I FULLY realise that the argument about Elsan or tank will never be settled, but perhaps I will be allowed to voice my own experiences, write Robert Kelson.
I have now had three boats, one cruiser and two narrowboats, with an Elsan in the first and tanks in the last two, and though I managed fairly well with the Elsan, a holding tank already being in the first second-hand narrowboat, I had little choice.
Managed quite well
At the risk of upsetting the Elsan brethren, two of us managed quite well with the tank on a fortnight cruise, simply having it pumped out at the marina before we started, then again when we returned; though it certainly wasn't full we were told, and as the staff at the marina did it for us, there was no 'toilet duty' whatsoever for me—my wife firmly refused to have anything to do with the Elsan disposal!
As we were about to retire onto the narrowboat we were having constructed, and as by then we were firmly of the holding tank brigade we conferred with the builder of having an extra large tank that would last a month, the upshot being that he fitted in the toilet and galley so that there was a good six feet under the two sinks and a cupboard, with the tank built-in using the base plate and two feet wide, and it does easily last a month, in fact about five weeks, with never having to use the canalside toilets.
Always kept working
I have read your contributors various arguments about being stuck in ice, but have not met any, as winters seem to be milder, and neither have I come across broken pump-out facilities, tending to use those in marinas, that are always kept working for their own customers. In winter we have the common sense to make sure the tank does not get really full in the event of problems.
I realise that the tank takes up space, but being on the actual base plate only protrudes about 12 inches, and covered in timber makes an ideal shelf for the sort of stuff that is stored under sinks, so to us does not seem at all intrusive, simply a 'fit and forget' item!
Stoppages
One thing though, we have been caught a number of times in stoppages, other than those listed winter ones that we can allow for, but have had no problems, though stoppages seem to be happening more and more these days—but, as they say, that is another story.