Gentlemen, Please reconsider not going with a little more work and skip the portable one. You surely will regret it after the first time you have to empty it. If you are anywhere near a pumpout you will be glad you did. It is not a pleasant job at all and you WILL BE ASKING THE GIRLS TO HOLD IT! For what its worth I know because I had one in my 22 footer. One manual empty on the I put one in with the pumpout.

 

[Rono007]

Mick ... I do not have a pumpout at my marina. I know my girls, and they go #1 quite often. In all honesty, I don't mind emptying it if it makes them happy. I think it will have to face forward as that is where the floor has the most width. Likewise, I will try and skip the "platform" as I do not want to lose too much headroom. I suppose it will be what it will be, and having something (since we have the port console) will be better than having nothing at all for those little "emergencies".

 

[tdschafer]

Ron, For what it's worth, I had an electra-san waste tx unit on my 260 with a Raritan hand pump head. Due to some dimension issues the head was mounted on a platform made from a Starboard type material and worked real well. Also, one of my buds had a porta-pottie as described in this thread on his 28 chris craft and did many overnighters with his wife and daughter without any probs. He would usually empty the tank in the marina bathroom either@ night after cocktails or in the am b4 coffee. He never complained! :thumbsup: Todd

 

[Ashlexadd]

Porta Potti is essential gear.

Without it I would never get the wife and 3 little ones on the boat until the water was back up to 80.

 

[Rono007]

Porta Potti is essential gear.

Without it I would never get the wife and 3 little ones on the boat until the water was back up to 80.

Amen!

Ordering the 974 in the morning.

Next on the "to order" list are underwater LED lights!

 

[Rono007]

Question on this subject on final time.

I found a porta potty that fits my port console! A Dometic 734. I am going to use the locking mounts to secure it to the floor.

The (newbie) question is ... once I drill the holes, do I need to use sealant around the screws, or are they okay without sealant/silicone since it's the deck?

I'm installing this AM as we are launching the boat this afternoon!

Thank you in advance!

 

[Rono007]

I installed the porta potty on my 230BR a few weeks back and just wanted to post a few pics.

My wife and 2 little girls LOVE it. My 5 year old thinks it's the coolest thing and HAS to use it the second she gets on board.

It was worth all the research to find the right one that fit and wasn't as hard to install as I thought. The though of drilling a few holes in my boat was worse than the actual drilling itself.

Thanks for all the comments and advice!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Looks great, Ron! It looks like it was meant to be there from the factory. :thumbsup:

Just one quick question... when you drilled the holes, did you countersink them? It's not imperative - but without it, it may lead to spider cracking.