I am new to the forum, as of a couple of weeks ago, I was the one looking at an old ('69) steel boat and you all said "RUN".  Well we did, and we ended up finding a great deal, a '74 Gibson, in excellent condition.  We took it out last weekend and it ran beautiful, and slept on it for 2 weekends in a row.  Perfect so far, except... the toilet.  I don't know if its the orginial toilet or not, but you turn in one way to suck it down and then you turn it the other way to release water to clean the bowl.  Well everything works fine unless you have to Poop!  Is this normal?  I think we should just invest in a new one, but my husband says there won't be much pooping being done in it!  but do you really think we can tell our guests, to use a plastic fork and break it up???  This is a really gross conversation...  So is this normal?  or are we missing a trick about pooping!

Did you try putting water in the bowl before evacuating. The water helps suck the poop out of the bowl.

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OLD HOUSEBOATER

We will definitily try that, our neighbor said to pour a couple of hot cups of water down it.  But I wanted to get some more advice...

Except for high end electric models, marine toilets are not designed to hold water in the bowl.  it's necessary to use a cup to add water to the bowl ahead of solid waste . No reason why it should be hot water, though...hot doesn't dissolve waste any faster than cold.

Be sure to flush long enough to make sure the bowl contents makes it ALL the way to the tank. Before the boat will sit between weekends, flush a quart or two of clean water through the system to rinse it out.

Btw, what is the make/model of your toilet.?

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Peggie Hall, Moderator
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor."
[L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]

That has not been my experience.

The marine toilets I have experience with have all had a valve that basically shuts off the flow of rinse water into the bowl.  Whenever you pump the "evacuation" pump operates and attempts to suck out whatever is in the bowl.  The evacuation side of the pump (the ones I have experience with use both sides of the same pump, one for rinse, the other for evacuation) has a bit more capacity than the rinse side so unless it clogs you the bowl shouldn't over fill.

If you turn the rinse valve off then the flow of rinse water stops and you can pump the bowl almost dry.  With the valve on there is always a flow of water entering the bowl so when you stop pumping a small amount of water is left in the bowl.  On my boats it would NOT drain out on its own, the water would stay there until it evaporated or was pumped out.

Marine toilets are a bit touchy and always the subject of "interesting" discussion with your guests.  Topics include "use a minimum of water to avoid filling the tank" to "Nothing goes into the toilet unless you have eaten it first!"

Rod

I also request guests, that as the commode fills pump it down, as to feed it slowly. As solids are placed in the bowl, pump it. I advise, do not fill it with poop and paper and then try to move a full bowl of product into the tank. It would be a difficult Bowl Movement. :-)

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Banana Tom

Edited: 04/24/2007 at 02:33:00 PM by BananaTom

when we go to the boat this weekend, I'll see if there is a book on the toilet with all the stuff/paperwork that came with the boat.  and we will try the flushing as you go, the only thing is it seems to get stuck in the small opening, there is no thingy that opens and closes.  and it really doesn't look like it sucks it down or anything.  I wonder if it is the orginial toilet that came with the boat, that would make it pretty old (1974).

There are a few manual toilets--the Groco EB (discontiued a a few years ago), the Groco model K and the Wilcox-Crittenden Skipper--that do have flush water valves that are separate from the discharge pump.  But with price tags of  $700-1,000.--and  tthe British made "Baby Blake" which currently lists at  £1800 (about $3600  USD at today's rate of exchange),  it's highly unlikely that one of 'em would   turn up on a  houseboat., 'cuz for that kind of money, most owners will opt for an electric toilet. . Any manual toilet is far more likely to be a $150 piston/cylinder pump toilet.. And they don't hold water. Neither do the lower priced electric macerating toilets. .

Strangely enough, the most expensive manual toilets are typically found on vintage sailboats...rarely on powerboats of any age or style.


Laurie, I doubt that your toilet is original...'cuz while the very expensive manual toilets will last 100 years or even longer if maintained, the average lifespan of most manual marine toilets is waaay less than 30 years.  

Learning to use a marine toilet isn't that much of  a challenge, just a bit of a learning curve: Add water to bowl--at least 1/3 of bowlful--ahead of solids...and BE SPARING with toilet paper!   Use ONLY the flimsiest quick-dissolve TP (which is what "marine" toilet paper is, for 3x/ the price you can buy it at the supermarket)...don't even think of trying to flush a wet wipe, paper towel  or tampon. And be sure to flush long enough to move the bowl contents all the way to the tank, followed by enough clean water to rinse out the hose. That's really all there is to using one...and maintaining it isn't any harder, just requires another learning curve.

.

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Peggie Hall, Moderator
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor."
[L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]

Edited: 04/24/2007 at 05:06:56 PM by peghall

All need to know if it's manual or electric. Do you hear electrical whirring when operating a switch, or is it some sort of pump handle thingy? Next trip to boat, get info off of build plate, or whatever passes for one.

Bob

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I carry a gun because it's too tiring carrying a cop.

we are going up to the boat today, so I'll get back on with more info. on toilet later...    I did find out that it says Bemis on it though.  if that means anything?  

Need to look a little further for the toilet mfg. Bemis is the manufacturer of the toilet seat, I think.

yep, Peggy said that too.  We found the book and it said to add a cup of water if you have any problems with stuff going down.  and then I forgot to look at the brand, so I guess I will get the book this coming weekend.  So the problem is solved, but I would still like to know if we should be looking into a new toilet (maybe the thing is old, and could die any day).  

Some of the newer toilets are much more water conservative. Lowers the need to pump out. But if it's working well, expense of upgrading to (naturally the less water use the more expensive) new will pay for years of pumpouts. Most older heads have great parts availability and can be reworked over and over.

Bob

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I carry a gun because it's too tiring carrying a cop.

okay, I got some of the paperwork out of the boat, there is some papers on a Raritan Compact,PH, PHE Heads and Electric Drive Unive (installation and maintence instructions). The picture of the toilet looks like the one in the book. Then there is some more paperwork on a PAR Models 29100-0120 12 volt & model #29100-0240 24 volt electric flush pump. and the pictures in it are definitely our toilet thingy that you turn when flushing. it says in the manual- to turn the large flush control knob clockwise to flush position to dispose of waste. and then turn the flush control knob counterclockwise to the drain position and it will lower the liquid level to the bottom of the china bowl while incoming rinse water is reduced to a minimum. So do you have any idea is this toilet is in decent condition? Have you ever heard of this toilet before? It also says use only household type toilet tissue (not a Marine/RV water soluble type paper of your choice).  We are all trying to not put anything in it.  but its hard with a 4 year old (they forget).  but at least she doesn't use much!  So should we not buy the Marine paper?  and just buy real cheap toilet paper?

The marine paper IS the cheap paper,,just repackaged and jaaaaaked up!

Bob

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I carry a gun because it's too tiring carrying a cop.

Your boat started out originally with a Raritan PH manual head or an electrified PH manual head (PHE). These were built by Raritan up until 1981, then were discontinued. The PHII/PHEII series came out late in 1981 and continues in production to date.

At some point after the boat was delivered, a previous owner removed the Raritan pump and replaced it with a Jabsco conversion kit, retaining the original Raritan toilet bowl and toilet base. This mounts on the Raritan base and the Jabsco motor/pump unit is oriented vertically, with a large knob on top of it. Twist the knob one way, it brings water in; twist it the other way, it pumps out the toilet bowl. They work OK when new, but they make enough noise to wake the dead!

The biggest problem is that the toilet paper "catches" in the narrow throat at the bottom of the toilet bowl. This is particularly troublesome if the paper is dry. The trick here is to first let water into the bowl before sitting down. Then afterward, turn the knob to flush it and hold it for a few seconds. Then stop, bring more water in, and do it again. Once the paper gets wet, it usually goes right on through.

Now, toilet paper - use the cheapest single-ply paper you can find in the grocery store. You needn't use the $4.00 a roll biodegradable stuff at the marine store - the cheap stuff at the grocery store is the same thing, at $.69 a roll. And use as little as you can get away with. Sometimes you have to flush the toilet partway through "doing your business," then flush it again when you're through. Also, as has been mentioned before, only toilet paper and what's gone through a human body goes into the toilet - nothing else! Never use the "fluffed up" toilet paper (Charmin, et al) or perfumed toilet paper in a marine toilet either. Just the plain white cheap stuff will suffice nicely.

Edited: 06/12/2007 at 12:49:30 PM by Head Master