How do you choose the right equipment for your boat? {[Illustration of how the deck pumpout system works.]}

{[a warning sign]} Caution: Before making your final equipment selections, read the section on "Installation Tips." Installation considerations may affect specific equipment choices.

Toilets

The type of toilet selected depends largely on the boat's size and electrical power supply as well as the owner's budget.

Caution: Seacocks at seawater intake and overboard discharge through-hulls should be closed whenever the boat is not in use...regardless of the type of toilet selected.

Manually Operated Toilets

Advantages:

• Not dependent on power source.
• Dependable operation.
• Relative ease of installation.
• Relatively low equipment and maintenance costs.

Disadvantages:

• Users must flush the waste from the bowl using a manual pump.

Electric Toilets

Advantages:

• Ease of use.
• Typically macerate solid wastes, reducing the possibility of clogged waste lines.
• Macerated solid wastes are more effectively treated by disinfectants and deodorants.
• Relatively easy to interface with a Type I or II MSD for automatic treatment.

Disadvantages:

• Rely on electric power for flushing action. Manual backup, if provided, will permit system use if power is depleted or there is a malfunction.
• More complex to install; higher cost.

Vacuum Toilets

Advantages:

• Ease of use.
• Typically use less than a quart of water per flush, a real benefit for optimizing holding tank capacity.

Disadvantages:

• Require electricity to operate.

While seawater is most often used for flushing, some electric and vacuum systems recommend fresh water.

Caution: Flush water plumbing must be arranged to prevent contamination of the boat's portable fresh water supply (refer to ABYC standard H-23, Installation of Potable Water System).

 Equipment Selection Continued

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Content Last Updated on October 3, 2019.