I wonder why you used the term "Porta Pottie" when you seem to be asking about an on-board head.
They are not the same thing.
I always had a portable pottie and a large poncho that I took aboard my center console boats when children or ladies would be aboard for more than an hour or so.
I don't see why you couldn't do the same if you really liked a boat that had no head.
For those who use a PP on an open deck boat or at a campsite, this product might be useful. They are commonly used for remote photo shoots with models, but are easily used for other purposes. The only drawback to them that I can see for use on a boat, is that they are very light and might want to blow over in a breeze.
All the big lakes around here have floating public facilities throughout the lake. On the smaller lakes you are always close enough to go back to a land facility. I guess I could see having a PP if I was camping on shore, but I will always default to public facilities before having to clean a PP.
In these parts of the country, if you go into the woods, no big deal. Go overboard in the water and its a hefty fine. The women rangers with their high power glasses are checking you out, so do your duty or put on a show It will still cost you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,of course they have to catch you first.
BTW, raised my kids on the boat as they grew up. There was always a PP onboard for their needs.
I'm still laughing. When I saw that picture of TD's sister hanging off the bow ladder of his deck boat with the fishing pole laying close by on the starboard bow cushions, I thought it looked like she had just been hooked and reeled in. I hope she was a keeper!
JB: You raise a good point. What I'm really interested in is whether I should be looking at deck boats or bowriders with a little compartment that either has a built in marine head or has room to put in a portable toilet. (I'm not familiar with the various toilet options, so the latter might not even really be an option.)
I know my wife and daughters would not use a can or go on a portable toilet in the open, even with someone holding a poncho or other makeshift curtain around them.
the deckboat and the bowrider, usually have the same amount of space for the head. the is the port a potty, then there is the built in marine toilet, that uses a water supply to flush, and a holding tank, to collect the deposits. which then has to be pumped out. similar to a motor home. the built in add a good $ to the price of the boat, and something else to break.
A guy I knew had a 25' Bayliner center console that had a portapotty INSIDE the console. A fishing machine with a head that provided privacy. Good stuff.
I vote for it. It might be a hassle to empty it, but its a bigger hassle to get to a good spot, anchor, crack open a beer, and then...
"I have to go"
"#1 or #2?"
"#2"
Pull anchor, put the beer down, and go back to the marina...
This is an old thread, but I will report based on what I ended up buying and experiences with the boat so far. I bought a Four Winns 224 with a head. The very first time out with the boat, my 10 year had to go no.2 desperately maybe 20 minutes into the trip with no restroom alternatives close. Everyone in the family has now used the onboard head at one time or another, despite my pleas for everyone to go before we get on the boat (didn't follow my own plea one time :redface. I guess just more evidence of how a boat brings everyone together.
We wanted a porta-pottie on ours, but I couldn't find a boat that would fit in my garage with one. I use the bailing bucket though...hehe...and wash it out with bleach when I return. I hate doing it, but our lake is very small, and I just can't bring myself to do a #1 into it.
Our next boat will be a pocket cruiser (which we looked at) once the truck is paid off.
When I told my wife I was interested in a different pontoon boat, the first words were "Does it have one of those change rooms we can use for the porta potty?" We boat on three very large connected lakes and facilities are sparse. We kept the PP from our retired Volkswagen Westfalia camper. Should be a hit with wife, kids and grandkids.