I followed the advice and purchased a Thetford porta pottie which can hold 5 gal. It seemed that for my kind of sailing which involves mostly daysailing wth friends and a few overnights,this was the simplest option. I like keeping things simple if I can.It has attachments to be hooked up to a pump-out hole on the deck. Would you recommend this kin? How do you clean the tank out after it is pumped out? There is also a ventilation tube attached to the tank. DO you connect a hose to that and vent it through a hole on the deck.
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It should have come with directions for installing
the deck pumpout and vent. But you didn't save 'em, or even read 'em, did ya?) All is not lost...you can download and print 'em from the Thetford website. I would definitely fit it for pumpout. A full 5 gal. tank weighs about 50 lbs...you don't want to carry that much weight off the boat and haul it up the dock to TRY to find a place to dump it. Rinsing out a tank that's connected to pumpout is easy. Just open the "trap door" to it in the bowl and put water into it with a hose (not the same one you use to fill your fresh water tank!) or a bucket during pumpout.
the deck pumpout and vent. But you didn't save 'em, or even read 'em, did ya?) All is not lost...you can download and print 'em from the Thetford website. I would definitely fit it for pumpout. A full 5 gal. tank weighs about 50 lbs...you don't want to carry that much weight off the boat and haul it up the dock to TRY to find a place to dump it. Rinsing out a tank that's connected to pumpout is easy. Just open the "trap door" to it in the bowl and put water into it with a hose (not the same one you use to fill your fresh water tank!) or a bucket during pumpout.
I had a Thetford
on a boat many years ago and remember it as a top quality product. It came with all the hardward to make it a permanent installation, but I found that to be a contradiction of terms: I wanted it to be portable and found it much easier to use and keep clean that way. As with the holding tank on my current boat, you'll find that you'll reduce or eliminate nasty odors by cleaning/rinsing out the tank after each use or as often as possible. Unless you have no choice, waiting until the tank is full before emptying it and cleaning it is an invitation for unwanted odors aboard your boat.
on a boat many years ago and remember it as a top quality product. It came with all the hardward to make it a permanent installation, but I found that to be a contradiction of terms: I wanted it to be portable and found it much easier to use and keep clean that way. As with the holding tank on my current boat, you'll find that you'll reduce or eliminate nasty odors by cleaning/rinsing out the tank after each use or as often as possible. Unless you have no choice, waiting until the tank is full before emptying it and cleaning it is an invitation for unwanted odors aboard your boat.
Hmmmm....
Phil must have made some changes, 'cuz my bookmark does indeed go to a different book now! I'll email him. Thanks for the heads up!
Phil must have made some changes, 'cuz my bookmark does indeed go to a different book now! I'll email him. Thanks for the heads up!
I did it
Our Thetford 5 gallon MSD is connected with pumpout and air vent. We use Odorlos and have no problem with odors at all. After a cruise we pumpout, refill with clean water using a hose, then pumpout again. Keep the hoses as short and straight as possible. The link goes to a post on my project.
Our Thetford 5 gallon MSD is connected with pumpout and air vent. We use Odorlos and have no problem with odors at all. After a cruise we pumpout, refill with clean water using a hose, then pumpout again. Keep the hoses as short and straight as possible. The link goes to a post on my project.
Nice install NautiDuck.
I'm not so sure about your idea of using the air vent to run fresh water from a hose down into the tank. When you're pumping out the unit through the pump-out hose, you need the air vent open and clear to allow the suction to work properly. There is a chance you could actually collapse the tank (probably unlikely the way they are built), plus the poor cleaning of the tank you will get that way. The correct way as I understand it from manufacturer's instructions etc. is that when you are finished pumping out, flush the pump-out hose with the fresh water and partially fill the tank, then pump that all out again - leaving the air vent clear the whole time.
I'm not so sure about your idea of using the air vent to run fresh water from a hose down into the tank. When you're pumping out the unit through the pump-out hose, you need the air vent open and clear to allow the suction to work properly. There is a chance you could actually collapse the tank (probably unlikely the way they are built), plus the poor cleaning of the tank you will get that way. The correct way as I understand it from manufacturer's instructions etc. is that when you are finished pumping out, flush the pump-out hose with the fresh water and partially fill the tank, then pump that all out again - leaving the air vent clear the whole time.
Peggie real men don't read instructions.
We learn the hard way. Getting a porta-potty with a 5 gallon holding tank is an example of "bigger is not always better". But don't worry Beargerr just get a few of those friends that helped fill it up to help you carry it out. You'll soon find out who your real friends are. Seriously, go ahead and take Peggies advice and hook up the pumpout connector.
We learn the hard way. Getting a porta-potty with a 5 gallon holding tank is an example of "bigger is not always better". But don't worry Beargerr just get a few of those friends that helped fill it up to help you carry it out. You'll soon find out who your real friends are. Seriously, go ahead and take Peggies advice and hook up the pumpout connector.
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