Reliable, compact, electric-powered marine sanitation systems support multiple yacht renovations for specialty contractor

Problem

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE — Charles Moore is a Knoxville-based general contractor and businessman with decades of experience leading large-scale projects and consulting work. A graduate of the University of Tennessee with an MBA from Vanderbilt, Moore has built and sold companies, worked with major national clients, and spent the past 15 years in consulting.

In recent years, he has turned his attention to restoring older yachts into fully livable vessels, focusing on the practical systems required to support long-term, liveaboard use.

Moore is currently filming a television series titled Why Yacht Remodel, which documents the renovation of older yachts into functional liveaboard spaces. The goal of the project is to show how people can create comfortable, long-term living environments on the water at a fraction of the cost of traditional waterfront homes or condos. Moore often describes this approach as an “untethered lifestyle,” one that allows owners to retain mobility and flexibility while maintaining control over housing costs.

As part of this work, Moore evaluates and recommends marine products that can be installed consistently across multiple boats and perform reliably under real-world conditions.

Within this context, Moore prioritizes consistency, reliability, and serviceability across every system installed on board. Marine sanitation, in particular, requires careful consideration due to limited space, complex plumbing routes, and the expectation that systems will perform reliably under frequent, year-round use.

Moore recently oversaw renovations across five yachts of varying sizes and layouts, including a 53-foot Coastal Blue Water yacht and a 44-foot Sea Ray aft cabin. These vessels featured a mix of traditional marine heads and wet head configurations, with bathrooms located in confined spaces and plumbing runs extending 20 to 30 feet to blackwater holding tanks or treatment systems. Each installation required a toilet system capable of handling these long discharge distances while fitting cleanly within existing layouts.

“If I’m going to put the same system on more than one boat, I need to know it’s reliable and supported,” Moore says.

Beyond physical constraints, Moore also needed a solution he could specify repeatedly across multiple boats without introducing unnecessary risk. For multi-vessel projects, reliable manufacturer support and a competitive price point are critical. Any delays caused by difficult installations, inconsistent performance, or slow technical assistance can increase labor costs and disrupt renovation schedules.

“Time is money, especially on marine installs,” Moore explains. “If we’re in the middle of an install and something comes up, we need someone we can call immediately.”

Product Profile: Sanimarin 4

The electrically powered Sanimarin 4 marine toilet system can handle waste on marine vessels and recreational vehicles, delivering the ideal compromise between comfort and practicality for these highly specialized applications.

The macerating system’s powerful stainless steel blade quickly reduces waste and toilet paper flushed by the toilet, while its built-in pump ensures the smooth and efficient removal of this effluent.

The system can pump up to 10 feet vertically or 100 feet horizontally through a 1” or 1½” plastic discharge line, but does so with a quiet acoustic pressure of only 52 dB(A).

Offering a standard toilet height and weighing 52.5 pounds, the Sanimarin 4 includes a soft-close toilet seat and mounting hardware to facilitate installation.

Other key features:

Unit can use either onboard freshwater (through an integrated solenoid valve) or outside pressurized water for flushing.

Factory installed, non-return valve prevents backflow and maintains hygiene and safety on board.

Unit is available in 12- or 24-volt options.

The system is highly economical, as water and electrical consumption are minimum.

Limited four-year warranty

For more information visit: https://www.sanimarin.com/en-us/our-products/sanimarin-4/

Solution

Moore selected the Saniflo Sanimarin 4 marine toilet system for installation across the five renovated yachts. Designed specifically for marine applications, the Sanimarin 4 offered the combination of performance, installation flexibility, and manufacturer support Moore required.

“Being able to use the same toilet system across different boats makes the renovation process a lot easier,” Moore says.

The electrically powered marine toilet system is designed to handle waste for use on boats and other marine vessels. Its built-in macerator pump quickly and effectively grinds waste and toilet paper, ensuring smooth and efficient waste removal. The system uses a powerful stainless steel macerating blade paired with a built-in pump, helping minimize the overall footprint and simplifying installation in tight marine bathrooms.

The Sanimarin 4 can pump effluent up to 10 feet vertically and 100 feet horizontally, or a combination of both, making it well suited for yachts with extended plumbing runs. The system supports rapid waste removal even when toilets are located far from the holding tank.

To accommodate different vessel setups, the system can receive pressurized water either from an onboard freshwater supply pump through the integrated solenoid valve or from an external pressurized water source. A built-in non-return valve helps prevent backflow, supporting hygiene and safety on board. The system is available in both 12-volt and 24-volt options, allowing Moore to match the unit to each yacht’s electrical configuration.

“The compact design makes it easier to install in tight spaces,” Moore notes, “which is pretty much every boat.”

Water efficiency also played an important role in Moore’s decision. The Sanimarin 4 offers water-saving flushing modes, operating at 0.63 gallons per flush in eco mode and 0.79 gallons per flush in normal mode. These settings allow boat owners to conserve water without sacrificing flushing performance, an essential consideration for liveaboard vessels.

Just as importantly, Moore valued Saniflo’s responsive customer service. Having access to knowledgeable technical support allowed his team to confirm installation details, address questions quickly, and move forward with confidence across multiple projects.

“What I really appreciate about Saniflo is the customer service,” Moore says. “When a question arose, we were able to get them on the phone, and they were even willing to FaceTime with us to see what was going on and help us troubleshoot. That kind of support really gave me confidence in the Saniflo team.”

Results

Across all five yachts, the Sanimarin 4 integrated smoothly into a variety of bathroom layouts, including both standard marine heads and wet head installations. The compact design and built-in macerator pump reduced installation complexity, enabling efficient installations while maintaining clean, functional layouts.

Once installed, the systems delivered consistent performance under frequent use. The ability to handle long horizontal discharge runs and varied plumbing configurations allowed Moore to standardize on a single sanitation solution across different vessels.

“Overall, the systems have been running well,” Moore says. “Once everything was set up correctly, it performed the way we expected it to.”

Water-saving flush modes helped manage onboard water consumption, while the non-return valve ensured safe, hygienic operation. From a project management perspective, Moore emphasized the value of pairing a reliable product with responsive customer service.

“Trying to get support from other manufacturers can take weeks,” Moore adds. “With Saniflo, you get answers quickly, and that matters when you’re working on boats.”

Quick access to technical support minimized downtime, reduced the need for follow-up service calls, and kept renovation schedules on track. The Sanimarin 4’s competitive pricing further supported its use across multiple boats, making it a cost-effective choice for fleet-style yacht renovations.

By selecting the Sanimarin 4 for five renovated yachts, Moore established a repeatable sanitation solution that balanced performance, efficiency, and service support.