Hi everyone. I'm new to the community and have purchased a Freedom 235 that will be delivered late May. Excited about the boat and I still have the opportunity to configure this boat. I need a little help with the head choice...1) Marine head with electric flush w/macerator and deck pump out. 10 gal(boating on Chesapeake so will not use overboard discharge) 2) As above with manual flush 3) Portable head with deck pump out. Any feedback would be appreciated
New boat question
- Thread starter Mike235
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Manual flush will be OK since you don't need overboard discharge. The lack of overboard option may affect resale a tad should you decide to sell within a few years. The portables are very inconvenient. See if a holding tank level indicator is available for the manual and/or the electric. Having an indicator makes scheduling pumps outs a lot easier.
Good luck and happy/safe boating
Good luck and happy/safe boating
How much do you plan on using the head? Given the boat model, I assume it's just dayboating. If you have easy access to pump-outs, then you can probably keep things simple (and less money) and just go with the port-potty w/pump-out. Standard ones have plenty of capacity for at least a day's worth. You can always upgrade (still inexpensive) to a larger holding tank capacity model.
It really comes down to what YOU prefer, though... not any of us.
It really comes down to what YOU prefer, though... not any of us.
Thanks. We have found only limited pump outs in our area. I'm trying to get a feel from other owners how these different systems have worked for them
Punchline Cap
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What are the rules for the Chesapeake for discharging the head overboard? I am in South Jersey and I must go 5 miles offshore to dump the holding tank. I agree with everyone else, it's up to you, how much do you think the head will be used? I have the head with the macerater and overboard discharge and usually only have to dump it once a year at the end of the season. Good luck with the new boat.
Can't. It's an inland waterway (or sorts)... as in, it's a "bay" - there's no way to be 5 miles offshore.
The question really comes down to whether you want/need a separate holding tank, or will the porta-potty holding tank be sufficient for you? If you want to keep it even simpler, don't order any of those options. Just buy a regular porta-potty for $100 and empty it into a land toilet. They come apart very easily with no mess. Plus, there's virtually nothing to ever go wrong on them - they're about as basic as basic can get.
One thing to keep in mind is that you're just dayboating - it's not like you'll ever really need a holding tank.
On the other hand, if you prefer to use a pump-out, then you just have to decide which system is worth the $$ for you. They all work. I will say, though, that "ideally" you would want a fresh water system for a holding tank (with a charcoal filter) since raw water will cause even more stink.
Again, though, it's about what's important to you and nobody else. Look at the systems, understand them, then decide which one is best for you.
Fishtales
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I would go with the freshwater vacuflush system vs the manual raw water. and either over the portable. Dennis is correct that you need to size your usage. There are other considerations like ease of operation for your crew and visitors, extra hole in the hull for the raw water inlet (if this bothers you), sophistication and reliability of the system (my vacuflush has been great, I had seal and pump issues on the manual version on my first grady) and resale. Just my 2 cents.
I have a 2020 Freedom 235. There’s three option on the head. Porcelain bowl with an electric flush or a manual flush, both of these options have a holding tank with an indicator on tank level. Both of these also have a macerator pump with a overboard discharge and a deck pump out at your local marina. The third option is a plastic toilet hooked to a holding tank with a deck pump out. I personally opted for the porcelain head with a manual flush.
I guess, I didn’t answer the question fully. I thought having the porcelain bowl with manual flush, overboard discharge capability was good for resale and not having the electric flush would eliminate an electrical / corrosion problem in the future.
For pumpout, you must have a holding tank. That could be part of a portable system or in the case of the manual flush option, a separate system.
I suppose there advantages and disadvantages to all options. With respect to resale value, for larger hulls (greater than 20 feet or so), having only a portable MSD will hurt the price. Have a manual or electric MSD is expected on larger boats. Electric discharge from a holding tank doesn't mean that the toilet has to be electric. One advantage to an electric toilet is that the output pump usually has a macerator pump which grinds up solids and that makes the plumbing less likely to clog.
Vacuum MSDs are a different story and have several advantages including the ability to work with a small amount of fresh water. The downside is that they are more complex and have several external components. that have to be mounted under the deck or in storage space.
In Mike's case, he can opt for electric or manual but he has to have a holding tank and if you are doing that, you might as well get one with the overboard discharge option. It can aid with holding tank flushing on the land when doing seasonal maintenance.
As was mentioned, if you think you will be using the head a lot and for both liquids and solid wastes, An electric head with macerator and a holding tank is probably your best option.
f there is an option for fresh water fill, you may want to go that route primarily to reduce odors but if properly maintained, odors shouldn't be a major issue just because you flush with sea water. If that were the case, a lot of livewells would stink ( well maybe a lot do
)
I suppose there advantages and disadvantages to all options. With respect to resale value, for larger hulls (greater than 20 feet or so), having only a portable MSD will hurt the price. Have a manual or electric MSD is expected on larger boats. Electric discharge from a holding tank doesn't mean that the toilet has to be electric. One advantage to an electric toilet is that the output pump usually has a macerator pump which grinds up solids and that makes the plumbing less likely to clog.
Vacuum MSDs are a different story and have several advantages including the ability to work with a small amount of fresh water. The downside is that they are more complex and have several external components. that have to be mounted under the deck or in storage space.
In Mike's case, he can opt for electric or manual but he has to have a holding tank and if you are doing that, you might as well get one with the overboard discharge option. It can aid with holding tank flushing on the land when doing seasonal maintenance.
As was mentioned, if you think you will be using the head a lot and for both liquids and solid wastes, An electric head with macerator and a holding tank is probably your best option.
f there is an option for fresh water fill, you may want to go that route primarily to reduce odors but if properly maintained, odors shouldn't be a major issue just because you flush with sea water. If that were the case, a lot of livewells would stink ( well maybe a lot do
)
Fishtales
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It's really up to you and what fits your needs. If I was ordering a boat, it would be the vacuflush all day. If putting it in an existing boat, I'd prob pick the easiest non porta potty solution from an install perspective. But, it really depends how much you will use and if you have females on board. Good luck with your choice.
I almost agree
I would go for the fresh water vacuflush if available but I just don't like porta pottys. I would rather have nothing than the porta potty.Of course that opens a new discussion.
It is my understanding that if you are in a waterway where overboard discharge is not legal, you can also not pee into a bucket and dump the bucket overboard. That makes sense. However if you just pee over the side of the boat, you are not breaking the law since the no-discharge rules apply to MSDs. I suppose you could get cited for public urination but that fine would be significantly less than an EPA violation.
Of course it is important to know that there is a statistical correlation to falling overboard while taking a leak!
Where are you at on on the bay? I am on the South River, i have a membership at a local place and get free pumpouts, it's a breeze. Manual head with holding tank, no discharge. Mine was configured this way from the dealer, tri-state, in Deale, MD. I had a porta pot on my last boat, those are the worst.
I'll add one more thing, if you get boarded by the CG on the bay they will want to see that your overboard discharge is disabled. I don't even have one but i do have it prewired for one from the factory and there is even an indicator panel if one were installed. This really threw them through a loop. I had to remove my seacock handle and just leave it closed. They will really hone in on this, so to me I wouldn't bother with a discharge as it won't likely ever get used 'legally'. And in my experience if anything is gonna sit for a long time it won't work when called upon.
If you have a seacock for overboard discharge, then presumably you should have a macerator. Did you remove the macerator? But, yes, some means of disabling the possibility of discharge is the law. Zip tying the handle also suffices.
I'm guessing the OP must be at the upper end of the bay if he's not able to find pump-outs at marinas easily enough.
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I did not, the P.O. said it either was never installed or removed by the dealer way back when the boat was new. One of those things that is lost to time. 2002 282. Good call on the zip ties.
It is possible to have a manual head with a discharge seacock, a holding tank but no macerator pump. The Y valve selects the discharge port or the tank. When is discharge mode whenever you use the manual pump, it discharges overboard. I didn't know that until earlier when I looked at the Xylem web site for manual head options.
Do you know the cost of each of those 3 options from Grady? Also, do you know the brand name of your porcelain bowl?