Association Forum - Portapotti Decision Time

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Portapotti Decision Time

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/29/2012 : 05:56:06

Hi all,

So with my marine head successfully removed from the boat, I'm ready to replace it with a portapotti. After searching this forum for previous discussions, I have narrowed the choice to two.

A Thetford 365 MSD
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006EE1WH6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A22X0ICWO5PJEQ

And a Sanitation Equipment Visa 268 Deluxe
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FBNWYK/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I like the price on the second one, and the Amazon reviews are very good. But the negative reviews mention how it leaks when tilted. Having a portapotti on a sailboat that leaks when tilted is a bad thing.

Does anyone have experience with either of these units, and some insight on if they leak when tilted? Or is there a better unit in your opinion for the same price range?

Thanks all!!

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2012 : 07:15:00

Metal attachment hardware was key for us . Thetford only offers plastic.

We are currently using the Sealand 975MSD by Dometic - no leaks.

Edited by - OJ on 05/29/2012 07:16:15

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2012 : 07:29:05

OJ, are you happy with the quality of the unit?

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2012 : 07:51:42

We only have the Thetford to compare against, but, we are very pleased with the quality of the Dometic.

The chief curmudgeon may chime in on this . . .

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2012 : 07:55:12

Thanks OJ. :)

Edited by - on

theshepirate
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
19 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2012 : 19:10:43

Hello everyone! We are basically new to sailing this is our second year. We have a '78 25' Catalina. It is a great boat, we were given it last year, by making the promise to the PO that we would restore and take care of her. Well we sure did rescue her and are doing a great job of restoring and caring for her. She sails well, and we are enjoying it very much.
I have a question regarding the Thetford Porta Potty. This came with the boat, looks fairly new,, but says it is electric. I comes with a white plastic adaptor thing, but we don't know how to use it to clean out the potty. We have not yet use the potty, bcause we can't figure out how we will maintain it/ It looks fairly new.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2012 : 19:47:29

I bought the Sealand Deluxe from West Marine. Got it on sale and works great for my needs. They had it at my local store and I figured that if/when I need parts, WM would have them readily available.

Just read the reviews. A few people had problems, but I haven't experienced any of them.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

Members Avatar

USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2012 : 20:15:00

Donna,
You might get a better response about your Thetford question over on SailBoatOwners.com, specifically [url="http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31"]Peggie Hall Head Mistress[/url]. There's an entire forum dedicated to head problems. I think Peggie has actually retired, but there's still a ton of good information there.

Also, making a guess that you've got a Thetford 585, here's a [url="http://www.thetford.com/HOME/PARTS/PortableToilets/PortaPotti585Electric/tabid/582/Default.aspx"]link to the manual[/url].

Edited by - delliottg on 05/30/2012 20:19:38

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2012 : 03:59:20

No experience with the Thetford or Sanitation porta pottis. I had an old Sealand that had some issues - cracked support bracket and what finally did it in was the plastic accordion pump developed a crack tnat allowed air in compromising the pumping action. I replaced the old Sealand with same basic unit now manufactured by Dometic. I believe I ordered it thru Defender.

I went this route mainly because the old unit was reliable for many years by the PO & I and the Dometic unit was the easiest solution since it utilized the same support brackets making install just a snap-in event. Reading reviews of all the competitive units in same dollar range, I really did not see any standouts of one over another -So I took the path of least resistance.

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2012 : 05:20:39

Is this a "go-don't go decision", or a choice between "going number one, or going number two" - just had to ask.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2012 : 06:57:00

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by theshepirate
 Hello everyone! We are basically new to sailing this is our second year. We have a '78 25' Catalina. It is a great boat, we were given it last year, by making the promise to the PO that we would restore and take care of her. Well we sure did rescue her and are doing a great job of restoring and caring for her. She sails well, and we are enjoying it very much.
I have a question regarding the Thetford Porta Potty. This came with the boat, looks fairly new,, but says it is electric. I comes with a white plastic adaptor thing, but we don't know how to use it to clean out the potty. We have not yet use the potty, bcause we can't figure out how we will maintain it/ It looks fairly new.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The "electric" is the battery powered pump that rinses the bowl from the top chamber that holds about a gallon or so of fresh water. Not a bad unit and can be adapted such that you can get a proper pumpout. No maintenance other than rinse it and keep it clean... Pretty easy...

Have fun!

sten

Edited by - on

rrick
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 06/02/2012 : 18:46:11

Use'em or loosem. I never hesitate using my pull valve even when docked. Keeps seals flexible, chemicals strong, and makes for easy transfer to the little jars in our basements back home

. Seriously, if anybody has run across a portipoti that would make guests as comfortable as I am, I'd love to find one. Guest comfort, to me, is always number one, for number 2's

Edited by - on

av8rOC
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
121 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 06:39:51

FWIW I am I also tore out my marine head and installed a Sealand 972 and have been very happy thus far. No leaks, no smell and easy to use/dump out/clean.

I was wondering what you guys use for disinfectant? I bought some of the green tabs: http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C51%7C87367%7C315192&id=904647 But 1 tab treats 40 gals of water. I have been cutting open the plastic and just adding a tablespoon or so to the holding tank which works but I wonder if there is a better way or better product. Also does anyone mix the green stuff into the water tank or are you only supposed to add it to the holding tank on the bottom?

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 07:00:34

This may or may not help.....I have zero porta-potti experience.....but I have maintained a marine head system for over a year, and before that, had a travel trailer septic system (identical to the marine head) for 4+ years.

I've tried multiple products for chemical treatment of the system. From OdorLoss green stuff, to tabs, to enzymes...you name it I gave it a shot.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, comes close to the good old fashioned Thetford blue stuff with formaldehyde. One little blue bottle with a couple gallons of water to start the system after pump out is all you need.

It works. No odor. Quick breakdown of solids, including toilet paper. (use the RV stuff only) No brown pyramids.

I know it's not good for the environment, so if that's a concern for you, well, good luck with the other stuff. You can get good results with other products....but...for me, and strictly IMHO....when it comes to septic waste, "good" isn't good enough for me.

How to apply this to a porta-potti? I guess figure out the portion to add. Usually one bottle of Thetford treats a 20 gallon waste tank.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2272 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 07:09:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 ...Nothing, and I mean nothing, comes close to the good old fashioned Thetford blue stuff with formaldehyde. One little blue bottle with a couple gallons of water to start the system after pump out is all you need.

It works. No odor. Quick breakdown of solids, including toilet paper. (use the RV stuff only) No brown pyramids.

I know it's not good for the environment, so if that's a concern for you, well, good luck with the other stuff....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Do they even sell this stuff any more, or has it been banned? I have a couple 20 year old bottles that I've been using in my marine head a little at a time, but will run out at some point. (It hung around that long because my Trophy boat came with a Thetford Portapotti that I have never used.)

[EDIT: I am aware that Thetford still sells their blue stuff, but always assumed that they had reformulated it to take out the formaldehyde.]

Edited by - TakeFive on 06/04/2012 07:21:54

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 08:08:40

Hmmm....good point. I have half a case left over from my travel trailer days, back in the late 90's....haven't had to buy any new stuff yet. Next time I'm at Wally World I'll look at the Thetford bottles and see.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 09:13:06

I am not sure what I use as a disinfectant, etc in the porta potti. I have a gallon of blue stuff bought at West Marine a few years ago. It indicates only a small proportion of the bottle for the size porta potti I have and so the gallon as lasted a few seasons. My porta potti gets very little use. When my wife and I day sail, it is hardly ever used and same goes for when we have guests since I remind all to use the marina facilities just before we go sailing. The few times we stay overnight on the boat, it has been at marinas that have excellent bathroom facilities and so again, the porta potti hardly used. I do not keep tabs on #1s and #2s done in the porta potti but I do not believe it has ever in 7 years been used for a #2. I am sure if you are eating lunch right now, this info you really needed to read. LOL

Anyway, very light use. Even so, it was not like anyone ever had to run to a marina bathroom because they did not want to use the boat facility. Maybe we just have larger bladders in the Wash DC area ?

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/04/2012 09:14:35

NautiC25
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 10:16:46

Do what I do. It's so hot here that I get dehydrated and don't need to go.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 11:33:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 Do what I do. It's so hot here that I get dehydrated and don't need to go.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

LOL, no doubt. I can spend an afternoon sailing in the summer...drink 3 bottles of water and 2 bottle of Gatorade....and not pee all day.....

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 12:52:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by NautiC25
 Do what I do. It's so hot here that I get dehydrated and don't need to go.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

LOL, no doubt. I can spend an afternoon sailing in the summer...drink 3 bottles of water and 2 bottle of Gatorade....and not pee all day.....
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yup! The club has a kegarator with free beer. I've had one cup so far because I'm always dehydrated.

Edited by - on

rrick
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
261 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2012 : 13:26:58

Anybody else get a high pressure blast of your liquidities deposit when you pull the valve? Something about enzyme deodorant and no pressure relieve on the holding tank. It's older, maybe designed for formaldehyde.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.