MARINE POTTY TRAINING
Before most of us had reached the ripe old age of three, we
thought our "potty training" was finished&ldots;
Then we grew up and bought boats.
The marine toilet or "Head" is basically a bowl and a
pump. It has a valve with two settings:
OPEN or "flush", every pump stroke brings
in seawater and pumps it into the bowl, at the same time it pulls
waste from the bowl and pushes it down the hose to the holding tank.
CLOSED or "dry," only pulls waste from the
bowl and pushes it down the hose to the holding tank.
Unless pumping the head; ALWAYS leave the Valve in the "CLOSED"
or "dry" position or you may flood the boat.
It takes 6 pump-strokes to push the bowl contents all the way to
the holding tank. If left to sit in the pump and lines, uric acid
will corrode the head and leave deposits in the lines; solid waste
will permeate the lines and "odorize" the boat. The goal is
to clear the lines so that only seawater is left.
Most clogs are the result of toilet paper jams, so please limit
the use of toilet paper (a couple of four sheets). Unlike their
land-based cousins, manual marine heads, (like a lot of my theories)
are not designed to hold water, & so should be pumped dry after use.
Other personal needs
Do not put anything in the head that you did not eat or drink
first. The TP disposal bag can be used for things outside the
category. If you are seasick you will be much better off on deck with
either a bag or the lee rail (the one away from the wind).
Always use shore or other facilities whenever you can.
Its more commodious :-) and a lot less limiting.
GENERALLY
Pee - |
Poo - |
|
Valve "OPEN" |
|
Pump 2 times to wet bowl |
|
Valve "CLOSED" |
Do your business |
Do your business |
Use minimal toilet paper (if applicable) |
Use minimal toilet paper |
Deposit in TP disposal bag |
Deposit TP in bowl |
Valve "OPEN" |
Valve "OPEN" |
Pump 4 times (or enough to clear bowl) |
Pump 4 times (or enough to clear bowl) |
Valve "CLOSED" |
Valve "CLOSED" |
Close Lid |
Close Lid |
Pump 6 times |
Pump 6 times |
Pee - |
Poo - |
Valve "CLOSED" |
Valve "CLOSED" |
|
Put a cupful of water into bowl |
Do your business |
Do your business |
Use minimal toilet paper (if needed) |
Use minimal toilet paper |
Deposit in TP disposal bag |
Deposit TP in bowl |
Pump 6 times |
Pump 6 times |
Valve "OPEN" |
Valve "OPEN" |
Pump 2 times |
Pump 2 times |
Valve "CLOSED" |
Valve "CLOSED" |
Close Lid |
Close Lid |
Pump 6 times |
Pump 6 times |