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Hi all.

Need advice on marine toilet.
What is the differences between 1) hand pump out and 2) electric pump out concerning ease to use , use of water. Will the hand pump out use less water or not.
The electric pump out is more expensive but is it the moneys worth to have the luxury of it.
Seems to me the way the electric one works will be cleaner and more hygienic.
The electric pump out Looks much better with the pipes all in the toilet, no hand pump just a switch to pres.
How reliable will they be.

Would love to hear from sailors that have experience on both.

Renier

With the electric, what do you do if the battery is dead? Hand works, not tried electric. Understand hand uses less water and less likely to empty freshwater (if electric left on). On the other hand, everyone on the boat knows what you are doing and when with hand pump since I was taught to "pump as you go"

RobertB wrote: Understand hand uses less water and less likely to empty freshwater

Thanx RobertB
That is my biggest concern.
Renier

Aside from PP's, the only marine heads I've owned were the common Jabsco compact hand pump model, with remote holding tank. Sea water flush. They've held up just fine, and when the pump gets sticky, a little silicone grease and it's good for another couple hundred gallons of goodness.

RobertB wrote:On the other hand, everyone on the boat knows what you are doing and when with hand pump since I was taught to "pump as you go"

Surely on a boat this size your 'purpose' is pretty hard to hide no matter what system you have

I highly recommend the electric model. I installed one and have no regrets whatsoever; in fact I would hate a hand pump flush. The Jabsco model works just great, has an electric macerator to make sure things go down, and I never once worried about battery power or freshwater. You can't possibly leave the pump on...it's a spring loaded switch and when the pump runs it is very obvious.

The hardest part was running the wires. It's not technically hard, and there's no risk that you fail, it was just running those 10 gauge wires through the liners and around the bilges to get to the head was a bit of a pain in the hands. I took the occasion to add a larger breaker panel (6 switch) so that the toilet runs on its own breaker. Actually, I just moved the TV from over the galley to the forward wall of the head, so I am thinking of tapping into the toilet wires to power the TV. That's how much I hated fishing those wires.

Electric toilet = best mod ever.

Starscream wrote: Actually, I just moved the TV from over the galley to the forward wall of the head, so I am thinking of tapping into the toilet wires to power the TV. That's how much I hated fishing those wires.
Electric toilet = best mod ever.

So, it appears that you now have entertainment when doing business. What is your favorite movie to watch in this situation?

A few ideas:
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Silent Running
Mission Impossible (for those difficult times)
Gone in 60 Seconds (for those emergency situations)
Swamp Thing
Splash

RobertB wrote:

Starscream wrote: Actually, I just moved the TV from over the galley to the forward wall of the head, so I am thinking of tapping into the toilet wires to power the TV. That's how much I hated fishing those wires.
Electric toilet = best mod ever.

So, it appears that you now have entertainment when doing business. What is your favorite movie to watch in this situation?

A few ideas:
Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Silent Running
Mission Impossible (for those difficult times)
Gone in 60 Seconds (for those emergency situations)
Swamp Thing
Splash

And don't forget 'Dambusters'

A river runs through it
Dropzone
Hustle & Flow
Hot to Trot
The Andromeda Strain

Okay I'm done.

Unstoppable. (self-explanatory)

Oh man! I knew when I saw RobertB's posting that this thread was going to fly off on a tangent.

I am shocked and outraged to see the Canadians being outdone in this department.

SKIPPER2C wrote:Need advice on marine toilet.

Get a composting toilette.

Get a composting toilette.

Sounds to me as if something in a composting toilet still has to be emptied, can just as well empty the Portable Toilet.
Renier

I switched to a composting toilet since it cannot be such a disaster as a regular porta potti. Imagine a long weekend in hot August weather and the porta potti leaks because someone did not tighten down the main cap. Totally gross. The porta potti I have uses milk jugs for the liquid and I stock a few extra. If they overflow, still contained in the head. No one has yet sullied the peat moss so I cannot report on that part.