Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Sewage Lines Scale Build-up

1 view
Skip to first unread message

Bill Watson

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 3:29:47 AM3/28/08
to
Does anyone know what the material is that builds up in the sewage lines
(with salt water flushing) on a boat? It is a whitish-grey crust or scale
which seems to build up surprisingly fast.

Is there any easy way to remove, or prevent it?

Bill
Wollongong
Australia


tsm...@gmail.com

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 4:19:48 AM3/28/08
to
On Mar 27, 9:29 pm, "Bill Watson" <watson.b...@bigpond.com> wrote:
> Is there any easy way to remove, or prevent it?

Vinegar works pretty well. Let it soak a bit, scrub and rinse well.

-- Tom.

Roger Long

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 6:16:03 AM3/28/08
to
Prevention is simple. Don't pee into the head.

--
Roger Long

Bill Watson

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 7:37:54 AM3/28/08
to

"Roger Long" <str...@maine.rr.com> wrote in message
news:47ecc708$0$17347$4c36...@roadrunner.com...

> Prevention is simple. Don't pee into the head.
>
> --
> Roger Long
Tell that to the ladies?>
Bill
>


Bruce in Bangkok

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 8:10:13 AM3/28/08
to

According to Lynn Purday you furnish a proper Cedar bucket for those
of sensitive temperament.

Bruce-in-Bangkok
(correct email address for reply)

Message has been deleted

Peggie Hall

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 11:10:42 AM3/28/08
to
Bill Watson wrote:
> Does anyone know what the material is that builds up in the sewage lines
> (with salt water flushing) on a boat? It is a whitish-grey crust or scale
> which seems to build up surprisingly fast.

It's sea water calcium carbonates, maybe with some waste particles that
have been trapped by it as it builds up.

> Is there any easy way to remove, or prevent it?

A cupful of undiluted distilled white vinegar flushed through the system
once a week when it can stand for at least several hours, especially
last thing before the boat will sit, will prevent it...and will also
dissolve it, albeit slowly. No need to rinse OR scrub.

If it's a severe buildup that's reduced the diameter of the discharge
line enough to impede flushing, you can dissolve it a lot faster with a
12% solution of muriatic acid (aka "brick cleaner"), available from any
hardware store. Or you can flush a cupful of vinegar daily till it's
done the job. Then you can prevent it in the future with a weekly cupful
of vinegar.

Use ONLY distilled white vinegar...not cider nor wine vinegars. Reason:
white vinegar is distilled from alcohol...cider and wine vinegars are
distilled from fruit juices. They are less acidic--and therefore less
effective at dissolving minerals--and also can leave a sticky residue
that helps to trap salts and mineral particles.

Do NOT leave vinegar sitting in the bowl...for one thing, that doesn't
accomplish anything because the buildup is in the hoses...and for
another, although soft rubber--i.e. the joker valve in the toilet--isn't
harmed by vinegar just passing through it, when soft rubber is left to
sit and soak in vinegar, it swells up and distorts. So pour in a cupful
of it, then flush it ALL the way through the line(s).


--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/boat_odors/

Gregory Hall

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 1:25:34 PM3/28/08
to

"Bill Watson" <watso...@bigpond.com> wrote in message
news:L71Hj.3484$n8....@news-server.bigpond.net.au...

> Does anyone know what the material is that builds up in the sewage lines
> (with salt water flushing) on a boat? It is a whitish-grey crust or scale
> which seems to build up surprisingly fast.
>
> Is there any easy way to remove, or prevent it?


I've never had any such problem. Never even seen what you're talking about.
Over the years I've used several different buckets made out of rubber,
plastic, wood and even metal and none of them every got a white crusty
build-up. Skid marks, yes. Build up, no! Skid marks are easy to get rid of.
Just fill the bucket with seawater and add some bleach. Let it sit until
next needed. It makes it spic and span and sweet smelling.

So to prevent build up stop using built-in heads and sewage lines. That's
for lubbers. Go back to the efficient and tried and true method of
discretely disposing your waste over the side using a bucket.

--
Gregory Hall
(Peggie's older brother)


Roger Long

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 1:42:16 PM3/28/08
to

"Gregory Hall" <greg...@home.fake> wrote

(stuff)

> Gregory Hall
> (Peggie's older brother)


AKA Wilbur

--
Roger Long

Bill Kearney

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 2:44:20 PM3/28/08
to

"Gregory Hall" <greg...@home.fake> wrote in message
news:1ofv7e....@news.alt.net...

> Go back to the efficient and tried and true method of discretely disposing
> your waste over the side using a bucket.

Disposing of waste within, what, 3 miles of shore is against the law in the
US.

Bill Kearney

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 2:44:54 PM3/28/08
to
But won't the vinegar also kill the useful treatment bacteria?

Gregory Hall

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 3:33:37 PM3/28/08
to

"Bill Kearney" <wkear...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:UcadnVcUG44VoXDa...@speakeasy.net...


SO FRIGGIN' WHAT!!!!!!

They gotta catch you first, dude! I've been doing it for years and ain't
been caught yet. If a body's careful he'll never get caught. Like shit and
dump it when it's dark! How about them apples? I don't know about you but
I'm sick and tired of people trying to tell me what to do and what not to
do. I say, screw them all. I never heard anything so stupid in my life this
dumping law. It don't make a lick of sense. It's totally legal for me to
squat over the side and poop but I can't poop in a bucket and dump it over
the side. Just what's the difference. The turds end up in the water either
way but one way's legal and the other isn't. That's just plain stupid!!!
Anybody who complies with a stupid law is himself or herself stupid.

--
Gregory Hall
(Peggie's older and smarter brother)


Capt. JG

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 3:54:45 PM3/28/08
to
"Bill Kearney" <wkear...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:UcadnVcUG44VoXDa...@speakeasy.net...
>


Yeah, but he's a troll, so it's ok.

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com


Gordon

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 7:00:46 PM3/28/08
to

38 million gallons of untreated human waste dumped into the straits
everyday by Victoria BC and no problems.
Gordon

Don White

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 7:16:47 PM3/28/08
to

"Gordon" <gaz...@olypen.com> wrote in message
news:13uqu1d...@corp.supernews.com...

We were pumping about 181 million litres of raw sewage into Halifax harbour
daily and it was disgusting.
Thank God we finally got sewage treatment plants built and they are coming
on line now.
http://www.waternunc.com/gb/Canada_HRM-Halifax01_2004.htm


Larry

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 7:22:23 PM3/28/08
to
"Roger Long" <str...@maine.rr.com> wrote in news:47ed2df4$0$12544
$4c36...@roadrunner.com:

> Roger Long
>

Today's flood was all YOUR fault, Roger! All this talk about Sewage Lines
plugged up the whole neighborhood where I live! The Roto-Rooter man was
here for hours.....It was just awful. Instead of the air outside smelling
like blooming flowers from Magnolia Gardens Plantation, it smells like a
sewage pond outside. Even the dogs have all left!

It backed up into my pipes, of course, and when I flushed an hour ago the
toilet flooded right over the top of it all over the floor, creating quite
a mess! I rushed out to get my cleaning device and the awful stuff that
was plugging the pipe (full of course) came rushing out and missed me by
only inches! I'm pretty fast when chased by sewage!....(c;

The washer is dealing with the messy towels and some serious detergent as
I type.

All the lines are free and clear, now. Let's have no more talk of sewage
lines for a while. I need a REST!

(c;

Retirement sucks. I'm going back to work....IT'S EASIER!

Larry

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 7:23:46 PM3/28/08
to
"Bill Kearney" <wkear...@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:UcadnVcUG44VoXDa...@speakeasy.net:

> Disposing of waste within, what, 3 miles of shore is against the law
> in the US.
>
>
>

If you can hear them cursing and see them shaking their fists at
you....you're too close to shore........or the marina hasn't gone to sleep
like you thought, yet....(c;


Peggie Hall

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 9:08:07 PM3/28/08
to
Bill Kearney wrote:
> But won't the vinegar also kill the useful treatment bacteria?

Nope. A cupful, even once a day, isn't enough for the bacteria in the
tank to notice it.

Jere Lull

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 9:32:39 PM3/28/08
to
On 2008-03-28 07:37:54 -0400, "Bill Watson" <watso...@bigpond.com> said:

> "Roger Long" <str...@maine.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:47ecc708$0$17347$4c36...@roadrunner.com...

>> Prevention is simple. Don't pee into the head.

> Tell that to the ladies?

You say that like you don't know any ladies who slip over the transom
for a "swim".

Our current boat is fairly civilized.

The immediately previous boat didn't have as civilized a head. What we
had was rarely used by the many ladies we sailed with that decade. Most
of them did enjoy a short stop for "swimming", though.

--
Jere Lull
Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD
Xan's pages: http://web.mac.com/jerelull/iWeb/Xan/
Our BVI trips & tips: http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Jere Lull

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 9:34:39 PM3/28/08
to
On 2008-03-28 19:22:23 -0400, Larry <no...@home.com> said:

> Retirement sucks. I'm going back to work....IT'S EASIER!

Oh, so TRUE!

Larry

unread,
Mar 28, 2008, 11:28:50 PM3/28/08
to
Jere Lull <jere...@mac.com> wrote in news:2008032821323950073-
jerelull@maccom:

> The immediately previous boat didn't have as civilized a head. What we
> had was rarely used by the many ladies we sailed with that decade. Most
> of them did enjoy a short stop for "swimming", though.
>
>

Pee ta LEE, pee ta LEE!!

Bill Kearney

unread,
Mar 29, 2008, 9:23:47 AM3/29/08
to
> SO FRIGGIN' WHAT!!!!!!

Sure, cholera, dysintery, e-coli... no problem.

> It's totally legal for me to
> squat over the side and poop

No, it isn't.

> Anybody who complies with a stupid law is himself or herself stupid.

Yeah, but what's your excuse?

Bruce in Bangkok

unread,
Mar 29, 2008, 9:49:46 AM3/29/08
to


The trouble with the theory that "anyone who complies with a stupid
law is himself or herself stupid" is that it is a nonviable defense
when you get caught.

Gregory Hall

unread,
Mar 29, 2008, 11:33:27 AM3/29/08
to

"Bruce in Bangkok" <b*paige*125@g*mail.com> wrote in message
news:11isu31a5ud782ldg...@4ax.com...


The trouble with your way of thinking is unless you're stupid you don't GET
caught.

RichH

unread,
Mar 29, 2008, 12:31:09 PM3/29/08
to
The deposition is calcium carbonate and other carbonates; the very
same scale formation as when sea water's temperature is above 143-145
deg. F.

Urine when mixed to seawater lets the carbonates 'drop
out' (precipitate) out of seawater at a lower temeperature .... its
the very same scale thats inside your raw water circuit of your
engine, especially inside the exhaust manifold.

I use a commercial (environmentally degradable) boiler descaling on my
ENGINE, waste plumbing AND holding tank to remove the scale ... all at
the same time.... the engine is more important so I save the engine
cleaning solution then simply soak the head, plumbing AND holding
tank, etc, before dumping.

Rydlyme or Marsolve is what I use. Vinegar is for salads, its too
weak and takes too long to put calcium carbonate back into solution.
www.marsolve.com/ www.rydlyme.com/ www.rydlyme.net

ma...@cruising.com

unread,
Mar 30, 2008, 11:45:35 PM3/30/08
to
Read the Marsolve MSDS - 5-10% aqueous hydrogen chloride = dilute
muriatic acid = why pay this price ???

On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:31:09 -0700 (PDT), RichH <rhm...@att.net>
wrote:

-----------------
www.Newsgroup-Binaries.com - *Completion*Retention*Speed*
Access your favorite newsgroups from home or on the road
-----------------

ma...@cruising.com

unread,
Mar 30, 2008, 11:52:05 PM3/30/08
to
And the Rydlyme MSDS is exactly the same = 5-10% HCl - muriatic acid.

Next trick, I'll saw your dick off and give you back your foreskin....
Oops -

BTW - what's environmentally "friendly" (my words) about hydrochloric
acid??


On Sat, 29 Mar 2008 09:31:09 -0700 (PDT), RichH <rhm...@att.net>
wrote:

>The deposition is calcium carbonate and other carbonates; the very

-----------------

ma...@cruising.com

unread,
Mar 30, 2008, 11:54:20 PM3/30/08
to
And not a fucking salmon to be found either - when I lived in Vanc
there were billions - now they don't exist.

-----------------

0 new messages