[Rhodes22-list] Potty question

Tue Sep 11 21:53:40 EDT 2007

Joe,

 Mary Lou makes very good points. As I do not ( and won't, for the forseeable future) trailer my boat, I sail in areas where pumpouts are readily available.

 All the more reason to examine how you intend to use your boat; that will then provide the answer to  your questions.

 Let us know what you decide...!  and why..

 elle

Mary Lou Troy <mtroy at atlanticbb.net> wrote: Availability of pumpouts should also be considered. Depends where you sail.

We have a portapottie. While dumping and cleaning isn't my favorite 
job, it's not all that bad. Certainly simpler to keep in working 
order. Here's what I said in response to an earlier question on the 
same subject:
"To quote from "Sailing Small", "we decided that the cabin seemed 
roomier in the boats with a semi-enclosed head. We chose a portable 
toilet because it was simpler than a marine head. While pumpouts are 
widely available on the Chesapeake, there is always the chance we 
might want to trailer to places where pumpouts are unavailable. The 
portable toilet is easy enough to bring home to clean and we don't 
have to bother with fixing head problems at the marina."
The more time we spend a marina with big boats, the happier I am with 
the portable toilet. People see to be always fixing head problems. We 
don't have any. Most of the time we just bring the head home to empty 
it. It takes only a minute or two to empty it and give it a good 
rinse. If we are out cruising, we generally stop every second or 
third day to stay at a marina, get a shower and empty the head. If we 
plan to be out longer, we do have an extra bottom with the holding 
tank for our portable toilet. It doubles the length of time we can be out."

Mary Lou
1991 R22 Fretless
Rock Hall, MD

At 09:01 PM 9/11/2007, you wrote:
>Joe,
>
>  I think if the list were polled the ladies would opt for the head 
> & the guys would be happy with a bucket.
>
>  I have had both types of devices, and just from aesthetics (smell, 
> comfort), the marine head wins hands down. Hauling a full porta 
> pottie off the boat & to wherever the dump station is (far away 
> from the dock, you can bet!) and the actual dumping are unpleasant 
> affairs. If you pump out after each trip & don't leave the holding 
> tank contents to ferment you won't have any odors.
>
>  The marine head will need to be rebuilt (or replaced ..every 5 - 
> or so years years)...the Jabsco heads are considered 'disposable' 
> in the industry. I just replaced the one in my boat & it was not difficult.
>
>  For more info, check out Peggie Hall "The Head Mistress," the 
> undisputed expert in marine sanitation on www.sailboatowners.com. 
> Also, Google  her for info on her extensive background. If you have 
> any specific questions, esp about regs on overboard discharge, just 
> email her. She will give you the straight poop.Tell her elle sent ya.
>
>  elle
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Bob Keller  wrote:
>Joe,
>I have a little, ahem, experience with these things so let me chime in...
>
>I had a marine head as a prerequisite from the start and am glad 
>that I have one. My wife is especially glad since she uses it more 
>than me. But I am also glad that I don't have to empty a portapotti. 
>I had Stan put in the Y-valve and macerator pump and it is 
>great-especially since the holding tank is so small and pump-out 
>facilities are usually far apart. If you plan to overnight, cruise, 
>weekend or otherwise stay on your boat I would highly recommend the 
>marine head and Y-valve system. One thing that I would change is to 
>have GB give you easy access to the thru hull for the macerator 
>discharge because to access mine is extremely difficult - I have to 
>remove the battery and battery box and it is not easily done. Have 
>them cut you an access hole or some way to see it. I don't like 
>having thru hulls that I cannot see and cannot access and this is 
>the only one (out of 4) that is inaccesible.
>
>As to the legality on inland lakes - it is true that there are some 
>issues depending on the state. I was told that a Y-valve is illegal. 
>Since then I have researched it more and talked to another DNR 
>person and I believe that what is illegal is having a Y-valve that 
>allows you to bypass the holding tank and go directly overboard. The 
>way mine is installed is preferable in that all waste goes to the 
>holding tank and then there is deck discharge (pump-out) or bottom 
>discharge through the Y-valve. If that Y-valve is kept locked I 
>believe it is OK-at least it was in GA with the DNR guy that I spoke with.
>
>The downside to marine heads is the complication compared to a 
>portapotti. I had to rebuild mine last year (gaskets wear out) but 
>it was easy and inexpensive and will probably last another 10 years.
>
>Bob K
>Yankee Clipper
>
>
>
> > Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:12:16 -0400> From: 
> joe.babb at comcast.net> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> Subject: 
> [Rhodes22-list] Potty question> > Hello All,> Sharon and I are 
> looking forward to getting a recycled Rhodes next > spring. We've 
> indicated to Stan that we'd like to have the marine head > and 
> holding tank and macerator. Our only experience with potties on > 
> boats is with our portable potty on our 16 foot open fishing boat. 
> It > is really a plastic bucket with a toilet-like seat on it, 
> enclosed in > another plastic container. We can usually find a 
> secluded cove or else > use a privacy curtain hung from our bimini 
> top when we need to use the > potty. The first person to use it is 
> the lucky one. The second person > is greeted by a wet seat from 
> condensation and also by the sight and > smell from earlier use.> 
> Most of our sailing will be on area lakes in East Tennessee. But 
> at > least once and maybe twice a year we'll be able to do some 
> coastal > cruising for a week at
>  a
>  time.> Could some of you share your opinions on pros and cons of 
> portable > potties versus marine heads?> Thanks and Best Regards,> 
> Joe Babb> __________________________________________________> Use 
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>
>We can't change the angle of the wind....but we can adjust our sails.
>
>  1992 Rhodes 22   Recyc '06  "WaterMusic"   (Lady in Red)
>
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We can't change the angle of the wind....but we can adjust our sails.

 1992 Rhodes 22   Recyc '06  "WaterMusic"   (Lady in Red)

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Yahoo! oneSearch: Finally,  mobile search that gives answers, not web links. 