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Dancing porta potty, how to secure?

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trent
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/22/2003 : 14:07:10

Greetings,

I took a few friends out on Saturday and had a great sail. They had to be back at a certain time and so I put her to the wind pretty good and of course here comes the porta potty. I put four 2 inch velcro disks on the bottom of it about a month ago and then bunjied it up in a fashion and it still wants to dance around.

How do you deal with this problem? I like having one on board since if you don't the fairer sex will rarely join you but the pain of keeping it in place is making me crazy.

-Trent 83 FK/SR Oologah Lake, Oklahoma

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2003 : 14:54:57

Hi Trent,

You certainly picked the better of the two days this weekend to go sailing. I, on the other, sailed through three successive squalls on Sunday. Antares looked like a big bath tub by the end of the day.

There are [url="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=47488"]hold down brackets[/url] available to solve your Porta Pottie problem.

Regards,

J.B. Manley
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d609b3127cce8d2e212441c60000002010" border=0>
Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
36°29'58" -94°59'59"

Edited by - on

trent
1st Mate

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USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2003 : 15:15:31

Thanks J.B. I think I already have the brackets but I'm somehow scared to install them. That means drilling close to the bottom of the boat, scary. Any advise on that part of things? How does one drill cleanly into fiberglass? The last thing I want to do is hurt my boat.

Yes I'll bet you did get soaked. Some of the storms that hit by Keystone were quite strong and I heard a clap of thunder that startled me pretty good.

-Trent

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2003 : 15:42:25

I'll go out on the limb and say that the pottie platform is high enough above the bottom of the boat to accommodate plumbing for a fixed head. With a drill bit set as deeply as possible in the chuck, you won't have any problems--the boat bottom is not flat in that area. You'll know when you get through the platform itself--drilling through the bottom would take substantial additional effort, if you could reach it. Now, if you sink the boat, this post will have disappeared from the forum... <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

BTW, our Sanipotti has two wire brackets to which the unit attaches with the same clamps that hold the bowl to the tank--very secure.

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

Edited by - on

Sea Trac
Master Marine Consultant

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Vanuatu
1357 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2003 : 15:42:42

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
That means drilling close to the bottom of the boat, scary. Any advise on that part of things? How does one drill cleanly into fiberglass?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Go slow, drill shallow. <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>

Actually, the area under the head is elevated from the hull by at least the amount of the step at the front to a couple of inches at the back. If you have the traditional interior (i.e., fore-aft table that hangs on the port bulkhead) the teak trim below where the table hangs can be removed by extracting the four screws. There are two inspection holes behind there that will allow you to see how much clearance you have. If not that, you should be able to look forward from under the port settee.

Sharp bits and pilot holes are my preferred method. Although, others on the forum have much more elaborate systems.

Good luck,

J.B. Manley
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3d609b3127cce8d2e212441c60000002010" border=0>
Antares '85 FK/SR #4849
36°29'58" -94°59'59"

Edited by - Antares on 09/22/2003 15:43:24

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2003 : 16:06:18

I have the large capacity Thetford. Unfortunately the plastic brackets really weren't designed to hold the unit in a boat that heels. I had brackets similar in design to the originals made out of aluminum.

Good luck.

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2003 : 19:17:58

Forget about the latches. Here is a great way to keep the pottie from flipping over, dresses up a not very attractive subject, and is easy to remove the unit by lifting it up and just set it back down in.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2da34b3127cce9d353928d3730000004610" border=0>

We have a three gallon and a 5 gallon holding tank, depending on how long we are planning to be out and how far to the nearest pump out.

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

Edited by - on

Dan86
Navigator

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130 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2003 : 23:35:02

I hate to be out of "thread" but how exactly do you empty a portapotty. Do you run the pumpout hose to the holding tank, or remove the holding tank of the portipotti to the deck and then pump out? Sorry to be clueless, but am cosidereing changing out to a portable unit. Dan 86 CK 1 TR/FK

Edited by - on

ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2003 : 08:36:24

My porta-potti is a two piece model. I don't know the brand.
The top part is the seat and also is a reservoir for the "clean" blue (treated) water that is "flushed" with the waste into the bottom "holding tank".
When I remove the clamps securing it to the floor, I can take off the top section, leave it on the boat, and carry off the bottom section to dump it. It has a carry handle at the rear of the unit next to a big twist off cap that I pour the waste out through.

Where to pour it?
Off the dock of course.
NO JUST KIDDING. <img src=icon_smile_dead.gif border=0 align=middle>
My mom lives in an RV resort close to me and I usually go there and pour it in the sewer hook-up for the RV's. It's nice 'cause it's outside, there's a concrete apron next to the waste drain, and a hose for rinsing.

I guess I could pour it down my toilet at home, but I wouldn't want to chance clogging it up with the sheer volume.
I also wouldn't want to risk spilling it on the floor.

Amazing how heavy that thing can be lugging it back to my truck from the boat. Maybe if I emptied it more than once a year it wouldn't be so heavy.
Maybe I should serve light beer. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Cap'n Dave
Sailing The Blues
1986 C25 sr/sk #5413

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2003 : 08:36:46

Dave - there is definitely enough room to install a fixed head in that location. We cut a hole for an inspection plate, then used a backing board to bolt it into place. Flushes with lake water right into the holding tank.

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2cc30b3127cce92fbfac72d900000001610" border=0>

you can't tell from the picture, but we had to run the bolts from the bottom up. We only had enough room to get a wrench on the bolt, not enough arm room to actually thread a nut etc. etc. If you have a small child, or adult with really small hands and arms, you could probably do it the other way.

With all that being said. There is enough room to accomodate for the plumbing. Just not a lot of room to play with it down there. The actual hole for the hose going to the holding tank runs through the bulkhead right into the settee. (Booth type interior)

dw

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/images/layout/category_images/t_3964.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - Duane Wolff on 09/23/2003 08:44:24

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2003 : 08:47:48

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Thanks J.B. I think I already have the brackets but I'm somehow scared to install them. That means drilling close to the bottom of the boat, scary. Any advise on that part of things? How does one drill cleanly into fiberglass? The last thing I want to do is hurt my boat.

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Your not as close as you think with that riser in there. You can pretty much drill and screw into 80 percent of the cabin floor and not be close to anything (provided the screw isn't 8 miles long)

When you drill into fiberglass, put down a piece of masking tape and drill through that. It will keep the glass from chipping.

D. Wolff - "The Flying Wasp" #401 sr/sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://www.flags.com/images/layout/category_images/t_3964.jpg" border=0>

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2003 : 09:51:40

Thanks, Duane... I wasn't planning to put a head in--just to provide evidence to Trent that there's space down there for wayward drill bits, tips of screws, etc.

Dan: I generally take the whole potty home (in two pieces), dump into a toilet, and then rinse everything thoroughly out with a hose behind the garage. It's much less disgusting than you might imagine--the enzyme fluid, which goes in the holding tank only, breaks things down and makes the effluent relatively odorless. Be sure to use boat/RV toilet paper, which disolves in the tank. The manufacturers recommend only plain water in the upper tank (in the seat half of the unit), as do the chemical makers. One good reason is that if you forget to let the pressure (from decomposition) out of the holding tank by "burping" it before you use the toilet, it there can be some spray when you open it after putting water (and other things) in it.

But, I repeat, the whole thing is not that obnoxious. Just be sure to get the 6-gallon model--it sits better, lasts for a few days out, and offers a pumpout connection if you want to install a hose to a deck fitting. And burp it (open the slide valve slightly) before using it.

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

Edited by - dave bristle on 09/23/2003 09:54:47

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Dan86
Navigator

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130 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2003 : 18:10:53

Thanks Dave, I like to possiblity of not having the holding tank under a sette where I could have additional storage. I am also intriged by being able to have a deck fitting for pump out attached to clean it up, as the pump is only across the marina and easily accessible. I gues I could just attach my current deck pumpout hose to the new portipotti. Never thought I would be so excited about the crapper.... Dan CK 1 86 FK/TR

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