Marine toilet on pontoon

[jeffvan1]

8x24 Pontoon I'm converting into a house boat. First problem!! Where to install the waste holding tank ???? Solution. Two 8ft 6" pvc pipes mounted under the deck (one port / one starboard). Holds 23.3 gallons. both capped at one end and the other ends Fernco reducers to 4" pipes. 4" elbows to mate both 6" tubes. T-connector in center of 4" pipe and Fernco reducer to 3 inch pipe. This is also reduced to 1 1/2" which ties in to shower/sink/toilet drains (and vent pipe). ran a 1 1/2" length to thru deck fitting for pump out. Also have a 3/4" Y-Connector with hoses attached. One end of hose goes into pump-out, other to garden hose and third to clean out drain in front of my house. Turn on the water and the flow causes a vacuum (sic) in the pump-out line and drains the system. Whole system cost $165.00. Cheaper than the cost of a 25 gallon waste tank which is about $250.00.

 

[calvinator]

Re: Marine toilet on pontoon

All for the innovation.....

But every marina I've rented a slip at says the sanitary system must meet some Coast Guard standards or the marina will not service. Could also open you up for a citation from whoever patrols your waters.

But maybe you are on a private lake or something that is not patroled. And it sounds like you'll pump out at your home.

Just know there are Coast Guard regulations for marine sanitary systems that could hang you up in the future.

And for the houseboat idea, there is another thread on iBoats about someone who converted pontoon to houseboat. It didn't go so well... the guys pontoons were 19" types and all the weight from walls/roof submerged the toons. He was using lightweight stuff too -- like plastic sheet walls (used for bathrooms/showers) for the enclosure. It just was too much for the 19" toons.

Just an option to consider..... Maybe a nice tent on the front part of the deck ? I see a few people do that on my lake. Seems functional and easy up/down.

There is another guy at my lake who has a party tent mounted on his toon year round. It has tubular frame to handle the wind/rain. Inside he has some Husky cabinents for storage and a sink.

If you have a hard top on your pontoon, a canvas enclosure is pretty popular.

Just thinking of some options.... may not work for you, but really check into the weight associated with framing walls/roof and if your toons are the right size.

Keep us posted !

 

[ahicks]

Re: Marine toilet on pontoon

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking USCG won't care what it looks like. They just want assurance nothing is going overboard? That the tank MUST be pumped out to empty?

 

[jeffvan1]

Re: Marine toilet on pontoon

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking USCG won't care what it looks like. They just want assurance nothing is going overboard? That the tank MUST be pumped out to empty?

I don't know. All I know is that the pipes are under the deck and midships on the port and starboard side. You can't even see them unless your in the water looking under the deck.

 

[jeffvan1]

Re: Marine toilet on pontoon

All for the innovation.....

But every marina I've rented a slip at says the sanitary system must meet some Coast Guard standards or the marina will not service. Could also open you up for a citation from whoever patrols your waters.

But maybe you are on a private lake or something that is not patroled. And it sounds like you'll pump out at your home.

Just know there are Coast Guard regulations for marine sanitary systems that could hang you up in the future.

And for the houseboat idea, there is another thread on iBoats about someone who converted pontoon to houseboat. It didn't go so well... the guys pontoons were 19" types and all the weight from walls/roof submerged the toons. He was using lightweight stuff too -- like plastic sheet walls (used for bathrooms/showers) for the enclosure. It just was too much for the 19" toons.

Just an option to consider..... Maybe a nice tent on the front part of the deck ? I see a few people do that on my lake. Seems functional and easy up/down.

There is another guy at my lake who has a party tent mounted on his toon year round. It has tubular frame to handle the wind/rain. Inside he has some Husky cabinents for storage and a sink.

If you have a hard top on your pontoon, a canvas enclosure is pretty popular.

Just thinking of some options.... may not work for you, but really check into the weight associated with framing walls/roof and if your toons are the right size.

Keep us posted !

I wouldn't even entertain the idea of building on 19 inch pontoons. Mine are 24 inches x 24 ft and are capable of holding 2100 lbs. The trick is think "light" and rigid when choosing your building materials. Metal studs are best for framing and even though their not load bearing, if you run your roof studs at 2 ft intervals with stringers at 2 ft, they'll readily support 1/4 inch plywood. As far as the interior walls, mine will be made of paper and cardboard and a 1/8th thick 4X8 panel weighs in at just over 6 lbs. Now at face value this may sound crazy but I have developed a method of paper-mache that involves using laquer and joint compound (trade secret) that is extremely both extremely rigid, lightweight and most importantly, waterproof. Take a look at this 18 lb. bench I created and is used OUTDOORS. I can stand on this (185 lbs) and the flexing is less than 1/8th inch when supporting my weight.

 

[Capt Sully]

Re: Marine toilet on pontoon

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking USCG won't care what it looks like. They just want assurance nothing is going overboard? That the tank MUST be pumped out to empty?

Here ya go,

Vessel Requirements:
Vessel Manufacturers: Manufacturers may not sell or distribute vessels having an installed toilet facility unless it is equipped with an installed and operational MSD of the type approved by the U.S. Coast Guard to meet the requirements of 33 CFR Part 159. The term vessel includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on the waters of the United States.

Vessel Operators: No person may operate any Vessel having an installed toilet facility unless it is equipped with an installed and operable MSD of a type approved by the U.S. Coast Guard to meet the requirements of 33 CFR Part 159.

Approved MSDs: There are three different types of MSDs that can be certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to meet the requirements in 33 CFR Part 159, each having its own design, certification, and discharge criteria. For more information see 33 CFR 159.53.

Type I is a flow through discharge device that produces effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 1,000 per 100 milliliters and no visible floating solids. This type of device is typically a physical/chemical based system that relies on maceration and chlorination. Type I MSDs are issued a Certificate of Approval.
Type II is a flow through discharge device that produces effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 200 per 100 milliliters and suspended solids not greater than 150 milligrams per liter. This type of device is typically a biological or aerobic digestion based system.
Type III is a device that prevents the overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage or any waste derived from sewage. This type of device is typically a holding tank and may include other types of technology including incineration, recirculation, and composting.
Inspected Vessels: In addition to the MSD requirements in 33 CFR Part 159, inspected vessels must also comply with the marine engineering regulations in 46 CFR Subchapter F and the marine electrical regulations in 46 CFR Subchapter J. The U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Approval and device label will both indicate inspected vessel for those devices that meet these additional requirements and therefore are suitable for installation onboard inspected vessels. For more information see 33 CFR 159.97.

 

[jeffvan1]

Re: Marine toilet on pontoon

That's accurate, but its also misleading. The type of system I described would qualify as a type III MSD. Now anyone who has a holding tank, porta potty, bladder, examine it and look for the Coast Guard certification. You won't find any and for good reason, Holding tanks are considered automatically certified under a clause in the Coast Guard regulations if they only store sewage and flush water at ambient temperatures, and therefore will not have a certification label attached. This definition makes it legal, though not advisable, to store sewage in any container, whether or not the container is suitable for that use.





Here ya go,

Vessel Requirements:
Vessel Manufacturers: Manufacturers may not sell or distribute vessels having an installed toilet facility unless it is equipped with an installed and operational MSD of the type approved by the U.S. Coast Guard to meet the requirements of 33 CFR Part 159. The term vessel includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on the waters of the United States.

Vessel Operators: No person may operate any Vessel having an installed toilet facility unless it is equipped with an installed and operable MSD of a type approved by the U.S. Coast Guard to meet the requirements of 33 CFR Part 159.

Approved MSDs: There are three different types of MSDs that can be certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to meet the requirements in 33 CFR Part 159, each having its own design, certification, and discharge criteria. For more information see 33 CFR 159.53.

Type I is a flow through discharge device that produces effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 1,000 per 100 milliliters and no visible floating solids. This type of device is typically a physical/chemical based system that relies on maceration and chlorination. Type I MSDs are issued a Certificate of Approval.
Type II is a flow through discharge device that produces effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 200 per 100 milliliters and suspended solids not greater than 150 milligrams per liter. This type of device is typically a biological or aerobic digestion based system.
Type III is a device that prevents the overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage or any waste derived from sewage. This type of device is typically a holding tank and may include other types of technology including incineration, recirculation, and composting.
Inspected Vessels: In addition to the MSD requirements in 33 CFR Part 159, inspected vessels must also comply with the marine engineering regulations in 46 CFR Subchapter F and the marine electrical regulations in 46 CFR Subchapter J. The U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Approval and device label will both indicate inspected vessel for those devices that meet these additional requirements and therefore are suitable for installation onboard inspected vessels. For more information see 33 CFR 159.97.[/QUOTE]