PORTA-POTTI vrs. HOLDING TANK

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TonyAmalfitano

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I was drooling over the 2530 thread when I came to the discussion about Kevin G's holding tank and electric head. I've had two boats with the MSD (Marine Sanitation Device) (( Head and Holding Tank)) However I kind of like the idea of the Porta-Potti for ease of maintenance. The Sail Boat had a 15 gal tank, the Albin has a 6 gal holding tank. It can be a pain searching for a pumpout when the tank is full. I sat many a day hailing the PUMPOUT BOAT. Then if the MSD is not used properly there can develope an odor issue. Ain't nothing worse then a boat that smells like ship. The odor is caused by waste, or sea water sitting in the hose because it didn't make it to the tank. My sail boat smelled so bad I had thoughts of ripping out the MSD and replacing it with a Porta-Potti. I decided to replace the tank and hoses, what a crappie job that was! I don't know about you, I think I'll stick to the Porta- Potti.
 
West Marine marine head and holding tank treatment chemical, is orange, I've found to be very good in holding tanks. I've tried other treatments.

This one has quaternary ammonium compound that has a residual killing power.

I have the 14.5 gal holding tank system in a 2530. You can carry your porta pottie onshore as you've done before. The only benefit of a holding tank other than carrying your waste onshore is that it holds more.

You can modify it to have direct overboard from the tank, I haven't done it.

I don't have odor problems with this chemical. I've tried others with different results.

I have the manual pump head. It is a '96 and I rebuilt the pump twice, once this summer with a standard gasket kit.

Dana
 
My last boat was a Pro-line 2950 with full marine head... I prefer the portapoti or 5 gal bucket. You dont have to winterize, replace pumps, deal with fighting odor, etc.
 
I've heard a tablespoon of baby oil flushed in a marine head will keep the seals and gaskets lubed. limiting the number of rebuilds.
 
I use Head Lube every once in awhile.

The Groco manual pump has a valve cut into the overall gasket where it is cut on three sides of the gasket to dry or wet pump the head. The fourth side eventually weakens and comes apart. That is the main problem and the kit has a couple other items with it that get changed anyway.

Enjoy your buckets, pails, porta potties.

My boat came with it, and I would get it again. It is female friendly 24-7, and compliant.

I had a '74 23' sailboat with a portapottie. I had an '86 22' powerboat with a portapottie in an enclcosed head that was overkill. It had electric pumpout or you carried it out.

But, for my personal interest, I'm done carrying "waste" on land.

Dana
 
I lived on a sailboat for 3 years -- it had a holding tank and used raw water to flush. No thanks!

A buddy has a Vacu-Flush that flushes with water from the fresh water tank - not a bad idea but still needs to be pumped out and the hoses still get to stinking after a few years.

For me, the only way now is porta-potty. We even keep one in the car. You can carry a spare cannister if you like, and you can empty them anywhere...gas station, rest area, woods, dark night w/ outgoing tide...

Just don't skimp on the blue stuff in the tank. We also put some in the supply.
 
I have a 2530 with porta-potti and am seriously considering a Marine Head. After a day af fishing and boating the last thing I want to do is clean up after everyone else after I have cleaned the boat. Our family has owened several boats with heads installed and they are fine if maintained properly. The Porta Potti in my opinion SUCKS.

Anyone found a better alternative than a 5 gallon bucket. :?:
 
Tips for females to go standing up, from a real website, http://www.myvag.net/pee/standing/

If you have the money and someone wants to go in a bag that turns into a gel, http://www.rgihealthcare.com/travel.html

They are one of many that make fancy bucket accesories, buckets in chairs, curtains, you can get seats from other companies.

Not likely to grab your attention, but a device for females during time of the month to internally hold fluids, http://www.mooncupsandkeepers.com/

Another one for females if they want to stand with the big boys, http://www.travelmateinfo.com/page002.html

Can even get tubing and a bag with it.

I use a hand held urinal for my liquid activities. Females use the head/holding tank or and some quirky males.

There's the old standby of getting in the water when possible.

Buckets work, not my cup of tea though, and don't let them tip over. Little tougher in open boats.

Number 2 is for bucket boys and girls, or some go over the gunwale or off swim platform, or if not too cold in the water. I was on a boat this summer offshore and the owner had a vacuflush setup but had me drive as he hung off his platform holding on to a transom handhold.

All the various methods and more are life's choices. Remember too, watch out for police and others that will call the police!

Dana
 
The flushing toilet & holding tank is a complete waste of $$$ in the Parker sport cabin , unless you are midget !!!
 
Small wateless toilet, disposable base unit, http://www.toilets.com/products/waterless.htm

Same company, portable with 25 gal capacity even without a tank, http://www.toilets.com/products/miniunit.htm

Hadn't seen this one before, bucket in a bucket from Coleman, http://www.wildernessessentials.com/827-800t.html

Don't forget the two-fer, just like sitting on your padded cooler, how about a padded bucket, http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/product/92.html

Also, like others, a portable, functional bucket system but for you marketing types, can get a double doodie bag insert, http://relianceproducts.com/consumer/product/96.html

For the attache crowd, one that folds like a briefcase, and can get sanitary bags with it, http://www.rei.com/product/5397485.htm

OK, you are the bucket crowd or you want to be a little more sophisticated but portable. A 5 gal tank with a seat assembly and a drain out, http://www.rei.com/product/5397485.htm

Can even by replacement seats for it.

You may need to go to the bathroom by now, or your outhouse, latrine, dry toilet, etc.

Dana
 
Man, That Dana didn't have a damn thing to do today but look up Potties! :shock:

I'm kinda sorry I started this thread. :oops:
 
I just finished reading after I sent some of these, a summer Offshore Magazine and there was a small article on history of phrases.

Don't know full validity, but described transporting manure in ship holds and the gases generated. Shippers supposedly learned to store it higher in the hold for more ventilation, and acrynom came to be?? Store high in transit (s-h-i-t). I don't know.

Here is one link to what I mentioned, http://www.halexandria.org/dward744.htm, so if is true you can be vulgar and smart at the same time!!

Again, I'm in the head and holding tank crowd by purchase and I don't mind it.

Dana
 
Gotta tell you the truth....any head is a stinker. Ran large boats with what seemed like perfect head systems, but..........eventually they all cause problems. As far as the Porta Stinker goes, i have one but i'll be damned if anybody uses it except in an absolute emergency and even then i would put it outside!! My better half has had no problem using the ocean and if it's a number two, honestly....I would use a bucket!!!
 
Bryan A.":urnze67z said:
I have a 2530 with porta-potti and am seriously considering a Marine Head. After a day af fishing and boating the last thing I want to do is clean up after everyone else after I have cleaned the boat. Our family has owened several boats with heads installed and they are fine if maintained properly. The Porta Potti in my opinion SUCKS.

Anyone found a better alternative than a 5 gallon bucket. :?:
Click to expand...

Nope.

And to fix the problem, I have a very simple rule: "First to use the porta-pottie, cleans it" The bucket gets a work out, but the porta-pottie gets used only 2-3 times a year. :D :D :D

The last one to use my porta-pottie was my 82 year old Dad, last year. When I sprang the rule on him, he reminded me about the number of my diapers he changed. :shock: :shock: :shock: Guilt worked...I cleaned it.

In all seriousness, a porta-pottie is very easy to clean, service, and no need to winterize...just pull it out at the end of the season. If you want to winterize, it is a snap to dump that pink anti-freeze into the fresh-water tank and give it a couple of pumps.
 
After several boats with heads/holding tanks, all of which developed some sort of problem whose end result was a constant unpleasant odor, I was thrilled to live with a port-a-potti on my Parker. My wife uses it a couple of times a season, with maybe one emergency dookie added by a toddler. The boys use a dedicated pee-pee cup which gets disposed of properly. Urinating at a potentially moving target is no fun for anyone so the potti is for seated use only.
Even if I chose to throw out my porta potti at the end of each season vs. emptying and cleaning it it would still be cheaper than what I spent on permanent units trying to keep them fresh.
 
And while on the road:
road8.jpg
 
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