[Rhodes22-list] Potty question

[Bob-Leslie Fletcher]

We have Stan's marine head/holding tank setup without a macerator pump and 
have found a satisfactory answer the the scarcity of pump out stations on 
our local lakes.  It's a home pump out system we use after we drag the boat 
home from sailing.

We bought a "Waste Caddy" that is a 28 gallon tank on wheels with a "big 
gulp" manual pump that sucks our effluent from the holding tank through the 
deck fitting in less than a minute.  There is plenty of tank capacity to let 
us then flush the head, hoses and boat holding tank with fresh water that we 
also pump into the caddy.

We then wheel the caddy to our septic tank where I installed a 6" capped 
sewer pipe through the septic tank lid.  I just open a valve in the bottom 
of the caddy and gravity dump, then rinse the caddy also into the septic 
tank.  The whole process takes about 30 minutes.

The fittings on the waste caddy are designed so we don't spill a drop, and 
if you have used a little tank deodorant there is no odor at any stage of 
the process.

The manufacturer also has a valve system that would let you pump out of the 
waste caddy to something higher if you couldn't use a gravity flow dump.  I 
suppose you could even wheel in inside and discharge into a toilet if you 
were on a municipal sewer system.

West Marine sells the Caddy, but we got a little better price from Fore and 
Aft Marine out of Madiera Beach, Florida.  It's tough to find on their web 
site but it's there.

Bob Fletcher

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Keller" <r22yankeeclipper at hotmail.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Potty question


>
> 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> 
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