<\/h2>\n\n- Open seacocks, set the lever to \u201cwet\u201d, pump in some water, use the toilet, flush, then switch to \u201cdry\u201d and pump until it\u2019s empty.<\/li>\n
- Nothing goes in that you haven\u2019t eaten first, apart from toilet paper. No wet wipes, no sanitary products, no paper towels.<\/li>\n
- Most smells come from waste left sitting in the discharge hose, so finish with generous pumping.<\/li>\n
- Tank water on a charter is for washing, not drinking. Buy bottled water and plan the quantities before you sail.<\/li>\n
- On our skippered holidays, your skipper walks you through the heads on day one. Ask, because every boat is a little different.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Table des mati\u00e8res<\/h2>\n\n- How a marine toilet works, in plain words<\/a><\/li>\n
- Step by step: using a manual marine toilet<\/a><\/li>\n
- What goes in the toilet (and what never does)<\/a><\/li>\n
- What if my boat has an electric toilet?<\/a><\/li>\n
- Smells, blockages and what to do about them<\/a><\/li>\n
- Greek harbors, bays and where the waste goes<\/a><\/li>\n
- Drinking water on a charter: tank water is for washing<\/a><\/li>\n
- Our take: why the heads briefing matters<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ready for a week where all this is covered?<\/a><\/li>\n
- FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n
- Sources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How a marine toilet works, in plain words<\/h2>\n
A marine toilet (sailors call it \u201cthe heads\u201d) is a small pump with a bowl on top. On most charter yachts it\u2019s a manual one: you work a handle up and down, which pulls water in from the sea and pushes everything out through a hose. Some boats have an electric version where you press a button instead, and the principle is the same.<\/p>\n
Two things make it different from the toilet at home:<\/p>\n
\n- It uses sea water, and it has openings in the hull.<\/strong> The valves that let water in and out are called seacocks. They sit below or near the waterline, so how you treat them matters for the safety of the boat.<\/li>\n
- The pipes are narrow and the pump is delicate.<\/strong> A blockage is much harder to fix on a boat than at home, so what you put in matters a lot.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The maker of the widely used Jabsco manual toilets says correct operation is essential for the safety and comfort of the crew and the craft<\/a>. That\u2019s a serious sentence for a toilet, and it\u2019s fair.<\/p>\nStep by step: using a manual marine toilet<\/h2>\n
Boats differ, so look at the labels near the toilet and listen to your skipper\u2019s briefing. The general routine follows what the Jabsco instructions<\/a> et this guide to the heads<\/a> describe.<\/p>\n1. Check the seacocks<\/h3>\n
Before first use, make sure the seacocks are open. Your skipper will show you where they are and which ones you should touch. Usually there\u2019s an inlet (water in) and an outlet (waste out), and sometimes a handle on the toilet itself that controls the flow.<\/p>\n
![\"Seacock](\"https:\/\/sailarmada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792398735715_Seacock-handles-and-hoses-beneath-a-marine-toilet.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
2. Set the lever to \u201cwet\u201d and add water<\/h3>\n
Move the lever or switch to the \u201cwet\u201d position (it may be marked \u201cflush\u201d or have a symbol). Pump a few strokes to bring fresh sea water into the bowl. A little water in the bowl makes everything that follows easier, and it helps to keep the bowl clean.<\/p>\n
3. Use the toilet, sitting down<\/h3>\n
This is a boat. It moves, even in a calm marina, and spray can reach the cabin. Many charter briefings ask everyone to use the toilet only in a sitting position<\/a>, and it\u2019s a good habit for every crew member, whoever you are.<\/p>\n4. Flush<\/h3>\n
With the lever still on \u201cwet\u201d (or \u201cflush\u201d), pump steadily until the bowl is clear. This sends the waste into the discharge pipe.<\/p>\n
5. Pump dry<\/h3>\n
Now switch to \u201cdry\u201d and keep pumping until the bowl is empty and the pipe is clear. Jabsco\u2019s guide says that for the discharge pipe you should allow about 7 full up and down strokes per meter of pipe<\/a>. On a boat with a long run of hose, that can mean more pumping than you\u2019d guess.<\/p>\nThis step is the one beginners skip. Sailing instructors say the most common mistake is underpumping<\/a>, which leaves waste in the hose and gives you an unpleasant smell in the cabin. Jabsco puts it the same way<\/a>: finish on \u201cdry\u201d until the bowl is empty.<\/p>\n6. Close the valves if your skipper says so<\/h3>\n
Seacock habits vary by boat, and the rule is the skipper\u2019s call. As a general principle, closing the seacocks after use and whenever the boat is left unattended<\/a> protects against water coming back in through damaged or siphoning plumbing. If your boat\u2019s routine is that the crew leaves them open and the skipper closes them at night, follow that. Don\u2019t guess: ask.<\/p>\nQuick reference<\/h3>\n
Table des mati\u00e8res<\/h2>\n\n- How a marine toilet works, in plain words<\/a><\/li>\n
- Step by step: using a manual marine toilet<\/a><\/li>\n
- What goes in the toilet (and what never does)<\/a><\/li>\n
- What if my boat has an electric toilet?<\/a><\/li>\n
- Smells, blockages and what to do about them<\/a><\/li>\n
- Greek harbors, bays and where the waste goes<\/a><\/li>\n
- Drinking water on a charter: tank water is for washing<\/a><\/li>\n
- Our take: why the heads briefing matters<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ready for a week where all this is covered?<\/a><\/li>\n
- FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n
- Sources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How a marine toilet works, in plain words<\/h2>\n
A marine toilet (sailors call it \u201cthe heads\u201d) is a small pump with a bowl on top. On most charter yachts it\u2019s a manual one: you work a handle up and down, which pulls water in from the sea and pushes everything out through a hose. Some boats have an electric version where you press a button instead, and the principle is the same.<\/p>\n
Two things make it different from the toilet at home:<\/p>\n
\n- It uses sea water, and it has openings in the hull.<\/strong> The valves that let water in and out are called seacocks. They sit below or near the waterline, so how you treat them matters for the safety of the boat.<\/li>\n
- The pipes are narrow and the pump is delicate.<\/strong> A blockage is much harder to fix on a boat than at home, so what you put in matters a lot.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The maker of the widely used Jabsco manual toilets says correct operation is essential for the safety and comfort of the crew and the craft<\/a>. That\u2019s a serious sentence for a toilet, and it\u2019s fair.<\/p>\nStep by step: using a manual marine toilet<\/h2>\n
Boats differ, so look at the labels near the toilet and listen to your skipper\u2019s briefing. The general routine follows what the Jabsco instructions<\/a> et this guide to the heads<\/a> describe.<\/p>\n1. Check the seacocks<\/h3>\n
Before first use, make sure the seacocks are open. Your skipper will show you where they are and which ones you should touch. Usually there\u2019s an inlet (water in) and an outlet (waste out), and sometimes a handle on the toilet itself that controls the flow.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2. Set the lever to \u201cwet\u201d and add water<\/h3>\n
Move the lever or switch to the \u201cwet\u201d position (it may be marked \u201cflush\u201d or have a symbol). Pump a few strokes to bring fresh sea water into the bowl. A little water in the bowl makes everything that follows easier, and it helps to keep the bowl clean.<\/p>\n
3. Use the toilet, sitting down<\/h3>\n
This is a boat. It moves, even in a calm marina, and spray can reach the cabin. Many charter briefings ask everyone to use the toilet only in a sitting position<\/a>, and it\u2019s a good habit for every crew member, whoever you are.<\/p>\n4. Flush<\/h3>\n
With the lever still on \u201cwet\u201d (or \u201cflush\u201d), pump steadily until the bowl is clear. This sends the waste into the discharge pipe.<\/p>\n
5. Pump dry<\/h3>\n
Now switch to \u201cdry\u201d and keep pumping until the bowl is empty and the pipe is clear. Jabsco\u2019s guide says that for the discharge pipe you should allow about 7 full up and down strokes per meter of pipe<\/a>. On a boat with a long run of hose, that can mean more pumping than you\u2019d guess.<\/p>\nThis step is the one beginners skip. Sailing instructors say the most common mistake is underpumping<\/a>, which leaves waste in the hose and gives you an unpleasant smell in the cabin. Jabsco puts it the same way<\/a>: finish on \u201cdry\u201d until the bowl is empty.<\/p>\n6. Close the valves if your skipper says so<\/h3>\n
Seacock habits vary by boat, and the rule is the skipper\u2019s call. As a general principle, closing the seacocks after use and whenever the boat is left unattended<\/a> protects against water coming back in through damaged or siphoning plumbing. If your boat\u2019s routine is that the crew leaves them open and the skipper closes them at night, follow that. Don\u2019t guess: ask.<\/p>\nQuick reference<\/h3>\n
How a marine toilet works, in plain words<\/h2>\n
A marine toilet (sailors call it \u201cthe heads\u201d) is a small pump with a bowl on top. On most charter yachts it\u2019s a manual one: you work a handle up and down, which pulls water in from the sea and pushes everything out through a hose. Some boats have an electric version where you press a button instead, and the principle is the same.<\/p>\n
Two things make it different from the toilet at home:<\/p>\n
- \n
- It uses sea water, and it has openings in the hull.<\/strong> The valves that let water in and out are called seacocks. They sit below or near the waterline, so how you treat them matters for the safety of the boat.<\/li>\n
- The pipes are narrow and the pump is delicate.<\/strong> A blockage is much harder to fix on a boat than at home, so what you put in matters a lot.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The maker of the widely used Jabsco manual toilets says correct operation is essential for the safety and comfort of the crew and the craft<\/a>. That\u2019s a serious sentence for a toilet, and it\u2019s fair.<\/p>\n
Step by step: using a manual marine toilet<\/h2>\n
Boats differ, so look at the labels near the toilet and listen to your skipper\u2019s briefing. The general routine follows what the Jabsco instructions<\/a> et this guide to the heads<\/a> describe.<\/p>\n
1. Check the seacocks<\/h3>\n
Before first use, make sure the seacocks are open. Your skipper will show you where they are and which ones you should touch. Usually there\u2019s an inlet (water in) and an outlet (waste out), and sometimes a handle on the toilet itself that controls the flow.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n2. Set the lever to \u201cwet\u201d and add water<\/h3>\n
Move the lever or switch to the \u201cwet\u201d position (it may be marked \u201cflush\u201d or have a symbol). Pump a few strokes to bring fresh sea water into the bowl. A little water in the bowl makes everything that follows easier, and it helps to keep the bowl clean.<\/p>\n
3. Use the toilet, sitting down<\/h3>\n
This is a boat. It moves, even in a calm marina, and spray can reach the cabin. Many charter briefings ask everyone to use the toilet only in a sitting position<\/a>, and it\u2019s a good habit for every crew member, whoever you are.<\/p>\n
4. Flush<\/h3>\n
With the lever still on \u201cwet\u201d (or \u201cflush\u201d), pump steadily until the bowl is clear. This sends the waste into the discharge pipe.<\/p>\n
5. Pump dry<\/h3>\n
Now switch to \u201cdry\u201d and keep pumping until the bowl is empty and the pipe is clear. Jabsco\u2019s guide says that for the discharge pipe you should allow about 7 full up and down strokes per meter of pipe<\/a>. On a boat with a long run of hose, that can mean more pumping than you\u2019d guess.<\/p>\n
This step is the one beginners skip. Sailing instructors say the most common mistake is underpumping<\/a>, which leaves waste in the hose and gives you an unpleasant smell in the cabin. Jabsco puts it the same way<\/a>: finish on \u201cdry\u201d until the bowl is empty.<\/p>\n
6. Close the valves if your skipper says so<\/h3>\n
Seacock habits vary by boat, and the rule is the skipper\u2019s call. As a general principle, closing the seacocks after use and whenever the boat is left unattended<\/a> protects against water coming back in through damaged or siphoning plumbing. If your boat\u2019s routine is that the crew leaves them open and the skipper closes them at night, follow that. Don\u2019t guess: ask.<\/p>\n
Quick reference<\/h3>\n
- The pipes are narrow and the pump is delicate.<\/strong> A blockage is much harder to fix on a boat than at home, so what you put in matters a lot.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
![\"Greek](\"https:\/\/sailarmada.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792398812200_Greek-harbors-bays-and-where-the-waste-goes-overview-diagram.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n