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Old 28-03-2017, 22:06   #1
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Toilet replacement

After a lot of research I have come to the conclusion that there is no valid reason to not look at replacing a marine toilet with a residential toilet.

The water requirement is as low as 1.2 gallons on a residential toilet. Far less than years ago. There are one piece toilets now with power flush so clogging would be reduced immensely if not completely.

I am sure there is probably some ridiculous blue law on the books stopping the use of residential toilets on a boat.

Input please ?

Thanks
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Old 28-03-2017, 22:10   #2
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Re: Toilet replacement

Residential toilets are made for things to flow downhill. Things don't always flow downhill on a boat - it may take more water to flush. Just sayin`
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Old 28-03-2017, 22:42   #3
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Re: Toilet replacement

I think it's possible but there are some things that need to be addressed.

First you have a big tank of water with a loose fitting lid on a boat that tilts from side to side- messy.

You will need to plan the discharge to flow down hill as Smokey pointed out.

You'll need to plan on running much bigger discharge line to the holding tank.
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Old 28-03-2017, 22:50   #4
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Re: Toilet replacement

can be done on a vessel where the entire install is always above the waterline. Unusual in a yacht.
Huge outlet!! to go overboard or to a holding tank, significantly below the toilet....
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Old 28-03-2017, 23:37   #5
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Re: Toilet replacement

As others have said, you need gravity runs thru drastically larger piping all while dealing with a rolling boat. Will the P-trap stay full if you rock drastically.

For modest sized boats, 1.2gal per flush is 4-5 times what a marine toilet uses. Particularly if you only urinate. Assuming 5 uses per day for a couple, that's 11gal, so a 40gal tank would have to be emptied every 3 days.

With a more typical 1/4 gal for a marine unit, that's more like 2-3 gal per day, so you get over a week between pump outs in the same situation

On a mega yacht where the holding tank can be on the order of hundreds of gallons, not much of an issue (particularly if the crew take care of emptying it).
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Old 28-03-2017, 23:42   #6
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Re: Toilet replacement

Go ahead and install one; I think you'll discover why it won't work the first time you try to flush it.
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Old 28-03-2017, 23:49   #7
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Re: Toilet replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernPride View Post
There are one piece toilets now with power flush so clogging would be reduced immensely if not completely.

Input please ?

Thanks
Your research has apparently overlooked the fact that water pressure through the pipes in a residential setting is substantially higher than on a boat. Above 65psi in a house, around 25psi in a boat via a fresh water pump.

How do you plan on getting your new power flush toilet pressurized between flushes?
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Old 29-03-2017, 06:11   #8
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Re: Toilet replacement

The prices of power flush toilets are about the same or more than electric macerating marine toilets. The early macerating marine toilets needed 1-3 gallons of water/flush...today's macerating toilets use about 2 liters/flush--about 1/3 what a power toilet uses. Power flush toilets don't puree solids and TP...macerating toilets do...even manual toilets break up solids. That matters whether you're going directly overboard (aesthetics in an anchorage do matter) or into a tank. And has others have already said, household toilets rely on gravity...marine toilets have pumps that push the flush to its destination.

So unless you have a very large boat with heads well above the waterline, at least a 200 gallon holding tank and carry enough fresh water to be able to spare at least 7 gal/person/day for toilet flushing, I'd give this idea a LOT more thought if I were you.
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Old 29-03-2017, 06:44   #9
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Re: Toilet replacement

might work if you install the toilet to the flybridge of the Hartteras (that's supposed to "Hatteras", right?).
But seriously, I would be very very concerned about the sea flushing into the toilet and into the boat. I would not do it.
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Old 29-03-2017, 07:34   #10
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Re: Toilet replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernPride View Post
After a lot of research I have come to the conclusion that there is no valid reason to not look at replacing a marine toilet with a residential toilet. ...........................
I would question how your research led you to that conclusion.

People here have given you several reasons why it's not a good idea and I agree with them. Let me just give you something else to think about - If residential toilets were a good choice for boats, why don't the boat manufacturers install them instead of marine toilets?

Marine toilets are made the way they are for several reasons. They are different than residential toilets because the conditions on a boat are very different than the conditions in a house.
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Old 29-03-2017, 07:39   #11
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Re: Toilet replacement

What is the reason for wanting a residential toilet?


If it is simply shape and size, you can get marine toilets that have the same size bowl and seat as household terlits.
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Old 29-03-2017, 07:53   #12
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Re: Toilet replacement

Thank you for the input.
Points taken, all good ones.
So much for that idea...lol
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Old 29-03-2017, 08:45   #13
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Re: Toilet replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by SouthernPride View Post
After a lot of research I have come to the conclusion that there is no valid reason to not look at replacing a marine toilet with a residential toilet.

The water requirement is as low as 1.2 gallons on a residential toilet. Far less than years ago. There are one piece toilets now with power flush so clogging would be reduced immensely if not completely.

I am sure there is probably some ridiculous blue law on the books stopping the use of residential toilets on a boat.

Input please ?

Thanks
I can see you put a lot of thought into this . As pointed out and I will elaborate, you would need a way of storing waste, pumping waste from it and pumping water in. Was this red thinking?
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Old 29-03-2017, 09:00   #14
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Re: Toilet replacement

A 240 v macerator set up would work with an inverter? They can be set up in basements far from the drain. Pump uphill through 1 1/2" pipe work. Straight into holding tank. Probably? [emoji4]
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Old 29-03-2017, 16:06   #15
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Re: Toilet replacement

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scot McPherson View Post
What is the reason for wanting a residential toilet?


If it is simply shape and size, you can get marine toilets that have the same size bowl and seat as household terlits.
+1...why?

If you just want a larger toilet then there are larger marine versions.
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