NE Sailboat wrote:
Old sailboat, old head. No pumpout. Don't blame me, the prem[v]ious owner
didn't do the change-over.

My experience is anecdotal, but I too had the old boat-old head
syndrome upon purchase. You will be popped by the Coast Guard if the
head isn't in a disabled state upon inspection, assuming you're boarded
less than three miles offshore. I'm a live and let live kinda guy, but
if you're using your head overboard in harbors, etc., you're part of
the problem, not the solution. There's scofflaws out there whose world
will change once local agencies start pilling everybody's heads,
something I'm in favor of. It really cleaned up Avalon.

Are you sure there's no room for a holding tank? I installed an
ornamental six gallon holding tank in a remote location, underneath the
forward berths. A translucent plastic tank allows seeing how full it
is without a complicated meter. I'd stay away from the flexible tanks.
Six gallons means only a few uses before the tank is full; main thing
is it passes the pill test. It's quite compact, but requires a small
vent hose leading overboard (perish the day you clog it with sewage), a
lot of expensive 1 1/2" MSD hose, and an on deck pumpout outlet. A Y
valve which selects between the throughhull outlet and the tank lets
you dump overboard where legal, and store the goo onboard while in
harbor. A hand operated Whale Guzzler diaphram pump mounted in a
locker in the deck outlet hose, combined with a short length of hose
jammed into the deck outlet and leading overboard, allows pumping out
offshore, although it's rather messy in a blow. I suppose you could go
nuclear reactor and plumb so you can pump overboard through the
throughhull too, complicated.

There's some considerations on how all the hosing leads, so it drains
properly and doesn't have low spots where sewage can collect. Peggy
can help out with the particulars. The Y valve location is an issue
around here; the Coasties don't want to see it where a toilet user can
reach during head use. Best is a location in a locker not in the head
compartment. A cable tie locking the valve in the tank position has
been acceptable the last few times I've been boarded, and some Y valves
have machine screw locks which take 20 turns to loosen, or of course a
*locked* locker, both also acceptable.

A big tank (30 gallons+-) would allow you to party for several days, or
two frugal types could go for a month, when the commercial mobile
pumpout service becomes viable. But that's a big tank suitable only
for bigger boats, and a lot of crap to have festering for a month.
And 250 pounds when full requires some bracing and has gotta affect
racing trim g.

Of course, carrying all that sewage around and the hosing, vent, etc.,
can create a stink problem. A partial solution is only pee in the tank
configuration, hold in that crap until you're offshore or walk up and
use the marina toilets. And if you do use it, do a thorough job at the
pumpout station; run several dollops of fresh water through the head
and pump them out too, so the tank, hoses, etc., are nice and clean.
There's magic eco-bio additives that promote digestion which may
decrease the stink if you "hold" sewage in your holding tank. Or tried
and true formaldehyde (banned in some RV campgrounds).

An alternative is a porta-pottie toilet, there are some nice ones out
there, but they're necessarily bulky and may not fit in your head
space. Also, disassembling and hoofing the poop tank ashore is a
burden (6 gallons = 50 pounds). Many marinas frown on folks dumping
porta-pottie tanks in their toilets; it's as if the Incredible Hulk
took a dump which causes major clogs. The marina my boat's at will
kick you out if you're caught. Dumping it overboard at sea is messy,
too. And they can stink.

One solution you may not have thought of is -- no head. Just a bucket
with a nice removable seat (available commercially). Suggest cockpit
use when privacy is available while crapping to limit cabin stink. Or,
if safe, just hang your ass over the side. Put a slosh of seawater in
first to limit skidmarks. Throw the sewage overboard when three miles
off, swishing the bucket overboard when done. Or, if safe, just hang
your ass over the side. There's a technique involved when at hull
speed. Carry a bunch of quality plastic bags which fit the bucket and
*can be sealed* for day sails and short harbor stays. Throw the used
bags out with your garbage; totally legal, think diapers. Compliment
the system with pee bottles, either throwaway bottled water bottles, or
a reusable sturdy one (with a larger mouth) of larger size drainable
into a toilet, etc. Five guys and a night of poker is about 2 gallons.
Gals can use a Jenny spout.

I'll jump on my high horse here and say that at least in this area, the
government's grand scheme to provide convenient pumpout stations
throughout the region has been a dismal failure, most of them are
broken at any given moment. The marina operators, etc., don't want to
pay to maintain them, claim vandalism is causing problems. The
commercial pumpout guys hate 'em, why pay for something you can do
yourself for free?