opinions on upgrading head / holding tank, etc

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KeithD

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Hiya, I am new to boating, have a 2000 260 Sundancer. It comes with the tiny porta-potti, self-contained 2.6 gallon holding tank. With 2 small kids on board, it fills up real quick on the weekends.
The tank is connected to a macerator (which I don't have the key for), and a topside fitting for pump-out (so I'm not carrying the holding tank to dump it).
In the off-season, I need to upgrade this system.
Easist would be to change out the portapotti for the larger 5.3 gallon unit.
Then there's a porcelain head until with a self-contained 9 gallon holding tank - but this needs to be connected to the fresh water supply to flush.
Or I could go whole hog and add a much larger holding tank in the bilge.
Except for swapping out the portapottis, I can't do this work myself; will need to have my service people do it.
Opinions, thoughts, advice?
All is appreciated.
Thanks,
KeithD
"Smile & Wave"
Lindenhurst, NY
 
I'll tell you what I did with assistance from my service guys. I upgraded to a SeaLand Vacuflush system, it was the best thing I ever did. Imagine using approximately 1/4 the water for every flush? I also upgraded from a 30 gallon aluminum holding tank that was leaking to a new heavy walled plastic polyethylene 45 gallon Todd holding tank. In the process I also changed every hose with the best sanitation rated hose I could find (SeaLand Odor Safe Plus) this included even the vent hoses. Vacuflush uses fresh water to flush. The end result is I can now get about 200 flushes before I have to empty/pump out and there is no smell. I also added a key switch for my overboard discharge Macerator pump and tank level indicator so I am CG compliant. It was a messy project but well worth every dollar I spent. My last plumbing project was to replace every faucet and the shower head on the boat but thats another story and I was surprised how well that turned out.
Take care. Bill
 
not everyone can afford the expense of adding a vacu flush to a boat...it is very costly. Plus, I'm not sure there would be room for a holding tank/vaccuum generator in your bilge. if there is room, it is off to one side, and as the tank fills, your boat will list more and more to that side. Check out all of the systems, and make your choice while asking yourself how much longer you will own this particular boat, and is it worth doing all of this to it.
 
I wasn't trying to talk about cost but what I consider a great option. Sealand makes an external vacuum tank and pump assy. for smaller craft. I bought mine brand new still in the boxes off E-bay paid less than $1200.00 for everything but the holding tank and some fittings. I see the company I bought my unit from still has them listed. I would also think because they don't use as much water a smaller holding tank would go a long way especially on a boat the size Keith is talking about? If you are going to sell the boat the Vacuflush is a big plus and increases your resale value.
 
We just installed a vacu flush this spring. Best money we ever spent.
They make one that is self contained and has cannisters that you unplug and replace. I purchased a spare cannister and when one gets full, switch out.
Still need to empty the cannisters in a "approved" facility but I just take them to the local RV dump station.
 
Several variables here. Do you trailer? If so, bypassing the macerator key should not be too hard. If you pass an RV area (and some state rest areas as well) you could devise a "gizmo" to attach to the bottom of the boat and flush the waste overboard via the macerator into the sewer. Whenever I get a pumpout, I flush my tank (make sure you don't have a tank vent) by sticking a garden hose into the vent. by the time I was done, I was pumping clear water. That would be the cheapest route and only require the install of a larger porta potty.

If you berth your boat, and are upgrading in a couple of years, the larger porta potty connected to the pumpout again is cheapest route.

You don't mention your budget, however if you intend to keep this boat for any length of time, a self contained unit that removes the hassle of pumpouts forever is, to me, the best thing since sliced bread. A buddy just sold his 3288 bayliner and of all the things he did to that boat for upgrades, he missed the sanitaion system the most.

http://www.raritaneng.com/store/page5.html

Bottom 2 rows on the right.

You could have it connected to a manual flush head (~$140) and you have eliminated all the problems you now have.

If you boat in salt water, you may get a slight from the head. If you are in brackish or fresh water you probably will get an odor. I used Aurora products (no affiliation) and had good luck eliminating them.

Les may carry them as well.

HTH
 
quote:
Originally posted by About Time

We just installed a vacu flush this spring. Best money we ever spent.
They make one that is self contained and has cannisters that you unplug and replace. I purchased a spare cannister and when one gets full, switch out.
Still need to empty the cannisters in a "approved" facility but I just take them to the local RV dump station.

Click to expand...


This would be a great set up for a boat this size. I forgot all about this SeaLand system.
 
Keith, I'd suggest you wait until the end of the season, maybe the end of Sept, beginning of Oct., when things slow down somewhat. Then contact George Melton of Seacoast Services (877) 645-2064. He is an authorized Servicing Dealer for both Raritan and for VacuFlush. He can come onboard and look things over, then make recommendations on the most cost-effective way to proceed, and get what you're happy and comfortable with. He's based in Amityville, not too far away. Right now, he's pretty busy and will be hard to get ahold of. He also will be working the Sealand/VacuFlush booth at the Norwalk boat Show, coming up later this month. You can talk to him there (I just called him to be sure that he'll be there) - I won't be there this year. Raritan will, but I won't.
 
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