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**hummingway** · 20-02-2011, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by bljones

Freudian slip, mr. moderator?

Apparently

Bergovoy · 20-02-2011, 09:56

the 'modern' toilet is defined by two functions...

self contained or available water supply to 'flush', and second, and more important, is teh water trap to keep the 'sewer gases' from lingering in the bowel...

crapper is wrongly attributed with the 'invention', but his was only an invention of coincedence...

it is the water trap that we value in our modern society...

It was standard to be able to walk the streets and see folks who would be emptying POTS of 'waste' from thier houses, and eventually people were profiting by doing this chore for compensation...

the first PAY TOILETS were actually people/men, who wore dark robes and carried a pot... you would pay them and do your business in the pot while they stood over you and wrapped thier robe around you until you were done...

also, if you think about it, before plmbing, and storm drains and all that, our 'society' was very dark and smelly...

all human waste ran freely out of the house, and all the houses would dump in the street.

and when it rained it 'poured'... and it stunk badly...

Cavalier · 20-02-2011, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bergovoy

the first PAY TOILETS were actually people/men, who wore dark robes and carried a pot... you would pay them and do your business in the pot while they stood over you and wrapped thier robe around you until you were done...

...such a rude way to explain to a street trader, "no! I'm really not interested in buying another pot!"

kenny chaos · 20-02-2011, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by hummingway

I seem to recall hearing that the Romans of antiquity had "flush" toilets, which is to say they piped running water below where they sat and moved their bowels. I have never heard where I was carried off to.

You seem like a real nice guy.
You shouldn't be so self-defacating.

Andrew Roth · 20-02-2011, 10:43

I also have a manual pump action flushing system in my heads but have never used it for solids. Being relatively new to the sailing lifestyle, I have heeded the advice of those more experienced in these matters: that one requires a masserator unit to convert solid matter into something that can flush. Given the vagaries of masserators however, I have opted for a porta potty...a portatable plastic camping loo that has a small holding tank and uses chemicals to break down the solid matter. I have found some environmentally safe chemicals that make short work of any biodegradable solid matter including toilet paper.

While I have yet to apply this to a cruise of any duration, it seems like a reasonable alternative.

Any comments?

joey69 · 20-02-2011, 10:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew Roth

I also have a manual pump action flushing system in my heads but have never used it for solids. Being relatively new to the sailing lifestyle, I have heeded the advice of those more experienced in these matters: that one requires a masserator unit to convert solid matter into something that can flush. Given the vagaries of masserators however, I have opted for a porta potty...a portatable plastic camping loo that has a small holding tank and uses chemicals to break down the solid matter. I have found some environmentally safe chemicals that make short work of any biodegradable solid matter including toilet paper.

While I have yet to apply this to a cruise of any duration, it seems like a reasonable alternative.

Any comments?

RID-X works really good,that is what people put in their septic tanks to eat the solid waste.

**hummingway** · 20-02-2011, 10:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by joey69

RID-X works really good,that is what people put in their septic tanks to eat the solid waste.

Holding tanks aren't like septic tanks for a variety of reasons chief of which is they aren't that big. If used on a regular basis they have to be dumped on a regular basis.

Andrew Roth · 20-02-2011, 10:56

Joey
Thanks for the tip. However: I live in Africa. Cape Town to be exact. Septic tanks are unknown here as are the chemicals that are used in them. However...I will look up Rid ex on the Internet and find out what its made from. I may be able to make something similar.

joey69 · 20-02-2011, 11:02

I was just trying to help.

senormechanico · 20-02-2011, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bergovoy

the 'modern' toilet is defined by two functions...

self contained or available water supply to 'flush', and second, and more important, is teh water trap to keep the 'sewer gases' from lingering in the bowel...

I don't let mine stay in the bowel, I let 'em rip.

Oh wait, I think you mean "bowl".
Never mind...

PS for a good laugh, check ebay for bowels. Lots of bowls for sale.