Heads on small boats
 

Hi all,

How do the heads work on smaller boats such as the Maxum 2100SC and other
similar craft ? Do they flush overboard or must you remove the head and
dispose of the waste manually ?

Thanks,

Duke

Heads on small boats
 

"Duke" wrote in message
news:8uEhg.5868$td6.4388@trnddc02...
Hi all,

How do the heads work on smaller boats such as the Maxum 2100SC and other
similar craft ? Do they flush overboard or must you remove the head and
dispose of the waste manually ?

Thanks,

Duke


It will not flush overboard. Depending on the type of head (fixed or
portable) it will either flush into a holding tank that must occasionally be
pumped out or flush into a small holding tank at the bottom of the
(portable) unit that has to be pumped out or manually dumped into an
approved holding tank.

Heads on small boats
 

" JimH" jimhUNDERSCOREosudad@yahooDOTcom wrote in message
...

"Duke" wrote in message
news:8uEhg.5868$td6.4388@trnddc02...
Hi all,

How do the heads work on smaller boats such as the Maxum 2100SC and other
similar craft ? Do they flush overboard or must you remove the head and
dispose of the waste manually ?

Thanks,

Duke


It will not flush overboard. Depending on the type of head (fixed or
portable) it will either flush into a holding tank that must occasionally
be pumped out or flush into a small holding tank at the bottom of the
(portable) unit that has to be pumped out or manually dumped into an
approved holding tank.


Hi Jim,

Thanks. Being new to this arena, where would one find an approved holding
tank ? Is this something that would only be available at a marina ? Would
it be possible to just dump it into your homes waste system. I have a clean
out trap at home with a 4inch pipe as the opening. Seems like I could just
unsrew and dump into there. Or would that make no sense ?

Thanks again,

Duke

Heads on small boats
 

"Duke" wrote in message
news:YGEhg.5870$td6.4381@trnddc02...

" JimH" jimhUNDERSCOREosudad@yahooDOTcom wrote in message
...

"Duke" wrote in message
news:8uEhg.5868$td6.4388@trnddc02...
Hi all,

How do the heads work on smaller boats such as the Maxum 2100SC and
other similar craft ? Do they flush overboard or must you remove the
head and dispose of the waste manually ?

Thanks,

Duke


It will not flush overboard. Depending on the type of head (fixed or
portable) it will either flush into a holding tank that must occasionally
be pumped out or flush into a small holding tank at the bottom of the
(portable) unit that has to be pumped out or manually dumped into an
approved holding tank.


Hi Jim,

Thanks. Being new to this arena, where would one find an approved holding
tank ? Is this something that would only be available at a marina ?

Nomally, yes.

I am assuming you have a porta-potty.


Would it be possible to just dump it into your homes waste system.

That what I have done with porta potties in the past. See my other note
below.


I have a clean out trap at home with a 4inch pipe as the opening. Seems
like I could just unsrew and dump into there. Or would that make no sense
?

Just flush it down the toilet.

So that there is not a large accumulation of TP that could clog up the tank
make sure to use Marine grade TP. Also make sure to mix in deoderizer into
the flush water holding tank.



Thanks again,

Duke

Heads on small boats
 

Duke wrote:
Thanks. Being new to this arena, where would one find an approved holding
tank ? Is this something that would only be available at a marina ? Would
it be possible to just dump it into your homes waste system. I have a clean
out trap at home with a 4inch pipe as the opening. Seems like I could just
unsrew and dump into there. Or would that make no sense ?


We used a porta-potty for years on a small cruising boat and
poured it out into the toilet at home; we're hooked up to
city sewer and it's no problem.

Don't dump it into a system that flushes into a septic tank,
though. Unless you add a bacterial treatment to the
porta-potty tank, rather than sterilizing chemical mixed
with perfume (which is what most people do because it's
cheaper), the stuff in your porta-potty will kill your
septic system DOA.

Jim is right about using marine or camping toilet paper. It
will break down much better. And make sure that it doesn't
get caught in the flush valve, since that ruins the seal.

Many people complain that the porta-potty always stinks, but
this is because of a problem with the way they are using it.
Ours (a Thetford 135) was a well made little unit and even
after a couple of days use, gave off no odor at all.

Hope this helps
Doug King

Heads on small boats
 

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
Duke wrote:
Thanks. Being new to this arena, where would one find an approved
holding tank ? Is this something that would only be available at a
marina ? Would it be possible to just dump it into your homes waste
system. I have a clean out trap at home with a 4inch pipe as the
opening. Seems like I could just unsrew and dump into there. Or would
that make no sense ?


We used a porta-potty for years on a small cruising boat and poured it out
into the toilet at home; we're hooked up to city sewer and it's no
problem.

Don't dump it into a system that flushes into a septic tank, though.
Unless you add a bacterial treatment to the porta-potty tank, rather than
sterilizing chemical mixed with perfume (which is what most people do
because it's cheaper), the stuff in your porta-potty will kill your septic
system DOA.

Jim is right about using marine or camping toilet paper. It will break
down much better. And make sure that it doesn't get caught in the flush
valve, since that ruins the seal.

Many people complain that the porta-potty always stinks, but this is
because of a problem with the way they are using it. Ours (a Thetford 135)
was a well made little unit and even after a couple of days use, gave off
no odor at all.

Hope this helps
Doug King


Thank you both for the comments. I am hoping to buy a boat either at the
end of this year or beginning of next. One of my wife's requirements is
that there be a bathroom on board.

:)

Duke

Heads on small boats
 

Duke wrote:
" JimH" jimhUNDERSCOREosudad@yahooDOTcom wrote in message
...

"Duke" wrote in message
news:8uEhg.5868$td6.4388@trnddc02...
Hi all,

How do the heads work on smaller boats such as the Maxum 2100SC and other
similar craft ? Do they flush overboard or must you remove the head and
dispose of the waste manually ?

Thanks,

Duke


It will not flush overboard. Depending on the type of head (fixed or
portable) it will either flush into a holding tank that must occasionally
be pumped out or flush into a small holding tank at the bottom of the
(portable) unit that has to be pumped out or manually dumped into an
approved holding tank.


Hi Jim,

Thanks. Being new to this arena, where would one find an approved holding
tank ? Is this something that would only be available at a marina ? Would
it be possible to just dump it into your homes waste system. I have a clean
out trap at home with a 4inch pipe as the opening. Seems like I could just
unsrew and dump into there. Or would that make no sense ?

Thanks again,

Duke

Small boats seem to stop for fuel every couple of days- just enough
time for the porta-pottie to become full or the small holding tank
typically found on most small boats to reach capacity. Pump or dump at
the fuel dock. No reason to haul a bucket of sh** all the way home in
your car.

Depending upon where you boat, you may indeed be able to pump
overboard. The crux of the regulation is that you shall not dump
*untreated* sewage into the water in any inland waters or les than
three miles offshore. It's perfectly legal to dump sewage that has been
treated to standards of fecal coliform count and doesn't contain
"floating solids" less than three miles from shore and in inland
waters, but the smaller boats typically do not have the
appropriate systems that will treat the sewage to meet the standards.
(When you pump out,
the contents of your holding tank get treated, and then dumped right
back into the same waters you've been boating in- same as with onboard
treatment).

If you boat in waters where the legality of discharge varies, you will
need a "Y" valve to divert waste to your holding tank when you are in a
no-discharge area. If you are boarded by the Coast Guard, they will
want to see this Y valve secured in the "holding tank" position (a zip
tie is OK) if you are less than three miles from shore or in inland
waters.

With the continuing increase in "no discharge" zones, (places where
local regulations are stricter than federal regulations and it is
illegal to discharge even properly treated waste), I would probably not
bother with rigging for overboard discharge on a small boat.

Heads on small boats
 

On Wed, 07 Jun 2006 18:31:13 GMT, "Duke" wrote:


"DSK" wrote in message
...
Duke wrote:
Thanks. Being new to this arena, where would one find an approved
holding tank ? Is this something that would only be available at a
marina ? Would it be possible to just dump it into your homes waste
system. I have a clean out trap at home with a 4inch pipe as the
opening. Seems like I could just unsrew and dump into there. Or would
that make no sense ?


We used a porta-potty for years on a small cruising boat and poured it out
into the toilet at home; we're hooked up to city sewer and it's no
problem.

Don't dump it into a system that flushes into a septic tank, though.
Unless you add a bacterial treatment to the porta-potty tank, rather than
sterilizing chemical mixed with perfume (which is what most people do
because it's cheaper), the stuff in your porta-potty will kill your septic
system DOA.

Jim is right about using marine or camping toilet paper. It will break
down much better. And make sure that it doesn't get caught in the flush
valve, since that ruins the seal.

Many people complain that the porta-potty always stinks, but this is
because of a problem with the way they are using it. Ours (a Thetford 135)
was a well made little unit and even after a couple of days use, gave off
no odor at all.

Hope this helps
Doug King


Thank you both for the comments. I am hoping to buy a boat either at the
end of this year or beginning of next. One of my wife's requirements is
that there be a bathroom on board.

:)

Duke


Duke, my wife was the same way. Our 21'er came with a porta-potty in the
cuddy cabin. When I said that whichever of us used it had to clean it, we
came to a mutual agreement to remove it. In several years of boating on the
Chesapeake, the lack of the porta-potty has never been a problem.
--
John H

******************************************
***** Have a Spectacular Day! *****
******************************************

Heads on small boats
 

Duke wrote:
Hi all,

How do the heads work on smaller boats such as the Maxum 2100SC and other
similar craft ? Do they flush overboard or must you remove the head and
dispose of the waste manually ?

Thanks,

Duke


My Sandpiper 565 mini-cruiser sailboat came with a 'MSD'. It has a tiny
holding tank on the bottom that must be pumped out from the deck fitting.

Heads on small boats
 

"Duke" wrote in message
news:RXEhg.11340$9c7.6821@trnddc06...

"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
Duke wrote:
Thanks. Being new to this arena, where would one find an approved
holding tank ? Is this something that would only be available at a
marina ? Would it be possible to just dump it into your homes waste
system. I have a clean out trap at home with a 4inch pipe as the
opening. Seems like I could just unsrew and dump into there. Or would
that make no sense ?


We used a porta-potty for years on a small cruising boat and poured it
out into the toilet at home; we're hooked up to city sewer and it's no
problem.

Don't dump it into a system that flushes into a septic tank, though.
Unless you add a bacterial treatment to the porta-potty tank, rather than
sterilizing chemical mixed with perfume (which is what most people do
because it's cheaper), the stuff in your porta-potty will kill your
septic system DOA.

Jim is right about using marine or camping toilet paper. It will break
down much better. And make sure that it doesn't get caught in the flush
valve, since that ruins the seal.

Many people complain that the porta-potty always stinks, but this is
because of a problem with the way they are using it. Ours (a Thetford
135) was a well made little unit and even after a couple of days use,
gave off no odor at all.

Hope this helps
Doug King


Thank you both for the comments. I am hoping to buy a boat either at the
end of this year or beginning of next. One of my wife's requirements is
that there be a bathroom on board.

:)

Duke


They are easy to maintain and clean.

My wife insisted on one when we bought our 21 foot runabout. I would have
bought one anyway. It is mainly used for #1, but for #2 in the event of an
emergency.

I cannot imagine having a boat without a head accommodation, even a modest
one like a porta potty when taking your wife or daughter out on the boat.

Some guys in this NG recently posted that they are silly and unsanitary.
They make the women on their boat "hold it" when the urge comes while they
travel 1/2 hour back to the dock for a bathroom.

Some really thoughtful guys here. ;-)

You are doing the right thing Duke.