I have a Pearson 323 that came with a pitiful holding tank of about 6 gallons. It stinks!!! What I am considering is a toilet with a holding tank underneath that can be pumped. I saw one with 9.5 gallons. That probably is enough for us if we have the option of pumping overboard where permited. I figure that most of the stink is in the pipes. Anyone with experience with this type of head?? My main attraction is the simplicity of installation and compact design. This will free up some space up forward that now holds the small holding tank. Hopefully everything can be fitted into the bathroom. The present toilet has a base that seems about the same as the holding tank on the combo toilet.
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Debra B
find room for a larger tank
10 gals is not very much! (I know because that is about the volume I get out of my system.) You can't pump overboard within 3 miles of shore - 9 miles here in W. Florida... Larger is better. Check the "Head Mistress" forum for info on the types of hose to use (the expensive $8 per foot - not the $4 per foot), and everything else you need to know
10 gals is not very much! (I know because that is about the volume I get out of my system.) You can't pump overboard within 3 miles of shore - 9 miles here in W. Florida... Larger is better. Check the "Head Mistress" forum for info on the types of hose to use (the expensive $8 per foot - not the $4 per foot), and everything else you need to know
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Odor problem can be cured...but a 6 gal tank
is just about useless 'cuz it's only good for about 10 flushes...barely enough for two people overnight. The self contained unit you described is the SeaLand 711-M28 Marine Traveler (was 911-M28..some retailers may still show that model # in their catalogs). The tank is square and has a footprint of about 20 x 20 including space for fittings, which means it takes up considerably more space than your existing manual marine toilet. Height may be another issue...from the top of the seat/lid is 21". However, if it'll fit in your head it could be an excellent solution. It uses pressurized flush water from the onboard fresh water system, and very little of it--only about a pint...so the 9.5 gallon tank holds about as many flushes as it would take most marine toilets to fill up an 18-20 gallon tank. And because it uses fresh water, there are no odors from sea water trapped in the head intake. There are no moving parts, so it's just about maintenance-free except for eliminating odor in the tank and keeping the tank vent line clear. If it won't fit, we need to discuss your other options. Unless you routinely sail at least 3 miles offshore--not just from the nearest point in Mobile Bay, but all the way offshore at least 3 miles from the nearest point on the whole US coastline--you won't be able to flush directly overboard... which means your only choices are either a larger tank or a Type I MSD (CG certified device that treats waste and discharges it overboard). Take some measurements and get back to me when you know whether the SeaLand Traveler will fit. You might also want to check out the link below.
is just about useless 'cuz it's only good for about 10 flushes...barely enough for two people overnight. The self contained unit you described is the SeaLand 711-M28 Marine Traveler (was 911-M28..some retailers may still show that model # in their catalogs). The tank is square and has a footprint of about 20 x 20 including space for fittings, which means it takes up considerably more space than your existing manual marine toilet. Height may be another issue...from the top of the seat/lid is 21". However, if it'll fit in your head it could be an excellent solution. It uses pressurized flush water from the onboard fresh water system, and very little of it--only about a pint...so the 9.5 gallon tank holds about as many flushes as it would take most marine toilets to fill up an 18-20 gallon tank. And because it uses fresh water, there are no odors from sea water trapped in the head intake. There are no moving parts, so it's just about maintenance-free except for eliminating odor in the tank and keeping the tank vent line clear. If it won't fit, we need to discuss your other options. Unless you routinely sail at least 3 miles offshore--not just from the nearest point in Mobile Bay, but all the way offshore at least 3 miles from the nearest point on the whole US coastline--you won't be able to flush directly overboard... which means your only choices are either a larger tank or a Type I MSD (CG certified device that treats waste and discharges it overboard). Take some measurements and get back to me when you know whether the SeaLand Traveler will fit. You might also want to check out the link below.
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David Foster
Pumpable Porta-Potty
Because you don't have to flush a porta-potty, 9-10 gallons is huge capacity. And they don't smell at all if properly ventilated and treated. Finally, the whole system goes right in at the toilet as you describe. David Lady Lillie
Because you don't have to flush a porta-potty, 9-10 gallons is huge capacity. And they don't smell at all if properly ventilated and treated. Finally, the whole system goes right in at the toilet as you describe. David Lady Lillie
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Marine Traveler isn't a portapotty...
It's a permanently mounted system that does use some flush water...it's connected to the onboard potable water system (safely--it's designed to use pressurized flush water). The tank can only be pumped out or dumped at sea...no option to carry it off the boat. That would be a major challenge, 'cuz full, it weighs more than 80 lbs. It's very NICE system...has a real china bowl mounted on top of the tank that's identical to the one SeaLand uses in their mega-pricy VacuFlush. Many boat owners who find that they need additional holding tank capacity add a second tank, rerouting the pumpout hose to it, with a macerator inline to transfer the waste to the second tank...the second tank then becomes the one that's pumped out or dumped at sea.
It's a permanently mounted system that does use some flush water...it's connected to the onboard potable water system (safely--it's designed to use pressurized flush water). The tank can only be pumped out or dumped at sea...no option to carry it off the boat. That would be a major challenge, 'cuz full, it weighs more than 80 lbs. It's very NICE system...has a real china bowl mounted on top of the tank that's identical to the one SeaLand uses in their mega-pricy VacuFlush. Many boat owners who find that they need additional holding tank capacity add a second tank, rerouting the pumpout hose to it, with a macerator inline to transfer the waste to the second tank...the second tank then becomes the one that's pumped out or dumped at sea.
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David Foster
Don't carry our portapotty off the boat
As I said, it is rigged with a pump-out - just like a holding tank. David Lady Lillie
As I said, it is rigged with a pump-out - just like a holding tank. David Lady Lillie
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tom
thanks all
The traveler may be the head for us. I can't stand the stink of the existing system and it's low capacity. The extra storage space will be needed if we go to the Bahamas. My reasoning is that if we are where we can pump out we will and if we are where we can't pump out we'll pump overboard. I would like to use the exisitng head and a larger holding tank. But that eats up a lot of space!!! With the traveler what should I do?? I figure put a Y valve on the pumpout hose. One leading to the pumpout and the other leading to a diaphram pump and going overboard. Is that legal??
The traveler may be the head for us. I can't stand the stink of the existing system and it's low capacity. The extra storage space will be needed if we go to the Bahamas. My reasoning is that if we are where we can pump out we will and if we are where we can't pump out we'll pump overboard. I would like to use the exisitng head and a larger holding tank. But that eats up a lot of space!!! With the traveler what should I do?? I figure put a Y valve on the pumpout hose. One leading to the pumpout and the other leading to a diaphram pump and going overboard. Is that legal??
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Pump out where you can, dump where you can't???
It's illegal to dump a tank in all US waters within 3 miles of the nearest point on the whole US coastline..which would require you to be at least 3 miles due south of Ft. Morgan at the mouth of Mobile Bay. If you keep your boat in Mobile and sail mostly in Mobile Bay, that's long way to go. Although AL hasn't managed to write enforceable state marine sanitation legislation yet, Mobile Bay is under CG jurisdiction...and they tend to get a bit testy toward boat owners who violate federal laws. FL does have strict marine sanitation laws and enforces 'em. So unless you spend most of your time in open water at least 3 miles offshore in the Gulf, you won't have much opportunity to dump the tank. However, the only "no discharge" (holding tank only) waters in the whole Gulf are Destin Harbor and the waters off Key West...Type I MSDs (CG certified device that treats waste and discharges it overboard) are legal everywhere else. So the BEST solution for you may be to simply replace your hoses (which are the source of your odor, no the tank), keep your existing small tank for use only if/when you visit a "no discharge" harbor and add a Lectra/San...which--if you shop hard--would only cost you about $300 more than replacing your whole system with the Marine Traveler...and would eliminate the need to worry about pumping out. A number of people here have installed 'em and love 'em. You'll find all the specs for it, including the manual, on the mfr's website at http://www.raritaneng.com Don't let the amperage draw scare you...actual consumption for two people is only about 10 AH/day.
It's illegal to dump a tank in all US waters within 3 miles of the nearest point on the whole US coastline..which would require you to be at least 3 miles due south of Ft. Morgan at the mouth of Mobile Bay. If you keep your boat in Mobile and sail mostly in Mobile Bay, that's long way to go. Although AL hasn't managed to write enforceable state marine sanitation legislation yet, Mobile Bay is under CG jurisdiction...and they tend to get a bit testy toward boat owners who violate federal laws. FL does have strict marine sanitation laws and enforces 'em. So unless you spend most of your time in open water at least 3 miles offshore in the Gulf, you won't have much opportunity to dump the tank. However, the only "no discharge" (holding tank only) waters in the whole Gulf are Destin Harbor and the waters off Key West...Type I MSDs (CG certified device that treats waste and discharges it overboard) are legal everywhere else. So the BEST solution for you may be to simply replace your hoses (which are the source of your odor, no the tank), keep your existing small tank for use only if/when you visit a "no discharge" harbor and add a Lectra/San...which--if you shop hard--would only cost you about $300 more than replacing your whole system with the Marine Traveler...and would eliminate the need to worry about pumping out. A number of people here have installed 'em and love 'em. You'll find all the specs for it, including the manual, on the mfr's website at http://www.raritaneng.com Don't let the amperage draw scare you...actual consumption for two people is only about 10 AH/day.
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tom
I don't intend to pump out into the bay
Sorry for the misunderstanding. There is a pumpout staion just a hundred yards from my slip. When we were recently anchored near Pensacola we went into a marina to pump out. With my wife and being carefull not to flush too much the small tank was good for a couple or three days. I like raw oysters and don't like the thought of them feeding on what I pump overboard!!! I do worry about the Bahamas as I figure that even with a large holding tank pump outs might be hard to find. When I was last there on a dive boat everything was pumped directly overboard which was pretty disgusting if you happened to be downstream diving!!!! As for current use I go to the pumpout station last thing before leaving the boat. I'll check out the electrosan. Thanks Tom
Sorry for the misunderstanding. There is a pumpout staion just a hundred yards from my slip. When we were recently anchored near Pensacola we went into a marina to pump out. With my wife and being carefull not to flush too much the small tank was good for a couple or three days. I like raw oysters and don't like the thought of them feeding on what I pump overboard!!! I do worry about the Bahamas as I figure that even with a large holding tank pump outs might be hard to find. When I was last there on a dive boat everything was pumped directly overboard which was pretty disgusting if you happened to be downstream diving!!!! As for current use I go to the pumpout station last thing before leaving the boat. I'll check out the electrosan. Thanks Tom
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