Salt water in vacuflush toilet system

nickysc

nickysc

New Member
Jul 1, 2007
581
Springfield SC
Boat Info
270se sundancer
Engines
7.4mpi w/BravoIII
Has anyone ever used salt water in the toilet. When we boat on the lake we use lake water to flush the toilet. I have never used salt water. I always thought it would damage the system. Not sure where I got this notion from, but if salt water is safe to use, this would make the fresh water go a lot farther on extended trips on the coast. Thanks Nicky
 
my flush water comes from the holding tank so it's fresh. it would be a chore to use salt water as i would have to go get it.
 
Salt water will corrode stuff faster, and the salt can leave a crusty film inside the hoses. Still, we used it on our sailboat with good results. Had an electric macerating toilet though, not a vacu-flush. We regularly flushed vinegar and cheap vegetable oil to clean and then lubricate the system. I am very happy our Sea Ray 380 uses the fresh water tank. First it is never going to the South Pacific and we have plenty of water for a few days on the hook. Second, salt water is full of all kinds of tiny live creatures. When it sits in hoses or in the toilet it will really really reek after a couple of days. IMHO in less you are planning to do some serious voyaging, or live on the boat full time, stay with a fresh water system.
 
Won't work for long once the salt buildup forms on the ball valve gasket and duckbill valves. You will also have to deal with the smell that starts when seawater is used in the system.
 
TARANTULA said:
What about salt water mixed with salt away?
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Good idea but would not work. Salt away dissolves salt crystals when mixed with fresh water, then coats surfaces with a protective coating (think a water based WD40) until the next time they come in contact with salt water. It is not a desalinator.
 
nickysc said:
Has anyone ever used salt water in the toilet. When we boat on the lake we use lake water to flush the toilet. I have never used salt water. I always thought it would damage the system. Not sure where I got this notion from, but if salt water is safe to use, this would make the fresh water go a lot farther on extended trips on the coast. Thanks Nicky
Click to expand...

You would be better off increasing your water capacity or taking several cases of bottled water.

I would venture to guess your extended trips on the coast will be limited more by fuel consumption than water. Fill with water and pump out every time you stop for fuel and you should be fine.
 
Plus one on the reek factor, one of the big advantages of the vacuflush is the fresh water flush not causing a stale smell.

I was actually flicking through the seabreeze catalouge yesterday, the vacuflush is designed to use around 0.5L ( less than a pint) of water.

The toilet as such is not your main user of water, if you calculate that, a 5 gallon drum of water on board should cover the toilet use for days.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Thanks everyone, all good information. We stayed in marina Thursday night and spent 2 nights and 3 days on the hook and didn't run out of water. I had no idea the system would work with such a small amount of water. No salt water in toilet for us:smt038
 
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