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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

which Porta Potti?

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/09/2003 : 21:04:23

Hello,

I'm looking for a good quality porta potti. One that has a pump out fitting so I can connect the deck fitting with a hose to it. I have found a couple on the web, but I'd like to hear your experience.

Thanks,

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/09/2003 : 23:04:09

We have the 5-gallon SaniPottie--it fits your requirements and works just fine. The larger capacity and higher seat are great. West (the Evil Empire) carries it, but check the price at Defender or others, and get West to match it.

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

Edited by - on

weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 16:08:26

Thanks Dave,

I'll look into the SaniPotti a bit more. I wasn't sure which ones offered the pump out fitting.

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 17:57:09

Mark, I feel your pain. Packing the port-a-pottie to the restroom to dump on a busy summer weekend sucks. I try to plan for the evening when there are fewer people around to dump. It is a shame that provisions weren't made at the houseboat pump out for us to dump there. On busy weekends we will dump at the floating restrooms out on the lake. This is frowned on by the authorities but our options are limited. Getting pumped out is a waiting game if the rental houseboats are coming in and you will need to wait for them. This is not always convenient. That is why I have stayed with the portable unit and not gone to the regular marine unit that needs the pump out to off load.

Hey, do you still own two C25's?

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette ~_/)~

Edited by - on

matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 18:41:03

You may also want to consider Thetford. They make several "Porta Potti" models: http://www.thetford.com. My boat came with a real old Thetford that I'm also looking to replace. Current wisdom from my web research is that Thetford's are better built. Some user reviews I read on the Sanipotti cited tank separation at the worst possible moment!

John Matsche 1985 TR/FK #5171

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 21:04:29

The 5-gallon SaniPottie has the pumpout fitting. (The smaller one doesn't.) I also like the way it clamps to the hold-down brackets. I have no reason to diss Thetford's units, but haven't had one, and can only guess that they also offer a pump-out model. I saw somewhere that Practical Sailor favored the SaniPottie (Sealand).

Regarding pump-out, however, I will offer the opinion that I prefer to take the whole unit to a place where I can not only empty it, but really clean out the holding tank and the seat/bowl unit with a hose. Ours is used only occasionally, and leaving a "pumped out" portable holding tank in the head does not appeal to me, and especially to the Admiral. It's not that objectionable a job. But your mileage may vary.

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

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/10/2003 21:05:26

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matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 22:53:26

I prefer to haul mine off for a good cleaning as well. Nothing worse then the smell of a potty after a week of being shut in the cabin with 100+ degree heat! The Thetford's do have a pump-out model in their catalog, but I'm having trouble locating distributors and prices for the varous models. Obviously not as popular as the SaniPottie. A nod from Practical Sailor is a plus for SaniPottie as were some other comments that I found on the web. I should have mentioned those in my previous post, lest I sound biased!

John Matsche 1985 TR/FK #5171

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weluvlife
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 22:55:11

Great info,

I've looked torn between the Thetford Aquamate 875 MSD and the Sealand
SaniPottie 965.

I think both offer the pumpout fitting and the vent fitting.

So far I can't find a review on either of these. I'll have to ask around the marina this weekend.

Thanks

Mark Eichman
Lake Don Pedro,CA
'86 c25 TR, SK

Edited by - on

matsche
Captain

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USA
280 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2003 : 23:01:05

Mark: Please post whatever you find out as I (and probably others) would be interested. Will do the same. Darned important piece of equipment!

Edited by - matsche on 09/10/2003 23:01:50

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Bruce Ebling
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2004 : 17:45:47

I am in the process of removing the marine head from the boat and replacing it with a portable toilet. I checked into both Thetford and Sealand units. I also went out to the boat today to check out the "footprint" that the new toilet would have vs. the room available. It appears to me that on my 89 model that I am short on space. Most portable toilets have a depth of around 16" to 19". The space in the boat is only 12" and that is only part of it as it tapers down to 7" at the forward end.
Does anyone have a photo of how they installed their toilet?? Any suggestions of how to fit the new unit? I am ready to order the new toilet but wanted to wait untill I am sure it will fit.
Thanks for listening
Bruce Ebling
1989 WK "Selah"

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2004 : 20:17:35

"Thetford Aquamate 875 MSD"

I just got one... it's getting installed this weekend.

It comes with fittings for both pump out and pour-out use... and hold-down brackets.
Appears to be a 5 minute job to change over from one to the other.

Will post more info when I get it installed.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2004 : 21:36:24

Yep, did it last week. I think I wish I bought the manual version but what the hey.

Edited by - on

paking
Deckhand

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USA
24 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2004 : 21:49:57

As for fitting a bigger potti in, my PO extended the floor in the head area by
about 6 inches with a sort of wood step. It now fits a potti with no problem.

Has anyone considered the Sealand Traveler? It's bigger so it looks like a tight
fit, but it holds 9 gallons, and looks more like a real head then a porta potti.
My wife might like that.

Another problem is that I believe it requires pressurized water. I was thinking
if installing a small whale pump and Traveler head.

http://www.defender.com/cgi-bin/Web_store/web_store.cgi?keywords=sealand+head&frames=yes&store=yes

Thanks, Pat

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2004 : 22:56:17

I prefer the Thetford design over the Sanipottie. The Thetford has all penetrations of the holding tank on top, so is less likely to leak and make a %*^&$&*^ mess in your boat or RV. The Sanipottie models have the pour-out cap on the side of the tank, a lousy place for it if the gasket isn't working perfectly or the previous user had failed to screw the cap on tight enough.

Edited by - on

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2004 : 11:25:23

We have used three Sealand sanipotties, large size, over the years. I chose them because a while back the Practical Sailor did an extensive evaluation of all available portable heads and said the Sanipottie seemed most rugged and durable. The Thetford had some nice features, they said, but was not as robust, in testing. I like robust. So far we have bee perfectly satisfied, but we have never hooked them up to deck discharge--yet! That may come with the current one, which we have used so little that hauling it off the boat has not yet been as much of a pain as it used to be in other boats when we used them alot. I have had only these three portables, all others were fixed. Portable is GOOD, IMHO, -- if you dont mind the suitcase drill--no holes in boat, no plumbing, etc, etc Happy Memorial Day to all, Ron srsk Orion SW FL

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2004 : 17:19:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ronrryan
 . . . but was not as robust, in testing. I like robust.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer flushes the toliet in a public restroom that had high pressure and he does one of his spaz moves and says "WOW, now that's a great flush!"

I have the large Thetford and I like everything about it except the hold down hardware was plastic and surely was not designed for sailboats (even though I couldn't get anyone at Thetford to admit as much.) I had custom hold down hardware made out of aluminum. Maybe they've corrected this by now.

As for a platform I used a piece of 1/2" teak plywood coated with Cetol.

Edited by - OJ on 05/29/2004 17:21:44

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2004 : 21:47:07

The step my potti is mounted to has a teak extension on the front--it looks like Catalina's work to me. (The PO wasn't that clever--he mounted his porta-potti hardware with plain steel screws, the heads of which turned to brown powder.) Maybe the put the extension on boats they built without marine heads, to accomodate the portable.

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2004 : 21:52:44

A pal of mine, now deceased, had an elderly portapottie type head that he customarily removed at the end of each weekend and took home to his apartment building to dump in his toilet. Gets on elevator. Next floor a large party get on, VERY convivial and well oiled. This model had a foot lever to open. Woman steps on lever. Green fluid, heavily scented, issues onto elevator floor. Lady says "Is that some kind of solvent?". As pal steps off, he replies, "Yes, you might say that". Fair winds and flushes, ron srsk Orion Venice, FL

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/30/2004 : 07:44:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Bristle
 The step my potti is mounted to has a teak extension on the front--it looks like Catalina's work to me. Maybe the put the extension on boats they built without marine heads, to accomodate the portable.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ditto
I did need to remove a couple of positioning rails from the floor, but I don't need them with the hold down kit. A bungie across the unit from the back wall down to the front floor makes the installation high wind proof.

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Bruce Ebling
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2004 : 13:12:59

I just recieved a photo of a porti pottie on Larry Charlot's boat, and it has an "extender" shelf to make more room for the porti pottie. Selah (1989) and every other boat I have owned has had a marine head installed from the factory and does not have the "extender" shelf. I want to ask the question; do all boats NOT installed with marine heads from the factory have the "extender" shelf installed? Or is it possible that all of the "extender" shelves have been installed by PO's?
Bruce Ebling
1989 WK
"Selah"

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2004 : 17:40:58

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bruce Ebling
 ...I want to ask the question; do all boats NOT installed with marine heads from the factory have the "extender" shelf installed? Or is it possible that all of the "extender" shelves have been installed by PO's?
Bruce Ebling
1989 WK
"Selah"
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

According to the C25 Parts manual, the [url="http://www.catalina25-250.org/manbro/pictures/pc29.gif"]Portable Head Teak Shelf[/url] was factory installed.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2004 : 22:00:50

Installed the new Thetford 865 today...

I agree that the plastic hold-down brackets are pretty cheezy... at least compared to my ancient Thetford (sold by Sears) that had stainless latches capable of securing a battleship.

Haven't seen the hold-down system on the new sani-potti's so I can't compare the Thetford to them. Either way, before my Sea of Cortez venture I can see that I'll have to upgrade to a 'regular' toilet.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2004 : 22:11:25

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trent
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 06/01/2004 : 12:39:34

Soo, not to beat on this topic but did we ever get a concensus on which portapotty is better? I'm getting ready to order one today and the Thetford is a lot more money than the Sealand.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/01/2004 : 14:44:25

"Thetford is a lot more money than the Sealand"

I'd go with the Sealand then. I think they all work about the same. Hard question to answer as most of us don't have both brands... (at least of newer vintage).

I went with the Thetford to get the either/or fittings... and 1 more gallon of capacity. After pondering further... I probably should have gone with a 'full on' system... or maybe the Sealand "Traveler" system.

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