Cruising Sailors Forum Archive

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• Cleaning scale out of head and hoses
  • abscorbic acid is another name for it, Neil
    • We pump 15 pumps through each time we flush and have no problem. We also have no holding tank. Try . . . (pic)
    • Neil, are you sure that ascorbic acid isn't vitamin C? (nm) (pic)
      • "ascorbic acid " acid is vitamin C... not sure what abscorbic is... hope it's not stored next to the vitamin C ;-) (nm)
    • Ascorbic acid is Vit C, like orange juice. It is pretty wimpy stuff
    • What ever was I not thinking. Logan, your right! Scratch that post (nm)
    • vinegar
  • Muriatic acid is another name for hydrochloric acid.
    • I use the muriatic acid.
      • All boat should have holding tanks
        • Oops was suppose to be under the . We have no holding tank post. (nm)
        • Agreed boats should. However, few boats do unless it is
        • At the risk of starting another heated debate...
          • Brian, Cane Garden Bay in the BVI's is brown at 10:00 in the morning.
            • cane garden bay
          • City sewage is a huge problem in most receiving waters
            • What I am saying is...
    • Hey Peggie, how strong an acid?
      • A 12% solution for about 45 minutes will do it..
        • Think it's ok to use it in the Skipper head, Peggie?
          • Won't harm anything in the toilet (nm)
        • OK Peggie, I just can't help myself... (link)
          • But best not to inject this kind (nm)
        • I have a bottle of Muriatic Acid from the hardware store, it says ...
          • Cut the bottled product 8-1. (nm)
  • I would use white vinegar and then switch to fresh water flushing...
    • Thats what we have always used with good results ...but we do it frequently. (nm)
    • Not practical for liveaboard, cruising boats, Todd. (nm)
      • Neil has a water maker (nm)
        • Those mere pennies a flush could really add up quickly
        • Our watermake is 1 gal/hour, and we use it ONLY
      • Greg, what am I missing? Why is usng . . . (pic)
        • Nothing wrong with vinegar. It's Todd's comment to switch to fresh water flushing that is impractical. (nm)
  • Neil if your holding tank is metal don't let acids sit there long. (nm)
  • Possible treatments
    • Don't beat your hoses with a hammer...
      • Just disconnect it and bend it to break up the deposits
        • Larry, a boat we were on had it so thick it was like a clogged artery.
          • The stuff is like plaster :( (nm)
  • to avoid problem in future
    • We use the rail a lot, but there are limits
      • use little john, don't piss over rail (nm)
    • Aside from a little vinegar or occaisional acid...