One of my friends—I’ll call him “Fred”—is generous and kind,
has great taste in wine and frequently invites me aboard his boat,
however, I rarely accept. Why? Fred’s head—a pump-out porta-
potty with a small (about 2.5 gals.) holding tank—smells really bad
and the holding tank is usually full or close to it.
The smell in Fred’s head may not be completely his fault. With
the exception of his pump-out procrastination, the nasty odor in
Fred’s head may have actually started way before he bought the
pre-owned boat. If the former owner only used a deodorizer in
the plastic holding tank, it likely has accumulated bacteria beyond
which most deodorizers can mask. Non-toxic tank additives,
however, are designed to “eat” the odor-causing bacteria, and
may be a better remedy.
Even if your boat doesn’t have a telltale odor, it is strongly
recommended that you add a thorough cleaning of the holding
tank to your annual haul-out to-do list since sediment can build
up on the bottom over time. You’ll also want to have all the hoses,
connections, fi ttings, and clamps checked for wear. But if you fi nd
a number of problematic issues—especially if you bought a pre-
owned boat that’s more than 10 years old—you might be better
off hiring a professional to replace your current system.
If you have a smaller boat and a portable unit, replacing ityourself can be a weekend DIY project. The newest units are
not only simple to replace but easy to care for. These compact
systems need only basic maintenance and replenishment of
chemicals recommended by the manufacturer. But as long as the
boat’s in for its annual haul out, why not let the yard handle it and
save yourself the time and...um, mess?
Depending on your budget and the type of system you’re
replacing, a brand new head and waste management system can
make time aboard much more pleasant for both you and your
guests. The following four manufacturers offer a number of head
options. Just make sure that once you’ve personally christened
your boat’s shiny new loo, everyone on board knows the dos and
don’ts of using marine toilets: With the exception of marine-grade
toilet paper, nothing goes in it that hasn’t fi rst gone into the mouth
and through the stomach.
Dometic’s VacuFlush® 5009 toilet fi ts a wide range of pleasure
boats and offers homelike comfort unmatched by smaller marine
toilets. It takes less than one pint (.125 gal.) of fresh water per
fl ush, and it draws only six amps of electrical current. When
compared to many typical marine toilets, the VF 5009 can
increase holding tank capacity by up to 400 percent, which allows
boats to cruise much longer between pump-outs. The 5009 isTOILETS
2016 ANNUAL HAUL OUT GUIDE 70 • SOUTHERNBOATING.COM • MARCH 2016
Give your nose and tush some TLC.
Stinky Head?