Wednesday 14 August 2019

No more Department of Guesswork

When we started this boating malarkey in 2008 we faced the usual dilemma of what loo system to opt for.  It was fairly simple then with only two choices, pump-out or cassette.  Today you can choose from a pump-out, cassette, incinerator or 'composting' system. The conversations about boat toilets have just got wider along with the wider choices now on offer. 
In 2008 we opted for a compromise between the two standard variables and had a vacuum loo fitted that emptied into a cassette.  We never regretted the decision to use cassettes though we can't say the same for the vacuum loo which was replaced with a Thetford over time.  On our second boat we had fitted a ceramic bowl Thetford, a simple effective system to our minds, we have never been tempted by a pump-out but guess what, Nb.Steadfast has a pump-out system!
Does it stay or does it go?

The holding tank is under the well deck and reading the boat manual the size of the holding tank is given as 220ltrs but there is no gauge to indicate how full the tank is....or isn't. 
There is on board a back-up Porta Potti which was hurriedly released from it's cubby hole the day after arriving at our home mooring as the light on the loo went red the morning after passing the last pump-out facility en route... Is this Sods Law in operation?

In all respects the loo works, we cannot see how a cassette system can be fitted without destroying a perfectly good shower room, neither of us are keen on the separation system that is a 'compost' toilet and an incinerator option is a hungry gas user so, the loo stays.   Joe has fitted a new non return valve, don't ask...but there was an incident.  This week Joe has been fitting a tank gauge so no more surprises and hopefully no more use of the low-to-the-ground Porta-Potti that is less than kind to creeking knees!

The product, a Gobius level indicator. Works like sonar sending a pulse and depending on how long it takes to read depends on the level of the tank.

Chaos reigns

Two sensors fitted, half full, three quarters full

The lower sensor on the side of the holding tank


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