I recently purchased a 1977 hunter 27 the toilet and everything connected to it is missing. Does anyone have list of things I need. New Sailor
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Here's what you need:
1 manual toilet (my choice: Raritan PH II or Cricket. 1 20-25 gallon holding tank (best location: under the v-berth. Best source: Ronco Plastics (link below). Sanitation hose: Enough 1.5" to go from head to tank and tank to deck pumpout fitting. Enough 3/4" to go from intake thru-hull to toilet. Enough 5/8" to go from top of tank to vent thru-hull. Best choices: SeaLand "OdorSafe" 1.5", Shields or Trident for other sizes. 1 stainless steel deck pumpout fitting. Enough hose clamps to double clamp ALL connections. 1 Vent thru-hull fitting. If you can wait a couple of months to do all this, my book will be out by then. It provides complete instructions for installing a head and holding tank.
1 manual toilet (my choice: Raritan PH II or Cricket. 1 20-25 gallon holding tank (best location: under the v-berth. Best source: Ronco Plastics (link below). Sanitation hose: Enough 1.5" to go from head to tank and tank to deck pumpout fitting. Enough 3/4" to go from intake thru-hull to toilet. Enough 5/8" to go from top of tank to vent thru-hull. Best choices: SeaLand "OdorSafe" 1.5", Shields or Trident for other sizes. 1 stainless steel deck pumpout fitting. Enough hose clamps to double clamp ALL connections. 1 Vent thru-hull fitting. If you can wait a couple of months to do all this, my book will be out by then. It provides complete instructions for installing a head and holding tank.
really want a sanitation system?
I'm thinking a 27 (I used to have one) is not exactly a live aboard size boat. Do you plan on long cruises? When we had our 27 we did long weekends and once a year a two week coastal cruise, For this type of use, a porta potti works fine. Sanitation systems can be a pain. Assuming yours will work fine and not stink (as many do after a while), there is still the matter of finding a pump out. Many places charge $5 or more for a pump out. If you are a weekend warrior, the head will get very little use...maybe a a gal or two. Either you go through the hassle for the gal or two...or you leave it week after week until you have accumulated 15 gal or so. In the summer time when everything is quite warm, this is a sure fire recipe for a smelly system. Two years ago, I installed a complete system in my 33....sometimes I miss the simplicity of my old porta potti! Don
I'm thinking a 27 (I used to have one) is not exactly a live aboard size boat. Do you plan on long cruises? When we had our 27 we did long weekends and once a year a two week coastal cruise, For this type of use, a porta potti works fine. Sanitation systems can be a pain. Assuming yours will work fine and not stink (as many do after a while), there is still the matter of finding a pump out. Many places charge $5 or more for a pump out. If you are a weekend warrior, the head will get very little use...maybe a a gal or two. Either you go through the hassle for the gal or two...or you leave it week after week until you have accumulated 15 gal or so. In the summer time when everything is quite warm, this is a sure fire recipe for a smelly system. Two years ago, I installed a complete system in my 33....sometimes I miss the simplicity of my old porta potti! Don
Jabsco
When I bought my system, I was considering the Raritan PH II as Peggy as recommended, but others have suggested the Jabsco is much cheaper (often on sale for $99), has half the parts (KISS) and if and when it fails in 4 or 5 years,just buy a new one. The Raritan will also require maint. in a few years and the service kit is close to $50 bucks. Who wants to rebuild a toilet when for $50 more, you can just get a new one. If you are cruising in some remote area, ok , get the Raritan and a repair kit, but if you're staying here in the US why not go the disposable route.
When I bought my system, I was considering the Raritan PH II as Peggy as recommended, but others have suggested the Jabsco is much cheaper (often on sale for $99), has half the parts (KISS) and if and when it fails in 4 or 5 years,just buy a new one. The Raritan will also require maint. in a few years and the service kit is close to $50 bucks. Who wants to rebuild a toilet when for $50 more, you can just get a new one. If you are cruising in some remote area, ok , get the Raritan and a repair kit, but if you're staying here in the US why not go the disposable route.
Don, you NEED my book! 
It'll be out in a couple of months. The title is "Get Rid of Boat Odor! - A Guide to Marine Sanitation and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor" and will be the first ever complete book devoted entirely to boat plumbing and odor problems. As for whether to spend about $200 for a toilet that'll last 20 years or more if you just keep it PROPERLY lubricated and rebuild it about once every 5 years (the Cricket doesn't even need that much attention), or $100 every 3-5 years to replace a toilet that doesn't get ANY maintenance, not even any lubrication...you only have to do a little math to see which really costs more in the long run.
It'll be out in a couple of months. The title is "Get Rid of Boat Odor! - A Guide to Marine Sanitation and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor" and will be the first ever complete book devoted entirely to boat plumbing and odor problems. As for whether to spend about $200 for a toilet that'll last 20 years or more if you just keep it PROPERLY lubricated and rebuild it about once every 5 years (the Cricket doesn't even need that much attention), or $100 every 3-5 years to replace a toilet that doesn't get ANY maintenance, not even any lubrication...you only have to do a little math to see which really costs more in the long run.
Give the Porta Pottie a Try
I am sure there are lots of things you are looking to buy for the boat. Think about using the porta pottie for a season and then put an installed head in if you decide you need it. A porta pottie is about $60 and can be installed in ten minutes. I would spend the money on a bimmini or an air conditioner first.
I am sure there are lots of things you are looking to buy for the boat. Think about using the porta pottie for a season and then put an installed head in if you decide you need it. A porta pottie is about $60 and can be installed in ten minutes. I would spend the money on a bimmini or an air conditioner first.
We have a porta-potty on our '77 h27
I supports up to three days for the two of us - hard to do on Lake Erie with its limited anchoring opportunities, and marinas with good pump out capabilities. Ours is rigged with a vent, and a pump-out hose. We have no problems with odor, and wouldn't think of going to higher complexity, cost, and maintenance of a marine toilet and holding tank (although this could be an excellent choice for some with a different cruising profile - we spend about 22 nights aboard per summer - most of those in marinas.) David Lady Lillie
I supports up to three days for the two of us - hard to do on Lake Erie with its limited anchoring opportunities, and marinas with good pump out capabilities. Ours is rigged with a vent, and a pump-out hose. We have no problems with odor, and wouldn't think of going to higher complexity, cost, and maintenance of a marine toilet and holding tank (although this could be an excellent choice for some with a different cruising profile - we spend about 22 nights aboard per summer - most of those in marinas.) David Lady Lillie
The best way you possibly can!
The toilet on a boat is one of the highest priority items for a boat, particularly if you sail with missed company. In my book a porta potty just doesn't cut it, one over zealous person can fill one of those things in about 2 visits. My boat spends its summers in charter fleet ao the toilet gets used a fair bit so I have adopted a practice of replacing my toilet a minimum of every other year. 15 minutes to change and I am comfortable no one will be in that awful situation of having a non working toilet. There is nothing worse than being away from the dock and having no toilet. I double up on all the hose clamps, and I have never had a hose come of yet! ; ) peggy may have mentioned doing that, I am not sure.
The toilet on a boat is one of the highest priority items for a boat, particularly if you sail with missed company. In my book a porta potty just doesn't cut it, one over zealous person can fill one of those things in about 2 visits. My boat spends its summers in charter fleet ao the toilet gets used a fair bit so I have adopted a practice of replacing my toilet a minimum of every other year. 15 minutes to change and I am comfortable no one will be in that awful situation of having a non working toilet. There is nothing worse than being away from the dock and having no toilet. I double up on all the hose clamps, and I have never had a hose come of yet! ; ) peggy may have mentioned doing that, I am not sure.
porta-potty brand
Ours could be orginal from the first owner. I don't know the brand, but if you will send my an e-mail (use the owners directory) I will remember to look when I revisit the boat next week. David Lady Lillie
Ours could be orginal from the first owner. I don't know the brand, but if you will send my an e-mail (use the owners directory) I will remember to look when I revisit the boat next week. David Lady Lillie
Colin,
If you could fill our porta-potty in two visits, the recommended holding tank would be full in about six visits. All boat heads require reasonable water discipline. Most uses of a porta-potty require no flushing water. The Admiral and I have gone 3 days a number of times on ours. If the use is to support daysailing, overnights, and cruises in areas with many good marinas, and few anchorages (Like Lake Erie) then the porta-potty is an appropriate, simpler, cheaper, and easier solution. Ours has clearly supported at least four owners over the past 15 years. David Lady Lillie
If you could fill our porta-potty in two visits, the recommended holding tank would be full in about six visits. All boat heads require reasonable water discipline. Most uses of a porta-potty require no flushing water. The Admiral and I have gone 3 days a number of times on ours. If the use is to support daysailing, overnights, and cruises in areas with many good marinas, and few anchorages (Like Lake Erie) then the porta-potty is an appropriate, simpler, cheaper, and easier solution. Ours has clearly supported at least four owners over the past 15 years. David Lady Lillie
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