How to Use a Sailboat Toilet

If you've ever been on any type of boat, you know that the toilets are different and the bathroom is called the head. Unlike toilets in homes, the waste water on boats is not carried to a sewer system via pipes and instead is carried to a holding tank. Know how to properly use a sailboat toilet.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Make sure the valve to the holding tank is in the proper position. Generally, the proper positioning for this valve is when the handle is facing toward the right while directly looking at it.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Open up the fresh water valve so fresh water is flowing into the toilet. The direction of water flow is usually marked clearly on the valve. If it isn't, generally you need the valve to be pointing upward.
   

3. Pump water into the toilet. Use the manual pump on the side of the toilet two or three times to bring fresh water into the toilet before you use it.

4. Clean the toilet. Pump additional water into the toilet after you are finished.

5. Turn the valve on the manual pump to dry. This changes the direction of the water in the toilet so the waste water pumps out to the holding tank.

6. Empty the waste water out of the toilet. Once you have the valve turned to dry, press on the manual pump until the toilet is empty.

7. Shut the fresh water valves off. This prevents freshwater from running into the toilet when it isn't in use.
   

Tips & Warnings

• Always hold on to something when using the head while traveling. It's easy to fall and hurt yourself while the boat is moving or on choppy seas.
• Never empty your holding tank through the hull. It's illegal to empty human waste into the water in the United States. This waste carries tons of bacteria. Wait until you're back at the marina and use their pump-out facilities.

Who Can Help:

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!

Resources

• Learn about boat toilet maintenance at boatus.com.
• Learn U.S. Coast Guard boat sewage regulations at mass.gov.