Potti Questions

[Pete]

I have a Mansfield Sanipottie in my C22. This is an item that rates a very high priority with the Admiral. It needs to function well and be user friendly. Anyway ours is starting to show it's age. The pump bellows leak and fresh water leaks somewhere near the top/front of the bowl when pumping the bellows.I think it is the same unit as the Sealand Sanipottie, at least it looks like it. I haven't found it to be the best functioning product I have ever seen, but have no frame of reference since it is the only one we have used.I either need to do some repairs or replace it. Ihaven't seen a rebuild kit listed for it anywhere. Iimagine it would cost a substantial portion of thecost of a new replacement anyway. If someone knowswho might sell a rebuild kit, I might consider thatoption.It is probably more likely that we will replace itparticularly if there are better units available.Wish list for new unit might include:  Ease of flushing. It would be nice if everything would go down without have to shove it down with a big wad of TP. Ease of emptying. Ours has no spout and is hard to empty without slopping the contents all over. Pumpout might be nice, but I have no experience with that. We have a pumpout at the end of our pier, but I have no idea how easy it is or  what/if it costs. Fit in the normal space in an 84 C22.What models have you used and what did you think ofthem? What other features should I look for? Whatsuppliers do you recommend?=====Pete Staehling <staehpj1@yahoo.com>Dalliance C22 #12271 Middle River Md.Pete's C22 Page at http://members.home.com/pstaeh

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Replace it.

It will cost you twice as much to try to repair it as a new one. I wouldn't complain about the quality, though...SeaLand bought Mansfield in 1984, so it's at least 17 years old. I'm surprised it's only BEGINNING to show its age...it should have died years ago.The SeaLand Sanipottie is the identical replacement, and a new one in good working order should cure all the objections you have about your current geriatric unit...it's just a matter of which model you like best. Those with the "MSD" designation after the model number can be permanently installed for pumpout. The only plumbing required is a vent and a hose going to a pumpout deck fitting (installing that fitting will be the hardest part of the job). Pumping out is easy...just attach the nozzle on the end of the dock pumpout to the deck fitting and start the pump.

 

[Pete Staehling]

More Questions

Thanks for the info. A couple more questions though, please. Please pardon my naive questions, but I have very little experience with portapotties.The old unit doesn't always flush without pushing the paper and solid waste down manually. This in spite of filling the bowl with a good bit of water before use. It seems that this is related to shallowness of the bottom tank. Ideally a deeper bottom tank would see likely to resolve this, but the C22 requires that the unit can't be too much taller so there may not be much that can be done about this one.Does a different flush valve work any better in this regard (slide vs. ball)?Are there any other design factors that will help with this or is this just something we need to live with?If I get a model that allows pump out, does that mean it is difficult or impossible to empty by carrying it somewhere to dump it?Thanks,Pete

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Only thing I can suggest is...

Drop by the local boat supply stores and check out as many different portapotties as possble. An occasional coating with teflong grease will prob'ly solve the "slide" problem in the bowl.

 

[RichB628@aol.com]

sea water filter

I understand that one of the issues with head odor for seawater bound boats is the water itself. Would a inline filter system help at all?

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

Not recommended

(And not to be confused with a strainer). The best, simplest, and least expensive cure is described in the article "Intake Odor Cure" in the HM forum Reference Library.