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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Converting to a 'real' head

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rcraig
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/27/2002 : 09:31:45

Well this is my first leap into the Catalina forums, but from what I've seen, there is a lot of helpful (and knowlegeable) owners out there. Being a new owner, I figure this must be the right place.

So, I have just purchased a 1977 C-25 Std rig, fin keel, L-shaped dinette model. Nice boat, just needed a good bath. It came equiped w/ the good 'ol porta-potti. I'm sure it would serve the basic purpose, but think it would be better w/ a permanent head/holding tank arrangement. Has anyone out there done such an installation or know where to look for info ?? Not looking to get to fancy, no macerators or electrics, just the standard pump type model. This would include the need to install holding tank, plumbing, Y-valves, vents, and all the other lovely little details.

Boats up on the trailer now & will be for the next couple months during re-hab (the boat's, not mine)so now would be the time. All feedback, no matter how cynical, will be appreciated.

P.S. Anyone know a good source on the west coast for new interior cushions ?? Need a full set.

Regards,
Richard

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2002 : 10:52:25

Welcome, Richard!

For cushions, try a local auto upholsterer, and then compare to Catalina Direct's prices and offering. Think 20 boat units, and then be happy if you do a lot better for nice fabric and new foam. Some here have done a LOT better by finding their own fabric and using the old foam--it depends on what you want.

As for the head... What do you plan to do with the boat? Serious cruising? Weekends and overnights? How many users? An alternative worth considering, depending on your needs, is the large-capacity (5 gallon) Sani-potti that has a hookup for a deck-mounted pumpout or can be completely portable. That gives you the simplicity of the portable with minimal (or no) plumbing, but several days' capacity for a couple of people. It's a compromise, but so is a marine head. There are plenty of ugly stories as well as supporters of both.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2002 : 13:27:49

An old rule of thumb used to be that a family of four, exercising some slight discipline, could leave on Friday eve with an empty standard portapotty and return Sunday evening with it full and ready to empty. The larger capacity Sanipottie got a very good review by Practical Sailor a while back, after severe tests (including dropping, etc) but the real issue, as pinpointed in earlier post is, how do you plan to use the vessel? If by the weekend, my advice is avoid plumbing, holes in boat, seacocks, etc, with portaunit. However, if you are going out for long cruises away from the dock, then read the stuff under "headmistress" on the Catalina owners site, where there is more and better advice than can be found elsewhere from Peggy the wonder woman when it comes to waste. Fair winds, ron in Orion sr sk #2343

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2002 : 16:46:09

Richard,

I have done the Porta-Potty to marine head w/tank conversion you described on a 1979 C-25 swing keel dinette model.

I strongly urge you to start by reading everything you can find on the subject by Peggy Hall. She knows her ... well, stuff. ([url="http://www.sailboatowners.com/forums/pegreflib.tpl?fno=31"]see link[/url])

I installed the holding tank under the V-berth. ([url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1908"]See link[/url]) for holding tank model and fittings. I used a Raritan PHII head. The offshore discharge pump is a Nitrile diaphram style located inside the center aft end of the V-berth locker, with its removable handle projecting aft into the V-berth footwell. Its intake is connected into the deck pumpout hose with a T-fitting, its output is plumbed to a bronze seacock and thru-hull in the V-berth locker. The head intake is plumbed to a T-fitting in the 3/4" head sink drain below the waterline. There is an anti-siphon loop between the head pump and the bowl rim. There are dual 1" vent lines on the holding tank. All 1-1/2" waste hoses are the (slightly expensive) "Sealand Odorsafe" type. The pumpout deck fitting is a metal Scandvik w/flip-up knob on the color coded cap.

Plumbing schematic more or less follows West Marine's " [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/commerce/command/ExecMacro/west_advisor.d2w/show_advisor?fn=436.htm&store_num=11"]Our Favorite Method[/url]".

<img src="http://www.westmarine.com/Images/wa/436.e.adart.gif" border=0>

Let me know if you'd like more details.

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

nate
Navigator

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240 Posts

Response Posted - 09/27/2002 : 18:39:11

Richard,
I have a W/C manual head and the holding tank that I removed from my 1987 C25 in favor of a porta-potti. It is from a trad interior but I'm sure you could make the tank fit under the v-berth. I'm in Vegas..sort of West coast.

No need for a head in my shed!

Nate Adams
C25 #5695 WK/SR/Trad

Edited by - on

Ellis Bloomfield
1st Mate

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USA
85 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2002 : 12:41:49

You might check out www.airheadtoilet.com before you punch a lot of holes in your boat. I plan to put one on a larger boat that I'm redoing. It is designed with a low power vent fan that will also keep other odors out of your boat. (I have a new Jabsco head that came with the boat that you can have for $50 and ups charges. I'm in MN.)

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2002 : 12:23:20

I've done it already. Replaced the head itself in 99 and the holding tank this past year. Its really a fairly easy job. (based on a swearing rating of PG-13.

Email me if you want details.

dw

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2d603b3127cce9f858f0ef3ef0000001010" border=0>

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10timesSaltier
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 09/30/2002 : 20:32:12

Richard,

Threw out the porta pottie this spring and am all to happy to be rid of it.

I installed the Wilcox Crittendon Head-mate toilet, with the 17 gallon heavy-duty holding tank sold by Catalina Direct. The holding tank went into the port side locker. I used a stainless waste deck-"un"-fill and a 5/8 vent from West Marine. I got the scentless hose from Sailnet; I'm hoping the "scentless" part is true to it's name (it has been so far).

Installation was easy other than the typical scratch and itch from the fiberglass cutouts.

I could give you pictures and parts lists if you're not in too big a hurry for them. Good luck!

Brian.
Great Salt Lake (10-times saltier than the ocean)
"SAFARI", C25 TR-FK #2275

Edited by - on

luckystar
Navigator

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USA
236 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2002 : 01:32:53

I've been thinking of doing this as well. Do you think this fits into the $300 or 3 boat units category of upgrades? I plan to use the vanity sink drain as intake and install a smaller holding tank (like a 6-10 gal.) under the port settee (need some ballast overthere anyway after adding a second battery!) with a vent and deck pumpout only (no overboard discharging at my lake!) I feel fairly confident and noticed that westmarine has the jabsco basic on sale for $109 right now! The tank looks to be around $50-60 and the "good" hoses for about $2.50/ft. Thanks for the info here! And also, thanks for speaking so well of Peggy, she's pretty cool. "it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it!"

Patrick Burnett, Little Rock, AR
S/V Lucky Star #2707 1982 SK/SR

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10timesSaltier
1st Mate

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80 Posts

Response Posted - 10/02/2002 : 23:18:52

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Do you think this fits into the $300 or 3 boat units category of upgrades?

Patrick Burnett, Little Rock, AR
S/V Lucky Star #2707 1982 SK/SR
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Without the thru-hull and macerator, definitely in the $300 range.

Brian.
Great Salt Lake (10-times saltier than the ocean)
"SAFARI", C25 TR-FK #2275

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