Marine Head Maintance

[seadaddler]

I have a Raritan Sea Era electric head and up until a few weeks ago always used fresh water flushing it but on our last trip cruising to the Keys decided
to use sea water instead of fresh water.
We seem to like the way it worked with sea water flushing thru the head the way it was suppose better than just adding fresh water into the bowl and even less water going into the holding tank too.
I did flush with fresh water into my sink draining into the inlet hose and keeping the drain thru hull closed while adding plenty of fresh water into sink.
So here is my question will salt water build up in the hose or should I add any vinegar also into the sink when flushing at the end of the trip.
I found we had much more fresh water to shower and wash dishes before needing to refill our fresh water tank.
When just day sailing will go back to fresh water flushing again.
Nick

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

We have the same head. Have had it for years and always flushed with salt water. It takes a loooooong time for carbonates to build up. Your described short-term use isn't a problem if our experience is any indication

 

[Stu Jackson]

I found we had much more fresh water to shower and wash dishes before needing to refill our fresh water tank.
When just day sailing will go back to fresh water flushing again.
Nick

Nick,

Didn't you get the memo?

You ONLY need to use fresh water AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR THE LAST FLUSH.

Even when daysailing.

And, yes, it really does save fresh water, doesn't it???

There as a post by Peggie just today that included her ideas on vinegar.

 

[seadaddler]

Fresh water

I know I know but we always have plenty of fresh water in the tank 75 gals
and by using fresh water more often we keep the fresh water system fresh
and don't need to do anything from keeping the fresh water getting old or smelly.
I don't need to worry about end of day sink flush but now when cruising
more than day sailing we will use salt water for sure and using fresh water
so more often the head does stay cleaner from the junk in salt water and all is good for sure.
Nick

 

[Stu Jackson]

Good point, Nick. Now I get to get the memo!

My experience is that we get enough use of the fresh water system other than the head that I still try to minimize water use. Could be our drought, could be it's a water conservation technique just built into us, could be I hate dragging the hose down the dock!

 

[seadaddler]

Dock

I have a hose right at the dock and when cruising I carry a 5 gal jug just for water and when ever we jump in the dinghy I take the jug for water refill.
Once when first cruising my wife started using water like at home and said stop and she said are you telling me I can't use waterno no
but just go easy.
I am very lucky that my wife cooks and cleans when on our boat just like at home and rather than stop that I let her use more water than she should and
when we cruise here I can always find a hose some place even thought we don't go to Marina's much except maybe fuel or pump out,our friends ask me all the time why I am getting more water again.
We don't have a drought here in Florida and so we are more wasteful of our water.
Nick