You can’t help it; you can spend all day on your pontoon boat and not even realize the time. It’s only when you see the sun is setting that you realized a whole day has gone by already. In that time, nature will certainly call. Can you answer the call (aka go to the bathroom) on a pontoon boat?
So, do pontoon boats have bathrooms? Some pontoon boats have bathrooms, but not all. The larger your pontoon boat, the greater the expectation there will be a bathroom on board. This isn’t a guarantee, so always ask before buying a boat.
If you’re in the phase where you’re browsing around for pontoon boats but haven’t bought one yet, you’re going to want to find one with a bathroom. In this article, we’ll tell you which models have this elusive feature. For those who already bought a pontoon boat without a bathroom, we’ll also share some handy DIY solutions.
Which Pontoon Boat Models Have Bathrooms?
Let’s start with pontoon boat models that include a toilet. As we talked about in the intro, only bigger boats tend to come equipped with this feature. That means your pontoon will be quite expensive, so budget or save accordingly.
Harris V270
The Harris V270 from the eponymous boat manufacturer is a tritoon that looks more like a speedboat. In other words, it’s luxurious to the core. With a length of 270 feet, yours will be one of the biggest pontoons on the water.
While you get tons of posh features in this boat, let’s talk about the bathroom. Not only is there a toilet, but a shower as well. Don’t get too spoiled; these kinds of accommodations are rare. The shower and accompanying sink come with their own hot water tank so you don’t even have to take a cold shower.
The marine head toilet has a pump-out and a privacy chamber so no one sees you do your business.
Southland Pontoon Boats Hybrid Recreational Vessel (HRV)
Okay, admittedly, the HRV from Southland Pontoon Boats is like living in a mini apartment on the seas. Not only is there a bathroom, but you get a shower, sleeping quarters, a dining room, and even an impressively large kitchen.
This is definitely a complete rarity. If you’re one of those people who never wants to leave your boat, now you might not have to. Just know that this is again a big boat, as the HRV weights 5,000 pounds. As a double-decker, it has an impressive exterior and an even better interior.
What Can You Do if Your Pontoon Boat Doesn’t Have a Bathroom?
Pontoon boats with a toilet are like a unicorn: few people have ever come across one. In fact, bathrooms are such an infrequent feature on pontoons that you might have assumed that none of these boats have them.
We did a lot of research and only came up with the short list of pontoons with bathrooms we just shared. While there are tons of great pontoon boats out there with a lot of awesome amenities, bathrooms typically aren’t one of them.
What do you do when you or another passenger has gotta go? You have three options. 1.) Keep your rides short, like an hour or two, tops. This is kind of boring. 2.) Go back to shore/dock whenever someone has a bathroom request. This sucks up a lot of gas unnecessarily. 3.) Invest in a portable bathroom.
We like the third option best, and we’re sure it sounds pretty good to you, too. In this section, we’ll cover all the portable options you can take advantage of to make your own pontoon boat bathroom.
Camco Premium Portable Travel Toilet
Camco is one of the premier names in portable toilets, so you can’t go wrong with this one. Highly-rated on Amazon, this potty can be used on boats, RVs, and other camping scenarios.
You get two sizes to choose from: a 2.6-gallon model or one with 5.3 gallons. If you have a few passengers, the 2.6-gallon toilet ought to suffice, as it has a flush tank that’s 3.75 gallons. For bigger pontoons, invest in the 5.3-gallon potty.
The smaller toilet is 16 inches deep, 14 inches wide, and 11.5 inches high. The 5.3-gallon version has a 13-inch toilet seat. It’s 16 inches deep, 14 inches wide, and 15.5 inches high.
No matter which size toilet you choose, this Camco potty has a bellow flush and durable side latches. These hold the toilet and the tank together. There are also sealing slide valve locks designed to keep leaks and odors away.
Palm Springs Portable Outdoor Toilet
Another highly-rated porta-potty comes from Palm Springs. This is an Amazon’s Choice product.
While you only get one size to choose from, this Palm Springs potty weighs less than 10 pounds. It has a depth of 12 inches, a width of 13.5 inches, and a height of 16.5 inches. It comes assembled so you can pull it out of the box and begin using it on your pontoon boat immediately.
The entire toilet is made of polyethylene that’s a single piece. That means leaks are a lot less likely. The wastewater holding tank is a generous five gallons while the toilet’s freshwater tank is three gallons.
The toilet lid is matte so even if it gets scratched, you’ll barely be able to tell. If you use a residential toilet back home, this one flushes in much the same fashion.
Thetford Porta Potti
Our last pick for portable toilets is this highly-rated Porta Potti. Available in sleek gray or bright white, the toilet is designed to be leakproof and prevent odors. This is due to the pour-out spout. It rotates as you drain the wastewater tank, preventing spills and any splashing. There’s also a sealed valve that will hold odors in tight.
You could even get a hold-down kit that will keep the toilet from moving as you ride in your pontoon boat.
With a convenient carrying handle and curvy design, this toilet is easy to handle. It flushes via a battery and has a large bowl for your comfort and use. The wastewater tank is 5.5 gallons while the freshwater tank is four gallons.
Caver Industries Universal Bimini Top Adjustable Privacy Curtain
While some pontoon boats have nooks that are perfect for a portable toilet, no one wants to go out in the open, right? You’ll need a privacy curtain. This one from Caver Industries is meant to attach to your boat’s Bimini top.
It’s a wide 60 inches and adheres via durable straps made of polypropylene. The cover is marine-grade polyester reinforced with Poly-Guard. There are also quick-release buckles included for taking the privacy curtain down in a flash.
Northstar Products Inc. Privacy Station
Another privacy station that attaches to your Bimini top is this one from Northstar Products Inc. It comes in several colors to match your pontoon boat décor, including burgundy, tan, gray, green, blue, and black.
This enclosed privacy curtain has a depth of 27 inches, a width of 30 inches, and a length of 72 inches. Once it’s attached to your Bimini top with Velcro loops, you can open and close it with a long zipper.
Ridge Outdoor Gear Pop-up Privacy Tent
If you like the enclosed options, then check out this pop-up privacy tent from Ridge Outdoor Gear. Intended for those who are six feet, five inches or shorter, this tent is made completely of nylon. It’s waterproof, so if you get it wet while showering, that’s okay.
Since this privacy tent is collapsible, you can easily and quickly erect it and then take it down with a series of metal rods. It can be used for changing clothes, showering, and using the toilet. The interior includes many handy amenities, such as a lamp hook, a toilet paper holder, an inner pocket, and a clothesline or towel holder.
A mesh panel will keep breathability a top priority, even if you’re taking a warm shower. The panel also keeps the tent well-ventilated so mold and mildew don’t grow. Make sure you secure the tent with the stakes, ropes, and sandbags that are included. You even get a carry bag!
What about Porta-Potty Toilet Paper?
Let’s circle back around and talk about portable toilets again for a moment, shall we? While you might bring the same toilet paper you’d use at home for these potties, that’s not always best. Portable toilets are not like home toilets. They are a lot more fragile.
For that reason, you want to be careful about which toilet paper brands you use. You can’t go wrong with Thetford’s Aqua-Soft Toilet Tissue, which is designed for boats, RVs, and the like. This will break down quickly so it doesn’t get backed up in the blackwater or freshwater holding tanks.
Trust us when we say a portable toilet clog isn’t pretty. Luckily, they’re also easily preventable.
Conclusion
Few pontoon boats on the market include a bathroom – most are probably categorized as a luxury pontoon boat. Those that do tend to come with both a toilet and a shower, but these are rarities. Instead, you should buy your own portable toilets and privacy curtains so you can answer the call of nature in the middle of those fun days on the water.
