MacGregorSailors.com

Where does the sanitiser go and how much Do I dilute it with water

Dometic 962/964

Admiral says to put sanitiser in bottom tank (straight, not added to water)

Kind Rgds
Dave
Mac 26M

It took me a few years to get this one right. When I put deodorant in my PP, I mistakenly used the formula for a holding tank, which works out to a capful or something, for a 5 gallon PP.

After reading the directions (!!) I found out you were supposed to use 4 fl ounces (half a can) for a PP.

This worked a lot better wrt smells!!

On two occasions I have a small leak from the bottom unit of my porta potti when using deodorant. I think the pressure built up from decomposing overnight and was forced out through the sealed cap at the back bottom.
The deodorant makes more of a mess than the stuff inside.

Phil M

Typically 1/2 a bottle in the bottom tank with just a shot or two of water from the flushing tank. This works well in our 6 gallon holding tank version. You might use less if you have the smaller 2 gallon models.

We also find there is certainly a difference in the deodorant choices.

The standard stuff, usually with the blue lids works well.



The "Natural" stuff with the green lid doesn't do nearly as good a job.

We just had to replace our holding tank ( the bottom piece ) because it was not supported on all 4 corners and had created a split about an inch long on the bottom and at first it leaked a little then when it got full and the weather got hot about 3 weeks ago it leaked a lot more and I happened to be moored in Seattle (for the boat show) within walking distance of the bussiness who sold our tank origionally and bought a new bottom tank ( $ 80.00 ). The new tank leaked around the threads on cap untill I discovered a rough edge around the opening that I cleaned upwith a sharp knife and turned the rubber seal around to a new surface and it seals good now, I tried it with clean water in our tub at home totaly full of hot water untill it stopped leaking. I had to trim out about 2.5 inches of carpet behind the pottie because of the smell and not beeing able to clean it, now if it leakes the little trough behind tank can be wiped up. I now need to make a wooden support for the front of the holding tank so the cracking will not happen again, I hope. A real mess and stinky too. I am not sure why MacGregor does not shape ther inside liner to fully support these potties on all 4 corners since almost all of them use simular tanks.

Unfortunately these tanks just aren't made that well. You almost have to think of them as consumables and plan to replace them every 3 - 5 years. We had a SeaLand brand one crack after about 5 years and that is in our X which has a complete full fiberglass pan for the floor of the head. At least when something happens in an X it is all contained in the pan and is easy to clean up.

Our current Thetford brand one is nice because it's tank is 6.1 gallons, but it has problems at times with the seal between the top and bottom parts. I may get a Dometic one next season as they seem to be the best built ones I've found. The SeaLand ones seem to be built the lightest.

Duane Dunn, Allegro wrote: I may get a Dometic one next season as they seem to be the best built ones I've found. The SeaLand ones seem to be built the lightest.

The one with the pressure button pump? I need a new one and am seriously looking at this one:


As for treatment for the toilet water . Every time somebody goes he or she puts a cap full of pine sol in and it worked perfectly all this season..
Q1

Last year we used this blue liquid stuff we got at Wallyworld. It seemed to work fine as directed, but the blue dye stained anything it touched or spilled onto. I think it was a couple of ounces into the bottom tank.
This year we tried these dry packets. They seemed to work well and kept odors down, but I'm not sure which smell was worse. I think they are meant for a holding tank and was way overkill for a little 2 gal porta potty.

--Russ

tried both dry pouches and liquid blue stuff from the wally as well this year... citrus pouches were good, I didn't do it by the books. added 2 pouches in top tank, and 2 below... Seems like I'd use the toilet 3-4 times (numero 1 only) and leave it for a week or so... gross I know but it's a pain to empty, pouches smelled like pee pee when you got back on the boat, I'd add a few to the tank and it was fine. Ended up being a waist of money in my eyes

Blue wallyworld crap (it said something about the portapottie/ RV crapper), add a few ounces to both, kept the smell to nothing, only thing is that it would turn to purple on the top tank after a few days, no big deal though but I do admit I'd add a splash because i like the blue. There was number 1 and 2 unleashed on the blue and it was handled well, black beans and corn excluded!

happy dumping!


** I didn't have the blue staining probs Russ did

That is the unit I am looking at. Not inexpensive, but very well made.

The blue stuff is the best, much better than the green stuff as I mentioned.

You do have to pour it in carefully. If you read the instructions you will see it says to put it in the tank before you assemble the unit so you don't get any on the bowl or the valve.

You should not put any in the top tank. There should just be water only in that tank. You only need the chemical in the holding tank and you don't want the blue stuff in the bowl where it will stain. You want just nice clean clean water in the bowl when you fill it a bit for #2.

Dometic 970 series, around $140.00

Duane Dunn, Allegro wrote:You do have to pour it in carefully. If you read the instructions you will see it says to put it in the tank before you assemble the unit so you don't get any on the bowl or the valve.

I believe that's to avoid damaging the valve seal. Also to avoid getting on your fingers and staining them as I did.

Captain Steve wrote:Dometic 970 series, around $140.00

That's what I'm expecting under the Xmas tree this Xmas. The 974 MSD model.
Q1

Next time I equip a boat, it won't be with another porta potti - - - it will be a holding tank with pumpout - - - FOR SURE!!!!

Rick Less

pokerrick1 wrote:Next time I equip a boat, it won't be with another porta potti - - - it will be a holding tank with pumpout - - - FOR SURE!!!!

Rick Less

Dometic 711 fits in the head of an X; one-piece, china bowl on top of a 9.5-gallon holding tank. (That might be enough used beer for a weekend.) Almost as easy to install as a porta-potty. Defender has them for a bit more than $400 ...