Plumbing the head: freshwater or saltwater?

[Jake]

Great videos. Just curious about one point, on the R-27 Dave mentions the toilet is plumbed to the freshwater tank. Has this always been the case in prior years? Thought I read they used seawater, at least some models/years.

Thanks,

Jake

 

[Don and Brenda]

R27 have been salt water plumbed.

 

[Levitation]

Best is that you change your sea water inlet over to the fresh water tank.
Decaying sea microorganisms are so rank as to make poo smell like lavender.

I have not done that (yet - being terminally lazy) but we use the shower wand to flush/rinse the bowl with fresh water.

 

[Jake]

So as a boating rookie, I wonder, do the majority of boats with a toilet(s) use seawater? Is that the norm? I'm assuming a marine toilet doesn't hold water in the bowl as a residential toilet?

Jake

 

[Bruce Moore]

Greetings - I've moved this discussion to it's own thread, and am pushing it to the top.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[jpichler]

my 2013 R27 is plumbed for raw water, I guess when I flush in the lake its fresh and while cruising the Sound its salt.

in either case it does not come from my 30 gallon fresh water.

 

[Kenny Marrs]

The R-27 and smaller will be plumbed for raw water, the R-29 and larger will be plumbed for fresh water. That is how the boats leave the factory.

 

[Jake]

The R-27 and smaller will be plumbed for raw water, the R-29 and larger will be plumbed for fresh water. That is how the boats leave the factory.

Kenny,
Thanks for clarifying. I can see why one would not want to use a great portion of the fresh water for the toilet on a long cruise, but it would be great if the operator had a choice by simply switching a valve between the two sources of water. Use the fresh water on a short cruise, conserve it on a longer one by using raw water.

Jake

 

[bluebayou]

Jake,
Thanks for starting this thread. I, too, had watched Dave Turner of Port Boathouse
narrate the features of the 2014 R-27, and noticed immediately the "fresh water"
plumbing reference to the head on that R-27.
Side note: I have chartered an R-29 in San Francisco Bay, and the stink from the head
in the state room was so bad…….I asked at the office, and they said it was the salt water in
the tank. So, when I saw the video from Port Boathouse I thought, "aha. I'll just have to
get a new 2014 R-27 with fresh water head system."
So, you can imagine my confusion when Kenny Mars from the factory chimes in with
his official word that the R-27 and smaller tugs have intakes from the body of water floating
the boat, and the R-29 and larger use the fresh water tank aboard.
Exactly the opposite of my experience with the R-29, and Dave Turner's video.
Isn't this fun ?
Charles

 

[walldog]

Jake,
Thanks for starting this thread. I, too, had watched Dave Turner of Port Boathouse
narrate the features of the 2014 R-27, and noticed immediately the "fresh water"
plumbing reference to the head on that R-27.
Side note: I have chartered an R-29 in San Francisco Bay, and the stink from the head
in the state room was so bad…….I asked at the office, and they said it was the salt water in
the tank. So, when I saw the video from Port Boathouse I thought, "aha. I'll just have to
get a new 2014 R-27 with fresh water head system."
So, you can imagine my confusion when Kenny Mars from the factory chimes in with
his official word that the R-27 and smaller tugs have intakes from the body of water floating
the boat, and the R-29 and larger use the fresh water tank aboard.
Exactly the opposite of my experience with the R-29, and Dave Turner's video.
Isn't this fun ?
Charles

Earlier R29s had salt water heads, earlier R27s had saltwater heads. You may have a choice on the R27 now, but CURRENT R29 and R31s have freshwater heads. This is what I understand.

 

[jroyle]

2012 R29 has freshwater flush. I have found with numerous boats that a charcoal vent line filter is a must for the holding tank vapors. If the tank is ever over filled.. oh boy what a mess....it gets in the vent lines (and filter) and if the vent line has any kind of loop it traps the black water in it which causes the vapors to back up thru the toilet bowl. It is something to avoid at all costs.

 

[Irish Mist]

My 29 is lake water but I understand around 2011 it changed.. As mentioned you can always use shower to provide fresh flush... These toilets use a lot of water to flush.. The Vacuflush toilets use little in comparison and are always plumed to fresh water but they have a seperate pump creating the vacuum and that has its own issues as well as space requirements.. There are always trade offs .. I never seem to have enough fresh water so the toilet water from lake works great for me

 

[Gin]

Raritan makes a model (Elegance) that comes in several configurations. One can switch between raw water (salt or fresh water, depending on your environment) and pressurized water from your holding tank. It is a nice unit with a bunch of good features, like low water usage, and a multi function controller. In 2011, it was top rated in its class by Practical Sailor. Expensive, but for some, worth it.

Here's a link to the dual mode model as sold by Defenders: http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|51|2234284|2234291&id=1343060

 

[knotflying]

For those looking for a good alternative to a conventional head take a look at the Airhead. Take a look at their site http://www.airheadtoilet.com/howitworks.html I do not receive any compensation from the company. I have one and we have never been sorry we go it. Just love to promote a good product. No smell, no broken parts, no pumping of a holding tank.

 

[PhilR]

Hey Mike,
How difficult is the install, and did you do it yourself?

Phil

 

[knotflying]

I had it installed during production so I could convert the holding tank to potable water, but it is a fairly easy install. The only hard part is installing a vent that has a motorized fan. Other than that it is a matter of bolting in place. It is not cheap, about $900.00. The nice part is no pump out. If two people use it every day you are good for about 6 weeks on the solids. We use marina heads while at dock traveling and we get 10 months use before having to empty. The liquid, for every day use, you are good for about 4 days and that is a walk to the bathroom to empty or overboard while out 3 miles. There is a debate as to whether you can dump the urine within the 3 miles. Everybody interprets the rules differently. The solids can go in a garbage bag or under my beautiful blooming lilac, not in a vegetable garden.

 

[PhilR]

Mike, I'm going to order the Airhead for my boat and convert the holding tank to grey water as I can't discharge into the lake. I assume you used the Marine size...right or left crank....straight or right angle fan shroud? Any other useful suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Phil

 

[knotflying]

Marine size, crank on right, right angle shroud. Call me so I can explain how to run the vent line and where to have it vent. I had them run it so it vents out the stern on the starboard side. I also modified the head and made the vent hose come out the back so it is not visible anywhere in the cabin. I will be heading to the boat after Christmas and will take pictures for you around January 1st or so.

 

[Osprey]

Regarding the Airhead, what does one do with the "tp"? Does the "tp" drop in with the solids or does one have to keep a "tp" waste bin beside the toilet. In my travels to some countries in have seen that the waste bin is standard. For sure,not very appealing.

 

[knotflying]

You put it in the toilet sparingly. One could put their initial 'tp' in the airhead and as a choice to conserve use the garbage, but it is not necessary.