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Head and through port valve ,

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Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/29/2017 : 13:48:29

Im thinking of using the head on my boat again. I havent used it in five years. I dont want to open the thru port valve without knowing what Im doing but not maintaining is probably not a good idea either.

Should I wait until I take it out. How can you test it out with no real water pressure.

Yet I dont want to Quote test it in the boat and have it sink. How do you balance these risks.

Since we dont use the head as often. ( most readers say) why dont the make some type of over the side (through deck fitting) hose to draw water up when your in dock or need to go. Seems to me that would eliminate risk.

Im worried now leaving it sit it would eventually leak anyway.

Oh Crap!

"The Gal-Way" 1985 SR/SK Barnegat Bay, NJ

Enjoy Sailing =) Be Safe

Happy Sailing - John

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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2017 : 17:04:30

And that is why a lot of us don't think a head is a good idea for such a small boat... a porta potty is so much easier to live with.

Frank Hopper

Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2017 : 18:05:49

So can you just close up or put something safer on the thru port fitting. A valve might fail before a blind. but I guess it needs to be out to do it.

"The Gal-Way" 1985 SR/SK Barnegat Bay, NJ

Enjoy Sailing =) Be Safe

Happy Sailing - John

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9077 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2017 : 11:27:38

If you use it fairly infrequently, so water use is tolerably low, you might want to consider hooking it up to your fresh water system. That generally reduces odor problems by a LOT, compared to salt water. That's how mine works--fresh water and an enzyme treatment, and it's been absolutely odor free. I can always smell friends' systems that draw salt water. (They generally stop noticing it after a while.)

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/30/2017 11:31:35

Captmorgan
Navigator

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USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2017 : 12:45:41

Thats and idea. we wouldnt use it much. when you drain it to the holding tank with enzyme how often to you pump that out. Do you just use one at the marina , is there a cost.

"The Gal-Way" 1985 SR/SK Barnegat Bay, NJ

Enjoy Sailing =) Be Safe

Happy Sailing - John

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4021 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2017 : 13:51:34

If your valve is the plastic black ones from Catalina and you have neglected to open and close them routinely then I would wait untill the boat is out of the water for the winter before applying any force on them. You can then free them safely. Pumpouts are usually free. Many Marina's have them and towns usually provide free pumpouts at a location or by calling for the pump out boat on a VHS channel. I have never paid for one but it is customary to throw the pumpout guy a few bucks after all it is a crappy job.

Some of the pumpout boats will have appropriate names. I have had the pleasure of using the"Stink Potter" and the "Pew-E-2" to name a few. Sorry Dave

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound

Edited by - islander on 07/30/2017 14:07:17

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9077 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2017 : 14:51:23

quote:
Originally posted by islander

....Some of the pumpout boats will have appropriate names. I have had the pleasure of using the"Stink Potter" and the "Pew-E-2" to name a few. Sorry Dave

I'm feeling used.

You just flush a little enzyme treatment into the tank after each pump-out. How often is that? Depends!

I'll bet NJ funds a pumpout boat program or some other facilities, particularly for Barnegat Bay. I keep a $5 or two on board for tips.

My water tank benefits from the usage--it doesn't get that much otherwise, so the water can get kinda old.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1773 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2017 : 15:28:18

I am in the same situation and instead of hooking up the existing head (or replacing it with same) I am seriously considering the AirHead composing system. It looks like the least smelly, least problematic, and simplest to install. In the archives someone installed one in their C25. Anyway, no through hulls just air vent. Still mulling it all over, but as the porte-potty on my power boat is such a PIA I think the Air Head may be better than a port-potty.

Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT

Lee Panza
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
465 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2017 : 20:49:47

quote:
Originally posted by bigelowp

...I am seriously considering the AirHead composing system.

This probably should branch-off into a separate thread, but there are a number of issues you should be aware of before taking the plunge (bad pun) into a "composting" toilet. First, they don't actually compost the solids, they desiccate the material (it could be transferred later to a land-based composter if you wish). Secondly, they need a vent line with a low-draw exhaust fan to remove the moisture (as well as what little smell remains, which is pretty much just like peat moss rather than sewage). The important thing is that they separate the urine flow from the solids, and the urine tank needs to be periodically emptied, but the solids tank can go months (even years) without emptying.

I installed an Air Head, which I preferred over the Nature's Head, but because the wood extension in front of the fiberglass ledge was deteriorating I made a new one from Star Board. I'm quite happy with the toilet, and I find it a lot less of a problem to dispose of the urine than to periodically dump the porta potty I had before this. And there's absolutely no smell inside (I've never noticed any smell outside from the vent either).

I strongly endorse the move (another bad pun, sorry).

If anyone's interested in more we can start a separate thread. That would help future Cat25 owners when they search the archives for help.

The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)

Edited by - Lee Panza on 07/30/2017 20:52:36

Tomas Kruska
Admiral

Members Avatar

Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2017 : 05:51:21

Hello Lee, I would like to know more about this composting head.

I'm currently using the PortaPotty, but this looks more than better.

My obvious question is:
1) what about diarrhea
2) when the bowl "get's dirty", how do you clean it?
3) is it safe to be use by kids? I mean is it somehow constructed to prevent the liquid contaminating the solid waste?

thanks

Dalpol Phobos 21, 2013, Sole Mio, hull #27, current adventures - We sail Phobos 21

PO of Catalina C25, 1978, High Anxiety, hull #701, SR, FK, L-dinette, inboard diesel Volvo Penta MD2010C w/saildrive - more info

Edited by - Tomas Kruska on 07/31/2017 05:58:32

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5363 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2017 : 07:30:00

I'd agree that most newer technologies like enzyme and composting are great solutions for "the inevitable "! My porta potty isn't ideal but it's a known quantity to me. I'd be interested in learning more about potty tech in another thread.
One thing I will say about standard water-based marine heads is that many older ones I've seen while doing courtesy Vessel Safety Inspections with the US Power Squadron is that they mostly don't work very well as they age, those using salt water smell rotten, and there's always a risk of inadvertently or advertently dumping them overboard. This is illegal in most coastal waters and all inland waters in the US. The USCG requires that such Y valves be either mechanically locked, disabled or removed from the boat.
Those who do nothing will receive a warning or a fine if boarded. With free pump out services, there's no reason for a coastal cruiser to have one.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9077 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2017 : 20:32:00

quote:
Originally posted by Voyager

...inadvertently or advertently dumping them overboard. This is illegal in most coastal waters and all inland waters in the US. The USCG requires that such Y valves be either mechanically locked, disabled or removed from the boat. Those who do nothing will receive a warning or a fine if boarded. With free pump out services, there's no reason for a coastal cruiser to have one.

For example, NY and CT have made all of Long Island Sound a no discharge zone.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Lee Panza
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
465 Posts

Response Posted - 07/31/2017 : 21:52:41

I started a separate thread about "composting" toilets for anyone who's interested. They are actually a rather good solution for small boats like Catalina 25's.

The trouble with a destination - any destination, really - is that it interrupts The Journey.

Lee Panza
SR/SK #2134
San Francisco Bay
(Brisbane, CA)

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3449 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2017 : 04:28:29

Just a general comment with thru hulls/valves that are used infrequently.

My boat is in the water year-round. It is generally out of the water only for a week or so, every 3-4 years, when being bottom painted with an ablative or co-polymer mutli-year paint. Also out for just a half hour or so, when I get the bottom pressure-washed, annually. When I get the bottom pressure-washed, I bring a tube of synthetic grease with me and a long thin brush. Before they put the boat back in the water, I shove the thin brush with some grease up into the thru-hull to get some grease onto the ball of the valve. Then when the boat is back in the water, I will cycle the valve several times. This keeps the valve relatively easy to open/close.

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Captmorgan
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 08/01/2017 : 19:01:21

Nice! thanks for the info.
A different kind of stinkpotter

quote:
Originally posted by islander

If your valve is the plastic black ones from Catalina and you have neglected to open and close them routinely then I would wait untill the boat is out of the water for the winter before applying any force on them. You can then free them safely. Pumpouts are usually free. Many Marina's have them and towns usually provide free pumpouts at a location or by calling for the pump out boat on a VHS channel. I have never paid for one but it is customary to throw the pumpout guy a few bucks after all it is a crappy job. Some of the pumpout boats will have appropriate names. I have had the pleasure of using the"Stink Potter" and the "Pew-E-2" to name a few. Sorry Dave

"The Gal-Way" 1985 SR/SK Barnegat Bay, NJ

Enjoy Sailing =) Be Safe

Happy Sailing - John

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