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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

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hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/15/2011 : 06:46:11

Our boat has a head that empties into a holding tank that has to be pumped out. I have been thinking of taking it out and replacing it with something that I can empty myself. Not sure what to get that will fit. We would like to spend a couple of days on the boat and occasionally we will be at places that it cannot be pumped. Have any of you made a change similar or what have you done?

Thanks in advance.

1988 WK/SR w/inboard diesel Joe Pool Lake
Hobie 18 Lake Worth

Life is not a dress rehearsal. You will not get another chance.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2011 : 07:20:47

I'm pretty sure the large majority of C-25s have porta-potties, not marine heads with separate holding tanks and pump-out plumbing. We had a 5-gallon Sealand Sanipottie that could have been plumbed to a deck fitting, but we just dumped it--not nearly as objectionable as I might have expected, even at home. (A good enzyme treatment helps!) Its capacity was ample for two people for a weekend--the 1.5 gallon unit it replaced was not. The models from Thetford and Sealand have changed since then, so I can't make any recommendations, but I'm pretty sure they all will fit in the head area where your throne is.

Hopefully somebody else will comment on the removal (or entombment) of the holding tank and plumbing... I never had to deal with that.

One warning about these sealed units... Before using it, open the slide-valve to the tank slightly to release any gas pressure that may have built up. Failing to do so can cause some.... ummmmm.... problems when you flush.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/15/2011 07:23:59

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2011 : 08:07:09

I agree with Dave - having the ability to connect a portable unit to the deck fitting (MSD model) will give you the best of both worlds.

Metal attachment brackets was a key consideration when I purchased my Dometic . . .

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2011 : 08:54:39

My boat has a marine head....one of my projects when I got it was to repair the system. The original leaked badly when pumped, and a rebuild kit was actually more expensive than a brand new unit complete!

So, I explored my options....remove the marine head....rebuild it....replace it....go with a porta potty....pump-able and non.....I decided to keep the marine head system and fix it up.

I got a complete Jabsco head on sale at WM for $158....also replaced the fresh water intake line and sanitation hose to tank. Took me most of a day to do all the work, but I'm pretty happy with the results. It qualifies for the Fresh Water Sticker, plus there are at least 2 pump stations on the lake. One at EMM and one over at Lake Country....pull up to the dock at Lake Country and the kids will come out and pump for free....but I give them a tip....

I, however...don't have a trailer, so my boat stays on the lake.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2011 : 14:32:35

Check with the Admiral first, mine was adamant about no porta-pottie.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 11/15/2011 20:13:26

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 11/15/2011 : 22:25:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave5041
 Check with the Admiral first, mine was adamant about no porta-pottie.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">But if they can't pump out, what then?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2011 : 06:32:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by hewebb
 We would like to spend a couple of days on the boat and occasionally we will be at places that it cannot be pumped.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

By your statement, I assume you have ready access to a pumpout station at your usual venue, but occasionally would like to spend a few days at places without pumpout facilities. Depending on the number of people involved, the 14 gallon holding tank should hold you over for more than a few days until you return, but if a 14 gallon holding tank is not enough capacity for the occasional multi-day trips, then imagine what a 5 gallon porta-potty holding tank will get you.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2011 : 07:28:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">But if they can't pump out, what then?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Leave the Admiral at home, but I think the consequences might be dire.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2011 : 14:44:36

Don has a great point.....the holding tank for a marine head should get you through several days easy...two people....just don't flush excessively....

I can't remember how many gallons the black tank in my travel trailer was, but my wife (now ex) and I could go almost a week before needing to dump. In fact, we would normally wait until it was almost full anyway to dump it to avoid the dreaded brown pyramid, and let everything break down and liquify.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2011 : 17:34:05

NEVER,EVER remove a marine system from your boat. You are blessed my son, poop/pee in peace... The grass is not greener. NOW, a composting head could be another alternative that would still give you range...

sten

Edited by - on

Ryan L
Navigator

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USA
230 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2011 : 18:45:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
[br NOW, a composting head could be another alternative that would still give you range...

sten
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

We LOVE our composting head! It is a perfect solution for every problem mentioned so far in this thread. Easy to install, next to zero maintenance, no holding tank pump out issues, no odor, easy to use, durable, never a need to "rebuild", etc. We have had one installed for almost a year now and are life long boaters. We will certainly use composting heads on all future yachts without question.

At first we had the Airhead but we had so many problems with the head (and with their customer service) that we got a Natures Head to replace it. We're glad we did. It was hard to tell from the websites (what we based our original purchase on) but the Natures Head is substantially better designed and built. Plus they have amazing customer service. I can elaborate if anyone wants but for purposes of this thread the most relevant information is that a composting head only requires "dumping" about once a month for a couple who live aboard full time. In one year of weekend sailing plus a few multi-day trips we only dumped it once and that was when we installed the new head. Even then it was not yet full. The composting process reduces the volume of solid waste substantially.

Dumping the head is easy, just put a trash bag over the holding bin and tip it over. The composted material looks and smells like forest dirt. A lot of people use it as fertilizer. There is zero sewer odor, visuals, etc.

The urine bottle requires dumping about once every two days or so of full time use by two people. It's not a big deal, you just screw on a cap then either dump it overboard (if in a legal place to do so) or dump it in the maria toilet. I went ahead and installed a modification that lets me pump the urine overboard when I'm in an area where that's ok. The modification still allows me to remove the bottle to dump if I need to. The bottle acts as the "holding tank" but it is only urine so none of the usual head issues regarding odor, hassle, etc.

A composting head costs a little less than a normal head assembly (toilet, hoses, clamps, pump, holding tank, through hull valve, etc) but has zero need for ongoing maintenance (no rebuilding after a few years), is nearly fail safe, and is far more pleasant in terms of operation, odor, storage, etc. Our friends pump out after every trip. We "pump out" once a year and that entails dumping a bin of dirt into a bag. Do the math...

It would be my pleasure to answer any questions. I feel that strongly about how well our Nature's Head works as a composting head and as a boat's head in general.

Edited by - Ryan L on 11/16/2011 18:47:24

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