Hi all, More questions from new liveaboard. A pumpout guy told me marine tp is bad for system. True? Plus how do I keep the humidity out of my sugar? Thanks in advance!
Sean
Sean
Toilet Paper And Sugar
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Toilet Paper & Sugar
I have never heard anyone say that marine tp is bad for on board systems. I use the RV stuff, and have no problems. I think basically it is the same as the marine, for less money. This stuff dissolves pretty quick. Maybe some others will chime in, but as far as I know, the marine stuff will hurt nothing. As far as the sugar, that can be tough. Find the best sealing container you can. Rubbermaid or Tupperware, with a gasketed screw on top seems to be the best answer.
I have never heard anyone say that marine tp is bad for on board systems. I use the RV stuff, and have no problems. I think basically it is the same as the marine, for less money. This stuff dissolves pretty quick. Maybe some others will chime in, but as far as I know, the marine stuff will hurt nothing. As far as the sugar, that can be tough. Find the best sealing container you can. Rubbermaid or Tupperware, with a gasketed screw on top seems to be the best answer.
Re: Toilet Paper & Sugar
Nonsense re: TP. Peggy would tell you to buy the cheapest stuff at the market you can get and use the dissolve test in a glass of water. I too use RV TP which is the same as the boat stuff. I have only been using it for 30 years tho, so I may be missing something
. Agree that using a mason jar is the best way to store items. Using plastic gasketed containers is good for cookies, nuts etc. And Tupperware can't be beat for a good, moisture-resistant seal.
Nonsense re: TP. Peggy would tell you to buy the cheapest stuff at the market you can get and use the dissolve test in a glass of water. I too use RV TP which is the same as the boat stuff. I have only been using it for 30 years tho, so I may be missing something
. Agree that using a mason jar is the best way to store items. Using plastic gasketed containers is good for cookies, nuts etc. And Tupperware can't be beat for a good, moisture-resistant seal.
Toilet paper
Your pumpout guy is wrong. The only thing "marine/rv" TP is bad for is your wallet, 'cuz it's just the same cheap flimsy quick dissolve TP you can buy at Sam's, Costco or most supermarkets for 1/4 of the price.
To find out whether any TP is suitable for use in a marine toilet, tear off a sheet and put it in a glass of water...come back in an hour or two and stir the glass. If all you see is some "snow" in milky water, it's the same as "marine/rv"...but if it's still an intact or mostly intact sheet, try another brand.
Avoid all the brands that advertise how strong and soft they are...'cuz they contain extra fibers and creams..a sheet of 'em left in a glass of water for a month will still be intact. Using 'em in a marine toilet is likely to clog a macerating toilet or a macerator pump or plug a tank discharge line.
However, an "overload" of even quick-dissolve TP can clog a toilet pump or head discharge line...but the GOOD news is, it's only temporary...you don't have to take anything apart to clear it. Just leave it alone for an hour or two and the clog will dissolve on its own. But since that could be an major inconvenience, you still need to use it sparingly (5-6 sheets) and instruct your guest to do the same.
And of course, NOTHING should go into a marine toilet that you haven't eaten first except quick-dissolve TP. EVERYTHING else, even a toothpick, needs to go into the trash can.
Your pumpout guy is wrong. The only thing "marine/rv" TP is bad for is your wallet, 'cuz it's just the same cheap flimsy quick dissolve TP you can buy at Sam's, Costco or most supermarkets for 1/4 of the price.
To find out whether any TP is suitable for use in a marine toilet, tear off a sheet and put it in a glass of water...come back in an hour or two and stir the glass. If all you see is some "snow" in milky water, it's the same as "marine/rv"...but if it's still an intact or mostly intact sheet, try another brand.
Avoid all the brands that advertise how strong and soft they are...'cuz they contain extra fibers and creams..a sheet of 'em left in a glass of water for a month will still be intact. Using 'em in a marine toilet is likely to clog a macerating toilet or a macerator pump or plug a tank discharge line.
However, an "overload" of even quick-dissolve TP can clog a toilet pump or head discharge line...but the GOOD news is, it's only temporary...you don't have to take anything apart to clear it. Just leave it alone for an hour or two and the clog will dissolve on its own. But since that could be an major inconvenience, you still need to use it sparingly (5-6 sheets) and instruct your guest to do the same.
And of course, NOTHING should go into a marine toilet that you haven't eaten first except quick-dissolve TP. EVERYTHING else, even a toothpick, needs to go into the trash can.
Rick D...how 'bout coming back and give us some of that advice when you have some serious time doing this..I know...I'm bad!LOL
Jack
Jack
One big advantage of glass storage is that you can see any lumps as you tilt the jar. Shaking the jar hard will usually break up the lumps. Classico Sauces are put up in 26 ounce Atlas brand mason jars and the lid is one piece with a rubber gasket.
All you ever have to do is clean out a clogged head once to become a believer that "If You Haven't Eaten It First, It Doesn't Go Into The Head," a sign which lives prominently over the head on my boat....
There's no reason whatever to avoid flushing quick-dissolve TP, Warren (see my reply above). Just don't flush ANYthing else you haven't eaten first!
But even eating it first isn't 100% bullet proof...I've seen watermelon seeds jam impellers and some y-valves...and a wad of bubble gum swallowed by a kid that required major surgery to a VacuFlush.
I have seen people use a little rice in their salt to stop it from going all clumpy. Not sure how well that would work with sugar though since its not comming out of a shaker. There are also little ceramic looking disks you can buy at the loblaws to keep the humitity out of you sugar.
Pump in between
Quick dissolve tp is the only thing we have the boat and the more cost effective supermarket variety - why pay more for the same thing?
At home people are accustomed to doing their thing, using the tp (however much they use) and then flushing.
On the boat we recommend that people do their thing, flush, use a small amount of tp, flush again, use more tp, flush again, and so on.
This avoids any potential for a big blob of anything in the head overcoming the pump.
Quick dissolve tp is the only thing we have the boat and the more cost effective supermarket variety - why pay more for the same thing?
At home people are accustomed to doing their thing, using the tp (however much they use) and then flushing.
On the boat we recommend that people do their thing, flush, use a small amount of tp, flush again, use more tp, flush again, and so on.
This avoids any potential for a big blob of anything in the head overcoming the pump.
The problem with using 5 or 6 sheets
of marine or RV grade tp is that none of your guest will use that little.
If you keep a supply of zip lock bags next to a lidded trash can with a liner the problem is avoided and you can use as much paper as you want. There are other things your guest may wish to dispose of also and the more convenient it is to use the trash can the less likely it is that anything goes down the head. You also have the advantage of using real tp, you know the kind that actually is absorbent and soft.
I have heard people say that no one want to handle the tp and put it in a ziplock bag but I can not see how that is any harder (or more gross) than handling tp and putting it in the bowl.
After reading Peggy's post, I now have to inform my guests not to eat watermellon 24 hours before departure.
of marine or RV grade tp is that none of your guest will use that little.
If you keep a supply of zip lock bags next to a lidded trash can with a liner the problem is avoided and you can use as much paper as you want. There are other things your guest may wish to dispose of also and the more convenient it is to use the trash can the less likely it is that anything goes down the head. You also have the advantage of using real tp, you know the kind that actually is absorbent and soft.
I have heard people say that no one want to handle the tp and put it in a ziplock bag but I can not see how that is any harder (or more gross) than handling tp and putting it in the bowl.
After reading Peggy's post, I now have to inform my guests not to eat watermellon 24 hours before departure.
How quick is "quick" dissolve? I doubt it does before it gets into a holding tank, so what's not to like about household paper as long as it turn to mush before deck pumpout. I know, I know, macerators, etc., but that's a different story...
ron "quick dissolve" TP starts to break up
the moment it gets wet. going through the toilet pump and joker valve pretty much shreds it...so by the time it reaches the tank there's not much left of it. Premium TP--Cottonelle, Northern, White Cloud etc--stays intact all the way to the tank and can stay intact in water for a month or longer.
And some advice about sugar storage (possibly the strangest combination of topics in the same thread I've ever seen! :dance... Keep it--and also crackers, cereal and anything else that isn't already in a jar or a can--in an airtight container if you don't want to start a new thread about how to get rid of ants and other critters. Can't wait to find out what other topic you'll combine with that one!
the moment it gets wet. going through the toilet pump and joker valve pretty much shreds it...so by the time it reaches the tank there's not much left of it. Premium TP--Cottonelle, Northern, White Cloud etc--stays intact all the way to the tank and can stay intact in water for a month or longer.
And some advice about sugar storage (possibly the strangest combination of topics in the same thread I've ever seen! :dance
... Keep it--and also crackers, cereal and anything else that isn't already in a jar or a can--in an airtight container if you don't want to start a new thread about how to get rid of ants and other critters. Can't wait to find out what other topic you'll combine with that one!
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