[Rhodes22-list] Portable Toilets / Canada

[Bill Effros]

Jim,

I can picture how this would work, but I was trying to plumb mine into 
the existing R-22 system, and that wasn't going to work.  The local pump 
out boat didn't have the gear to properly suck or flush my porto potty.  
It assumed that waste would be pumped up to the deck discharge, and it 
would suck the rest of the way.

I'll file your description for a future use I hope I never have, because 
this is the first time anyone has explained to me how this is supposed 
to work.

Thanks,

Bill Effros

Jim Bunnell wrote:

> Bill,
>
> I rigged mine this way, specifically for cruising in Canada - not in  
> a Rhodes, unfortunately. I have the larger porta-potty. It has the  
> pump-out hose as you said, which leads to a fitting on deck. There is  
> also a vent hose that exits the boat just below the rub rail. No  
> underwater through-hulls. The waste tubing is sealed, no odor from  
> that. The vent may produce odor, but I've never noticed it. When you  
> get a pump-out, they vacuum out the system (air goes in the vent,  
> stuff goes up the waste hose), they they partially fill with water to  
> clean, and vacuum again. Works great, no mess. You do have to pay a  
> fee at most marinas, though. You can remove the tank, but you need a  
> plastic bag and a strong stomach for dealing with the end of the exit  
> tube you remove.
>
> On Nov 22, 2005, at 10:17 AM, Bill Effros wrote:
>
>> Gregg,
>>
>> I planned to set mine up this way, but it just doesn't work.  It  
>> looks like a legal dodge to me.  The instructions that come with  the 
>> units don't provide the parts you would require.  Then when you  
>> start to think about what you need, you realize that the system  just 
>> can't work.
>>
>> Here's why.
>>
>> The exit tube provided in the lower tank exits from the highest  
>> point of lower tank in order to prevent waste from exiting when it  
>> is meant to be trapped.  The tube extends inside the tank to the  
>> lowest point in the tank to prevent the odors above the waste from  
>> exiting the tank.  This means you must always maintain some water  in 
>> the tank to cover the end of the tube--reducing the useful  capacity 
>> of the tank.
>>
>> But how does the waste climb up the tube when you want it to?  It  is 
>> normally full of air, so there is no siphon.  Some place in this  
>> system you've got to add some kind of pump.  That's when I gave up  
>> up on the permanent installation.  As soon as you plumb the thing  
>> into your system you can no longer manually remove the waste tank.   
>> Now you are just a few gallons away from disaster if your system  
>> doesn't work.  Of course, you test a new tank with fresh water.   But 
>> once you have set up your water works, it's tough to undo it if  you 
>> decide its never going to work properly--and you've ruined the  
>> integrity of the porto potty for normal use.
>>
>> The heads Stan installs cost less than a permanent porto potty plus  
>> all the parts.  The exit system for waste, and holding tank cost  the 
>> same.  It is easier to use and maintain the plumbing on the  purpose 
>> built head.
>>
>> Bill Effros
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Gregg J. MacMillan wrote:
>>
>>>   Apparently, in Canada, "Portable toilets are legal only if they are
>>>   well fastened to the boat, and have a permanent fixture enabling  
>>> them
>>>   to be emptied at a pump-out station."
>>>
>>>   Does anyone have one set up this way?
>>>
>>>   --Gregg
>>> __________________________________________________
>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>
>>>
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