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Auburn80
1st Mate

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60 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/21/2005 : 17:54:34

Greetings. I'm replacing an old potti w/ pumpout and have been considering the Thetford line. Any general feedback you guys have on those? I'd like to install the model 875 - 6 gallon holding tank w/ pumpout.

Thanks for your help!

Edited by - on

rclift
Navigator

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USA
152 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2005 : 18:32:01

This is the model that I purchased last year. So far I've been very happy. I was tired of dealing with the holding tank, y valve and lines on the marine head. We don't have a need for a large capacity system so this makes sense and on the Columbia River we have a lot of free pumpout facilities which I prefer to use instead of lugging the waste to a restroom. I needed to build a 6 to 8 inch platform extension in front of the existing platform to have enough room for the porta potti to be mounted and still have enough room behind the unit for the waste line. The 875 comes with an electric washdown pump that runs off AA batteries. I'm not sure I see the need for the battery operated system and wish I would have purchased one with the old fashioned billows instead.

One other thing, don't assume that seacocks that have been shut off are necessarily off. After taking off and removing the marine head I took off the lines to the seacocks and merely shut them off. After launch and a mile or so down the river I noticed that there was water on the floor in the cabin. After a little investigation I found that the water was just beginning to overflow the settee next to the bulkhead. Both valves were closed but because of age they were leaking badly. The fix was easy enough in that the valves were no longer needed. I simply took off the seacocks and capped the thru-hull.

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Auburn80
1st Mate

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60 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2005 : 21:07:18

Thanks Ray, I appreciate your input. Fortunately, my boat never had the thru-hull for waste and does have room behind the platform for the P.O. & vent hoses. It was always a porta w/ pumpout. I think the 885 is the electric one; the 875 uses bellows. We thought about the electric model but decided that we might forget about the batteries and discover them all corroded up.

Edited by - Auburn80 on 06/21/2005 21:12:14

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2005 : 21:45:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Auburn80
 Thanks Ray, I appreciate your input. Fortunately, my boat never had the thru-hull for waste and does have room behind the platform for the P.O. & vent hoses. It was always a porta w/ pumpout. I think the 885 is the electric one; the 875 uses bellows. We thought about the electric model but decided that we might forget about the batteries and discover them all corroded up.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I bought the 885, I like the electric flush a lot. I am very impressed with the rate and effectiveness of the water flow. A moment on the button and you are done. I did not install the pumpout option as I would rather take it to the shower house where I can clean it well before returning it to my boat. I have NO ODOR and I believe it is because of how well I clean it. I find it hard to believe the pumpout facility leaves the unit clean. But I also must admit I have never used either of the two at our club so I am ignorant of pumpout realities. My wife is not at all happy with the unit. It is way too tall and she is very uncomfortable using it.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2005 : 21:59:53

I have the Sealand version (SaniPotti) that West sells--5 gallons with the pumpout option--and like it a lot. Like Frank, I prefer to lug it and clean it (including a Clorox rinse)--I don't put it to that much use anyway, and would rather not have any residual %*@& in there, even with the effective enzyme treatments. I'm pretty sure if I wanted to plumb it in, it would fit fine.

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2005 : 00:06:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by fhopper@mac.com
 ...My wife is not at all happy with the unit. It is way too tall and she is very uncomfortable using it.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have heard several other owners of 6-gallon Thetford and SannaPottie MSD's complaining about the height; that for many people with average leg length, your feet are dangling 4" or more above the deck, which is VERY uncomfortable (at least for adults, kids don't seem to care) if you are used to having your feet planted firmly on the floor while using "the facilities". I have also heard that for very tall people, the 6-gallon Thetford is so high that they actually can't sit up strait on it without bumping their heads on the ceiling (this report was from a Catalina 250 owner, I think; the Catalina 25 is taller and shouldn't pose a headroom problem even with a 6-gallon pottie).

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Auburn80
1st Mate

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60 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2005 : 11:12:14

Thanks so much to everyone. Sounds like the quality of the Thetford is good but I need to investigate the height a little more to make sure my S.O. would be OK with the unit. The 875/885 is supposed to be 16" tall and the platform for it is about 3-4" above the floor for a total of 19-20". As posted earlier, my boat was originally designed to have a unit like the 875/885 so I'm expecting it to be a fairly quick installation (famous last words). Any reason to suspect that the 20+ year old deck fitting might need replacing?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/22/2005 : 15:12:52

The unit comes with lock down tabs, that is what makes it "marine" remove the old lock downs and install the new ones. My boat sees 40 degrees often with pounding and even with the top loaded and the bottom only primed with freshwater and deodorant the unit stayed in place. I do run a bungie from the platform across the front of the unit to the front of the hanging locker just to be safe gut I think it is redundant. If there is a unit with the features but with less capacity I would advise getting it.

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