Aside from Navy vessels and large private boats I've not had the pleasure in sailing. I've taken up reading Tristan Jone's books and like any phase I get into I really try to get a feel for the subject. So one day I start looking at sail boats and they certainly come plain Jane or totally loaded and some even with toilets. That got me thinking. What is required to flush and empty these toilets? Salt water would play havoc on the system but I guess there must be some material available that can handle the salt better than others. Then there is the issue of emptying- how do you do that? Is there a multi-diaphragm system that leads outside the boat or is it 'dumped' like an RV? If you know, and you care to enlighten me I'd appreciate it. GG
1
charlesunderwood
Odd question but...........
At its most basic level, there is a pump flush toilet. You open a valve, pump water into the bowl, make a deposit and pump it out again and then close the valve. typically, these are a flapper/diaphrgm type valve. Yes the materiels are just plastic or some times metal pipes. They stand up to a marine environment with no problem but they have to bve servicedat the least, everyyear, replacing diaphrhms and seals/gaskets.
All other variations are just more complex versions of this with elctronic pumps replacing hand pumps and bowls getting more elaborate.
Nest is a vacum type toilet, like the type that you have on a plane. Press the button, listen to the sucking noise and watch everything get sucked down and the bowl refilled with water.
As too where it goes. on small boats, it goes straight into the ocean. On mid size boats you may have a holding tank of some sort as pumping grey or balck water into coastal waters and harbors is bevcoming more restricted so you can eithr get your tanks pumped at the marina or go 12 plus miles offshore and legally empty them.
Bigger boats have plants for sterilising the waste. First it is macerated, then fltered, oftone through charcoal then it is sterilised usually using iodine then pumped over. At this point, the water is drinkable. if that sounds hrrible, bear in mind that the tap water in London has probably passed through a huiman body twice.
3
regina
Now that the toilet issue is covered and debated (no additional comments to underwoods excellent answer ) - I just have to say that Tristan Jones - although the books are good reads they are also fictional. His biographer revealed that most of his travels are built on lies. He was very much a mythmaker. Most sailors are, though... To get you in the right direction: read Bernard Moitessier, Miles Smeeton, Joshua Slocum...
4
grinninggnome
I had read that somewhere too Regina. I only read two of his books so far-Adrift &Saga of a Wayward Sailor. There seems to be some fantasy in there for sure but still ordered another four of his books from Alibris! Slocum was on my list but I haven't found any of his yet used or at a reasonable price but given some more time I shall.
5
charlesunderwood
Moistissier also ofton transgressed into a mythical world of his own, much more so than when joshua slocum has his hallucinigenic experinces mid atlantic. the ocean can do that to you when you are by yourself.
Tristan Jones (died a double amputee some where in asia about 6ish years ago i seem to remember) lived an incredible life, but yes, he employed a generous artistic licence.
The smeetons story is that of the original world cruisers who went with a great spirit. A parralel story is john guzwell who who was with them on one of their multiple dismastings and rollings at the hands of cape horn.
I have never found a contemporary writers who come close to the soul and pasion of these early cruising pioneers. The cruising of the 50s and 60s is the origins for sure.
Tilman is also worth reading. I once met some one who had sailed with him. He was an absolute hack in the beginging, his boats wrecks, who taught himself as he went, though he never admitted a such
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