Never put anything into
a marine sanitation system that is not specifically marketed
for that purpose. Do not use detergent, washing up liquid
or other cleaners, especially cleaning products which contain
pine oil, petroleum, or alcohol. Those substances will break
down the seals, gaskets, and valves in the system, and will
also break down the walls of the hose, causing it to be more
susceptible to permeation. Above all, do not pour vegetable
oil down the head to "lubricate" the parts. A layer
of oil on the sewage will only seal the contents of the tank,
keeping air out of it. Follow manufacturers' recommendations
for periodic maintenance and lubrication.
At least once every two years, put a complete
rebuild kit in your head as part of your regular spring re-commissioning;
if you lay your boat up every winter, we suggest doing it
every year. When seals, gaskets, valves and impellers dry
out they become brittle and prone to crack. By replacing them
regularly you all but eliminate the possibility that you will
have to make emergency repairs to the head. Although it's
impossible to predict someone putting something in the head
that's too large to pass through, a well-sealed pump that's
working to factory specifications can often push a borderline
object through that a worn system can't. Marine toilet paper
is designed to virtually dissolve in your hand. (The cheapest
"no-name" single-ply paper at the grocery store
is the same thing as "marine" toilet paper, and
it's a whole lot cheaper!) Just don't put anything else down
the toilet.
