243 Porta potty question.... Odd!

[geierb387]

Odd question... I'm not sure I quite understand the difference between a pump out porta potty and a regular porta potty on a chaparral 243(0). I understand some boats have a holding tank but surely a 24-ft chaparral does not?!? Can someone explain the difference between the two types that seemed to be available. I'm shopping and I just want to be educated. Thanks!

 

[waternutt]

On my 243, the "holding tank" is just the holding tank of a regular porta potty. Mine came plumbed to pump it out, but it seemed it would be more work than benefit. I just unhooked the plumbing, capped the connection points, and I use it like a regular porta potty by lifting it out and dumping the tank into the toilet.

 

[biglar155]

I believe the pump-out plumbing gets you around the laws in areas that don't allow porta-pottys.

(I could be wrong. I haven't had any coffee yet this morning.)

 

[Dean P]

Odd question... I'm not sure I quite understand the difference between a pump out porta potty and a regular porta potty on a chaparral 243(0). I understand some boats have a holding tank but surely a 24-ft chaparral does not?!? Can someone explain the difference between the two types that seemed to be available. I'm shopping and I just want to be educated. Thanks!

Porta-Potty w/holding tank: The waste is stored in a separate location with plumbing in-between.
Porta-Potty: The waste is inside the unit.

 

[geierb387]

On my 243, the "holding tank" is just the holding tank of a regular porta potty. Mine came plumbed to pump it out, but it seemed it would be more work than benefit. I just unhooked the plumbing, capped the connection points, and I use it like a regular porta potty by lifting it out and dumping the tank into the toilet.

Thank you!

 

[Jakester1967]

I have the pump out on my 2430 VRX and have actually never "used" it as of yet, only #1 thus far from the females. Just disconnect and dump... I feel it is a good thing to have if "things" other than #1 of my self or wife do to get rid of...Kinda gross I agree but it is a good feature that if needed will be used.

 

[biglar155]

Get the blue RV liquid and use the RV (dissolving) toilet paper. It keeps the smell down and makes clean-up a little easier.

To use the RV liquid, you pump a little water into the bowl and add the appropriate amount of blue liquid then dump it into the tank. Do this BEFORE anyone uses it (I usually do it when I take it off the shelf in the basement before it ever makes it to the boat.) Our porta-potty has zero smell.

Wear rubber gloves and use pine-sol liquid to clean. It's not what I would call a "pleasant" chore, but it's not horrible. You'll want several rinses after the initial dump followed by a shot of pine-sol and a lot of water in the holding tank. Close everything up and shake the crap out of it (if you'll pardon the phrase) then dump, and rinse some more. Naturally you'll want to clean the bowl, seat, etc as well.

We have the benefit of having our downstairs bathroom near the front door - and our garden hose is near that. So the actual cleaning takes place just off the sidewalk in the grass with the dumping happening in the toilet a few steps inside the door. Trust me - you'll want to have this all worked out before you start.

Our kids (and sometimes us) use our porta-potty for #1 all the time. We've had the occasional #2 from them in emergencies when they were little.

We've had ours for 10 years and it still looks and smells like new.

 

[Recoveringfiberglassaddic]

We sold a 28' Regal 2 years ago with a head. Sales guy mistakenly told the customer it had a holding tank. Everyone used it until it was overflowing and they brought the boat in to the shop. That was literally a sh!t job.