Monday, March 25, 2013

Boat Galley: Flush or Don't Flush

This week's Boat Galley article contains a little light reading for the head...

Boat head
Photo courtesy theboatgalley.com
Tips From The Boat Galley
By Carolyn Shearlock, author of The Boat Galley, with over 500 FREE articles to get the most out of your boat kitchen with galley tips, insights & equipment recommendations. A few recipes, too - plus an active Facebook community to ask questions and share tips with other readers! The Boat Galley Cookbook, written with Jan Irons, is now available at Amazon and other retailers.

Okay, this is another post that is only semi-galley... but I've recently had a couple of e-mails on what to do with used toilet paper on board - flush it or not? - and also on one of the forums I'm on. So here goes!



The Boat Galley: A Clog-Free Head

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 our head. 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 problem. 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!

Photo courtesy theboatgalley.com
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. 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!)


About the Author

Carolyn Shearlock is author of The Boat Galley, with over 500 FREE articles to get the most out of your boat kitchen with galley tips, insights & equipment recommendations. A few recipes, too - plus an active Facebook community to ask questions and share tips with other readers! The Boat Galley Cookbook, written with Jan Irons, is now available from Amazon and other retailers.


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