Universal Comfort Station  
by Harold Duffield - Florissant, Missouri - USA
https://www.oneuglyboat.com/

How About some pottie talk. What and where to “go” when nature calls is a problem faced by all boaters who spend more than a few hours on the water. This is especially true if you have women and children on board. The choice is almost always- go over the side, or go into shore where there are “facilities” available. You may be comfortable going over the side, but I don’t think Mamma or aunt Jane are going to think that’s an option. The days of “bucket and chuck it” are gone from most lakes and rivers.

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What and where to “go” when nature calls is a problem faced by all boaters who spend more than a few hours on the water.

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Hopefully the comfort station seat can solve this universal boating problem. The comfort station is designed to be installed between the seats on a john boat, or to replace one of the existing seats on a pontoon boat. For john boat use, the comfort station can be installed fore and aft between the existing seats. The unit’s dimensions can be adjusted to fit your particular boat. Once installed, the unit can be used as a seat until needed as a toilet or cool down shower.

It should take less than 2-3 minutes to open the unit and snap on the privacy curtain. Once opened, the comfort station can be left in the open position if you are anchored or slow motoring your boat.

The porta-pot used can be anything you want. There are a number of very affordable units available on the internet, or at your local boating supply store.

For those wanting to make a buck from your boating activity, extra income can be earned by making and installing the comfort stations on boats in your market area. The main fabricated metal component kits can be purchased from OneUglyBoat. The wood working required can be done in your home shop.

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The comfort station is designed to be installed between the seats on a john boat, or to replace one of the existing seats on a pontoon boat.

The comfort station can be left in the semi-up position while underway by using it as a shaded seat for comfort from the sun or rain. When the need to use the Porta-Pot arises, the main upper riser frame and enclosure can be raised. The seat cushions can include special marine foam that will not retain water in the event they get wet from rain or spray.

The plans for the comfort station include instructions on how to make the privacy curtain and the 3” foam seat cushion. We can provide these items if you don’t want to tackle the sewing and fabrication. However, anyone with a home sewing machine can easily handle both items. If you make your cushion covers we can provide the special marine foam for the cushions.

If you are building the comfort station from a set of plans, you can purchase the comfort station components that are not easily made in your shop from UglyBoat. These items include the aluminum square and round pipe components, and the hardware for the canopy pipes.

Building the comfort station for your boat should be doable over a couple of weekends without much strain by any experienced amateur wood worker.

We can give you a complete kit package that includes all the components and hardware needed to assemble the comfort station. All you need to do is bolt it together. However, the cost of this complete kit reflects labor and profit to fabricate and ship the parts. You can save this shop cost by purchasing and cutting the wood components yourself. The cost of the complete kit will be computed based on your individual requirements.

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The plans for the comfort station include instructions on how to make the privacy curtain and the 3” foam seat cushion.

The overall size of the comfort station can be adjusted to fit either the space in which the comfort station will sit, or to the size of the “sit” that will be using the unit. We can custom make the riser frame and end frame to fit your personal bottom line requirements. On boats where space is a problem, it can be made to exactly fit your foot- print. My suggestion is to make the comfort station “comfortable”

A standard size takes an overall foot print of 30” x 42” with the canopy opened for use. These dimensions can be adjusted if you need a smaller unit. If you want to install a marine head with a holding tank for waste, there will be little adjustment to the comfort station.

The complete unit can be folded for transport or for placement of your current boat cover. The folded down unit requires a forward space of 38” from the back of the unit to the forward most part.

The hardware including the frames for the enclosure canopy is included with the comfort station kit. The only items you will need to purchase will be the wood for the base box, and the fabric for the privacy curtain and cushions.

The wood can be ½” plywood for the box, and ¾” plywood for the lid. You may choose to cover the base box with fabric to match your current seats. We can assist with this purchase through our current fabric vendors.

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A standard size takes an overall foot print of 30” x 42” with the canopy opened for use. These dimensions can be adjusted if you need a smaller unit.

Construction of the base box should take about 6-8 man hours for an experienced wood worker. The corner construction can be fiberglass tape for a water tight joint, or standard corner blocks with glued joints. Consideration should be given to the possibility of spillage in the box, and clean up of that spillage. If the box is not water tight, the spillage could seep into the area under the box creating a sanitation problem. This potential sanitation problem should also be considered before you cover the box with fabric. The box can be fastened to the railing of a pontoon boat instead of through the bottom for easy removal for cleaning.

There should be enough room inside for some storage in addition to the Porta-Pot. If you want to include a shower pump for the comfort station, this pump cam be located in the base box.

For added information contact Harold at oneuglyboat@hotmail.com or go to the website.

Plans for the Comfort station cost $38 using paypal or $36 using your check.

Lets talk- Harold

About Harold Duffield: - age 67 - grew up on the Mississippi River - was whats known as a "river rat". He has been messing about and building boats for over 50 yrs. Now he is offering plans and kits for fishing boats, shantys, house boats and even sailboats in aluminum as well as finished boats. https://www.oneuglyboat.com/

Other articles by Harold Duffield:

SAILS

EPOXY

GEAR