Tips for Preventing Head Clogs

0

Start with some water in the bowl. It keeps the smell down and helps soften the paper.

Extra flushes: If your business plus the required tissue is going to be excessive, there is nothing wrong with a flush before wiping. The extra water will help prevent embarrassing and inconvenient clogging. You really can use as much TP as required, if you flush often.

Pump enough: With a manual toilet, pump one stroke (set on wet) per foot of hose is needed to move the waste all the way to the tank; six strokes is a good starting point. Follow this with the same number of dry pumping strokes to clear the line and bowl, if you will be away for a while or will be sailing.

Dont try to stretch holding-tank capacity by economizing on water. More water equals easier pumpouts. A good head treatment (see PS December 2012 online) also helps by breaking down the waste.

Provide zip-top plastic bags for other disposables that should not be in the head. (We keep a few in the medicine cabinet and a few tucked behind the wastebasket for fast and easy access.)

Dont add oil. Cooking oil increases hard tank deposits. Lube the pump with synthetic grease, following the owners manual advice.

Post head-use instructions and a list of don’ts in the head. Dont be shy about instructing guests. Its better to go over it beforehand than when it becomes a problem and is embarrassing for all.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.