how well does a porta potty heel :(

[sand sailor]

I'm replacing this old thing and due to the age of my vintage boat (1968)i don't have a holding tank *pop so I'm opting for an msd porta potty BUT how well do they seal at a 30deg+ angle *yks ?I don't sail for more than a few days at a time so i don't see cutting holes and installing a tank on something i don't needa trash bag full of saw dust works for me but mama says ***-!! lets just say she's not fond of that idea at all

 

[Manny]

No problems with 30 degrees

I have the Sealand port-a-potty with the larger tank and haven't had any problems with any leaking. I've briefly hit 35 degrees heel (according to my inclinometer) on a few occasions without any issue. The only thing that I could see happening is the upper tank (the water used for flushing) may leak a little into the bowl depending on which tack you are on. Remember, the waste tank is designed to be carried to a bathroom or other facility to be emptied.Actually trying to use it during a that severe of a heel may be a wee bit messy though... *yksManny

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Use velcrow and a string

When the lower part is empty and the upper part is full of clean flush water the unit will be top heavy. When you heel the unit will be upside down in the middle of the floor. I must say a very horifiying site to behold by first hand experiance. Fortunately only the clean water spilled and the waste remained contained. I have since placed a string across the front towards the top of the unit and a strip of velcrow on the bottom. No problems since. Got lucky once, will not make that mistake again. Be Well Scott "ON Eagles WIngs"

 

[Manny]

Brackets

If your worried about the unit falling over or sliding around during sail, it is not a problem (at least with the sealand). Brackets are supplied with the unit that holds it down. Actually the upper part of the port-a-potty is what clamps to the brackets, effectively securing it and the holding tank from moving.Manny

 

[higgs]

My experience

If you restrain it well you will not have a problem. The porta potti is ok as long as no one introduces solids into it. When this happens, emptying it can be pretty disgusting.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Higgs, I agree

The rule on my boat is if you go #2 in the poty you than are the one to empty it. Only my 16 year old son has made that mistake and but once. Be Well Scott

 

[soling42]

An excellent alternative with limits

Aside from larger boats and days of heavily drinking crowds, We weekend and coastal cruise on a 26' Hunter and find a portable unit is far easier to deal with than trying to find a pumpout and all the assc plumbing issues of holding tanks etc. A marina, porta john, dump station, 3mi+ offshore or even carefully and tactfully in a restroom will finish the task. When it's treated with proper chemicals it won't get a personality even after a couple days in the tropics and is virtually flawless in its function. Do attach the whole deal securely with the supplied brackets. As captain I always give the occupant a break when we're heeling but once it's flushed, waste is not going to spill out no matter how hard you lay the boat over. I'm the assigned dump master and it helps that I resent how many will just dump anything where someone wants to have a clean bay or lake. As far as "introducing solids" goes, I'm not the squeamish type and would refuse to pinch my cheeks for days just to keep from having to empty it. Buck up it's not bad at all. Definitely better than a bucket of sawdust and a baggy(?)!!Michael

 

[Bob Burns=Rascal]

Porta Pots

I never have had a problem with porta pot spillage while heeling. My Catalina 25 had four eyelet bolts on each side of the pot and I stretched two bugie cords over it. But my ODay actually has metal brackets, on each side where there are clips on the pot hook onto them and secure it in place. They seal up tite enough that even if they do get loose, no too much would spill out ...... as long as you close the little flush handle securely ! Hey, they certainly are a damn site better than the old steal 5 gal. bucket that my Dad had, for a porta pot, on our Chris Craft, when I was a kid back in the '60's ! Now that was brutal on a cold morning !! Bob Burns=Rascal. May you have smooth sailing on warm breezes !

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Very well said, Soling...

Most of the models that are designed to be permanently installed and fitted for pumpout can also be carried ashore or dumped at sea if necessary, allowing you to have it both ways...or even three ways: you can put a y-valve and macerator or manual pump in the in the discharge line and be able to dump it at sea like any other holding tank... which is nice if you have the larger 5-6 gal tank because full, they weigh about 50 lbs. And because they're vented, using a holding tank product such as Odorlos can eliminate odor completely when used as directed even if the tank isn't emptied for weeks.

 

[RobG]

Sealand for sure.

I put in an MSD 5 gal model this past spring. Great unit. All central seals are O rings and the unit can be re-built if needed. Not only is healing a concern for the holding tank seal but the top to bottom seal stops peeing all over the place. This happened with my Thetford after only two seasons and it can't be re-built.

 

[NautiDuck]

Ditto

We use a 5 gallon MSD that is installed with pumpout. It never leaks. The captain lets the crew do #1 or #2. Otherwise there WOULD be mutiny.

 

[JerryA]

Good-to-Go

Porta-Pot shouldn't be a problem. I have one this year for the first time, and it works great. There's a clip that holds mine secure in my Precision 23. I use a holding tank chemical in the lower tank. I've taken it home to empty so far both times. I feel a little weird dumping it at the marina bathroom. #1 and #2 were tested, ,all pours out liquid. Seals well enough that I don't have any odor in the cabin when I show up on the weekends. I like the idea of having one that could be pumped out or hand emptied, that sounds like a great idea.JerryA

 

[r.w.landau]

I have a six gallon off the shelf model.

I only dumped it once on a 30 degree heel. I mean it was on it's lid! It was on the floor like everything else in the boat after a good wind. No damage (spillage) but it has been kept in place with an elastic cord since then.Porta pottis' are really easy and not budget busting. They don't fail unless you are having a party and then capacity is the issue.Yes, to empty them, the portables you have to carry and I do it every weekend and sometimes twice (long weekend), but it sure beats the shore facilities for availability.We don't have a pumping station available to us so porta potti's are the way to go. I do the porta potti for the wife, most every one else in my area makes the wife hold it or use a bucket. I am not kidding!If you love her and she likes the boat, do what you can!The big problem is tackling the odor.The first and second day is not bad but without a vent the end of the second day can start to get rough.r.w.landau

 

[Benny]

A trash bag? That is crude man, use a bucket.

You can tie a line around the handle for flushing. Porta Potties are a very sensible option to a marine head. They can safely handle the angle of heel as long as you tie them down. Some drawback is that they are usually low and the bowl itself is small. You may build up a base to raise it off the sole but don't try using it after a few beers when the boat is heeling at 30 degree.

 

[r.w.landau]

Benny, I am 5'-10" and on the 4" platform

in the boat, with the six gallon model I almost find it uncomfortable. When going for serious stuff, I take two throwable cushions so that my feet don't dangle! I am sure it is different with a 3 gallon model.Sandsailor, I think the sand mound filtration is an interesting idea but not in my boat!Benny, by the way, everyone sits on my toilet. If you stand, you clean up.r.w.landau

 

[soling42]

Larger portable tank has its drawbacks

During a wildly riveting discussion of the advantages of different portable heads after a few too many drinks, our friend Ross from Tampa pointed out that he had gotten the larger volume portable version and now somewhat regrets it due to it's unnecessarily large size and weight. So like R.W. said bigger is not always better. For guys who brag about "how deep the water is" when relieving themselves at the stern, a deeper bowl may be an advantage but that's a realm far too personal for my humble advice.  On another space saving note it seems interesting that it's legal to pee overboard like the guy caught in the recent Sail mag issue but you can't pee in a bucket and dump it(even on a rope Benny). When I pass a plastic bag floating in the bay I usually try to get it out but I'm going to have to rethink that whole deal. Ick.Michael

 

[Jeff]

Load capacity

They're sealed when the trap is closed.However possibly more important is to know when it's full, otherwise you may have....um....material..left in the bowl, which would then be hazardous when heeling.The only boat I ever had that was porta potti equipped had a new model 200(I think). I told my buddy that during "field testing" I discovered it had a capacity of 3 loads.He said, uuhhh...good thing it wasn't 2 12.