Nasty problem

[Nauti Fox]

Thank the boating gods I bought a boat with a Lavac.Last night after visitors went we found the loo was blocked.After much messy dismantling it was found to be a certain femanine hygeine product lodged in the outlet seacock.There was no way we could shift it with anything,until we reversed the pump and sucked it out!(at 2.30 this morning)Thank you Lavac.
Sorry.
A very well showered Al.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.

 

[PGD]

and I was eating my lunch when i clicked on this one - ooops /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Complete the Consumer Survey <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.mssa.org.uk>http://www.mssa.org.uk</A> Marine Service Standards Assistance

 

[itsonlymoney]

Cant say I envy you the job Al. Will you be inviting this lady onboard again ? if so how are you going to bring up the subject or are you going to just put a sign up in the heads ? HA
On a serious note (well almost) the Mrs and I were on this subject only last week. Weather it is ok to put toilet paper down a Jabasco or not, cos during a trip on a bloody great catamaran in Fuertaventura the other week they instructed everyone to use the bin to dispose of paper (Ugh) on pain of death or keel hauling or something on those lines. Ours seems to have sucked paper out ok up to now but we are a little concerned if we are doing somfink wrong. Until now I wasnt sure how to start this thread so Ta very much for the opening.
Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[Nauti Fox]

Yeah,I did'nt know if I should post it,but if it happens to someone else with a Lavac its a good way out.Toilet paper will be OK as it degrades quickly as opposed to things that swell!I really don't know what I would have done if it had'nt worked,and there is a notice as well.
Ahh the sweet smell of success
Fragrant Al

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.

 

[hlb]

Toilet paper seems to work fine. I once got handed some engineers wipe paper when the paper ran out in the bog. DONT USE THAT.../forums/images/icons/frown.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[itsonlymoney]

Thanks chaps
Thats cleared that question up with very little embaresment.

Ian

<hr width=100% size=1>Play the best game you can with the cards you've been dealt ! ! !

 

[MedDreamer]

Headmistress Required

Really need a definitive answer on this from Peggy.

I want to know as well (I bet we all do really but are too shy to ask).




<hr width=100% size=1>The Dream is Alive

 

[penfold]

I hope you will be gently chastising and educating the offenders in Marine Heads ettiquette!

cheers,
david

<hr width=100% size=1>Why'd he call me shortie?
Because you're small,...small,...S, M, all.

 

[Nauti Fox]

Yeh,but how.One other thing is that it completley sealed the seacock so perhaps they ought to be included in solas?
Must get some more talc on the way home.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.

 

[hlb]

Handy tip, maybe we all should carry some. Could MBY do a survey and test for best models..!...!...!

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer!!.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[HeadMistress]

Your wish is my command

Any marine toilet should be able to swallow reasonable amounts of the right kind of toilet paper--but nothing else that hasn't been eaten first. However, it's not necessary to pay extra for TP labelled ""Marine/RV"..."marine' toilet paper is just private label branding of very cheap flimsy institutional grade toilet paper at a much higher price than you can buy it without any “marine/RV” labeling.

To find out whether any toilet paper is suitable for use aboard, tear off a sheet and put it in a glass of water overnight. If it's still an intact—or mostly intact--sheet in the morning, it's NOT suitable for use in any marine toilet...it doesn't dissolve fast enough and could clog your system. But if you stir the glass and all you see is "snow" and cloudy water, it's the same thing as "marine" toilet paper...and just fine for use in any system.

But even the "right" kind of toilet paper can clog a marine toilet if too much is used at once, so boat owners soon learn to use it as sparingly as possible. In situations where a little isn't enough, it may be necessary to use a little--flush that...and use a little more, flush again--even several times (and by the way, that doesn't ONLY apply to toilet paper). However, if too much is used, if it's only TP it should dissolve fairly quickly...so before resorting to more drastic measures, just wait an hour and try flushing again.

How do you explain that to landlubber guests, especially women (who apparently are genetically programmed to use half a roll per flush)? How do you
explain that Kleenex is different...and WHY nothing--not even a toothpick (and especially not sanitary products)--can go down a marine toilet except small amounts of the toilet paper provided unless they've eaten it first? Few men can see themselves conducting a "marine toilet 101" class for Great Aunt Martha, their boss' wife or a new girlfriend, but all too often the alternative can be taking apart a clogged toilet to remove a wad of facial tissue, a paper towel, baby wipe, or even a tampon.

There is a solution:

A small pail with a lid, liners, and ziplock sandwich bags, that lives in your dock locker except when landlubber guests are expected. Then it goes into the head beside the toilet and instructions to guests then become simple: unless you've eaten it first, it goes in the pail. NO exceptions, not even a toothpick. (You can make a sign to hang in the head if you're really uncomfortable telling them). You don't have to explain what the sandwich bags are for (tampons, and napkins)...unless your guests are real slobs, they'll figure that out for themselves and use them. Just make sure they're in plain sight. When the guests go home, the liner goes to the dumpster with the rest of the trash and the pail and sign go back into the dock locker.

You really DO need to explain to guests how to flush the toilet, but a lot of people seem to be uncomfortable about how to approach that. The easiest way is to make it just another part of your "this is where everything is and how it works" tour of the boat--something you should do for ALL first-time guests, landlubber or not (how many times have we all had to hunt for 10 minutes for the light switch in the head on a strange boat...and finally had to ask?)--when they come aboard. The toilet just becomes part of the "tour," and a LOT less embarrassing for you OR your guests than having to show someone how to flush a full bowl. It's also the best time to tell them what the pail is for.

And by the way...I've always made safety issues a part of that tour.. "Here are the lifejackets. God willing we won't need them, but just in case, here’s how to put one on. The light switches are located...and they work by…. The water faucets work just like the ones at home, but please don't let the water just run, because what's in the tank is all there is. Please don't try to help unless specifically asked to do something, you could get hurt if I zig when you expect me to zag…" etc. It's been my experience that landlubbers are a lot more comfortable aboard when they know a little bit about the boat, how things work, and what's expected--or not--of them.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[Nauti Fox]

Haydn,I think that one would be the MBM best buy.
Cheers Peggy.


<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.

 

[oldgit]

Re: Why would someone shove a can of......

deodourant down your bog................../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[powerskipper]

I say to all who go on the boat
"Not to put anything down the loo that has not gone though you first"
It covers the main points and then show them where the bins of refuse bags are, normally works and no red faces./forums/images/icons/smile.gif
It mite help to also put a sign up saying the same thing,

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Dave1258]

Sign on M/home toilet door says "no squatters"................

<hr width=100% size=1>Someday my ship will come in, and with my luck I'll be at the airport!!

 

[HeadMistress]

On a boat pitching about in heavy seas, "squatting only/no standing, violators will clean the head" should be the rule.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[powerskipper]

where can i buy one pleeeeeease!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Julie ,
IMOSHO of course,/forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[ArthurWood]

Discharging sewage in a mooring??????

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[HeadMistress]

When it comes to what can safely pass through a marine toilet or is likely to clog it, or whether it's advisable for gentlement to sit to ensure they don't miss, whether the toilet flushes overboard--directly or through a treatment device (which is perfectly acceptable on a mooring unless those particular waters have been declared a "no discharge zone") or into a tank--is irrelevant, Arthur.

<hr width=100% size=1>Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987

 

[ArthurWood]

Peggie, have you just come from the Club? Who ever said anything on this forum had to be relevant to the original subject? I don't get your point, anyway.
I may have assumed incorrectly that the boat in question was in a marina but IMHO it's pretty disgusting, not to say inconsiderate to dump sewage there, legal or not.


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