Toilet paper and head clog

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

To answer your direct question, marine and RV TP is definitely intended to breakdown faster then "average household"... but there are some that break down just as well...

I've never had WM paper on any of my boats...

After seeing that test a year ago, we switched to Charmin and never had a clog.

At home, this gets the nod:

Brondell S1000-EW Swash 1000 Advanced Bidet Elongated Toilet Seat, White - - Amazon.com

[Mithril Bham]

Having spent some years in the charter biz can't recall how many toilets I've rebuilt due to clogging. Personally I take a shower when I use the head. Lots of water up here. Clean head at the same time. Other than that I've always flushed paper and never had a problem. Just be frugal and pump a lot. I wouldn't spend the money on the fancy stuff.

[boeing1]

I use RV TP on my boat and never had a problem.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I buy the 'basic' range not the 'extra tough' ....

The normal Jabsco head has a 2 inch outflow pipe. Its pretty hard to clog it up.

Jabsco is 1 1/2-inch, like all manual heads.

And anything with a bear in the ad is probably a mistake!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Jabsco is 1 1/2-inch, like all manual heads.

And anything with a bear in the ad is probably a mistake!

Its these metric tape measure's.. he forgot to carry a decimal point..

[Hudson Force]

I think convoluted plumbing is more often the problem than type of head or type of toilet paper. I have a straight three foot hose from head to holding tank and never a clog from toilet paper with 45 years aboard.

I pump from head to holding tank with no loop, elbow or Y-valve.

edit: as I reconsider, there is an elbow built into the joker valve assembly that I'm not counting.

[sailortype]

no way in the world am I going to bag toilet paper... way gross. Twenty years, never had a blockage.
Well, there was that one time. A WetWipe... "well it says biodegradable" she said.........
Having been a landlord for many years I have dealt with some pretty ugly stuff, but have never actually retched like I did cleaning that clog :-|
I think that was the last time she was ever on the boat.

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

The standard protocol for almost all of us is...

If you didn't eat it or drink it, it doesn't go in the head... toilet paper included...

I was on an atlantic crossing a few years back. The head clogged after just a few days at sea. The skipper gave a strict order...no paper down the head...toss it overboard instead.

I was shocked, since I had never had any trouble with paper clogs on any of my sailboats...using conventional 2play TP.

So we all just stuffed the used paper in our pockets, then if/when we remembered, we would empty our pockets next time we were on deck. I often had a big wad of paper in my pocket for hours, since it was easy to forget about it. Fortunately, we didn't get much to eat, so on the 21 day crossing, I think I only had 3 bowel movements in total...and I had already done one before the new rule came into affect.

[thinwater]

The standard test is really simple. Take a "wad" in your hand (don't count squares, because the amount you will actually use varies), place it in warm water for 2 minutes, and stir a few times. If it falls to unrecognizable pulp it is good. You will be able to lift a facial tissue out in one piece.

[CarlF]

Look at all those fancy powerboats in the marina. Do you think those folks bag TP?

I've bought the West Marine two ply for a decade - usually on sale. It never clogs. I expect I could get it cheaper at the supermarket if I knew what brand West repackaged but I've got better uses of my time than saving a few bucks on TP.

I tell guests that if kleenex, paper towel, baby wipes, tampons, or something similiar shows up in the head, they will never be invited back on the boat. No one has ever asked me how I would know

About six years ago I switched to a Raritan Elegance electric head. Not cheap but it sure solves a lot of problems:

-It never clogs because everything is macerated before it enters the plumbing.I think the macerator could grind up most anything short of a t-shirt. It's surprisingly quiet.
-It requires zero routine maintenance. So far, I've had no repairs.
-It uses much less flush water so there are fewer pump outs
-Mine can be switched between salt water or fresh water flush but I always now use fresh water as there's much less smell.
-Guests don't have to learn 19th century technology to take a leak.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by jheldatksuedu

I am using much less toilet paper than I used to use. I am researching this to reduce waste at sea and also reduce the need for supplies. I first use about 6 or 7 sheets carefully folded and refolded between wipes, and get 6 or more good wipes, depending on the consistency of the movement. I set this aside after use and it dries before the next movement, the last wipe from the last use are clean enough to serve as a first wipe for the next use and then I cover that with the first sheet of 4 sheets and wipe again. I then with careful folding I often can get 6 wipes or more out of the 4 sheets, sometimes there is enough left over for a first couple wipes for the next use. The wad gets too big to be convenient after about 6 movements. Overall I probably use 1/3 the toilet paper, reducing trash (since on a boat the TP should not go in the water with the waste) and also reducing the supplies needed to be carried.

that's given me a laugh to wake up too. Too funny

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by CarlF

Look at all those fancy powerboats in the marina. Do you think those folks bag TP?
[/INDENT]

Just noticed.. its a power boat thread..

[Rustic Charm]

When someone is advocating drying and re-using TP, then it's a jokes thread

[Skuzzlebutt]

Originally Posted by jheldatksuedu

I am using much less toilet paper than I used to use. I am researching this to reduce waste at sea and also reduce the need for supplies. I first use about 6 or 7 sheets carefully folded and refolded between wipes, and get 6 or more good wipes, depending on the consistency of the movement. I set this aside after use and it dries before the next movement, the last wipe from the last use are clean enough to serve as a first wipe for the next use and then I cover that with the first sheet of 4 sheets and wipe again. I then with careful folding I often can get 6 wipes or more out of the 4 sheets, sometimes there is enough left over for a first couple wipes for the next use. The wad gets too big to be convenient after about 6 movements. Overall I probably use 1/3 the toilet paper, reducing trash (since on a boat the TP should not go in the water with the waste) and also reducing the supplies needed to be carried.

You gotta be sh**ting me!

It's OK for a billion people to flush tons of stuff down various types of 'sanitation systems', yet you are worried about reusing a couple of shees of single ply that will self-destruct in the vast ocean ( 2/3 of the planet ) in a couple days max?

Get a life.

[nautical62]

Originally Posted by magellanyachts

....I've always flushed paper and never had a problem. Just be frugal and pump a lot. I wouldn't spend the money on the fancy stuff.

+1

I find constant pumping is they key. It's when people try to pump everything through at once that something is more likely to get jammed in the joker valve.

I can't image marine TP its going to break down significantly in the few inches between the bowl and joker valve.