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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12633 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 5:32 am Post subject: Salt Water in PortaPotti Flush |
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The question is: can salt water go in portapotti flush tank.
Why? Our friend and fellow C-Brat is working his way up into SE Alaska, and has asked if I would pose this question on the site.
I believe his intention is toward using Salt water in the flush tank to conserve his fresh water supply. I know using Salt Water in a marine toilet will increase the odor generation and accelerate the production of the odors. So, would that be the same in a portapotti? And would the addition of some "blue chemical stuff" help reduce the odiforousness?
Harvey
SleepyC
_________________ Though in our sleep we are not conscious of our activity or surroundings, we should not, in our wakefulness, be unconscious of our sleep. |
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JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 7446 City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
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Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 8:38 am Post subject: |
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Yes and yes. |
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Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003 Posts: 8650 City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
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Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 10:53 am Post subject: Re: Salt Water in PortaPotti Flush |
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hardee wrote: | The question is: can salt water go in portapotti flush tank.
Why? Our friend and fellow C-Brat is working his way up into SE Alaska, and has asked if I would pose this question on the site.
I believe his intention is toward using Salt water in the flush tank to conserve his fresh water supply. I know using Salt Water in a marine toilet will increase the odor generation and accelerate the production of the odors. So, would that be the same in a portapotti? YES! And would the addition of some "blue chemical stuff" help reduce the odiforousness? YES!
Next question: Where is the "Soup" going to be dumped?
Harvey
SleepyC
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_________________ Sea Wolf, C-Brat #31
Lake Shasta, California
"Most of my money I spent on boats and women. The rest I squandered'. " -Annonymous |
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ssobol
Joined: 27 Oct 2012 Posts: 3382 City/Region: SW Michigan
State or Province: MI
C-Dory Year: 2008
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: SoBELLE
Photos: SoBelle
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20829 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Fresh water is available many places in AK, and your friend should be able to fill the tank on the port-potty from any river, spring or domestic water supply. He just needs a bucket and funnel. We carry a collapsable bucket, and it is easy to scoop up a gallon of water to use in the PP.
There are some springs in the mechanism--there may be accelerated rust with the salt water. The chemicals will work fine--many boat holding tanks use salt water. But there are many who use fresh water to avoid the issues with salt water. In The R 246 forum, a number of members used fresh water (dumping in, using the shower head etc) to "Flush" their marine heads--which were not hooked up to raw water. _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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South of Heaven
Joined: 15 Aug 2015 Posts: 1459 City/Region: Sharon
State or Province: MA
Photos: Blue Water
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Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2019 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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MANY boats have salt water plumbing systems. My old Camano had one. Nothing wrong with it. _________________ <><><> Jason <><><>
2005 Silverton 35 Motoryacht (Twin 385 Crusaders) (SOLD 6/20)
2000 Camano 31 Troll (Volvo TAMD41p) (SOLD 2/19)
2007 C Dory 25' Cruiser (200 hp Suzuki, sold 7/17)
2003 C Dory 19' Angler (80 hp Yamaha, sold 7/16)
1995 C Dory 16' Angler (40 hp Yamaha, sold 2/16) |
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serpa4
Joined: 13 Nov 2022 Posts: 86 City/Region: Melbourne
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2018
C-Dory Model: 26 Venture
Vessel Name: DayLo
Photos: DayLo
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Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:51 am Post subject: |
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South of Heaven wrote: |
MANY boats have salt water plumbing systems. My old Camano had one. Nothing wrong with it. |
Most of my boats (sail) were raw water flush. Amazing how long fresh water can last when using sea water to flush.
I'm in the process of doing the conversion right now. I'm tying into the raw water pickup and pump already installed with strainer, through hull, and ball valve for my wash down pump. Should be easy running a T into the line and 15' to the bathroom.
My previous owner pulled all the holding tank and macerator out so I don't know how it all goes back in. Researching now. Need pictures. _________________ 2018 C-Dory Venture 26. Suzuki DF200A,autopilot, solar, 412ahr of lithium. |
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kennharriet
Joined: 22 Jan 2009 Posts: 510 City/Region: Grangeville
State or Province: ID
C-Dory Year: 1999
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Lochsa
Photos: Lochsa
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Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2023 11:21 am Post subject: |
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It seems the bigger question is properly discharging the contents of a porta potti, especially in remote waters where marina facilities are very limited. I’m not sure how many actually navigate out of their way the required 3 mi. offshore. Even if they dump 3 mi. offshore, the current is as likely to push the effluent shoreward, rather than out to sea. Aside from the inconvenience of water availability for the flush tank, the weight of the porta potti is significant with the tank full.
For all of the above reasons I have been following the threads on composting toilets. In that research I see that some Canadian provinces now prohibit the carriage of a portable, chemical toilet. Presumably the reason for this is that they can be discharged into a body of water. Thanks for starting the thread Harvey. Ken |
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Boater Rob
Joined: 25 Oct 2021 Posts: 23 City/Region: Albany
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1994
C-Dory Model: 18-8 Toland
Vessel Name: Sea Pony
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Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2023 11:35 am Post subject: Porta pottie Flush |
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In order to get more days out of our porta potti, we use a sports water bottle and then just flush things down with that. Depending on the room for trash on board, we do not put toilet paper in the porta pottie, but keep it in a sealed trash can.
Just some other ideas.
Rob |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20829 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2023 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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serpa4 wrote: |
Most of my boats (sail) were raw water flush. Amazing how long fresh water can last when using sea water to flush.
I'm in the process of doing the conversion right now. I'm tying into the raw water pickup and pump already installed with strainer, through hull, and ball valve for my wash down pump. Should be easy running a T into the line and 15' to the bathroom.
My previous owner pulled all the holding tank and macerator out so I don't know how it all goes back in. Researching now. Need pictures. |
Didn't the 2018 use the head system, with a direct dump into the 9 gallon holding tank in the base of the commode? I would be concerned about corrosion in the valves in this system, which were designed for fresh water use. (As I recollect the amount of fresh water is minimal. The "Y" valve, and a hand (diaphragm) or 12 V powered pump (macerator or diaphragm). I converted one boat which only had the deck pump out to a diaphragm pump discharge--no macerator.
If fresh water is an issue, I probably would put in a small or even portable fresh water container, just dedicated to the head. There are small pumps which work well with this type of system. Let's say a 2 gallon container, with the pump could be put in the back corner of the head. |
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T.R. Bauer
Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 1735 City/Region: Wasilla
State or Province: AK
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: C-Whisperer
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Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2023 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Back to the original poster....you got some good answers and yes you can safely use salt water in the portable toilet. But, it probably depends on the toilet....mine is rated for salt water usage and others may not be. |
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