Is preventing a clogged head as simple as changing what you do with toilet paper? Yes.
You’ll be a lot less likely to have clogs if you don’t put toilet paper down the head. Instead, do as people in many parts of the world with undersized sewer systems do: use a lidded wastebasket lined with a plastic bag, and burn it or otherwise dispose of it daily. A few drops of eucalyptus oil or other air freshener will cover any smell. Tell guests with a polite sign in the head (see below).
Yes, this is a photo of the head in our first boat, Que Tal (we now have a composting toilet on Barefoot Gal). We always put the TP in the trash and so did almost all cruisers in the Sea of Cortez; the joke was that when we’d make a trip to the US or Canada, we’d have a hard time remembering to flush the TP!
I know, a lot of people are going to say “yuck!” and others will say they’ve flushed the TP for years without a clogged head. Dave’s and my feeling was that inasmuch as Que Tal had only one head, and neither one of us was very wild sweating over an un-flushed toilet in 90+ degree temps, and even less wild on the idea of having to use a bucket during the process, not flushing was the way to go. If you’re willing to risk having to unclog it — in most cruising locales you can’t just call a plumber and let them deal with it — your choice may be different. I’ve also heard of boats that allow flushing but impose a 2-square limit . . . I find that idea MUCH more repulsive than putting it in covered container!
Here’s a close up of our sign — we had two copies of it, one above the pump handle and one where they’d see it while sitting on the toilet. Of course, your flushing instructions will be different but it’s good to post them (ours were particularly strange due to a strange siphon break). Every head is slightly different and even other cruisers may want instructions on how to use yours. We had the signs laminated so they’d last longer (as you can see, it’s time to re-do them!).
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Debra Perfitt on Facebook says
Good idea. It’s a worry when you have guests onboard how to explain potty training.
Jan Irons on Facebook says
Love the sign. We’ve never put TP in the head, but had the TP trauma earlier this week anyway! Solved now though! 🙂
burce says
Here in the Philippines not flushing TP is standard. Initially I was surprised at the lack of odor expecting otherwise. Apparently the TP removes the moisture from the fecal matter on the paper by capillary action relatively quickly and this prevents odors.
The use of TP is a luxury for most in third world countries and they use a ‘tabo’ – a plastic sauce pan as a dipper to rinse with; pouring with one hand while washing with the other. Not having mastered this trick as I am new to this procedure, I have modified the rinse procedure by using a small plastic watering can with the sprinkler removed to provide a more controlled stream of (sea) water – I just fill the can on the way to the head. This eliminates the whole hassle (and expense) of buying and storing TP. One never thinks of this while in first world countries as we have been taught differently our entire lives.
AKMary says
Burce – After your rinse, do you drip-dry? Use a towel? Thanks.
Anonymous says
Bruce,
I would add that in the “first plus world” (obv Japan) the exact same water technique is used except with a small pressurized hose. There is an Asian saying that may be TMI but here goes. “Wipe with paper—never clean.”
“Toilets in Japan are generally more elaborate than toilets in other developed nations” citation below.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilets_in_Japan
tami says
My sign says:
“Nothing goes in the head
that hasn’t been eaten first.”
“Gentlemen
Please be seated.”
On the lids of my toilet paper cans it says:
“Toilet paper here.
There are no plumbers at sea.”
Carolyn Shearlock says
Great signs!
Gail Johnson says
Why do you put your finger over a hole?
Carolyn Shearlock says
It’s a weird siphon break that I’ve never seen on another boat.
Sue says
We have to put the finger over the hole in the siphon break too. We put a blob of bluetac over it when we have guests and discreetly check after they gave been to the head.
Carolyn Shearlock says
🙂
Anonymous says
Does the siphon break create a sinking prevention advantage?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Exactly.
Jorge Bermudez on Facebook says
A Lavac head! Love it!
The Boat Galley on Facebook says
Yep! We hadn’t used one before we bought Que Tal, but loved it. In almost seven years, our only repair was to replace the gasket/seal on the lid once.
Jorge Bermudez on Facebook says
My wife loves it because you don’t have to get close and personal. Just close the lid and goodbye!
The Boat Galley on Facebook says
Agreed!
burce says
AkMary – it depends, a smart finger flick will get rid of most of the drops and then the boxers get damp but soon dry in the heat; in a swim suit it makes no difference but if more layers the dampness usually doesn’t show and is soon gone. If you were worried about a damp spot showing, you could use a towel – but that raises complications: does everyone use the same towel? separate towels? (more washing) – so far the towel thing hasn’t been an issue. Probably a personal preference thing.
Mike says
I find that a can of Coke in the head once a season clears any blockages. To make the pump run smoothly use 1 Tbsp cooking oil in the bowl & flush through.
Christopher Rasch says
What do you think of composting toilets like Nature’s Head:
http://www.natureshead.net/marine.html
Carolyn Shearlock says
I’ve used various brands of composting toilets on friends’ boats (we didn’t have one) and talked to many others about them as well. Everyone who has one seems to like it — the biggest thing seems to be finding the absorbent material (whether it be peat, coconut husks or something else) in some out of the way places. One friend uses sawdust which she says works well and they’ve been able to find everywhere.
If they’re done right, there isn’t any smell and there is nothing to clog. Just have to find a place to dispose of the bag. From what I can gather, a composting toilet is legal in no discharge zones where you otherwise have to show proof of pump outs (but don’t just take my word on this — check where you are and where you plan to cruise — as I did a quick general check, not specific to any particular place).
Sherry Stewart Haught says
Where do you burn it?
The Boat Galley says
We’d burn it with the rest of our burnable trash (or if you’re in an area with good trash disposal ashore, you can put it with the rest of your trash). More on how we burned trash: https://theboatgalley.com/burning-trash/
Verona says
A tablespoon of vegetable oil every day or so in in the head, does wonders in keeping the seals lubricated and makes the flushing job a lot easier!
Jorge Bermudez says
That looks like a lavac head? I don’t understand the finger over the hole instructions. What is that all about. I have a lavac on Skalliwag-no hole.
The Boat Galley says
It’s in the anti-siphon valve, non-standard, and the anti-siphon works so well that it won’t draw water unless you cover it up. Since no one else has ever seen anything else like it, have to give directions or else it won’t flush.
Carlos Nunez says
no TP in the head and vinegar twice a year to brake up the calcification from the salt water
David Grimm says
When we first started sailing we just got into the habit of not putting TP in the head.
Jane Gammons says
Carry a bottle brush for use in cleaning the head. It also helped us one evening with a friend who had some constipation problems and clogged the head. It got pushed thru,
Ok, maybe TMI but it happened.
Mary E Dixon says
Since I put my arm & hand to the bottom of the full holding tank & pulled a clog from the pickup tube everyone is banned from flushing tp. Yuk.
The Boat Galley says
I just can’t “Like” that. Yuck is right!
Florian Wolf says
I am currently going along the same route with our ‘posh electric toilet’ that my sweetie so much wanted (grrr,,,), with the only difference that the lovely toilet paper dumped in the bowl subsequently ground the macerator to a hold & subsequently burned out the motor. Now I have to take the whole shit (literally…) apart, fix what I can fix, but most likely will use the whole shebang as a ‘boat anchor’ & replace it with a lovely, mechanical all bronze & porcelain pump toilet w. walnut seat, manufactured by Sands in the US in 1924 & lovingly restored by me. On a 1923 ship THIS is appropriate, not the modern electrical crap manufactured by GMC & others. And as of today no paper will ever again go down the hole, but only into an appropriately labelled bin. scented bin
Burt Tandy says
The one thing most dealers of electric toilet and most skippers won’t talk about is how solid solid from a very healthy passenger will sit across the toilet drain or straight as a resisting soldier that no amount of flushing will push down. The other funny and interesting one is the small floating fellow who laughs at you and all your efforts to send him down the drain. In just a few months of use, we’ve had about 8 cases of very embarassing situations, no TP involved in the problem with visitors. Makes you regret the porta potti that you just shake in such a case.
Peter Craig says
When I bought my yacht, the surveyor/shipwright said the manual toilet was leaking and suggested putting in an electric toilet that I assume macerated the stuff as it flushes it into the holding tank or over the side depending on the settings. As this was my first yacht I just went with his suggestion and had it installed. Do you still have problems with toilet paper with an electric toilet? It also has a macerator to empty the holding tank.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I’ve never had one so can’t say with any certainty. I know that aboard a friend’s boat, with an electric head, they also follow the no TP in the head rule, but I don’t know if it’s for clog prevention or if they just don’t want it taking up space in the holding tank.
Jeff Janacek says
I’ve done charters for over ten years and know that the vast majority of my clients would not like this approach. Neither do I, and I’m a farm boy and very familiar to yucky things. We have used Charmin Basic, or some other cheap, one ply tissue for years and never had trouble with the macerator or pump out. We tell folks to use a minimum amount and that if it plugs up they will help us clean it out or go over the side. Peggy Hall’s (Queen of Crap, Head Mistress) test: put a couple sheets in a jar of water and shake it up. If it falls apart, it’s OK.
Debra Adkins says
If it didn’t go in your mouth, it doesn’t go in the head!
Jim says
I keep a spray bottle next to the toilet and a hanging plastic shopping bag for the toilet paper. Mix about a 10 to 15 % solution of water and vinager and add 3 or 4 oz of dawn to this. Spray toilet after use and paper in bag. No odor, disinfects and lubes toilet.
Cheri Ogden says
We have a couple of rules on our cruiser. Even though we don’t cruise great distances, the thought of my husband (yep, I’m not gonna do it) having to work on a smelly, stopped up toilet it not pleasing. Our first rule for people who are on board with us is similar to another posting: “if it doesn’t go in here (pointing to your mouth) it doesn’t go in there (pointing to the head) and secondly our standard rule of thumb is that no toilet paper goes into the head. All TP goes into a plastic garbage bag hanging in the head but we keep sandwich baggies in the head for putting “dirty” TP inside before placing into the plastic garbage bag. I have found this will contain most odors when the garbage is emptied every day or two.
Wally Moran says
This entire thread is proof that people can get used to anything. I refuse to put TP into a bag for future disposal. The daily aggravation of having to deal with that sort of thing is far greater than an occasional clog – and in 12 years have had one clog, which was due more to calcification in a hose more than anything else.
Here’s how you deal – don’t use a ton of paper. Let it get good and wet before pumping it down. Pump ALL the way through to your holding tank (or overboard where applicable).
And if worst comes to worst – have an elbow length set of plastic gloves on board… ;>)
Bill says
Wow! Is that REALLY the flush process for a Lavac toilet? What a pita! I have been using a vacuflush for fifteen years as a live aboard. Using normal hose hold tp protocol. Never once a problem–ever.
I had been thinking of switching to a Lavac before leaving for a long term cruise. This article is seriously changing my mind…
Carolyn Shearlock says
I think that you mistook my description of flushing a Lavac head — ours was a slightly unusual installation with a non-standard siphon break that required us to put a finger over the hole as we pumped. A normal installation does not have that.
In seven years, we never had a problem with the Lavac head other than once changing the seal on the lid. Never had a clog or had to change the joker valve. Never had a time when it couldn’t be used.
Don’t decide against one based on how we had to flush — look at a standard installation. I’d much prefer it over the Raritan in our current boat!
Florian Wolf says
Nope – we have an electric TMC too, and it will go flying out of the ship after TP clogged up the macerator AND THE MOTOR BURNED OUT ! We will go 1924 mechanic (fully restored Sands marine toilet, white porcelain, polished bronze and walnut seat & lid) again and have an appropriately selected bucket with fragrance side by side with ‘the throne’. Not to forget about an appropriately elaborate sign on the wall, probably in brass on a mahogany board or whatever timber fits the bill and looks good. My wife is the modern ‘pooper’, I am quite old-school and have sailed on several bucket and pump-toilet equipped ships – works all fine as long as some restraint and discipline is exercised. The golden rule on the classic yawl I crewed on for many years was: whoever screws up the toilet has to fix it – the verdict was enforced by our not always diplomatic ex-German Navy bosun, and I can guarantee you that this all worked very fine and flawlessly. While I am normally not a great fan of too much inflexibility I must consent that when it comes to the potty on board that’s when the fun stops.
Sax Dearing says
A number of companies make toilet paper that rapidly disintegrates in water thus preventing clogging. Bybthe time you finish your business the paper is mush. Thetford is one brand. Seems a simpler solution to me.
Peter Bould says
We have been using a TMC electric toilet for 30 years. And flushing the TP. Never had even one blockage. When we first installed I fed almost a whole roll of TP in trying to block it. Nada. Nothing. Zero.
Go electric.
Beth Joyal says
I have one more thought – on our sailboat Lake Effect *** there is a small sign – “When at sea, we all sit to pee”
Carey Moluchi says
I like: “We aim to please, so will you aim too please”
BoBo Bailey says
Just use your left hand, problem solved. Millions of Indians agree.
Marc J. Kornutik says
🤢🤮
BoBo Bailey says
….and, shake with the RIGHT!
Marc J. Kornutik says
Only issue we ever had was visiting teenage nieces years ago.
We include paper for solids only (separate paper for pee use only, that gets binned) Since then zero issues in nearly 10 years… knock wood !
Scott Ward says
It all goes in the toilet! Anything else is barbaric.
The Boat Galley says
I would not say barbaric, but that’s perhaps because I do it and many places I’ve lived, it’s also the custom on shore. No, you don’t have to do it but realize that many people do.
Larry Schwartzbach says
Boat Galley -Disagree with your logic on toilet paper disposal –
First and foremost use the correct product and you can flush worry free. As a marine tech I’ve had countless heads apart and can count on one hand the paper clogs encountered . Nine out of ten times the culprit is female products .
The Boat Galley says
I know some people do. Far more of the people I know do not put TP in the toilet; therefore, you won’t see clogs from them.
Mike Turner says
My grand daughter visited and in spite of repeated warnings the seven year old clogged it big time! I’m still trying to make the remainder of the clog go away. I may do it before her next visit!
Mike Turner says
Perhaps we should return to the wet sponge on a stick for sanitary consideration.
Wayne Broadhead says
Seven years live aboard. Two vacuflush heads. Cheapest Walmart single ply tissue down the heads and no plugs. We flush each head with lots of water during each pump out. We flush when the tank is empty and there is lots of vacuum. It seems to flush out residue that builds up in the system.
Linsay Patterson says
Yes, but when does EVERYONE do it the correct way?
I brought in a “2 squares rule”, thinking that some people will always go up to double the limit, and had far less issues after that.
But some think it’s just like the one at home!
Gena Beckett Olson says
Yep, that’s what we do!
Barb France says
After having to unclog twice we follow that rule to the tee!
Paul Sunshine says
on the boat next door
Joanne Cannon says
The resistance I have gotten from visitors on this has been unbelievable!
Mark DeCicco says
YUK save dirty T. P. Bet you have 0 guests. I’ve been Live aboard for years, owned boats with heads for 30 plus years. I’ve had 4 memorable experiences with clogged heads…. never been caused by TP. 1 Lady’s product, 2 by baby wipe, 1 a clogged line saltwater flush “ calcium buildup”
Kristy Dunning says
With our composting head, we can put the TP right in, but in our electric flush head we use the garbage can for all paper. It isn’t just us using that head, and we frequently have guests with kids on board… They are notorious for using too much TP, lol. Yes – we have had TP clogs before on other boats before using the garbage can.
Linsay Patterson says
Too much paper can stuff a head as much as a sanitary product.
I’ve had to clear heads due to both issues (Sanitary being the worst culprit).
One boat I’m no longer having to repair the head on now has a bin for ALL paper.
Carey Moluchi says
And never keep Q tips where they can accidentally fall in the bowl! They are now banned from the area………………….
Claire Phillips Hickman says
Marry a plumber. And we’ve never had an issue. LOL but he has fixed other boat toilets.
Jan New Moring says
Have owned 5 boats and NEVER put paper down the head. We also have a sign in our head saying if it didn’t come out of your body it doesn’t go into the head! Barbaric or not – guests won’t help unblock the head when it happens. If they don’t like it they don;t have to use it.
Enid Bibby says
We fitted a bidet douche spray which minimizes TP use. Beware toilet wet wipes- we also have a bin.
Lester Griffith says
Just completed a passage and there was a strict no TP rule. Three days in the Skippers head clogged but the crew head was fine. I do not know if he flushed TP or not, he said of course not. I was able to clear the clog using Dawn dish soap. Hero of the day – me!
Paul Shapiro says
I’m curious about the hole in your u-tube siphon break. My Lavac toilet has a small plastic part with a very small orifice inserted into a 5mm hole at the top of the fill hose. That small orifice allows the pump to work without pulling in significant air, and when you stop pumping there is enough air flow to refill the toilet and release the vacuum in a minute or two. Are you maybe missing that little plastic insert in the hose?
Carolyn Shearlock says
The prior owner had installed it and deliberated created a larger siphon break.
Hector MacNeil says
I’m curious to know how the Dawn dish soap helped clear the clog. Did you just flush it down the head? What is the procedure? Thanks. – Hector