Porta Potti

N

Nate Leonard

New member
Hi all;
New to the group and new C-Dory owner - 16' 2002 cruiser. Porta Potti question before I buy one. It appears that only the smallest model (27 flush version) will fit ok in the V of the berth. Even this looks like it wants to sit at an angle as the front side looks like it will sit on the raised flooring of the wheel house and the back on the hull. I can always add something to raise the back.
I'd like to get the largest model that doesn't mess with the bunk insert. Like to hear about recommended models.
Anyway - I am certain there is plenty of experience and advice available and appreciate any replies.
I live in Central NY (Locke), near Cayuga Lake. Will be running on the Erie canal and Lake Ontario. Thinking about a September cruise on the Erie and maybe across Lake Ontario for a short look up the Rideau Canal (saving the full run on that for some time in the future). Also in the future will be the Trent-Severn canal. Lots of dreaming...

Thanks in advance,
 
Would this be a solution?

218-00104-2.jpg


$28

http://www.afmo.com/Hassok_Portable_Toi ... -00104.htm
 
My 16' cruiser came with what has to be the smallest model of porta potti. It works okay. It sits on the floor, under the V fine. At night we take it out and put it in the cockpit. Sometimes we run with it under the motor well when I don't need the space for additional fuel. Sounds like you are in some prime cruising country. Hope to get there in a few years.
 
Hi'
Welcome to the C-Dory world. I know you will have fun. Depending where you cruise a small potty is not a really bad thing. You will use the Erie Canal a lot and one of the best places to dump are the Jiffy Johns located at some of the locks.

The smaller tank is easy to carry to the John. We have also dumped at regular toilets many times. Just be sure you are equipped to clean up in case of a splash, i ALWAYS CARRY A BOTTLE OF WINDOW CLEANER AND A FEW PAPER TOWELS.

Another hint-- don't put paper in the head--if you didn't eat it it should not go in the head. We keep a supply of zip lock bags next to the head and just bag the paper. This makes a big difference in easy dumping.

If you desire a larger unit measure and then visit a Boat US store and buy the largest that will fit. Note we keep the filler cushion out of the berth execept when we are sleeping then the head is always ready to go.

I hope my ideas make sense to you .

Fred and Pat Red Lion, Pa.
 
Hi Nate,
When we had our 16' Cruiser the porta potti we had fit in the semi-enclosed area under the helm seat. (If was then removed when needed).
 
Nate:

I picked up this lead from your post re the Erie Canal cruise.

We have 30+ years experience with porta-pottis (we currently have three), so I thought I would jump over here and respond to your inquiry.

My wife and I regularly use a porta-potti at our cottage. We can go 2-3 weeks on one tank! So I don't believe you need the biggest you can find.

I recently traded the larger porta-potti that came with our C-Dory for the smaller (Coleman) potti we had in our cottage. It has four inches less height, and allows me headroom (at 6' tall) to sit on it in the V-berth (see photo in my sub-album, Various Ideas).

A couple of added pointers. (1) For men, it works best to kneel before the potti to urinate (that way, no splashing). This posture also works well in the C-Dory, for covenience and privacy. (2) Whenever possible, it is better to use the potti only for urination. This usually reduces the smell factor to a non-issue, and dramatically prolongs the usage between emptyings. (The converse is also true!)

Wayne
 
Hi Folks,

First I want to say that the portiPotti is the greatest invention since sliced bread.

I started with the 13" PortiPotti when I first purchased my 22' 1983 C dory. I changed over to the bigger one because it was more comfortable to sit on then the shorter one. It also carried more -----. It came with a place to insert a hose from pumpout stations with out asking for it at the back of it.. In fact it was built in the PorttiPotti but the directions did not mention it at all. Dun has the same PortiPotti and showed me an extension hose so the the pumping can be done through the forward hatch. I am in the process of anchoring the PortiPotti so I can get at the pumpout feature without taking the tank out of the boat.

As for cleanup. I use the treated paper HandiWipes for all types of cleanup including washing my face and hands. Easy to use and saves on the water supply. I also use Freebreeze to keep my cushions smelling fresh. The other great product is Cinch. Cleans the galley and the glass. We use lots of it at the Inn.

Someone mentioned the subject of whether a man should stand or sit. On the older (pre 1986) boats, it is easy to stand. Plenty of room. On the later models, it is hard to stand in that the PortiPotti's are under the deck. When I stand, I use a bucket. Easier to flush and clean.

Thank You.

Fred
 
I think I'd prefer the security of the earlier, rigid walled model!

218-00104-2.jpg


But it just goes to show......

"True Genius Has No Bounds"...........Confuseus

adultsize1.jpg


Joe, on terra firma, so to speak..
 
Given the information by Milehog and myself in our two "posts", I'm thinkin' that I'll "pass" on this nifty adjunct to my vessel..........Don, it's all yours......since you're a submariner, you're probably more adept at using such a device.... :lol:
 
DaveS":lyg099lx said:
Don, it's all yours......since you're a submariner, you're probably more adept at using such a device.... :lol:
Click to expand...

Indeed. Heads up, Dave, Submarine lesson follows.

If you've ever owned an RV (or a CD-25) you know what a "holding tank" is, AND you know what a ball valve is. That's the "flush" valve on RV toilets that open directly over and into the holding tank. Gravity does the work both in flushing the toilet and emptying the holding tank on RV's.

Submarines use the same principle and type of ball valve on their toilets. (four inch size though) My Polaris boat class had 2100 gallon tanks. Emptying those tanks at, say, 300 ft underwater is a very simple albeit dangerous process. Remember, water pressure against the hull at 300 ft. is roughly 140 PSI. whereas air pressure inside the hull is 14.7 psi. Gravity sucks under those conditions.

To empty the tank, a sailor goes around and shuts every valve that drains into the holding tank, including the toilet flush valves, posts a BIG sign that says "Secured, blowing Sanitaries", then pressurizes the holding tank to about 10 psi higher than seawater pressure (150 psi in our example). He then opens up a big discharge valve at the bottom of the tank and literally blows the contents to sea, remembering to shut the valve just before it's fully empty so as to not release a giant sub fart.

Once that's done, our intrepid sailor has a tank full of 150 lb. air, so he must slowly bleed that air back into the boat (through charcoal filters that don't work too well) while the air compressors work to recycle the air back into the high pressure tanks.

Once everything is back to atmospheric pressure, he opens all the valves again, removes the signage and the cycle begins anew.

BZZZT The problem is that blonde sailors, Force Recon Marines and downed pilots exist. Should a young man relieve himself, not notice the sign and open that 4" ball valve with the tank pressurized, he will instantly wear his mistake as he leans over, pulls the lever, and is greeted by his own "discharge" backed by 150 lbs worth of force. :shock:

Happens at least once per patrol.

Don
 
Don --
Your description of 'dumping the tank' on a submarine has now made my dumping the porta-potti a simple and brainless task -- thanks!!

And you have now added a new dimension to our observation of a 'fart' we once observed when well offshore Georgia -- we assumed a whale or decomposing gases in the sea floor -- instead, since there is a sub base just inshore, it might have been ... oh, never mind ...
 
After "hearing" of Submariner Don's discharge of bodily fluids on the submarine, I will further digress with this "bodily fluid topic"..........

.....as some of you know, I served in the Army Paratroops back in the 60's. Back then our training jumps at Ft. Benning were from C-119's which were not (in my opinion) the smoothest riding aircraft. The "flyboys" (Air Force personnel) would hand out convenience bags for those that became airsick to utilize. A part of the "pre-flight" instructions was the admonition to not leave the "filled convenience bag" on the aircraft, but to take it with you when you jumped out. In compliance of that directive, those that got sick would secure the "bag" in their parachute webbing and after exiting would release the filled contents as they floated to earth, which was not always appreciated by those that were beneath them. :mrgreen:
 
Wayne McCown":11wlcgsn said:
By the way...it is almost impossible for the simple Pota-potti to leak. The base, walls and top are typically molded as one piece.
Click to expand...

I had the gasket under the main emptying cap leak once. Only a little...
Good idea to replace it every few years.

Mike
 
Don (Sneaks) described the discharge drill once before, as I remember....and

Charlie (Captain's Choice), another Navy vetran, but of the surface fleet, affectionately described a submarine as a "sewer tube".

Now you know why.

Just a touch of rivalry between old salts who have served us well!

Joe.
 
Well not a totaly bad idea - but can you imagine how slippery that plastic bag would be on the plastic blowup head in the middle of the afternoon on a hot muggy day. :disgust

Steve (I have tried many version of camp heads)
 
It has been awhile since this thread was used but I have a new question.

My faithful porta potty has developed a leak in the pump bellows. Anyone know if it is possible to get the part or to even change it out?

I hate to toss it with such a minor failure.

Thanks,
Steve
 
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