Replacing porta-pottie - advice, opinions?

[KeithD]

Hi,
We currently have the small portapottie (2.3 gal "tank" underneath).
With 2 small kids, it fills up pretty often. We do have it hooked up to the hose where we can pump it out, so I'm not carrying a plastic container of goods through the boat.
I'm either going to swap it out for the larger (5 gal) portapottie, or I'm entertaining the thought of installing an actual marine head unit, and adding a wastewater tank in the bilge.
Any ideas on the cost to do this work? Def not doing it myself....
Thanks,
KeithD

 

[Quint4]

I just removed my porta pot and put in a manual head and holding tank. Cost me about $ 450 to do it myself. I am currently having odor issues I'm trying to solve .They make a 6.1 gal porta pot for about $ 160 ( thetford )...iboats.com has 'em.

 

[estebanj]

This is doable and you may want to venture into it as a winter project.

A basic system requires a 10-20 gallon tank in the bilge (my 260 has it on the sboard side, fwd of the engine, 28 gallons) and 3 lines from the tank: one small for the air vent, one big for the pump out to deck, and one big going to the toilet.

In the actual head compartment you'll want to install a manual or electric head (I like the simplicity and price of the basic Jabsco manual head) and run two lines: the big hose coming from the waste tank, and a water line running to a seacock/throughull.

The one place where you may run into problems is running the waste and water lines from the head area to the bilge area. You'll probably need to drill and seal holes in 1-2 bulkheads/dividers.

For the waste line from head to tank, use the best quality you can find. This hose may permeate over time and some day you may need to replace. I think Sealand sells a non permeable one.

If you DIY, this would be a $300-500 project. I would estimate $600-1,000 if you have a yard do it.

Things that will increase price and/or complexity include an electric toilet, a macerator/overboard discharge, and a Vacuflush system.

Esteban

 

[keokie]

Sea Land makes a very nice self contained pumpout unit with a nine gallon holding tank. I put this in my 260, and have been very happy with it.

 

[Stray Cat]

Sea Land makes a very nice self contained pumpout unit with a nine gallon holding tank. I put this in my 260, and have been very happy with it.

If I had to do it over again on my 270, keokie's route is the way I'd go. We opted for the 6 gal tank on the standard Sea Land unit. It provided what we needed it to do...

 

[eddiezuskin]

Are you referring to the Traveler model, real china bowl over holding tank?

 

[Sundancer]

I'd look at it this way. How often do you have to pump out now as opposed to how often you'd LIKE to pump out? If it makes it through a standard weekend, then you are probably OK. If you want to make it 3 days, how many gallons of holding capacity do you need and where can you stuff that tank?

Next time I replace my hoses I'm putting in a long chunk of PVC pipe for a stretch through the aft cabin to hold down odors and assure a good gradient to the tank! It's easy to install the tank in the engine compartment. The only part that would make me nervous would be the through hull for the inbound water to the toilet.

 

[keokie]

Yes, the Sea Land model I have is the Traveller. It uses very little water to flush, so that nine gallons goes a long way.

 

[Sorrento 25]

I have the Raritan Sea Era ($450) electric toilet on its way here to replace my PP. I mounted a 15 gallon Todd holding tank earlier this year in preparation for this upgrade. Since my PP had pump-out the lines are already in place and all I need to do is dig out the silicone to free the old line and pull through the new one. The Sea Era uses fresh water to flush, and fresh water capacity has never been an issue for me. Fresh water also helps with odor control.

I don't think its a bad DIY project. Mount the bowl and flush switch, Y into the water under the sink, connect power from the old Macerator switch wires, and mount the flush switch.

My holding tank is on the port side and my old waste fitting was on starboard (opposite fuel) which was inconvenient, so I'll be adding a new fitting on the port side along with a vent. I may Y the two together so I can pump out from either side.