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I'm using a Thetford - I don't like the marine units that are real short - they leak.

I can manage the lack of head room its the back side room that is the issue. Where do you find a portable with a seat big enough to sit on. Everything I have seen is for some one with a back end the size of a cantaloupe. Does anyone make a portable for someone older than a four year old. Hello, mfg's stand out side a Walmart and then look at your ergonomics!

1st Sail wrote:Everything I have seen is for some one with a back end the size of a cantaloupe.

The C-head comes with a regular seat the size of the one in your home and they have a step down version that is cut away to accomodate the shelf in the M.

Sitting is fine on the C-Head. The Admiral's challenge (mine too) is getting pants up in a crouched position.

Does the C-Head make any smell? The whole idea of handling the wee wee in a separate jug is disgusting to me - how's that going for you?

I suppose I could get used to it - I just don't want to see it in that little window.

just step out into the companionway, shuffle to under the sliding hatch- stand up- tis easy.
we sure dont mind the pee in a bucket- but i geuss we come from africa- so those kinda things dont really bother us.
lotsa houses there still use a longdrop in the rural communities

NiceAft wrote:

RobertB wrote:Which head do you have? With either the short Dometic or the C-head I have adequate headroom.

I know I am going to regret this, but I have no idea what you mean.
Ray

No regrets, just honest questions.

I had a choice when I ordered my from the factory of two different porta potties. The small one of the large one. Besides the different volumes, the height is different (2.5 gallon vs. 5 gallon, 12 inches vs. 15 inches). I purchased the smaller one to make easier to carry the tank in and out of the boat.

I recently installed the C-head composting head (after I had the porta pottie leak on a real hot day ). The one customized for the (cutaway base model) is 15 inches tall. Keep in mind, to all these measurements add 5 inches for floor to seat height since the head sits on a 5 inch shelf. So, I end up fairly comfortable at a 20 inch seat height above the surface my feet are on. I am 5'8" and my wife 5'4".

Update: The height of the C-head is actually 18.5 inches total feet to seat.

1st Sail wrote:I can manage the lack of head room its the back side room that is the issue. Where do you find a portable with a seat big enough to sit on. Everything I have seen is for some one with a back end the size of a cantaloupe. Does anyone make a portable for someone older than a four year old. Hello, mfg's stand out side a Walmart and then look at your ergonomics!

The C-head uses a standard toilet seat. As long as you put spacers under the door hinges, should have adequate room.

Sailor Dale wrote:Sitting is fine on the C-Head. The Admiral's challenge (mine too) is getting pants up in a crouched position.

Easy solution - don't wear pants

BOAT wrote:Does the C-Head make any smell? The whole idea of handling the wee wee in a separate jug is disgusting to me - how's that going for you?
I suppose I could get used to it - I just don't want to see it in that little window.

I keep a small spray bottle with holding tank treatment diluted to "touch up" after #1. No issue - no smell. If the color bothers you, can always add a bit more holding tank treatment to give it that pleasant blue tint

I also keep a few extra milk jugs since liquids seem to be the main issue on our boat. Also have caps for the jugs.

Well . . . O k . . , I guess I could deal with a milk jug - but on the Porta Potty (Mr. Porto we call him) you don't see any yellow or purple liquid at all - there is just a little gauge that has green for good and red for bad (maybe it should be BROWN for bad?) anyways I'm curious about the C-head - but I'm not yet convinced. So you take out a bucket and just throw the bucket away? Is that it?? That part seemed intriguing, what about peat moss? Where do you get pete's moss out in the ocean? You can't re-use pete's moss, right?

I think I need an education on composting.

BOAT wrote:Well . . . O k . . , I guess I could deal with a milk jug - but on the Porta Potty (Mr. Porto we call him) you don't see any yellow or purple liquid at all - there is just a little gauge that has green for good and red for bad (maybe it should be BROWN for bad?) anyways I'm curious about the C-head - but I'm not yet convinced. So you take out a bucket and just throw the bucket away? Is that it?? That part seemed intriguing, what about peat moss? Where do you get pete's moss out in the ocean? You can't re-use pete's moss, right?
I think I need an education on composting.

I was thinking of emptying the jugs in a land toilet. As far as the peat moss poo-balls, will probably just bag them up well in the trash. Have yet to determine what to do with toilet paper, on a regular marine head as we used last week, there was a Tupperware container next to he head for the paper. Now, that can get a bit smelly.

Okay, I think I will just stick with Mr. Porto for now - we have traveled across the country from CA to NY and FL three times on the Mr. Porto that is in our van so I have no real complaints about it - except it's really only good for two people - for only two people we can go a whole week on Mr. Porto but when we are three it only lasts 3 to 4 days. I thought the C-head would be a way to go longer before dumpity dump but from what I'm learning it's not. And the smell, well, that is WHY I do NOT buy the MARINE potties, those little short ones that they always give you if your in a boat? I have had those before and they LEAK and they SMELL!! Thetford has perfected the porto potty so that all the smell stays inside (it DOES smell when you flush it, but after that it's okay). And the Thetford Porta Potty holds a lot more poop.

In most situations I am servicing Mr. Porto in my own driveway after a weekend of sailing - that's not to big a deal - I just carry it over to the sewer clean out in the back yard by the side of the house and dump it. Otherwise - the three mile mark is very clearly defined on my charts and GPS plotter so I take care if it there. I can't imagine throwing a plastic bucket into the ocean - won't it float and follow you around?

This is a disturbing post.

Not sure why you would throw a plastic bucket in the ocean. A milk jug is easy to empty - just uncap and pour. Smell? I have not noticed any. The porta potty is kind of gross to empty - my opinion, and kind of heavy too. Even worse when it leaks inside the boat (want to talk about smell?). I anticipate emptying the peat moss bucket to be easier than a kitty litter box - and not very often.

Sounds like you are attached to the Thetford - to each his own.

Sounds like you are attached to the Thetford - to each his own.

No, not really - after so many years and so many miles I think it could just be a bad habit created by a lack of alternatives - that is why I am TRYING to get educated on the compost stuff - what I read says it's in a bucket with a seal able lid - and that the bucket is legal to dispose of - but how? so you do NOT throw the bucket overboard? And what about the papaer/ Is it okay to toss it in? I'm still confused about wheather they are telling me the paper goes in or out?

Trust me - if the C-head is a better set up I will buy it TOMORROW -

I'm just not getting a clear picture of how it all works - another thing I read says it can last a full week, but that it requires storing buckets and jugs? I guess what i can't figure out is how long it lasts before it needs any servicing, and what the hull is a 'CHURN HANDLE' ?? it can't be a bad as it sounds can it?

I just need to have more info - I'm trying to find more stuff on the web I can read about it. I guess I'm looking for the 'perfect solution'.