Portable Head brands

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:36 am

Does anyone have any brand name of portable head that they would recommend, or any they would recommend against? I am struggling with making a decision on the type of head to use in the Hughes 25 that I am restoring. I originally planned on a Lavac head/holding tank, but the practical side of me knows that this boat will likely never see more than a one or two night cruise, and since it is on an inland lake, pumping overboard is a no no and I'll never be far from the home port. That said, I am considering a portable head and wondered about the groups recommendations. Thanks.

Post by **Tim** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:40 pm

They're all pretty much the same, I think, and operate the same way. I can't think of any real reason to choose one over another, other than size, price, and availability.

I've pretty much managed to avoid the use of these horrible things for all my life, so don't have a lot of direct experience. This Porta-Pottie 135 I put in the daysailor aka Windsong seemed just fine. It's tiny. My one impression of these things in general is that they are way overpriced for what they are.

Summersdawn · Post by **Summersdawn** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:48 pm

I have a friend with a porta-Pottie on his boat. It was a rather inexpensive one built offshore that he bought in the camping section of a hardware store. He wished he had purchased one that was easier to get parts for, as he says the tank is a little to small. He wanted to buy a second tank to keep on board, so when he fills one, he can lash it to the deck, and but in the second.

A big block of cheese might be more economical though...

Post by **dasein668** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 2:47 pm

Summersdawn wrote:He wanted to buy a second tank to keep on board, so when he fills one, he can lash it to the deck,

Oh, that leads the mind to all sorts of unpleasant possibilites.

Summersdawn · Post by **Summersdawn** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:11 pm

Hence the cheese...

Post by **Tim** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 3:18 pm

Summersdawn wrote:He wanted to buy a second tank to keep on board, so when he fills one, he can lash it to the deck, and but in the second.

Frankly, if a porta-pottie is getting that much use, I'd say that it's time for a permanent head and tank installation.

To my way of thinking, porta potties are desperate things for when desperate measures are required, and are pretty much unsuitable for regular and frequent use.

Plus, what looks cooler than strutting up the dock holding one (or two!) of those little holding tanks by their handles...it's the best way to win new friends.

MikeD · Post by **MikeD** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 4:15 pm

Seems like I had seen/read somewhere about a porta-potti with pump-out capabilities...

Summersdawn · Post by **Summersdawn** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:50 pm

Plus, what looks cooler than strutting up the dock holding one (or two!) of those little holding tanks by their handles...it's the best way to win new friends.

This is the time you trip over your own 2 feet - or worse yet, just as you are climbing out the companionway... either way, there is likely to be a crowd.

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:22 pm

Well, this isn't a very descriptive picture but,

(Note: There seems to be a problem getting this photo to show, sorry about that)

This was my head when I bought my boat. I really can't say how well it worked. I know it smelled a bit. It smelled a whole lot more when I started taking it apart.

There was a macerator pump connected via a hose that was glued into the holding part of the port-potti that pumped over board. Another hose connected from the holding portion (again just stuck in there with some sort of goop) to a deck fitting for pump-outs.

While I don't like porta-pottis, I think it is the right choice for one or two nights on a lake where you can't pump overboard.

I know from experience that dumping a porta-potti overboard at sea can be a messy experience. Proceed with caution. While lugging it home isn't all that pleasant I don't think I would plumb it for pump-out either. Too much hassle and future maintenance disasters. Be warned that some marinas get pretty touchy when they see you disembark carrying a holding tank. Wait until it is dark if you want to dump the contents in the yacht clubs toilets!

-Britton

bcooke · Post by **bcooke** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:16 pm

How about this...

It is a thumbnail. Click on it for a larger version.

-B.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:37 am

Plus, what looks cooler than strutting up the dock holding one (or two!) of those little holding tanks by their handles...it's the best way to win new friends.

My Thetford 135 has a cool bright red spinaker cloth cover ... it could be anything I'm strolling up the dock with :-)

bhartley · Post by **bhartley** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:53 am

I do like the idea of a rip-stop "cover". Our slip is at the far end of the dock and it is a little bleak schlepping it up to the bathrooms -- especially when people stop to chat with you along the way!

As for odor reduction, I have found that the orange stuff they make for RV's works great and is dirt cheap. A $4 bottle will last forever if it doesn't get spilled. I didn't follow their directions. Just added a capful after clean out (it is highly concentrated) and another once it had been used 2-3 times just for backup. The pp is in the v-berth between our heads while sleeping so odor free is desireable.

I will say that our PP came from the local flea market for $5 which has discouraged a few of our women friends from using it. I see this as a GOOD thing. The used pottie was spanky clean and freshly bleached. If my husband had brought it home and said "honey, I got you a super cheap pottie" I probably would not have been too pleased -- but since I picked it out... Beauty is always in the eyes of the buyer.

BHartley

CharlieJ · Post by **CharlieJ** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 10:54 am

We use a Thetford 155. For us it's good for about 7 or 8 days, if we only use it for #2 duty. I wouldn't get a larger one personally because the tank is just too hard to carry when full. We have had no odor problems with it and had no difficulties in finding someplace to empty it in a cruise from here in Port Lavaca over to Ft Walton Beach Florida and return- some 1600 miles. In fact, several places we overnighted in had dump stations especially for porta pottis. Houma Louisiana is one that immediately comes to mind. Pirates Cove in Alabama is another. There they had a portajohn set up JUST for Porta-potti dumping, labeled as such.

One thing to keep in mind- too much chemical can cause a horrible odor. Don't use as much as the little bottle says- that tank just isn't that large, and doesn't require as much "stuff". Usually I only add a couple of caps full.

Save-A-Boat - The Forum for Plastic Classic Rebuilds!

Portable Head brands

Portable Head brands

Porta-Pottie ideas