Toilet and water on a charter yacht: how it actually works on the Masurian Lakes

Toilet and water on a charter yacht: how it really works

First time on a charter and you're wondering where you're supposed to wash and what the deal is with the loo? Relax. On a charter yacht you've got a toilet on board (either chemical, or a marine bowl flushed by a hand pump into a tank) and fresh tap water that comes through a pump from a tank. But you usually don't drink that tap water, and you never, under any circumstances, dump sewage into the lake. Those are the two things you need to know before you cast off from the dock. The rest is detail, which I'll break down in a second.

If you're just starting out, take a look at our guide for before your first charter too. It covers all the other stuff people ask about before a trip.

The toilet on a yacht: two systems

On the Masurian Lakes you'll mostly run into two setups. The first is a chemical toilet, a cassette with chemicals that you slide out and empty in the marina. The second, more common on bigger boats, is a marine bowl with a valve and a sewage tank, in English a "holding tank." You flush it with a hand pump next to the bowl. A few strokes up and down and you're done.

Rule number one, sacred: only what has passed through you goes into the bowl, plus a reasonable amount of toilet paper. No wet wipes, no cotton buds, no sanitary pads. The pump and valves can clog up from that, and nobody wants to be taking apart a sewage valve in the middle of a trip. Trust me.

Where you empty the tank and why not into the lake

The sewage tank gets emptied in the marina, at a pump-out station. That's a spot where you hook up a hose and the tank goes into the sewer system. The bigger marinas have them. You dump nothing into the lake, ever. Masuria is a protected area, and the same water that some genius might empty a tank into is, a moment later, the water your kids are swimming in. On top of that it's simply illegal, and stunts like that cost a small fortune.

Rubbish is the same story: you take it ashore to the bins in the marina, not over the side. The lake should stay the way it was when you sailed onto it.

Water at the tap: it's there, but go easy

Fresh water comes out of the tap from a tank in the hull. The pump can be foot-operated (you press with your foot by the sink) or electric (you turn the tap and it flows on its own). The tank is limited. This isn't a tap at home where it pours forever. You do the dishes, wash your hands, splash your face and that's it. When the tank runs low, you top up the water in the marina from a hose on the quay.

And most important: you usually don't drink the tap water on a charter boat. The tank and plumbing aren't made for drinking water, it can taste of plastic or sit for a few days in the heat. For drinking and coffee you use bottled water. You buy a supply before the trip or pick more up at the marina shops along the way.

Shower: depends on what you're sailing

This is where it makes a difference which type of boat you're on. A warm shower on board is most often found on houseboats, those floating homes with a proper bathroom, a boiler and water pressure. If you want comfort close to a hotel, that's your direction, we covered them in our complete guide to houseboats.

On smaller sailboats there usually isn't a shower on board, or it's a token one (a hose shower in the cockpit with cold water, to rinse off after a swim). You wash in the marina, in the sanitary facilities. Almost every decent marina has showers and a WC on land, often included in the mooring price or for a couple of złoty. That's a completely normal rhythm of a Masurian trip: in the evening you pull into the marina, take a shower on shore, load up on water and head off for some fried fish.

Everything in one table

A few habits that make life easier

Top up the water and empty the tank whenever you get the chance. Once you're moored for the night, do both straight away so you're not scrambling to catch it in a rush. Keep a bigger supply of bottled water on board than you think you'll use, because in the heat it disappears faster. And remember that the gas in the bottle is limited too. Cook sensibly, don't leave a burner idling.

While we're on the subject of lake water: in hot summers on the Masurian Lakes you get blue-green algae. Before you jump off the side for a swim, it's worth knowing how to spot it, we've got a separate piece on blue-green algae and safe swimming. And where you can conveniently pull into a marina with full infrastructure, water and sanitary facilities, you'll find in our roundup of the best ports and marinas on the Masurian Lakes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink the tap water on the yacht? Better not. Water from the tank on a charter boat usually isn't drinkable. It's fine for washing and doing dishes, but for drinking and coffee use bottled water.

Where do I empty the toilet? In a marina with a pump-out station. You connect the tank to the pump-out point and the waste goes into the sewer system. A chemical toilet you empty at the designated spot in the marina.

Is there a shower on the yacht? On houseboats most often yes, with warm water. On smaller sailboats usually not, you wash in the sanitary facilities in the marina. Check this when booking a specific boat.

Am I allowed to flush the toilet or pour washing water into the lake? Sewage? Never. Masuria is a protected area, and the tank is emptied only at a pump-out station. Rubbish you also take ashore. You leave the lake clean.

How much water should I take for the trip? For drinking, count on a spare, in the heat water goes fast. Non-drinking water you top up in the marinas along the way, so you don't have to "carry" a full tank around the whole week.

Cover photo: Sniper89 — CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons