22 ft cruiser and porta potti

Lil Rascal · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 11:35 pm Post subject: 22 ft cruiser and porta potti

Hi,

Just got the price lists for the 22 and 25 foot cruisers. I did not realize that there was such a huge price difference between the two. The only thing that is an issue(wife issue) with the 22 is the porta pottie Moon

. I know nothing about how they work and if they are a big deal to deal with. Can you guys and gals tell me how they work and if they are easy to deal with when cruising for 2 or 3 days at a time? I tried looking up the Mansfield model that comes with the 22 and can't find any info on it. Do they smell, easy to dump, how many times can you use before dumping etc.... Any info would be appreciated. Thanks

Scott
(hopefully future C-Dory owner) Wink

TyBoo · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 1:40 am Post subject:

My wife put up with the PP in the 22 OK. She wasn't real fond of it, but she made it work. I have to say, though, she likes the walk-in facility in the 25 a whole bunch better.

Our marina has a sanitary dock, and it was never a problem to get the thing emptied. I just took the freshwater tank off and carried the holding tank part up on the dock and dumped it into the waste basin. Simple and fast. The smell was never noticed, but we used enough of the chemical each time for 20 gallons (the bottle was good for a 40 gallon tank, and the directions said to use half of it for a porta-potti). The thing would go quite a while before getting full. Two or three days on the boat should be no problem, (unless you drink a lot of beer and are bashful!).

Whatever you do, don't use the green liquid that Fred Meyer sells in the RV section. It stinks worse than what you're trying to hide. I like the liquid Blue Seas brand I found at a local marine store. We also tried some of the granules in the dissolving plastic pouch (same brand name), and that worked OK, but the pouch was for a 40 gallon tank with no way to divide it, and the chemical itself was pretty strong smelling. But, as long as you flushed the thing and closed the valve after use, it wasn't a problem at all.

Molly Brown · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 5:36 am Post subject:

Hey Scott: We owned a 22 footer with a portapoti and it works well enough but my wife insisted on a walk in head when we got the new boat. We have two boys and most guest on board are men so she was in need of a little privacy. My only problem with one versus the other is that with the portable it had a gauge to let you know when it was almost full(or you could just look) but with the head I have no idea how full the holding tank is. I could install a guage but that would mean taking up the floor and working on a "used" tank,yuk! I just go by "feel" and haven't overfilled the tank yet.I believe ours is 20 gallons, all I know is we spent a week in the Bahamas with no problems. Naturally price will probably be the determining factor since it's quite a jump from the 22 to a 25 or a TomCat. This is one of the most enjoyable times when buying a new boat so have a great time.....

Almas Only · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:45 am Post subject:

Our use of the portapotti is greatly facilitated by having kept batteries, etc. out of the area between the fuel tanks. When we want the portapotti on board, it stows between the tanks, not up in the vberth. We have a canvas topper with sides, so the privacy on the stern is tolerable, and can be increased in marinas with a little screening. Otherwise, it works great, but this perception probably depends a lot on what you're willing to tolerate. We were skeptical, but pleasantly surprised.

thataway · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 1:48 pm Post subject: Porti Potty

We have used porti potties and enclosed heads for many years, both in campers and boats. When just the two of us, there is no problem with the potty--we put in out in the cabin at night. We can go a week without emptying the container. I would prefer a porti potty in a large area, than a cramped enclosed head. Emptying is no problem--for me easier than a "pump out"

Lil Rascal · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 8:07 pm Post subject: Thanks

Thanks for all the good information. It sounds like the Porta Pottie is more of a privacy/convience issue rather than a dirty/gross thing. I guess I will have to see for myself. Does anyone know if the C-Dory's will be at the San Diego boat show? I might also make it up to Seattle for the show. Thanks again.

Scott

Fun Patrol · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:04 pm Post subject: Porta Potti

Scotti

The Porta Potti is a great leap forward from having to deal with malfunctioning/clogged heads, plumbing and full holding tanks.

I would suggest you just go down to the trailer supply or West Marine and buy one, put it out in the garage and see what you think before you spend thousands on a boat larger than a 22 just to get a head enclosure. Remember the 25...or they now even have a 27, gets much heavier and less trailerable with less gas mileage in addition to the extra dollars.

I had a 47 foot boat with 2 heads and it was still not nearly as convienent as home and....you still KNEW what people were doing!

Later, Roy

Sawdust · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:07 pm Post subject:

Scott,

If'n you can make it to the SBS you will meet the nicest folks ever. Guaranteed. And as a bonus you will have old TyBoo Mike to fix any danged problem you have!! The whole gang will look forward to your visit. If you can fit it in your schedule it's a no brainer.

Dusty

Fun Patrol · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:08 pm Post subject:

Scotti

There is a C-Dory dealer at Dana Landing in Mission Bay. He had a green trimmed 22 about a month ago. Probably better ask before you use the Porta Potti though.... :-)

Roy

Chuck S · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:10 pm Post subject:

Marine head/holding tank maintenance is a hobby in itself and a complete PITA. Porta-Pottie is simplicity itself.

We pulled the troublesome marine head and holding tank from our cruising San Juan 28 sailboat and replaced it with a large portable pottie. These can be fitted with deck pump outs to meet local restrictions. An "enclosed head" is a compartment or room. Can contain a porta pottie very easily as ours did.

Even offshore where you can pump directly into the sea these heads are a lot of trouble. Buddy of mine lost both his on an Island Packet 41 within 24 hours two or three days out of Morehead City bound for Gib. 4 guys had to use the bucket-n-chuckit method for most of a month. He had parts -- and a porta potty -- air freighted to the Azores to meet the boat.

KISS is my pinciple. Keep it simple, stupid. Unless I can afford a hired crew I'll never put a marine toilet on board another vessel.

-- Chuck

Sawdust · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:18 pm Post subject:

Aye Men to that! Porta Potty is KISS to the ultimate degree. Marine heads and generators have turned my hair to nearly the same color as Brock's! With seven marine heads on Lamplighter, head maintenance was worse than all the rest of the boat.

Dusty

TyBoo · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 10:26 pm Post subject:

DaveS · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:01 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks

TyBoo · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2003 11:10 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks

wilbe asea · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 2:33 am Post subject:

My 2 cents on the porta-potty thing is they are well worth the money one would spend on a larger boat just for a head. If you and your wife have spent much time in the woods using logs as or trees as your outhouse a porta potti will seem to be a luxury. Since I live in a rural area with a septic system rather than a sewer pipe, I just wait until I am home to empty the thing, just uncover the vent to the tank in the ground and carefully dump. Rinse a couple of times with a water hose, more potti aroma killer and some water, ready to go again, almost. Add in a small amount of cleaning and its back aboard for next trip. Lasted a good four days in Prince William Sound with me and the wife as operators.