TP or not TP?
- Thread starter rlamb
- Start date
For us, the toilet paper in the head issue is an environmental one. I have been snorkeling on reefs, and could see the toliet paper shreds on the reef. So....no TP in the head for us. Waste basket.
Ben, It Should Disintegrate
Any residual with marine/RV/cheap TP should totally disintegrate very quickly. Sure you were not seeing paper towels/napkins/etc?
Any residual with marine/RV/cheap TP should totally disintegrate very quickly. Sure you were not seeing paper towels/napkins/etc?
I was sure it was TP. There was a cloud of "particulate matter" swirling all over the place. I was absolutely disgusted because I was certain I snorkeled through someone's "pumpout". I was particularly upset because of the proximity of the effluent to the reef, and land. I have seen areas of toilet effluent on the chesapeake bay, too. The TP is what draws my attention to the area.
Ben
Ben
When we charter in areas that allow overboard discharge, like in the BVI's (we've yet to have a boat with a holding tank), we've been told "absolutely no toilet paper in the toilet." At home on our own boat where we have a holding tank and access to pumpouts, we could certainly put it in the toilet if we wanted, be we decided it's just easier to adopt one set of rules and stick to it. So we keep a trashcan in the head for used paper. Once trainied it's one less thing to think about that way.
Regarding peeing in the sink - the rules say you can pee over the side, in fact it's not illegal to hang your bottom over the rail and defecate in the water if you want/need to. But if anything gets between you and the water, such as a coffee can, bucket, or yes, a sink and drain, then it's treated under the law the same as if you did it in a toilet and then pumped it. So it's illegal. Nobody ever said it had to make sense.
Kind of like my biggest pet peeve of all - the USCG can write me a ticket for rowing ashore in my dinghy if I don't have a lifejacket onboard, but if I jump overboard and swim ashore I don't need one.
Regarding peeing in the sink - the rules say you can pee over the side, in fact it's not illegal to hang your bottom over the rail and defecate in the water if you want/need to. But if anything gets between you and the water, such as a coffee can, bucket, or yes, a sink and drain, then it's treated under the law the same as if you did it in a toilet and then pumped it. So it's illegal. Nobody ever said it had to make sense.
Kind of like my biggest pet peeve of all - the USCG can write me a ticket for rowing ashore in my dinghy if I don't have a lifejacket onboard, but if I jump overboard and swim ashore I don't need one.
I have had 2 boats and used TP on both. I don't bother trying to find the marine stuff. I just buy regular 2 ply (not extra thick, extra strength stuff) and have never had a problem. If you are macerating, it will turn the TP into a colloid.
I also add some road salt (which is evaporated sea salt) for No.2. This is in part because I have an ElectroScan sewage treatment system and partly because it increases the density of the discharge, making the effluent a sinking plume, away from sight. The nutrients are then used by sea creatures. I have a basket next to the head for sanitary products.
I also add some road salt (which is evaporated sea salt) for No.2. This is in part because I have an ElectroScan sewage treatment system and partly because it increases the density of the discharge, making the effluent a sinking plume, away from sight. The nutrients are then used by sea creatures. I have a basket next to the head for sanitary products.
Best "dummy" rule yet
Very good one, Robert. Thanks. You can tow your dinghy to shore by swimming, but don't get IN IT w/o a lifejacket! Sheez...
Very good one, Robert. Thanks. You can tow your dinghy to shore by swimming, but don't get IN IT w/o a lifejacket! Sheez...
@lyleh:
The calcium salts that deposit on the pipe can be removed by flushing through some diluted (!) muriatic acid in freshwater (always add the acid to the water, not the other way around or it will spatter acid into your eyes - yes, this matters). Pour the dilute mix into the toilet and empty the bowl on dry. Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes and then chase through another bowl of freshwater and then clear it out with regular seawater flush.
The calcium salts that deposit on the pipe can be removed by flushing through some diluted (!) muriatic acid in freshwater (always add the acid to the water, not the other way around or it will spatter acid into your eyes - yes, this matters). Pour the dilute mix into the toilet and empty the bowl on dry. Let sit for 15 to 30 minutes and then chase through another bowl of freshwater and then clear it out with regular seawater flush.
We have never bought into that "crap" about using TP either. We have had 3 boats and never had any blockage.
Maybe luck? Maybe informed guests.
Maybe luck? Maybe informed guests.
Too much information
Not sure we needed to know this. Especially the comment about your "athletic admiral".Interesting observation about the destructiveness of ammonia, uric acid and H2S. To prevent the destructive effects of urine on head hoses and tank, I have routinely peed into my head sink for the past 13 years, instead of the commode ( so does my athletic admiral
Before anyone goes uhhhh,
a boat sink is simply a funnel connected to a hose that goes directly overboard ...
peeing overboard is legal, although discharging a holding tank with urine in it is illegal...
urine is sterile (unless you have a UTI), so discharging urine into your sink is no more "unsanitary" than putting cleaners, sour milk, or any other liquid into it.
we rinse the sink with a cup (or so) of water, after use, just as you do when you put anything else down it, and have never had a hose odor problem ( from sink or head ). ...
And one last thing ... no one has ever fallen overboard as a result of peeing (overboard) into their sink; so, it's a safety thing, too... :dance:
Too much information
Not sure we needed to know this. Especially the comment about your "athletic admiral".Interesting observation about the destructiveness of ammonia, uric acid and H2S. To prevent the destructive effects of urine on head hoses and tank, I have routinely peed into my head sink for the past 13 years, instead of the commode ( so does my athletic admiral
Before anyone goes uhhhh,
a boat sink is simply a funnel connected to a hose that goes directly overboard ...
peeing overboard is legal, although discharging a holding tank with urine in it is illegal...
urine is sterile (unless you have a UTI), so discharging urine into your sink is no more "unsanitary" than putting cleaners, sour milk, or any other liquid into it.
we rinse the sink with a cup (or so) of water, after use, just as you do when you put anything else down it, and have never had a hose odor problem ( from sink or head ). ...
And one last thing ... no one has ever fallen overboard as a result of peeing (overboard) into their sink; so, it's a safety thing, too... :dance:
Goodness gracious !
All this over the simple act of urination.
Apparently you've never been around European sailors or
watched Italians, etc. urinate in public.
Does it bother you to see an American male peeing off the stern of his boat ? .. or just the act of writing about it ?
As far as the "athletic admiral"... "don't hate, participate "
I have used Noflex for years, first in a commercial marine application and now on my own boat. Nothing but clean water discharge and no odours. When using pump-out in 'no discharge' waters never, ever, any odours. Sweet!
Noflex Digestor
May I suggest that the best explanation of what Noflex Digestor is and how it works can be found on their website. I used to deal with their VP, Dave who was always helpful.
When I was working as a mariner (Chief Engineer) we used to open up our sewage media tank annually for a clean-out of the sludge build-up. It was a messy, dirty job. Turds & TP & lots of sludge. The tank had a 1,000 gal capacity.
After dosing the tank weekly with Noflex our sewage discharge met IMO regs and at the annual refit we would open up the tank to find it nice & clean. No turds, no sludge and no TP.
Hopefully Dave will get greater distribution of the Noflex in the near future so many more small boat owners can eliminate their sani system problems.
May I suggest that the best explanation of what Noflex Digestor is and how it works can be found on their website. I used to deal with their VP, Dave who was always helpful.
When I was working as a mariner (Chief Engineer) we used to open up our sewage media tank annually for a clean-out of the sludge build-up. It was a messy, dirty job. Turds & TP & lots of sludge. The tank had a 1,000 gal capacity.
After dosing the tank weekly with Noflex our sewage discharge met IMO regs and at the annual refit we would open up the tank to find it nice & clean. No turds, no sludge and no TP.
Hopefully Dave will get greater distribution of the Noflex in the near future so many more small boat owners can eliminate their sani system problems.
Here is what I have heard about the Calcium Salts that Lee Nikl wrote about: When urine mixes with salt water, it can form a crystalline deposit. Some say that it can be combated by using Muratic acid or some say that plain vinegar works. I had to have my discharge line replaced because it had totally clogged up and couldn't be cleared.
:neutral:
:neutral: