I have a '84 C22 with a manual head. It's my first season with the boat. The head's been used three times so far this season. When do I know that the head is full and needs a pump out? Also, when/where do I add the blue stuff (and where do I get it?). The last time I flushed it, no blue stuff came out when I did the "dry pump". Thanks!
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When it's empty
When you get nothing from the pump, the porta-potty needs serviced. You can get the chemical at boat stores, Wal-Mart (camping department), RV stores, etc.
When you get nothing from the pump, the porta-potty needs serviced. You can get the chemical at boat stores, Wal-Mart (camping department), RV stores, etc.
It's not the head (toilet), but the tank that
fills up. The tank should be translucent plastic (polyethylene) that allows you to see the level in it. If you have acess to inspect the tank, do so regularly to check the level. If the tank isn't translucent or is in a location that allows visual inspection, federal law requires a gauge that provides at least a means of alerting you when the tank is 3/4 full (for very little more, you can have one that gives a 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full reading). For calculation purposes, the average flush from a manual toilet is about 1/2 gal...avg flushes/person/day (assuming that you're all aboard continuously) is 5. To determine approximately how many days it will take for your tank to fill up, multiply you tank capacity x 2...divide that by the number of people aboard...divide that by 5. Iow, a 20 gal tank holds 40 1/2 gal flushes...4 people aboard for the whole weekend will flush the toilet a total of 20x/day (4 people X 5 flushes/day). So your 20 gal tank will fill up in two days. However those numbers are *JUST AN AVERAGE*...not to be solely relied on to prevent tank overflow (BIG no-no--for a lot of reasons)...your own mileage to and from the head may vary, so you must keep a weather eye on the level in the tank. As for when and how to add a tank treatment: Avoid "blue stuff" or anything else that warns "harmful or fatal if swallowed, may cause blindness"...none of 'em are particularly effective, but they're all highly toxic chemicals, so they aren't environmentally friendly either. Use either Raritan K.O. or Odorlos, which you can get from most boat stores. It should be added immediately after each pumpout and again with the first flush after coming aboard again if pumped out at the end of a weekend..iow, if the boat sits for several days after pumpout. Just flush it down the toilet...it doesn't remain in the flush water, it goes into the tank, so you wouldn't see it again when you flush. It's also useful to read the directions on the product. And, you might want to check out the link below to learn how marine toilets work, how to maintain a toilet and tank, and how to prevent problems--which is much easier than curing 'em.
fills up. The tank should be translucent plastic (polyethylene) that allows you to see the level in it. If you have acess to inspect the tank, do so regularly to check the level. If the tank isn't translucent or is in a location that allows visual inspection, federal law requires a gauge that provides at least a means of alerting you when the tank is 3/4 full (for very little more, you can have one that gives a 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, full reading). For calculation purposes, the average flush from a manual toilet is about 1/2 gal...avg flushes/person/day (assuming that you're all aboard continuously) is 5. To determine approximately how many days it will take for your tank to fill up, multiply you tank capacity x 2...divide that by the number of people aboard...divide that by 5. Iow, a 20 gal tank holds 40 1/2 gal flushes...4 people aboard for the whole weekend will flush the toilet a total of 20x/day (4 people X 5 flushes/day). So your 20 gal tank will fill up in two days. However those numbers are *JUST AN AVERAGE*...not to be solely relied on to prevent tank overflow (BIG no-no--for a lot of reasons)...your own mileage to and from the head may vary, so you must keep a weather eye on the level in the tank. As for when and how to add a tank treatment: Avoid "blue stuff" or anything else that warns "harmful or fatal if swallowed, may cause blindness"...none of 'em are particularly effective, but they're all highly toxic chemicals, so they aren't environmentally friendly either. Use either Raritan K.O. or Odorlos, which you can get from most boat stores. It should be added immediately after each pumpout and again with the first flush after coming aboard again if pumped out at the end of a weekend..iow, if the boat sits for several days after pumpout. Just flush it down the toilet...it doesn't remain in the flush water, it goes into the tank, so you wouldn't see it again when you flush. It's also useful to read the directions on the product. And, you might want to check out the link below to learn how marine toilets work, how to maintain a toilet and tank, and how to prevent problems--which is much easier than curing 'em.
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