Choosing the right toilet for your boat might not be an exciting shopping experience, but it is important. The amenities you add to your boat can determine how much you and your family will enjoy on the water. For decades, boats have been equipped with toilets that are cheap, difficult to operate, and extremely inconvenient.
Modern marine toilets come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles. There are also many variations in the water sources, controls, and flow controls available. Knowing the right people to select can be a daunting task. Here are five important factors to take into consideration when choosing the right marine toilet for your vessel:
Operation Type
There are three typical types of marine toilets: portable, manual, and electric. You should use portable toilets for boats or when a fixed toilet and water holding tank are not possible.
Portable toilets are the most affordable type of toilet available. They provide an instant, labor-free solution for everyday boaters that don't have a toilet. But the waste tank capacity of portable toilets is small. They don't provide much convenience, they're messy to empty and clean, and they can emit unpleasant odors where other solutions don't.
Manual toilets are generally lighter and less expensive than electric toilets. They are designed for fixed/permanent installations and are connected to a remotely mounted waste holding tank or discharge through the chassis or waste handling system. Most manual toilets use raw water as a source of flushing water (with a few exceptions) and do not require electricity. Manual toilets eliminate the messy cleaning duties that portable devices require, and do not require a power source like electric toilets.
While they are the most expensive type of marine toilet, electric toilets are also more convenient. Like manual toilets, electric toilets empty into a remotely installed waste holding tank, through the structure, and/or waste handling system. They can add more weight to the boat, require an electrical power source, and can sometimes be annoying. One of the most important and prominent differences between manual and electric toilets is ease of cleaning.
Space
One of the crucial factors to consider when choosing a toilet is space. Knowing the specific height, depth, and width available will be a determining factor in choosing your toilet. A portable toilet is your only realistic option if you don't have room for a fixed installation. When comparing stationary toilet models, remember that smaller bowl sizes are often referred to as marine or compact bowls. Larger sized bowls are often called regular, home or comfort bowls. The larger bowl refers to the diameter or size of the toilet seat, but height can also have a fairly significant impact on how you perceive comfort level as well. Taking the time to review all the dimensions provided will help you determine the differences that are most important to you.
Rinse Water Source
Flushing water evacuates liquid waste and rinses the toilet bowl clean. Toilets can use raw water (i.e. sea or lake water) or fresh water (i.e. pressurized fresh water found on board the ship). Some toilets, such as the Raritan SeaFresh series, can utilize two sources of flushing water depending on what is available. Manual toilets typically flush raw water to flush out the waste. The use of raw water eliminates the need for a pressurized fresh water tank and on-board electricity.
Flow Controls
There are a variety of flushing controls available on the market today, especially for electric toilets. Many electric toilets have control panels that allow you to reduce the amount of water used, thus increasing the tank capacity. Some flow controllers feature wireless wall-mounted control pads that allow you to spend less time running wires. Some toilets use a handle similar to a typical household toilet. Manual toilets typically feature some sort of flushing handle. Lever handles are usually easier to use than conventional T-handles.
Other Considerations
With so many brands and models available on the market, there are many toilet features to keep in mind other than those listed above. Some toilets tout low noise. Others feature a soft-close lid and seat (crushed lids and seats are one of our top selling replacement items for toilets). Toilets with larger joker valves typically avoid clogging as much as toilets with smaller check valves do. Some electric toilets have a grinder built into the body of the toilet; others require you to purchase and install the macro pump separately.
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