Greetings From Florida

[ronsat123]

Hi: We're buying a 1972 Seaward 34, by McCurdy & Rhodes, for small cruises along the Gulf coast of Florida. We did some long cruises on our Endevour 38 , center cockpit sloop up til 2003 when we sold her. Now we're older and just going to have fun locally and along the coast.
Given the holding tank rules, does anyone have an opinion whether a porta potty is a better bet for short cruises than installing a holding tank and pumpout
fitting? This antique boat has only an old fashioned marine toilet that pumps directly into the sea.

[Hudson Force]

Welcome to the community! I haven't had the experience of dealing with a porta-potty, but I would think the decision would depend upon the easy availability of a pump out at the location where you would be keeping the boat. We don't frequent the Florida Gulf Coast, but have cruised up from the Keys to Tarpon Springs a few times. What's your area?

[ronsat123]

We're in St Petersburg, and have cruised to the Keys and the Dry Tortugas. We're mostly going to day and weekend sail this boat. We're debating having a holding tank installed, but also thinking about changing the marine head for a porta potty that we can pump out at local marinas. Seems like a reasonable way to go to have a self contained head rather than the expensive installation of a holding tank and the hoses and fittings that go with it.
Anyway, thanks for your message. Good cruising to you.
Captain Ron

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Captain Ron.

[Kettlewell]

Hi. Check out the many threads on here on composting toilets, which eliminate all those through hulls and hoses. I switched to one back in 2005 and have not regretted it one moment.

[HopCar]

Thetford makes a Porta Pottie that can be hooked to a deck pumpout.
Kind of gives you both options.
Here is a link: Porta Potti 365 MSD
I've never used one so this is not a recomendation.
I like a marine toilet made of porcelain and bronze!

[boatman61]

If your not going voyaging the Portapoti will be more than adequate... once out of US waters you don't need the holding tank so hang onto the through hull outlets and valves then if you decide to go further or sell the boat its easy to re-install a new sea-loo

[The Garbone]

The previous owner of our boat put in a holding tank with a pump out and a macerator pump. Even though our tank is very small (4 or 5 uses before full) it is nice to have the option of using the loo and not have to worry about toting poo down the dock. Once underway it is not big deal to open the seacock and throw the pump on. 20 seconds and the tank is empty again.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you posting here. I used a porta potti for a couple years and really started to hate the thing. They can be heavy and cumbersome especially in and out of a dinghy.
I'd opt for a small holding tank with your current head and a pumpout option.
kind regards,