alternative porta potty

Joe11688 · Jul 10, 2010

tdaulton said:
Hi all- We want to take our Oday 22 for some extended trips (maybe a week or so) and are wondering if anyone has come up with an alternative porta potty. We are in an area where there is no- where to dump and the 3.5 tank capacity of our current potty is not enough for a long trip. Also, we have found that emptying the potty is not exactly easy... takes lots of water and shaking over the toilet at the marina... quite a mess in a way. The dump hole for our model is in the center of the unit so you have to turn it upside down and shake it over the toilet. Does anyone have a porta potty that is easy to empty and clean? Or how about a composting system with bucket and sawdust?

Thanks for your advice.

Terry and Jeff

Hi Terry and Jeff,
I have a porta-potty that came with my O'Day 222 that is very easy to dump because the cover is at one end of the tank with the handle on the top. They probably don't even make this head anymore but I'm sure that if you look around you may be able to find one very similar to it. When we sailed to Martha's Vineyard back in the mid 1990's, I used to put the waste tank in a large plastic bag that I brought from home, and take it to a stall in one of the public rest rooms on the island and dump it in the toilet. I suggest that you buy another head with this feature and go with it. Keep a large plastic bag on board to use to transport it. No one would ever know what you had in the bag as you walked down the street. Today, some marinas have a free waste disposal that you can take advantage. A quick call on the radio to the local harbor master can get you some info on that.

estopa · Jul 10, 2010

I bought the Thetford Porta Potti 135 Marine series which is pretty easy to empty out with its spout in the holding tank. Check #6 in the figure below. I empty it to the local ramp's portable toilets. I have no issue walking up the ramp/dock with the holding tank. LOL

Joe11688 · Jul 10, 2010

paivag said:
I bought the Thetford Porta Potti 135 Marine series which is pretty easy to empty out with its spout in the holding tank. Check #6 in the figure below. I empty it to the local ramp's portable toilets. I have no issue walking up the ramp/dock with the holding tank. LOL

Does that head fit under the V birth cover George? It looks a lot higher than mine.

lyra7 · Jul 10, 2010

Have you checked out the wag bag http://www.thepett.ca/products/wag.html I'm thinking of going that route when I get on the water.

LordNelson · Jul 11, 2010

it's amazing wihat you can do with a dry wall bucket and a garbage bag. you could even pimp your ride with a seat : )

Joe11688 · Jul 11, 2010

LordNelson said:
it's amazing wihat you can do with a dry wall bucket and a garbage bag. you could even pimp your ride with a seat : )

It's funny that you should mention this. In his book entitled, The "Compleat Cruiser" by L. Francis Herreshoff on page 262-263, he shows you how to construct a wooden toilet seat for a cedar bucket. I built one and keep it in my kayak along with some toilet paper, in the event that nature calls and I can find a plasterer's bucket, which are numerous in some of the places that I travel. The "Head Mistress" will cringe if she happens to read this.

estopa · Jul 12, 2010

Trinkka said:
Does that head fit under the V birth cover George? It looks a lot higher than mine.

Well the Thetford 135 I got does. This picture is probably from some other model they are depicting.

Joe11688 · Jul 12, 2010

paivag said:
Well the Thetford 135 I got does. This picture is probably from some other model they are depicting.

Thanks George. I'll have to keep that particular head in mind if mine ever craps out, pardon the pun.

Joe

Indysailor · Jul 12, 2010

paivag said:
Well the Thetford 135 I got does. This picture is probably from some other model they are depicting.

As it happens, I'm looking at portable heads lately. Thetford 135 height is a foot and change. That's the smaller model, 2.6/2.6 gallon.

OdayDave · Jul 12, 2010

Terry and Jeff -

Being so close to the Apostle Islands, I hope you are planning a trip there with your boat. That is on my "to-sail" list for sometime in the next few years. I love Lake Michigan and Green Bay sailing, but the Apostles are supposed to be fabulous even if the water is extremely cold.

Concerning the porta-pottie, I would look for one like the one shown above. That is the type I have on the 222, and we discretely empty it in toilets on shore, making sure not to make a mess when doing so. I would note that a friend of mine has bought a unit with a larger capacity (no need to be any more graphic than that) for a week long cruise. If you find a replacement, upgrade your capacity as well.

Good luck!

Dave
O'Day 222

Jfelkins · Aug 16, 2010

Terry and Jeff,
What did you end of doing? I need a porta potty for my boat and want it to be as pleasant as possible for my wife to use and to have in the boat. I can survive under rough conditions but I really want her to enjoy the beginning of our sailing career!

DannyS · Aug 17, 2010

This site sells a couple of models of porta pots, one stands just 12 inches high. It may not hold a weeks worth for two on board, but if you're sailing the Apostles, there are plenty of outhouses on the islands to dump your tank. I have a 35 foot boat in the Apostles and a few years ago ripped out all toilet plumbing because everything stunk! It was a new boat for me and the previous owners allowed everything to get permeated and it made the cabin reek. It's been a few years and the smell is finally gone but I don't mind the porta pot. Dumping in an outhouse is the way to go because there is no water in the bowl to splash back at you when you begin the dumping process. Just bring a bucket of clean water to rinse out and your good to go again.