Toilet Paper..... Down the Head or Not?

[Smokeyham]

We just finished a week's charter aboard a 2010 Classic Ranger 29 Tug and had a blast. One of the things which the charter company strongly recommended is that nothing went down the head which we had not eaten first. We followed the rule and bagged all of our toilet paper and took it ashore.

I am curious if this is what everyone does? I am hoping to do the Loop in a couple of years, with a variety of friends coming on board for different segments, and the "bag your toilet paper" routine might not be popular with some of them.

What are your thoughts on this practice?

Thanks.

Gordon

 

[Navigator's Son]

My thoughts.... And that's all they are.

As long as you are using paper that breaks down when wet, flush away.

There was a great video I saw on another site that compared boat/rv toilet paper to regular household paper. They used a glass tank to demo.

Funny enough, Costco tp breaks apart exactly like boat/rv tp does. Test it at home. If the paper easily breaks down in a tub of water, it's perfectly fine in your holding tank. Just keep the tank wet.

 

[Levitation]

The live aboard cruisers often use the rule that if it did not pass through your mouth it does not go into the tank.
They have a paper bag for the TP / Kleenex / whatever, that either goes ashore or gets burned on the grill.
Same thing for the boats using a water-less head. Check Mike's postings on that (Illusions)

 

[Brian B]

The live aboard cruisers often use the rule that if it did not pass through your mouth it does not go into the tank.
They have a paper bag for the TP / Kleenex / whatever, that either goes ashore or gets burned on the grill.
Same thing for the boats using a water-less head. Check Mike's postings on that (Illusions)

I wouldn't want the food that comes off that grill, could be a real shi-ty burger. 😀 😀

 

[Red Raven]

Our Raritan Sea Era toilet manual specifically states "No special toilet paper is required". We have used various types of tp with no problem as long as it is fully flushed with each use. The Sea Era is really loud but does an effective job of flushing. Press that button long and hard until you have clean water in the bowl. Anything other than toilet paper and human waste is definitely a no no.

 

[Smokeyham]

Thanks everyone for the great responses.

Gordon

 

[Scottfree]

The Kirkland (Costco) TP seems to cause no issues. We've been flushing it down for four years. We do however make sure to use lots of water when flushing and add water regularly. We've had more problem with items flying off the counter into the open bowl while under way. After the wife's toothbrush went in we got much better at prepping for trips. :lol:

 

[JamesTXSD]

The Kirkland (Costco) TP seems to cause no issues. We've been flushing it down for four years. We do however make sure to use lots of water when flushing and add water regularly. We've had more problem with items flying off the counter into the open bowl while under way. After the wife's toothbrush went in we got much better at prepping for trips. :lol:

No lid on that toilet seat??

 

[Scottfree]

Seat down lid up ready to fire! I just drive the boat. :roll:

 

[JamesTXSD]

I've had decades of experience with boats and RVs, including driving commercial boats. It really comes down to a couple options:

Toilet paper - there is the "rapidly dissolving" kind and the "industrial strength" kind. Walmart (in their RV section), camping, and marine stores sell the "rapidly dissolving" type... which is generally about twice as expensive as what you'd buy at your local grocery store. Besides the Costco brand (not everyone is near a Costco), Angel Soft toilet paper breaks down as fast as the more expensive RV/marine toilet paper. If you aren't sure if your toilet paper breaks down, put a few sheets in a jar of water, shake the jar... in a couple hours, if you can still see whole sheets, it isn't "rapidly dissolving."

Another issue: can you trust the people using the toilet? Driving commercial boats, probably not. Oh, you can tell them to "go easy" with the amount of toilet paper they use, but you will still have the "wadders" who use a couple fists full with each wipe... guaranteed to plug up the hardiest marine head. For that situation, I go with: if you didn't eat it or drink it, it doesn't go in the toilet (and that includes feminine hygiene products)... if you are worried that someone else is going to see your toilet paper, pull off a couple sheets and make a nice little cover for it IN THE GARBAGE CAN. I let folks know that they can use all the toilet paper they want, they just CAN'T flush it down the toilet.

On your own boat, with your own family, if you can trust them to be conservative with their (rapidly dissolving) toilet paper use, flush away. They are family - you can talk about this stuff. Everybody poops. And, if you are reading this, it is likely that it will be YOUR job to unclog the marine head when it gets stopped up.

Now, if you like to use "the good stuff" (like Ultra Soft or Ultra Strong Charmin), put it in the trash. Marine toilets simply aren't as robust as your toilets at home.

In conclusion: rapidly dissolving stuff, flush it (with conservative usage). Anything else, bag it. If you think a small garbage bag of used toilet paper is gross, you have never had to deal with a stopped up marine head. (One job I had, the head got stopped up twice the first week on the job. I had to take it apart and clean it, the first mates were too squeamish.) After instituting the "nothing but pee or poop in the toilet" rule, no more clogs. For years.

Yeah, I know: that's enough of that crap.

 

[baz]

James:

Thanks.... for all that insightful info. 🙂

My 1st Mate has Parkinson's, her balance is awful to non existent, her feet and hands are simply wonky and don't do as they are told and dealing with toilet activities are very hard for her. Actually, the confined space in the head enclosure is useful as 1st Mate cannot really fall about and hurt herself unlike at home where I have to assist her.

Your trash bin for depositing the "good stuff" TP which 1st Mate likes to use, will be something I will install for sure.

 

[doke01]

We have a Raritan Sea Era also. It is literally a blender and will blend everything before it sends it on its way, which is why you can use any type of toilet paper. Don't drop in baby wipes or anything else that a blender couldn't tear apart or you'll end up with a mighty, splattered mess!

 

[baz]

...snip...
Toilet paper - there is the "rapidly dissolving" kind and the "industrial strength" kind. Walmart (in their RV section), camping, and marine stores sell the "rapidly dissolving" type... which is generally about twice as expensive as what you'd buy at your local grocery store. Besides the Costco brand (not everyone is near a Costco), Angel Soft toilet paper breaks down as fast as the more expensive RV/marine toilet paper. If you aren't sure if your toilet paper breaks down, put a few sheets in a jar of water, shake the jar... in a couple hours, if you can still see whole sheets, it isn't "rapidly dissolving."
...snip...

So I put your advice to the test. Well more exactly, I wanted to test the Odorlos claim.

I grab a couple of pieces of our nice soft house TP into a big jar of fresh water and dropped few bits of Odorlos granules into it and tightened down the jar's lid. Odorlos claims it will break down any type of TP. The jar has been standing now for several hrs (maybe 3) and the TP is still in one piece even with me shaking the jar some. I will leave it alone overnight and see what results we have come morning time. 😱

 

[baz]

We have a Raritan Sea Era also. It is literally a blender and will blend everything before it sends it on its way, which is why you can use any type of toilet paper. Don't drop in baby wipes or anything else that a blender couldn't tear apart or you'll end up with a mighty, splattered mess!

Hmmmm, just read you post and it does give me some comfort that the Raritan Sea Era will chop up most things such as any TP before it gets sent on its way to the holding tank. Thanks for posting that info snippet. 🙂

Oh, and BTW you did a super job of detailing your R-25's manual toilet to an electric flush toilet task. I did something similar on my R-25 (Classic) except I used a Tecmar ECO toilet and plumbed it to use fresh water rather than sea water. Had to do this otherwise I would be without a 1st mate. :lol: It took me all day to make the conversion and cost me around $600. The Tecmar control box allowed for 'fill with water only' and 'flush only'. For the 6 years we had the R-25 we had no issues with the conversion to electric flush.... and I agree, electric is the way to go. 😱

 

[McThomas]

We have a 2014 R27 with the standard electric head. It has worked flawlessly and impressively with everything we have "thrown" at it - including the kind where you think "Uh, oh, no way THAT is going through". I can't imagine any type of toilet paper in any reasonable quantity would give it pause so it all goes down.

 

[baz]

...snip...

So I put your advice to the test. Well more exactly, I wanted to test the Odorlos claim.

I grab a couple of pieces of our nice soft house TP into a big jar of fresh water and dropped few bits of Odorlos granules into it and tightened down the jar's lid. Odorlos claims it will break down any type of TP. The jar has been standing now for several hrs (maybe 3) and the TP is still in one piece even with me shaking the jar some. I will leave it alone overnight and see what results we have come morning time. 😱

Well around noon time today I held the capped jar and gave it a gentle shake. The TP simply disintegrated into a white looking murky substance. From this I have to say the Odorlos claim can be confirmed. With the boat's motion I suspect the jar shake is kind of like what would happen in the holding tank with the boat underway. 🙂