Head Maintenance

Saltwater and uric acid (don't ask!) produce calcium scale inside marine toilets and discharge hoses. Such deposits cause the toilet to get progressively harder to flush and can lead to total blockage. Avoid this unpleasantry by pouring a pint of white vinegar into the bowl once a month and pumping it slowly — a single stroke every 4 or 5 minutes — through the toilet. The mildly acidic vinegar dissolves fresh scale deposits.

To keep the pump operating smoothly, follow the vinegar treatment with an ounce or two of mineral oil or a lubricant specifically formulated for marine toilets.

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Published: July 2012

Author

Don Casey

Contributor, BoatUS Magazine

Don Casey has been one of the most consulted experts on boat care and upgrades for 30 years, and is one of the BoatUS Magazine's panel of experts. He and his wife cruise aboard their 30-footer part of the year in the eastern Caribbean. His books include Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual, and the recently updated This Old Boat, the bible for do-it-yourself boaters.