The toilet on a yacht differs slightly from the home one - in its basic version it is a so-called mechanical toilet. Instead of a button, it has a pump and a switch. Using the pump, we remove the waste into a special tank or fill the shell with water. The switch allows you to select a specific function. The pump itself works very typically - you have to move it up and down with the appropriate force.

The pumped out waste is transferred to the tank, which is equipped with a valve. When the yacht is in, near or at anchorage, the tank should be closed. There are severe financial penalties for emptying it in marinas and doing so at the anchorage point can simply be unpleasant due to odor and visual reasons.

What should you keep in mind when using the restroom on my boat?

• Once the waste has disappeared from the shells, you'll need to make a few more or even a dozen additional pump moves. This will ensure that there is nothing left in the pipe leading to the tank and will reduce the risk of the waste going back.
• Toilet paper, hygiene products or any other type of rubbish must not be thrown into the shells. Failure to do so may lead to clogging of the toilet and, consequently, costly and unpleasant repairs.
• It can be quite tiring to use the pump, so it's a good idea to take it easy - so that you don't get tired unnecessarily.