I am looking to purchase a C250 - I have been looking for months, going to all the dealers, boat shows etc. and have my spreadsheet of different prices, etc. It's in teresting how much the price varies on these boats. My question is has anyone regretted having a porta potty vs. the marine head on the C250? I like Marine head because it is bigger, and easier to drain at the dock. I like the porta potty because it is cheaper and I really don't think the head will be used very often for other than urinating - (women). Please advise. I will have the boat in Texas - hot climate - has anyone had problems with the marine head holdning tank smelling in the Summer heat? How bad is it to dump the porta potty? Thanks- Luis
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Leighton
Marine Head!
Just picture yourself walking/wheeling that big old container full of "stuff" down the docks to empty it in where ever... Had a porta-potty and never again. Spill it a couple of times and you'll know what I mean. A marine head is much better (at least for me) pumpout stations all over the place. As long as you maintain the holding tank with enzemes and "smell good" stuff you'll be fine.
Just picture yourself walking/wheeling that big old container full of "stuff" down the docks to empty it in where ever... Had a porta-potty and never again. Spill it a couple of times and you'll know what I mean. A marine head is much better (at least for me) pumpout stations all over the place. As long as you maintain the holding tank with enzemes and "smell good" stuff you'll be fine.
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Dave M
PortaPotti
We looked at the same decision - went with PortaPotti, for a couple of reasons: Cost, obviously; convenience, you can always find a toilet to dump it in, but can't always find a functioning pump out station; we sail year round, but it gets cold here, and the boat lives on its trailer. So the whole winterization question was a real problem, but with the porta potti we just fill the supply tank with antifreeze. Its not very heavy, and doesn't leak, and isn't much of a hassle. Save your money, or put in pressure water.
We looked at the same decision - went with PortaPotti, for a couple of reasons: Cost, obviously; convenience, you can always find a toilet to dump it in, but can't always find a functioning pump out station; we sail year round, but it gets cold here, and the boat lives on its trailer. So the whole winterization question was a real problem, but with the porta potti we just fill the supply tank with antifreeze. Its not very heavy, and doesn't leak, and isn't much of a hassle. Save your money, or put in pressure water.
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Dave M
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Don
Porta-Potty or Marine Head?
This primarily depends on the availability of nearby pumpout stations and your willingness to transport effluent. My marina has a self-serve pumpout station and it literally takes only a few hassle free minutes to empty the tank. With the fixed head, at the end of a nice, pleasant relaxing day of sailing, I do not have to lug my heavy, sloshing, effluent filled sewage tank, who knows how far(keep in mind that a lot of marinas do not allow dumping portable toilets in their bathrooms due to the accidents that might happen when pouring), then lug the septic tank back to the boat only to look forward to the next time you have to do this. And Dave M, I don't know if you can call lugging a toilet around to empty it "convenient"! I had a porta-potty for a number of years and now I have a fixed head, and without question, the fixed head is far easier, less work, less hassle,...etc. Ask yourself this question, "If porta-potties are so superior to marine heads, then why don't they come installed on more expensive boats?"
This primarily depends on the availability of nearby pumpout stations and your willingness to transport effluent. My marina has a self-serve pumpout station and it literally takes only a few hassle free minutes to empty the tank. With the fixed head, at the end of a nice, pleasant relaxing day of sailing, I do not have to lug my heavy, sloshing, effluent filled sewage tank, who knows how far(keep in mind that a lot of marinas do not allow dumping portable toilets in their bathrooms due to the accidents that might happen when pouring), then lug the septic tank back to the boat only to look forward to the next time you have to do this. And Dave M, I don't know if you can call lugging a toilet around to empty it "convenient"! I had a porta-potty for a number of years and now I have a fixed head, and without question, the fixed head is far easier, less work, less hassle,...etc. Ask yourself this question, "If porta-potties are so superior to marine heads, then why don't they come installed on more expensive boats?"
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Gary
Porta Potty
It depends on how you are going to use your boat on which is more convenient if you are going to day sail or over night if you are a trailer sailer or are in a slip. My C22 had a Marine head in it but I trailer sail and for just over night or a weekend the hastle and cost of a pump out for a gallon or two of fluid didn't make sense so I removed it put in a porta potty and have never regreted it.
It depends on how you are going to use your boat on which is more convenient if you are going to day sail or over night if you are a trailer sailer or are in a slip. My C22 had a Marine head in it but I trailer sail and for just over night or a weekend the hastle and cost of a pump out for a gallon or two of fluid didn't make sense so I removed it put in a porta potty and have never regreted it.
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Barry Broyles
Think Tax Deduction
While looking at 25 to 27 foot sailboats at the US Sail Boat show at Annapolis Md. I was told that permantly installed marine heads qualify the boat as a second home and that the loan intrest is tax deductable, but boats with portapotties do not qualify. I would check this out before deciding which way to go. Bary P. Broyles C22 #1909 "Brighteyes" E-mail LTBROYT6D@cs.com
While looking at 25 to 27 foot sailboats at the US Sail Boat show at Annapolis Md. I was told that permantly installed marine heads qualify the boat as a second home and that the loan intrest is tax deductable, but boats with portapotties do not qualify. I would check this out before deciding which way to go. Bary P. Broyles C22 #1909 "Brighteyes" E-mail LTBROYT6D@cs.com
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Don
Tax Deduction
From the "Instructions for Schedules to Form 1040", 2002 Instructions for Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, Lines 10 and 11, Home Mortgage Interest: "A home mortgage is any loan that is secured by your main home or second home. It includes first and second mortgages, home equity loans, and refinanced mortgages. A home may be a house, condominium, cooperative, mobile home, boat, or similar property. It must provide basic living accommodations including sleeping space, toilet, and cooking facilities." - IRS I'm not a tax expert so don't rely on me, but from what I understand concerning heads on boats and interest tax deductions, it doesn't matter if you have a porta-potty, manual head, electric head, porcelin, plastic, holding tank, straight through,...etc, just as long as there is some toilet facility onboard. The boat must also have sleeping quarters and a place to cook. Additionally, you can only deduct interest paid on a loan if that loan is secured by the boat itself.
From the "Instructions for Schedules to Form 1040", 2002 Instructions for Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, Lines 10 and 11, Home Mortgage Interest: "A home mortgage is any loan that is secured by your main home or second home. It includes first and second mortgages, home equity loans, and refinanced mortgages. A home may be a house, condominium, cooperative, mobile home, boat, or similar property. It must provide basic living accommodations including sleeping space, toilet, and cooking facilities." - IRS I'm not a tax expert so don't rely on me, but from what I understand concerning heads on boats and interest tax deductions, it doesn't matter if you have a porta-potty, manual head, electric head, porcelin, plastic, holding tank, straight through,...etc, just as long as there is some toilet facility onboard. The boat must also have sleeping quarters and a place to cook. Additionally, you can only deduct interest paid on a loan if that loan is secured by the boat itself.
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Barry Broyles
Must be permant
In order for a boat to qualify as a home for tax purposes the head must be permantly installed, portapotties do not meet this requirement.
In order for a boat to qualify as a home for tax purposes the head must be permantly installed, portapotties do not meet this requirement.
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