Marine Head and a teenage Boy

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Mar 29, 2011
169
Beneteau 361 Charlotte,Vt
This may seem a bit odd, but anybody who lives with a teenage boy knows that what comes out of them at times seem to defy phisics. I'm in the process of buying my first boat with a marine head. I live with a 17 year old that seems to clog the house toilet several times a week. This seems like a desaster waiting to happen. Should I be concerned?
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,098
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Be afraid and concerned ! Teach him intermediate flushes.. tell him he'll clean it up if it gets plugged !
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Consider an electric head. It grinds the paper and waste at the toilet, before it ever gets into the line. We have had female guests try to flush "baby (butt) wipes" down our head. If they don't grind they do not go down the line.

We have a Raritan SeaEra.
 
May 31, 2004
858
Catalina 28 Branford
This may seem a bit odd, but anybody who lives with a teenage boy knows that what comes out of them at times seem to defy phisics. I'm in the process of buying my first boat with a marine head. I live with a 17 year old that seems to clog the house toilet several times a week. This seems like a desaster waiting to happen. Should I be concerned?
I feel your pain. Its the TP usage that kills me.

The real issue with getting teenagers to properly use a marine head is the TP restriction. I know that my teens would NEVER agree to put used TP in the garbage; they'd rather explode.
 
Dec 2, 1997
8,947
- - LIttle Rock
Oh yes...BE afraid...be VERY afraid!!

This may seem a bit odd, but anybody who lives with a teenage boy knows that what comes out of them at times seem to defy phisics. I'm in the process of buying my first boat with a marine head. I live with a 17 year old that seems to clog the house toilet several times a week. This seems like a desaster waiting to happen. Should I be concerned?
If he clogs the household toilet, you definitely do NOT want ANY manual marine toilet. An electric toilet is ONE good suggestion....however, only the pricy all-china "thrones" have a macerator powerful enough to grind up wet wipes. Even the most basic macerating electric toilet is $500+...You'd be looking at $700 or more for a "throne."

So IMO, your best solution is a self-contained system...an "MSD" portpotty. Don't panic...it's not portable (though it can in a crunch)...it IS a portapotty, but a version designed to be permanently installed and fitted for pumpout. It has a lot of advantages over the "standard" marine toilet and holding tank, but the big advantage for you is, it's clog proof. Best of all, it's less than $200.

A 5-6 gal model holds about 50 flushes...you'd need at least a 25 gallon holding tank to hold that many from a marine toilet. There have been several discussions about MSD portapotties in this forum in the last few months...do a search for "MSD portapotty" to find 'em. Check out the Thetford 365 MSD. http://www.thetford.com/Home/Products/PortableToiletsHome/PortaPotti365MSD/tabid/160/Default.aspx

No matter what you decide on, be sure to have no toilet paper or tissue or papers towels available in the head except "quick-dissolve" TP, so that he cannot flush anything else. "Quick dissolve" cheapest no-name or institutional TP that practically dissolves in your hand when it even gets damp. (That's all "marine/RV" TP is, but at 3-5x the price it sells for at Sams, Costco or any grocery store). 'Cuz if ONLY "quick-dissolve" TP is used, even if an overload does clog the toilet, the clog will dissolve on its own in a couple of hours. And, since solid waste is actually at least 75% water, it dissolves very quickly too. All you need is a little patience.

Do a little homework...then come back with the additional questions I'm sure you're gonna have...I 'll be glad to answer 'em.
 
Apr 8, 2010
1,606
Frers 33 41426 Westport, CT
don't feed him any red meat for a 3-5 days before heading out on the boat, that should help reduce the potential for damage...
 
Sep 25, 2008
1,096
CS 30 Toronto
Original marine head

Get a net for the bow. The original marine head on sailing ships ;-)
 
Mar 26, 2011
3,728
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
17 years old? At that age household repairs were my depertment and I'ld have been the one fixing it. So... hand him the manual. Afterall, it's only poop; real guys arn't allowed to be squeamish.
 
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