Who ever uses marina loos or showers?

[RupertW]

Not been in UK marinas for a while, are they generally happy with discharging showers into the water? Med marinas Ive been in are a lot more fussy, I suppose with lack of tidal flow. But its clear that some ignore the marina rules anyway. I certainly did with washing up water! Allegedly.......

We are in the Med and never thought twice about washing clothes, dishes or selves and discharging into marina but we haven’t been to Turkey yet where I understand they are more strict.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'm more interested to know what sort of animal thinks it acceptable to flush a sea toilet in a marina. A couple of years ago I was chatting to a nice (I thought) couple on a motorboat on Ardfern. She disappeared below and a few minutes later there was the whine of an electric toilet and a great cloud of brown shit and shredded toilet paper puffed out the side of the boat, clearly visible from the pontoon. Yeugh.

 

[capnsensible]

I'm more interested to know what sort of animal thinks it acceptable to flush a sea toilet in a marina. A couple of years ago I was chatting to a nice (I thought) couple on a motorboat on Ardfern. She disappeared below and a few minutes later there was the whine of an electric toilet and a great cloud of brown shit and shredded toilet paper puffed out the side of the boat, clearly visible from the pontoon. Yeugh.

Yeah, you really shouldnt put paper down the heads. Apparently though, poo is 75% water and fish eat the rest. But........

 

[johnalison]

I'm more interested to know what sort of animal thinks it acceptable to flush a sea toilet in a marina. A couple of years ago I was chatting to a nice (I thought) couple on a motorboat on Ardfern. She disappeared below and a few minutes later there was the whine of an electric toilet and a great cloud of brown shit and shredded toilet paper puffed out the side of the boat, clearly visible from the pontoon. Yeugh.

Sensitivities change with time. Take Salcombe for example. There was a time when the number of yachtsmen on the water were few and few people worried about what they discharged. Fortunately, seawater is excellent at dealing with dirty and infected material and also gives a flush twice daily, but I agree that solid discharge should be avoided wherever possible.

My current boat, now in its 19th year is the first that we have had with a holding tank and shower, so our habits have changed. We scarcely ever discharge solid waste now, but don't worry much about urine, except when our marina neighbours are sitting in the cockpit and our pumping will attract unwanted attention, when we will use the holding tank.

Our boat shower is cleaner, easier to use, and has a dry dressing area, so I often use it for preference. Continental showers particularly seem to be designed for midgets wearing only shorts and immune to the cold, and the users incapable of showering without leaving a flood of water across the changing area, not to mention street dirt on the floor and empty bottles of potions, and for this they often charge a euro or two for the pleasure.

 

[pvb]

Not been in UK marinas for a while, are they generally happy with discharging showers into the water?

Yes, and the shower water is a lot cleaner than washing-up water people happily discharge from the galley sink!

 

[dslittle]

Well this season we have used a great number of French Marina facilities. Whilst they have varied in luxury (La Forêt is TRULY palatial and certainly comparable with Portland/Chichester/Port Solent etc)!!!) the majority have been acceptable to us. We have a nice shower on board which has only been used in anger at Camaret (instead of the dungeon). We have never used the heads whilst in a Marina (for solids) which I believe everyone should (unless keeping it in their holding tank until it can be disposed off considerably). Previously, on the West Coast of Scotland and in Greece, our destinations precluded frequent visits to shoreside showers so we used the shower more but still endeavoured to use toilets ashore (which often involved alcohol as a bonus...)

 

[Kelpie]

Have never owned a boat with a holding tank or shower. Wouldn't dream of discharging the heads into a marina, unless it was just a pee and even then I feel a bit guilty and only do it in the middle of the night or if it's really chucking it down outside. So shoreside facilities all the way, although tbh we probably anchor at least 80% of the time and have got used to using a variety of rudimentary camping-style cockpit shower devices.

 

[capnsensible]

Yes, and the shower water is a lot cleaner than washing-up water people happily discharge from the galley sink!

Bet you do both......

Actually Ive sometimes wondered if the detergent arisings help with spilt fuels and exhaust crap that inevitably cause contamination?

 

[mainsail1]

I suggest Ecover is the way forward when washing up on a boat. Said to degrade in 4 days.

 

[ip485]

Two lovely hot showers on board and two electric flushing fresh water loos - why would you want to go somewhere else?

Waste goes direct to holding tank and only ever pumped when at sea.

 

[alant]

I'm more interested to know what sort of animal thinks it acceptable to flush a sea toilet in a marina. A couple of years ago I was chatting to a nice (I thought) couple on a motorboat on Ardfern. She disappeared below and a few minutes later there was the whine of an electric toilet and a great cloud of brown shit and shredded toilet paper puffed out the side of the boat, clearly visible from the pontoon. Yeugh.

Do ladies actually shit?

 

[Sandy]

Surely the hired crew do all that.

At 10.1 meters (33 feet in old money) there is no legal requirement for hired crew.

 

[Sandy]

The other point to conside, a high percentage of us don’t have boats large enough to have showers fitted.

My small 10.1 meter boat was very cleverly designed my a French man. I can even remove the diesel tank in under an hour.

 

[dslittle]

But nearly 20 years of Marina showers means im not over worried about it.

Luxury - being above the sea that is...

 

[mjcoon]

... two electric flushing fresh water loos

Not de-ionised or distilled water? ;-) But at least you won't get calcium build-up...

Mike.

 

[RichardS]

I generally use the marina toilets and showers whereas The Missus uses the boat toilets and showers. However, as she's the one who cleans said facilities before we leave the boat then I feel that it's her prerogative to use them if she wishes.

Richard

 

[AngusMcDoon]

An advantage of sailing single handed is you don't have to shower at all so the decision which to use is easy - neither. Four months & counting...

 

[mjcoon]

An advantage of sailing single handed is you don't have to shower at all so the decision which to use is easy - neither. Four months & counting...

Olive oil and strigil?

Mike.

 

[JumbleDuck]

An advantage of sailing single handed is you don't have to shower at all so the decision which to use is easy - neither. Four months & counting...

Are you absolutely sure you have cause and effect the right way round?

 

[Daydream believer]

If you have ever used the facilities in Bruinisse you would certainly have no qualms about using their shore side showers etc. I just wish some of the UK marina operators would follow the example.
i think some architects should be made to use the facilities after they have designed them. Especially the idiot who designed Eastbourne's showers with the loo in the shower compartment. There is nothing like having a shower just after some winch monkey has dumped the previous nights curry in the same cubicle that you need to use to shower because that is the only available one
if berthed in Scarborough then on board facilities are the only option - unless one has had a typhoid injection before hand of course