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Best Marine Toilets Reviewed
The snow has melted and the flowers have bloomed, which means that it’s that time of year, boating season!
We all look forward to those summer afternoons where we can gear up to set sail. There is no better feeling than getting the kids on board, loading up the cooler with cold beverages, and invite a handful of your closest friends and head out on the open water.
Of course, though, most boats don’t have elaborate plumbing systems, and many don’t have any running water to speak of at all. This can make going to the toilet a big challenge for those spending time on the sea. While some may be happy to relieve themselves into the ocean itself, this is a major ecological hazard and something that you should always avoid.
Thankfully, there are loads of the best marine toilets available on the market that can make it much easier to keep yourself comfortable when you’re on the sea.
Choosing the right option for you can take a lot of research and learning, with plenty of different types of boat toilets available on the market for those who spend a lot of time on the water.
This article will be exploring some of the best portable toilets on the market for boat owners, giving you a clear idea of which of the options you have will be best for you. Going through this process will give you the knowledge and information you need to make the right choice when you’re buying the toilet that will be traveling the world with you.
Marine toilets come in loads of shapes and sizes, and the option you choose needs to be the right type for your boat. You can find five of the best portable toilets for boats on the market below, including composting toilets and electrical flushing toilets.
Check Out Our Favorite Marine Toilet
Top Marine Toilet Comparison Chart
Best Marine Toilet
1. Villa 9215 AC/DC
Villa 9215 AC/DC
Carrying an Intertec ETL certification, this toilet is a popular option on the market, offering a wide range of features that other toilets don’t have.
This portable toilet can be plumbed into your sink or an additional water supply, providing you with the ability to flush away waste.
Liquid and solid waste are stored in different compartments, making it much easier to dispose of the waste your family creates. The toilet comes with a waste disposal tank, along with a set of bags that can be used to remove your waste after each trip.
Unlike many other marine composting toilets on the market, the Villa 9215 comes equipped with a fan and ventilation system that helps to dry solid waste and remove odors from the system; ideal for those spending time on a confined boat. Systems like this have been proven to be very effective when it comes to making your toilet smell great.
Wall-mountable and made from polypropylene, this toilet is 100% recyclable and extremely easy to maintain. It comes with everything you need to get started, though it will be worth reading the instructions to make sure that you install it correctly.
2. Jabsco 37010 12 Volt
Jabsco 37010 12 Volt
Suitable for both salt and fresh water, this toilet is able to provide liquid flushing without the need for a reservoir or additional water supply.
A 12-volt pump comes with this portable toilet, providing you with the ability to pump water from the lake or ocean that you’re spending time on to enable you to flush away waste.
This toilet doesn’t come with its own waste disposal tank, but you can choose to either outboard your waste or add your own tank if you would like to dispose of it separately.
Many of the portable marine toilets on the market are designed to be compact, making them too small to be comfortable for larger users. This option has been made to eliminate this issue, with a seat that is just as large as the toilet you have at home. Thanks to the powerful pump included with this product, it can be installed 3m above or below the waterline of your boat.
Backflow can be a major concern for toilets that outboard their waste, but this model has been specifically designed to eliminate this issue. This means that, once you have it installed, you can use this toilet just like the one you have at home.
3. Nature’s Head Composting Toilet
Nature’s Head Composting Toilet
With capacity for as much as 4 to 5 weeks waste from two people, this portable toilet is excellent for long journeys.
Like many of the composting toilets on the market, this option separates urine and solid waste, making it much easier to empty the holding tank without having to deal with solid waste each time. The urine tank can be found at the front of this toilet, making it very easy to empty without having to open the main tank.
Having been designed specifically for the marine environment, this portable toilet is made from incredibly hardy materials. Stainless steel is used for each of the components, while the tank and body of the toilet are made from strong plastic. This ensures that your toilet will last for years to come on both land and sea.
Like other marine toilets, this option comes with a built-in fan to dry waste and remove odors. This ensures that bacteria doesn’t spread in your toilet, while also preparing solid waste to be composted.
4. TMC Marine Electric Toilet
TMC Marine Electric Toilet
With a china bowl that fits a standard toilet seat, this option is ideal for those who want to enjoy the same toilet experience they have at home. An easy on-off switch is included for the built-in self-priming flush.
This toilet comes with a 12-volt pump that can be attached to a macerator, tank, or outboard pipe, giving you loads of flexibility when it comes to installing and using it. Alongside this, the toilet can also draw water in from the ocean or lake that you are using your boat on, saving the need for a reservoir or tank onboard.
Having your waste dealt with right away means that you don’t have to worry about storing it on board, though this also means that you need to provide power to the toilet. The whole system comes pre-wired, making it very easy to hook it up to your power and water supplies before you get started.
This toilet is designed to be bolted to the floor in your boat, making it incredibly secure during use. Alongside this, both AC and DC power supplies can be used, making it possible to hook the toilet up to the mains or a battery pack.
5. Jabsco Twist n’ Lock
Jabsco Twist n’ Lock
Fitted with a manual pump for flushing, this toilet doesn’t need a power supply, making it ideal for those who don’t want to add additional costs to their marine toilet.
The simple mechanism that drives the flush in this toilet has been on the market for a long time.
The intelligent design of the pump has made it popular for both leisure boating and commercial boating alike, and the entire design has been created with flexibility in mind.
The pump can be installed on either side of the toilet, making it easier to fit the whole unit into the restricted space on your boat.
Like many of the other toilets on this list, this option can draw water from the ocean or lake that you are using your boat on. It can also flush waste outboard or into a tank on your boat.
You don’t have to worry about seawater ruining this toilet, as the whole product is made from corrosion-resistant materials.
Despite the low price of this unit, many users report that it lasts for a very long time compared to other marine toilets. Not only does this improve its value, but it also means that you will be able to spend more time enjoying your boat.
Top Marine Toilet Features To Consider
There are a lot of marine toilets available on the market, but you can often tell which ones will offer the best results by simply looking at their features.
We’ve collected a range of the most important features of a quality portable toilet below, giving you the chance to get a head start when you’re shopping for a head for your boat.
Integrated Fans
Having a built-in fan can make it much easier to reduce the small from your marine toilet, along with providing an easy way to dry waste. Many compositing toilets contain a fan, and this is particularly useful when you are storing your waste but don’t want to deal with the odor that comes with it.
Liquid Separation
Dealing with liquid and solid waste in the same container can be very messy. Compost will only be viable if urine is removed from your waste, and this makes it worth looking for marine toilets that contain a filtering system to separate different types of waste.
Self-Priming Flushes
Not all marine toilets come with flushes, though it’s always worth looking for self-priming capabilities on those that do. This will save you from having to manually pump your flush each time you want to use the toilet, while also offering more power than a manual pump.
Odor-Free Designs
Being able to smell a toilet in the cramped conditions of a boat can be horrible. While this is unavoidable to some extent, some marine toilets are very good at hiding the smells that your waste produces. You should always look for portable toilets that have good reviews for their odor management when you’re looking for products like this.
Robust Designs
Installing a head on your boat can be a tricky process, and this is something that you will want to do as little as possible. Toilets that are robust should always be picked when you’re looking for products like this, ensuring that they last for as long as possible. Alongside this, it also makes sense to look for corrosion-resistant materials.
Comfortable Seats
No one likes sitting on a toilet that is too small, low, or uncomfortable. Many marine toilets have been designed with comfort in mind, and this is something to look out for when you’re reading reviews. Some will even be made to fit standard toilet seats, and this is ideal when you want to add your own touch to your marine toilet.
Flexible Power
Many modern marine toilets come with pumps that can be operated with electricity. This makes it possible to flush without having to pump manually, but only if you have the right type of power supply. Some marine toilets can operate on both AC and DC power, making them ideal for use with batteries or mains power.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, choosing the right marine toilet for you can take a lot of research. All of the products in this article have been picked to make sure that they offer the best results, whether you’re on the ocean or in fresh water.
Of course, though, it always makes sense to do research for yourself when you’re choosing a product like this, along with considering the features of your specific boat.