Pumping out a port-a-potty

S

scottr

.
Feb 25, 2010
23
Pearson 28 Wickford
I have a Thetford port-a-potty with the five gallon holding tank. This has served us just fine for short trips but we are planning a longer one this summer. Given that this isn't the version that can be plumbed to a pump out, and I would prefer not to dump it in a public restroom, do you think it is possible to rig it to use a standard pump out? I have an extra cap for the holding tank and am thinking if I can drill a hole of the proper size, possibly with some backing plate if needed, and a small vent I could take the holding tank into the cockpit and use the pump out.

I've seen a setup using PVC pipe that could be connected to the pump out then put into the holding tank, but I'm thinking that my cap idea is better than carrying around the PVC pipe, especially after it's been used, albeit, rinsed afterwards.

What do you think, will my idea work? Has anyone tried it?

Thanks,

Scott
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
up at the top of this page is a search button...type in pumping out a porta potty and hit search and you will find a lot on this subject...

regards

woody
 
S

scottr

.
Feb 25, 2010
23
Pearson 28 Wickford
Woody,

I had tried that and there was much discussion of to dump or not to dump, but I didn't see anything about a cap modification like I'm thinking about. (Maybe I missed it though) I thought about just inserting a deck pump out fitting into the cap but the smallest flange I could find is just a bit bigger than the cap so I don't know if I can secure it to the cap and even if I can there is no room for a vent.
I was hoping someone had already done this.
Based on previous threads it seems that some pump outs have a porta pottie adaptor, but I don't want to depend on that. Hmmmm, I wonder if I can buy my own adaptor for less than a bazilion dollars. I'll have to look into that.

Scott
 
Alan Gomes

Alan Gomes

.
Nov 22, 2011
1,192
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
scottr said:
I have a Thetford port-a-potty with the five gallon holding tank. This has served us just fine for short trips but we are planning a longer one this summer. Given that this isn't the version that can be plumbed to a pump out, and I would prefer not to dump it in a public restroom, do you think it is possible to rig it to use a standard pump out? I have an extra cap for the holding tank and am thinking if I can drill a hole of the proper size, possibly with some backing plate if needed, and a small vent I could take the holding tank into the cockpit and use the pump out.

I've seen a setup using PVC pipe that could be connected to the pump out then put into the holding tank, but I'm thinking that my cap idea is better than carrying around the PVC pipe, especially after it's been used, albeit, rinsed afterwards.

What do you think, will my idea work? Has anyone tried it?

Thanks,

Scott
Click to expand
I have the Thetford 555P that is setup for overboard discharge/pumpout and it works quite well. Maybe you could check with Thetford and see what the cost would be just for the part that attaches to the tank where the cap normally is. This part contains the pickup tube as well as the vent. The toilets in the MSD vs. non-MSD version are otherwise identical as far as I can tell. If the cost isn't too high it might be worth just buying it and being done with it.
 
B

Benny17441

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May 24, 2004
7,131
CC 30 South Florida
Do yourself a favor and upgrade your unit to one that can be hooked up to a deck fill. That way you will not even have to move the tank on to the cockpit nor deal with an adapter. Having to lug the tank, even just to the cockpit is an undesirable task not to mention bacterial contamination. It would be an upgrade well worth investing in.
 
S

scottr

.
Feb 25, 2010
23
Pearson 28 Wickford
Thanks for the input everyone. I was hoping to keep both the dump and the pump out options, but I think I will take the advice and go with a porta pottie that can be pumped.
 
centerline

centerline

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Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
so far, at every pump out station I have used, they have had a PVC adaptor they used to empty our porta potty.... although you do have to move the holding tank out of the boat, the convenience of being able to carry it ashore and dump when your at a facility without a pump out is a convenience I wouldnt trade off...

this statement is made in consideration of our small 5gal tank capacity with 2 people using it and the few and far between pump stations where we boat.
boats with a higher capacity sanitation tank usually have the ability to make it to the next station.... we dont always have that option, but we can always find an onshore or floating facility that we can carry and dump in to....
a fixed 5 gallon Fixed mount MSD does not always make sense in some areas....
 
kito

kito

.
Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
I have the Thetford 5 gallon like you only I purchased the msd version with pump out and vent connections. May be cheaper just getting a new one. I also have mine plumbed with a manual waste pump for when in legal waters.
 
S

scottr

.
Feb 25, 2010
23
Pearson 28 Wickford
Thanks for the additional input. I wasn't sure how common it is for the pump out stations to have an adaptor. Maybe I will visit some by land and see how common it is in NE. I may be making more out if this than I need to.
 
Peggie Hall HeadMistress

Peggie Hall HeadMistress

.
Dec 2, 1997
8,725
- - LIttle Rock
Easy to do

scottr said:
I have a Thetford port-a-potty with the five gallon holding tank...do you think it is possible to rig it to use a standard pump out?
Click to expand
If you're even a little bit handy with a hole saw, installing a pumpout fitting in the tank would be easy and very inexpensive to do, using a li'l doodad called the Uniseal and a couple of pieces of PVC: check it out here UNISEAL Uniseal Instructions
If you're willing to also run a vent line and pumpout line and install a deck pumpout and vent thru-hull, you'll have a fully functional "MSD" portapotty that you won't have to move to the cockpit to pump out.
 
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Likes: Brad Bates
CharlzO

CharlzO

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Jan 14, 2014
225
Newport Newport 28 Fair Haven, NY
I second the thanks to Peggy. I wasn't sure what I would do with my head situation with my Excalibur rebuild, but that takes a good chunk of the figuring out of the equation :)
 
B

Brad Bates

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Jan 9, 2017
2
Cal Cal29 Coffee Springs
Thanks for that info. Just bought your book too as I need to do a full install of an MSD head.
 
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