I am thinking about using regular two-ply toilet paper in my houseboat. It is a pontoon boat with straight-drop RV-style toilets. One head drops directly into my black water tank and the other is connected to the blackwater tank with a 3" pipe that is the same size as the ABS on most new home construction these days. I would guess that the hose exiting my blackwater tank is 1-1/2" or 2" inside diameter. Pump-out stations at Lake Powell use what appears to be at least 1- 1/2" hose and they have powerful suction. I can't think of any place from head to pump out that would be affected by two-ply paper. Am I just plain crazy to think of using paper that is nicer on the tush?

Edited: 01/06/2009 at 12:26:05 PM by endurance

We've been wondering the same thing.  We have a single drop-into-holding-tank toilet.  At the grocery store a while back we noticed that our normal brand (Scott, I think)  says "safe for RV and septic systems".

My concern is that "RV safe" may assume the tank will be dumped instead of pumped out, so the paper needs to break up quickly (but I'd rather it didn't break up until it enters the tank).  In this case, "Wimpy" as an adjective is apropos.

It's not necessary to use "wimpy" single ply tissue in any marine toilet, but it is necessary to use tissue that dissolves quickly...'cuz although it may make it through the toilet, a wad or buildup of it on the bottom of the tank can clog the tank discharge port--which, btw, IS 1.5"....only 75% the size of the discharge line at home.

Although there is at least one brand of 2-ply "marine/rv" TP, it's not necessary to spend the extra money for it...'cuz it's just "marine/rv" labelling on 2-ply institutional TP. There are several brands of single and 2-ply TP that are readily available from Sams, Costco and your local supermarket that are fine for use onboard. To determine whether it is, tear off a sheet and put it in a glass of water. If it's still an intact sheet when you check it in a couple of hours, try another brand...but if the water is milky and some "snow" is all that's left, it's fine for use in any marine sanitation system.

TP should also be used sparingly.onboard...no more than 5-6 sheets at a time. While a large wad of it won't clog a gravity drop toilet, it will clog manual and electric toilets. If it's quick-dissolve TP, the clog will dissolve on its own in a couple of hours--so the only downside is that meanwhile, no one can use the toilet)...but if it's "premium" extra-strength TP, that'll require cleaning it out of the discharge impeller and macerator.

Finally, I'd estimate that guests are responsible for at least 90% of clogged toilets...so  be sure to instruct your guests to never EVER flush wet wipes, tampons, paper towels or ANYthing except TP down ANY marine toilet and to limit TP to no more than 5-6 sheets per flush....if more is needed, flush more than once..

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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]

What brand do you recommend Peg? We have Quilted Northern 'soft and strong' here at the house and I 'think' that's what we had on the boat this summer. I put some in a glass of water last night and this morning it looked exactly the same, just wet toilet paper.

We usually do not use very much toilet paper at all but you know how some people are. Sometimes they seem to forget anything youve ever talked about then when you remind them and they say.... '"ohhhh"

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1990 16x78' stardust
Eastern Ky

And if you leave it there for a month it'll STILL just look like wet TP.Scott has a decent quality single ply and 2-ply...you might check out Charmin Ultra--not reqular Charmin, onlY Charmin ULTRA.

If you don't like any of those, you'll just have to keep trying different ones.

There is a solution for guests: change the TP to really flimsy single ply before they get  there. You can always hide a roll of "good stuff" to use yourself. Just make sure the "guest" roll doesn't run out so they won't have a reason to go exploring for more and find yours.

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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]

I've never used 'special' TP, but ALL toilet paper is designed to "fall apart"-- it must, or every sewer system in the country would be clogged up. I've been RV-ing and boating for many years, and I've never had a problem with TP. I've HAD a problem, twice, once in our 5th wheel, once in the houseboat. The common denominator was they were parked and hadn't moved for some time while living in them. If the 'stuff' (TP and everything else) isn't stirred up, it can't break up. TP just sitting in a jar won't dissolve, but stir it up a bit, and it should break up into a million little pieces.

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1988 SkipperLiner 53x14
1995 Tracker Party Cruiser 32 *for sale*
2003 Chaparral 260 SSI
2000 Allegro Bus 40' DP

I would caution you against the ULTRA QUICK DISSOLVING brands. Unless you're really really quick.

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Chance Favors The Prepared Mind!