WHAT I LEARNED THIS YEAR.

[HeaveToo]

Crap happens, someone steps in it, and it usually is me!

"Go fast enough to get there but slow enough to see; Moderation seems to be the key." --Jimmy Buffett

Seriously guys, I don't see the big deal with the porta potty.  I used mine for my long trip.  It was okay.

I actually got myself into a nice cycle....Go in for breakfast, use the real toilet.  Sail for the day and anchor in the evening.  Go into the shore and find a public bathroom and use it. 

So you can't pee into the wag bag so how do you deal with that?

[brackish]

So you can't pee into the wag bag so how do you deal with that?

You can't?? Why not? Why would you think that? Sure you can. However, in open water particularly out three miles or better it's over the side for me, but the Admiral doesn't take kindly to my suggestion that she follow suit.  Something about different anatomy, basic physics, etc. 

Yep, my first preference is to use shore side facilities when available, however, often they are not or not convenient to the cruise. 

Just saying, I've used both and a PortaPotty will never be on my boat or any small boat I own again.

Sorry about the hijack Bob but I am sharing a very important thing I've learned.

[Bob23]

No problem with the hijack. The disposal of excrement is an exciting subject for all of us. We all have something to learn here.
I have a porta....no forget it! This has the looks of becoming a hot subject so I won't even through in my 2 cents and further decompose the thread. I'm learning, albeit slowly, to shutup!
Bob23

[NateD]

...
Seriously guys, I don't see the big deal with the porta potty.  I used mine for my long trip.  It was okay.
...
So you can't pee into the wag bag so how do you deal with that?

On a 23, a porta potty isn't a big deal. I had a marine head on my 23, loved it. On a 16, the only reasonable place to keep a porta potty is right under the companion way, about 2 feet from my head when I'm sleeping. I have cruised with a porta potty on a 16. A wag bag in a sealed bucket in the fore peak or in the storage area aft creates a little nicer atmosphere (and more space) in the cabin. The wag bag maker actually recommends having some liquid along with solids in the bag, but some of my liquid waste finds its way overboard. I'm pretty sure everyone who boats on Lake Superior could pee into the lake the rest of their lives and it would make no difference mixed in with the 3 quadrillion gallons of water in the lake (that is a literal number, enough water to cover North and South America in 1 foot of water).

[Bob23]

Ok...I will throw in my 2 cents. Slow learner. I sail solo and use a porta potti on my 23 but keep it stored under the companionway. It's not a problem although it's a small one. I don't like the idea of it forward at the v berth area, but that's just a personal preference. I'm looking into one that can be pumped out at a pumping station (we have several free ones around here) but they are larger and may need to be installed forward. I hope not.
I've tried wag bags...maybe I got some bad ones or el cheapo ones but they developed a leak. Yuk. But many people love 'em and use them.
I suppose, whatever works.
I think Mr. N. Herreshoff used a cedar bucket.
Bob23

[HeaveToo]

Wow, this thread has turned to $h*t in a hurry! 

If you maintain a marine head right it is probably the ideal situation.  You are definitely have to keep things in order with the holding tank and hoses as well as frequent pump-outs.  I have seen images of Compac 23 boats with heads. 

The end result for a marine head would be the loss of storage in the port storage area under the V-berth, 2 through hulls, a deck pumpout area, a macerator, and a few other things.  That is a lot of stuff to add into the boat.

Sorry about the threadjack Bob23

[MKBLK]

Truly, I don't believe that a day goes by that I haven't learned something. The trick is to remember and not have to relearn over and over.

This past year I've learned to not trust a 37 year old outboard motor that I've never actually run. I learned to trust my judgement about having a spare (MinnKota).

I learned (this year and every year) that there is no substitute for good company. I can sail alone, but much prefer to share the joy/agony with another.

Regarding Wag-bags: They definitely are the way to go (no pun intended!). Use 'em, seal 'em and toss 'em. They contain a chemical that neutralizes the contents and makes them safe to dispose in ordinary trash. Since I have a CP16, it's best to avoid having to utilize the on-board sanitary facility. One must situate it at the hatch to the cockpit and stick your head out. Great ventilation, but there may be other drawbacks depending on your level of modesty.

Marty K.
1981 CP16 Pegasus

[Duckie]

I haven't cruised as much as I would like, but so far a saw dust bucket is by far the best for long day sails or short cruises.  Basically they are just a bucket that can be sealed up with about 1/4 filled with saw dust. Doug fir is my favorite for combating the smell.  I like this because if the worst happens it isn't going to leak even if you roll it around or sit it upside down.  I am always surprised how much saw dust will absorb.  When I get home I usually dispose of the wet saw dust in a cat hole out in the back forty.  If the saw dust is merely wet, toss it in the compost pile or whatever you think you can get away with.  I am in the process of making a wooden bucket that will fit in the space I have on my weekender. 

Just another thing to think about.

Al

[BruceW]

I had a bucket with a toilet seat on it; the wag bag fit just fine, and didn't smell when sealed. I see the good of putting a sealed lid on top of the bucket, esp for longer trips, and just in case.

Probably a good thing to go see about that toilet seat; I'm sure I can store it and the bucket in the space where my porta potty is currently.

Oh, and I'm learning that to each his own, haha.

[kickingbug1]

i have a porta potty, that i havent used yet (i should say she hasnt used it) so i cant comment on how well it works. i will say that removing from my boat at least when its on the trailer might be a big pain. plus you do have to fill the tank before you put it in. so far, its been a pit stop at ramp before launching and upon our return. that will probably change-----im not getting any younger

[MKBLK]

The Wag-Bag set-up that I have consists of the following:

1. Bucket - a 3 gallon recycled pickle bucket. Cost: $0.99 (or free) at your local deli. (5 gallon buckets are too high in the cabin).

2. Toilet Seat - designed to snap on to pickle bucket perfectly.

3. Wag-Bags - single use bags with chemical neutralizer that fits bucket.

4. She-wee - you can figure out what that is.

5. Toilet paper - bio-degradable.

Total weight: about 5 pounds with the extra bags (unused). When not being used for its emergency purpose, is home to the anchor line. It's kept forward of the compression post.

And as I mentioned earlier, when you return to the hard, just drop the bags in a trash can.

Marty K.
1981 CP16 Pegasus

Full disclosure: I haven't had to use it yet. Always make a pit-stop before setting sail!

[rogerschwake]

  All this talk about wagbag's and porta potty reminds me of a lesson learned from a old sailing friend of mine. Don had a porta potty on board for the ladies how went sailing on board his boat. None of these ladies ever used this device so  Don found another use for it. There's no extra space aboard for things not used. Don was just a little thrifty also so he used the porta potty for a cooler to keep his bear in. This cut the cost for beer more than in half and saved him buying a cooler. What a thrifty old sailor was Don.

[Citroen/Dave]

On my C16 II, by cutting the bunk "V" out of the forward end of the cabin foot well [the foot well is a rectangle after all], I can carry a second storage battery forward and still have enough foot room for two to sit 'side by side' opposite each other with their feet in the foot well.  This battery location tends to enhance the ballast's stability and moves weight forward to balance the boat.  An added plus: I can now use the porta pot facing the stern instead of exposing my butt . . .   A handy umbrella along with the hatch board in place now provides additional privacy, if needed.  My porta pot otherwise resides under the bridge deck with two square life cushions and a small pillow on top wedging the porta pot in place.  A small rectangle of thin plywood, stored under a bunk mattress, and a pillow bridge over the battery if needed to back fill the missing "V" for sleeping.

[Duckie]

On a small boat like a 16, I still have some serious concerns about spillage.  Having to clean up after a catastrophe like that would be enough for me to sell the boat.  It is surprising how innocuous the contents of my bucket become a few minutes after using it.  If the saw dust becomes saturated, I simply add a bit more from an aromatic bag of doug fir saw dust, give it a little shake,  and continue until the bucket is full.  Over the course of a three day cruise I wasn't able to come close to filling up the bucket.  Even if somehow the bucket was to be utterly destroyed, clean up would be a matter of sweeping.  Really, I'm not kidding.  Dealing with the outcome of a multi-day cruise is not as disturbing as one might fear. 

I have a port a potti for my little motorhome (Galavan, the CP 16 of motorhomes) which in that situation works admirably.  However, I don't typically lay my motorhome over to 25 degrees or have to hoist the unit out of a hole when it is full up.  There are times when I go for an overnighter and rather than go to all the bother of filing the porta potti, I will take the saw dust bucket instead.  For day sailing it can stay in the boat until it gets used without any thought to how it is stored. 

And it is the cheapest alternative of all those mentioned so far. 

Al

[MKBLK]

Gee Bob, I hope you've learned your lesson! You can add it to your list of "What I learned this year".

Roger - Yeah, Don was on the right track. When my wife saw the loo arrangements for the CP16 she said, "that ain't happenin'". I just wonder how Don got his bear to stay in the potti. But, I do understand how he got his beer for 1/2 price when he trotted into Beer-O-Rama with his bear. Ha, ha.

Duckie - I like the idea of being thrifty since I'm retired and every penny counts. But, I'm getting really tired cutting this pile of wood to make enough sawdust. Of course my right arm now looks like my thigh!!

Ain't this fun?!

Marty K.