A Simple Solution for Boat Toilet Stink
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- Learning how to get rid of boat toilet stink, keep the holding tank clean, and finding out which products are safe to use for your head can be daunting but in this video, Practical Sailor tackles marine toilet cleaning, simplifying the process of taking care of your boat's toilet.
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A Simple Solution for Boat Toilet Stink
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Nice review. Our 16 yr old PDQ power cat has that same Jabsco fresh water electric toilet. This boat spent 17 of its 18 years in a charter fleet business in Puget Sound, WA. That means we've seen just about every possible issue with a boat toilet. And, as part of this 55 boat fleet, we also learned a LOT about what works and does not work. We took the boat out of the charter game last winter, but still follow the simple rule of "If its not eaten, it does not go i the toilet."
For reducing the stink, we've learned that vinegar does not work very well, but Baking Soda does for soaking / cleaning the holding tank. For eliminating the "stink", we use Zaal's NoFlex Digester every day while on the boat. NoFlex is a sewage treatment chemical that virtually eliminates the foul odor and dissolves sewage sludge. It is very effective and does not harm the system or the environment. We also change ALL of our sani system hoses every 5 years.
Here's a good TH-cam video evaluating the best products -- NoFlex is #3 in this list: th-cam.com/video/yrOad3e57g4/w-d-xo.html
Noflex user here as well. 1/2 oz. per day, 2 oz. after pump-out. 2 Years in at this point. Dometic fresh water vacuum flush system. Fixed the head and holding tank smell in the 18 year old sailboat I purchased.
Another vote for the Zaal No Flex. Great stuff!
I was flushed red embarrassed to talk about this subject. It could have been a real schitty episode but as usual you dodo a excellent job presenting a clear message. Probly a lot of paperwork to wipe away any misinformation. Thank you Tim. You're the bomb.
Great vocabulary!
Drew is not an authority imho on cruising heads... As a 40 year vet of many yatcht delivery... The Bible of onboard head use is DON'T!!! But in an emergency... No paper, ever.
@@RevDrMalamaRobinson no paper? Even the special made paper for boat systems n ocean safe? Remind me never to shake your hand ✋️
@@jesuschrist-alphaomega put the paper in the trash can or use a French water rinse... Your choice cowboy. I never shake men's hands btw.
Sew Clean is fantastic! Removed ancient stains in my previous boat’s bowl and cleans the whole system. Also recently converted to the Raritan CP enzymatic systems; actually makes it smell clean and fresh and not perfume-y.
Great video. We have been using Zaal Noflex as an ongoing black water tank treatment for several years now. Our tank previously had so much built up sludge that it was difficult to pump out completely. It took a full season to get the black tank cleaned up and a healthy “culture” happening again. We also recently replaced all of the old rubber sanitation hoses with butyl. The sanitation system is now very nearly odourless. I had no idea how much of our odour issues was permeated through the hose walls. Thank you for the tip on sew clean. We had been doing an annual soak with 10% cleaning vinegar but I was shocked at how much scale buildup was in the old hoses when I removed them. Always something to learn! Keep up the great work.
A plain Jane 5 gallon bucket worked in my younger days, but now this video is something I watch to keep up with the things I pretty much already know. Great information, Tim! Thanks again for a great video.
Watching this affirms my decision to install an Airhead two years ago. No fuss no mess no smell...
Airhead?
@@firebender666 Composting Toilet. To be more precise, a dessicating toilet.
I replaced most of the flexible hose running from the head to the holding tank with schedule 40 PVC pipe ( yes it was a bit of work ). I replace the remaining flex hose and rebuild my pump annually. I keep a brush next the head for convenience. TP goes into biodegradable doggie bags. Occasionally we run a bit of cleaning vinegar through the system. I wish I would have learned this 40 years ago. It is so worth the effort.
I use septic tank treatment only - keeps bacteria culture healthy. I don't use odorized treatments. I will wipe the toilet with a mild cleaner only. I also use bio-degradable toilet paper meant for RV's and Boats. You will love the new electric head - I switched mine out on my Tartan and loved it. Saves water as well so you don't fill your holding tank as fast.
Schönes Video. Da ich ein Mensch bin der sich sehr viele Dinge zur Brust nimmt um zu optimieren hier mal ein Hinweis zu dem Thema des alten verknöcherten Denken. Eine Bootstoilette ist in der heutigen Zeit grundsätzlich ganz anders zu konfigurieren. Der eigentliche Trichter für die Exkremente ist mit einem 2" Kugelhahn auszustatten. Somit ist für nachfolgende Technologie Schritte die Abschottung zum inneren vom Boot erst einmal garantiert. Eine Hochdruck Ring Rohr Spülung mit gezielt angeordneten Spritzdüsen setze ich voraus. Erstens zur individuellen Anwendung und der Entscheidung vom Reinigungsgrad. Nachdem nun die absolute Abschottung zum Innenraum vorliegt, zum nächsten Thema. Die Zerkleinerung der kompletten Brühe im Tank mit einer Feder vorgespannten Pumpe für das zerhacken oder heraus pumpen. Die Federvorspannung kann als entspannter Toiletten Gang und Kurbel erfolgen. Das mag zwar lächerlich klingen ist aber um ein vielfaches besser als das was zur Zeit in der Bootausstattung verkauft wird. Es gibt noch viele Dinge über eine Bootstoilette zu beschreiben die mit so wenig wie möglich mit Elektrizität betrieben werden soll. Wenn ich das alles so sehe, was die Leute für Sorgen und Probleme auf Ihren Booten habe, bekomme ich sehr oft das Lachen. Peter
Consider one of those toilet seat type bidets. We have one installed and it significantly cuts back on TP usage and the blockages that it can cause.
I ordered 1 from a Korean supplier, was All round a great investment & good experience 😊 💯 recommend this $70 or $80 addition 👌
@@mac-doien9298 what one did you order? I would like to give this a try.
I found having my guests watch a video about proper head use helps. I do that as part of the safety gathering. Thanks, Tim. Tell everyone at PS we say hello. Take care bud.
Airhead. got rid of 2 thru-hulls, holding tank, whale pump, 6 hoses, manifold, valves, smell, maintenance, disasters, etc. Made space for watermaker and tool chest. no more pumpouts. can carry 2 years of coconut coir bricks in a cubic foot. my wife and I can go 4 weeks full time between emptying.
Noflex digestor is the best product to battle smelly tanks. Breaks down sludge and paper.
Fantastic! My trailer sailer is starting to do longer trips with more enclosed head use so very timely for me. And my home well water is extremely hard so might experiment with some of these products there.
Good stuff ,keep it up. Use an in line strainer for raw water intake to head. Put a lid top trash can with plastic liner next to head . All toilet paper goes in can ,no exceptions . Its a reality check for your guest.
I have been using a ceramic coating on the porcelain part of the toilet. It keeps hard water deposits, urine and other build up from forming on the bowl. The water really beads up and cleaning is easy. I believe we are using less water as well. It is a product designed for homes, but works great on the boat, it is called Spot/less toilet coating. We are now using at home as well as the boat.
Good info thanks. I’ve been doing a lot of wrong things 😢
Just finished 30 minutes ago my yearly descaling with Trac Sew Clean. Works great when used diluted 1 quart in 1 gallon fresh water (my boat is in salt water). I leave overnight and flush with copious fresh water the next morning. It foams, fizzes, and the scale disappears. No oder or fumes when treating. The system is amazing clean. Sew Clean is a bit expense (at West Marine about $64/gallon) but should get 4 years treatment. Clean toilets at about $15.50 a year. Nothing goes down our toilets but human waste. Toilet paper in a small paper bag which goes into a Zip Lock into a small trash can. If we leave the boat for over a week or two, we flush with fresh water.
You mentioned starting treatment from the bowl. Actually, I always found starting treatment from the salt water intake hose worked best. There are several systems that interrupt the intake hose and add a beneficial product so every pump of the handle introduces a chemical that helps. No longer my problem because I have an AirHead composting toilet that has zero cabin odor and performs perfectly.
Good video. Good discussion in comments too!
I got the most bang for the buck by switching to fresh water flushing. I fill the water tank at the marina so I am flushing with chlorinated city water. I have had zero head odor issues since I set the system up to use fresh water to flush. To eliminate the possibility of contaminating my on board water supply, I plumbed the head intake to the head sink drain. To flush I run water into the sink then flush. This also lets me control how much water I use to flush to maximize holding tank life if needed. I also find that my 51 year old Wilcox Crittenden Junior II head bowl almost never needs cleaning due to its design and very high quality porcelain.
Hi, do you leave or have a 'water seal' in the bowl? Like a home toilet? Or is it dry??
@@markpeter1968 We pump it dry.
I have a Dometic VacuFlush head on my sailboat. It is the best thing ever! Zero problems in 15 years! and uses very little fresh water every time that you flush. I have dealt with electric "macerator" heads on charter boats. The macerator inevitably freezes up at the worst possible time.
I use doggie bags for wet wipes and TP. These are on a spool next to the TP. Game changer.
The King of thrones, you crowned that one Tim ~
Walmart sells biodegradable toilet paper in the RV/automotive section .. That works really good
We have a manual head and only flush what comes out of us. Tp goes into dog poop bags and into the garbage. We flush with fresh water that we pour from a 1 gallon jug. This helps wash the “spots” away while using less water. We used to notice a bad smell outside the boat after every time we flushed and it was pretty embarrassing when at a dock. So we added a vent line filter to our holding tank vent similar to the one’s in rv’s. 100% difference. Now we have zero smell issues.
We have basically the same setup with a macerator at the base of the toilet.
The system uses fresh water only, never seawater. That's been the single greatest impact. Beyond that we add about 5g of sodium percarbonate whenever solids are flushed. It helps to sterilize coliform and various other microbes by way of creating hydrogen peroxide in water, then rapidly breaking down into harmless sodium carbonate long before discharge.
It also happens to be a main component of OxyClean.
I just put a bidet on my Raritan household bowl sized toilet. Those stupid little bowls drive me nuts. With the bidet i do not use toilet paper anymore. Also the bidet has a fresh water bowl fill. I try to flush with salt water only when necessary, way less build up. tA daaa! So nice
No one in America talks about bidets! They are fantastic and fix all the problems this guy talks about. I use one of those pump up bug sprayers filled with water, after cleaning me I can spray down the bowl. Very civilized
.
What make did you fit on?
I have bidets at home, but not on the boat. Can you direct us to the one you bought?
Just a note here. In places like Baja ( where I’m currently anchored) there are no pump outs anywhere but big cities like Cabo. Folks like me don’t go there under any circumstances. I cruise in remote places with small towns. For better or worse, the waste goes overboard.
My electric toilet started making a noise like a concrete mixer when flushing. I took it apart and found cherry pips in the macerator! One of my guests was very embarrassed. A year later I was still fishing pips out of my discharge pump.
I now ask all guests if they have eaten cherry, apricot, date or avocado pips in the past 48hrs.
You need a sign at the gang plank: Fruits no Nuts.
Watching this while sitting on the same head
We don't even flush toilet paper, we have a covered waste basket next to the head where the used TP goes. We use sented garbage bags and it really does not stink. We also flush with fresh water and that made a huge difference when we switched from seawater
I always provide a fresh water flush at the end of each sail. Keeps the seawater from decaying in the hoses.
For cleaning the holding tank if you can access it you can insert a flexible head of a pressure washer to desolve de mud and suck it out via the discharge outlet it work well for RV
I use vinegar occasionally to help dissolve calcium deposits. I also only use freshwater flushing in the heads.
I use 20% or 30% strength vinegar (normal household is 5%) and let it sit in the tanks for 10-15 minutes before pumping.
Right or wrong I use RV Camco. Work great on my marine head.
Good tips. Clean Potties is great product
White vinegar works very well in removing sail water deposits and stains. Cheap and easy to use. Keeps our Raritan Sea Era head looking and working like new. Try it, you'll like it.
I installed a bidet in the head on my boat. Because a clean bottom is very important while sailing
Curious thought - what about installing a modern smart bidet style toilet and eliminate toilet paper altogether?
Two of the most precious things on a boat, fresh water and holding tank space.
@@Mike-uc1euthe one I installed uses a fairly small amount of water, and what water is used replaces the numerous salt water pumps required to flush and break down the toilet paper. I wouldn't go back....
@@vicoastdog What brand and model did you install? If you don't mind me asking?
I wonder why people don't do what they do in other countries....use a bidet spray. There are some sailing TH-camrs who have recently received their new catamarans from Asia notably Thailand but probably don't have it as noticed when they show off the boat. Thais use the spray besides TP which is not flushed but rather tossed in a waste bin. After the spray, blot (as a doctor told me after a colonoscopy). Clean and fresh. I hope this isn't too much information but since you are talking about the head. Cheers.
The best solution around the toilet paper dilema are: BIDETS, this way you only use the toilet paper to dry and comfort the zone. The paper that goes into the waste basket is mainly clean and there is very little of it. I have installed bidet in all my heads and bathrooms.
I switched to using freshwater and both Raritain CP & KO. Odor is gone.
This video is a week late LOL! Thanks for the info will be buying C.P today.⛵⛵⛵
Great video
Great!!!
Thank you!
I understand oem hoses are often cheaper gas permeable fittings and replacing them cure 90% of the problem. Please test!
When you say practical, you mean it.
I found that muddy seawater used to flush leads to an awful stink after a week unused.
Later found a composting bucket doesn’t even smell, and is much simpler.
Removed head, macerator, holding tank and all related plumbing and replaced with OGO composting toilet. Easily fit 800ah lithium battery bank where holding tank was and NO SMELL EVER!
Hi, could you explain something about composting toilets that confuses me. Am I correct in the assumption that after the holding vessel is full and it’s composted down you can dispose into the rubbish bin or the garden, ( that’s assuming boats have a garden). My question is if you have to wait for the most recent “dump” to sweeten where on the boat do you store it. Because as I see it if you don’t wait until all the waste is processed you are putting raw sewage in the trash. Could you enlighten me please.
What about using Ridex?
Thanks for the video! Have you tried 30% vinegar (not the food grade that's very weak as you mentioned)?
I tried every product at west marine and none of them removed the stink from the heads. I replaced not only the head but all the hoses and the smell returned. My wife will not get on the boat with any smell at all. I now use bleach and have for years. It is hard on rubber parts but it removes all the smell and it’s cheap. I also pump out at least twice a month and sometimes more often. For me bleach works best.
I swapped my head but it didnt make me any wiser... as others suggested install bidet, you dont have to install full seat bidet, You can install a hand bidet with little trigger shower handle, connected to the sea or fresh water. costs 50$ takes 15mins to do, install splitter first , then noreturn valve to prevent bacteria going back into clean water system and then connect bidet handle
Waht's wrong with installing a water hose next to the toilet and use it to clean your mess?!
Great Tips
I built a head to replace a portapotty in my old boat and used a urine feces separator, and composted the solids. It was really effective. My new boat has a nice new flushable porcelain head and so I did not replace it... Yet.. 🏴☠️
The Bidet mounts under the existing seat lid. I'm probably the only boat in any harbor with one. Words out now
I did this a year ago on our sailboat and it's a really great addition. I am surprised it's not more widely used.
Have to use stronger vinegar
Most you'll get at the store .005%
Online you can buy 34% strength vinegar...it will dissolve concrete
Does anyone use yeast
Electric heads with power macerators are noisy contraptions and a real disturber of the peace, especially for live-aboard sailors within the marina. Since sound travels quite well through water, I get to hear everytime my neighbors flush their toilets (all night long.)
My wife and I live on our boat and have for the last twenty years. This is a subject I do actually know shxt about. The best head on board, is no head at all, but...
Have whatever toilet you want , but only for your quests. You would do best to do your business on shore. Especially don't pee aboard. Urine is "nature's calling card" and ammonia vapors are airborne and float everywhere. Furthermore, holding tanks are typically found directly under a berth. (My berth)
I have a composting head now. (I've tried all kinds of different marine heads.) Urine is separated from feces and dumped overboard everyday. The feces is held in the unit but allowed to compost. It's orderless. This tank gets emptied once a month or so, and it's just nitro hummus
The hassel of emptying the unit is far less objectionable than having to dismantle toilets and discharge lines and bang mineral salt water deposits out.
Been there, done that.
Questions? Ask
When you said to encourage lots of water, I thought you meant something like a bidet.
I've installed a hand held Bidet in my toilet. It saves using toilet paper.
What about using RID-X?
I put nothing in my head except what I eat or drink. I keep a “shitcan” next to the head-a used coffee can with plastic lid. Into this goes the used t.p., wipes, etc., to be disposed of when I return to port. I use CP as recommended. It deodorizes and degrades waste to liquid and I also pump out BEFORE my holding tank is completely full. A completely full holding tank can potentially pressurize and push out liquid waste past valve seals. Not good. Pumping out is a small expense. Do it before you regret it.
I give guest the 3 P lecture. "The only thing that goes in the head are Pee, Poop and that Paper." Yea, gross but to the point.
Wow potty training for a sailboat ❤
I don't put TP down the head. I depose of it overboard.
we dont either.. we keep a supply of dog poo-bags for TP which are then disposed of with other waste on shore.
When I leave the yacht I pour a can of coca cola down the heads. Seems to remove any odour when I return.
I thought you had used the nature's head. Tim
I thought the same thing… wonder why he switched back to a flush head and holding tank
I do, this electric is actually not for Lady K ;)
No probs on my boat we use a bucket
Always remember...chemicals only loosen they do not remove
Thanks for the poop. See you next time. 😊
Has anyone tried Bioclean?
Tip 1). Don't put your hands in your mouth😊 Tim.!
I pooped during this video :0
Oh crap 💩 🫢
Weird timing, I was thinking of writing a new article and do a video on this subject! Raritan's CP is indeed an excellent product. Once in a while, I also flush about half a cap full of Downey Fabric Softener. It does not damage anything and does end up providing a nice(r) smell. Another great solution, for those that have the room, is to install a fresh water tank to be used for the head only. Since this is chlorinated (mostly) city water, it will help with the smell in a big way. Checking your waste hoses too is a must and a frequent source of smell. Lastly, I too have installed an electric head a few years ago and love. Much easier for guests to use and I never worry of they pump enough times. Here the link to my electric toilet swap if your interested. th-cam.com/video/ZoRkcmDlEEc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=dvB7MxBMI9bGbY-q
Bucket and chuck it save a fortune and deliver vitamins to fishes 😊
Good sh** to know…Will try sew clean