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08-18-2019, 01:22 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Sequim, WA
Vessel Name: Even Kiehl
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 110
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Composting toilet experiences?
Hello, Just bought a 28' boat with enclosed head and porta potti which I would like to replace. Anyone have any recommendations or experience with various types and makes ? Will not be used often, but for paying charter guests a porta potti will not do.
thanks,
Stuart
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08-18-2019, 02:19 AM
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#2
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Veteran Member
City: San Diego
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 68
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Watch YouTube reviews of actual users. lots of negatives. It will be interesting to hear from forum members.
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08-18-2019, 04:11 AM
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#3
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Guru
City: St Augustine,Fl
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,789
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Composting heads are viable....except with charter folk . Too much instruction and very foreign concept for visitors I would suspect.
__________________
Jack ...Chicken of the sea! Been offshore 3 miles once
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08-18-2019, 05:01 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
City: Rockford, IL
Vessel Name: Du NORD
Vessel Model: Albin-25
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 350
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We've used a Nature's Head in our Albin for 8 or 9 years and it's turned out to be everything we'd hoped for. Our boat came to us with a conventional marine toilet uninstalled (Jabsco, I think). I had no experience with those, having cruised for years in two boats equipped with porta potties. We decided to get the Nature's Head for the Albin at the outset and have never looked back. The composting head allows us to cruise for a week with no need for a pump-out. The solid waste container does not have to be emptied until the end of the season, however, the urine jugs do need to be emptied. We have two, so we can go for 5 to 7 days between service.
I agree that charter folk might not like them, but have no experience in that regard.
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08-18-2019, 05:37 AM
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#5
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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Its almost impossible to get male guests to sit while urinating.
I would install a cheap manual head and 10-20 gallon tank.
If there is space, one brand of head uses an RV style flush and has its tank mounted just under the head.This would be First choice as it is trouble free and there is no operational learning curve .
Might be able to swap back & forth between composting for you and idiots delight on charter days?
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08-18-2019, 09:32 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Composting toilet experiences?
I have a Natures Head and it has been fine for us. Doesn’t smell, easy to dump urine tank, fairly easy to dump solids bin. Seems well constructed, doesn’t make noise, doesn’t clog up.
However, there is a learning curve, and you would really have to instruct your charter guests on how to use it. The male sitting down to pee may be hard for some. That part doesn’t bother me. But at least the charter guests won’t be able to clog up a toilet with a composter!
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08-18-2019, 10:46 AM
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#7
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Guru
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cardude01
But at least the charter guests won’t be able to clog up a toilet with a composter!
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That's a good point.
We have an Air Head desiccating toilet, but have only been using it for about a month. (For a couple years before that we used a Separette Privy 500 as a proof of concept before shelling out big bucks for a real toilet). In the instructions it shows a 'sweet spot' where males standing while urinating should aim for.
I've always sat down so don't know how well it works, but it seems the plan is for the force of initial flow to head up and around the bowl before it heads down towards the urine container. You don't want to get piss into the crap section or you'll end up with a soupy, stinking mess!
If somebody does goof up and gets it wrong with a desiccating head you just dump it and start again. If they clog up or otherwise screw up a flushing marine head you may have a harder time (understatement!) to get things working properly again.
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
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08-18-2019, 11:41 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: Sequim, WA
Vessel Name: Even Kiehl
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 110
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Thanks all, will continue my research and had no idea that one has to "aim" and must be seated. The explanations to charter guests I feel would be more complex, time consuming and put conversation into areas which should be routine in my safety talk before leaving the dock. I do not want to start the trip with titters and laughter about various toilet postures. I have not read the materials from the manufacturers just gotten an initial highlight reel, but I do not recall the exactness required...
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08-18-2019, 11:44 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: Sequim, WA
Vessel Name: Even Kiehl
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 110
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From the comments, I think for personal use the composting head would probably be the way to go. But for temporary paying guests, it seems it may not be suitable.
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08-18-2019, 01:06 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island
Vessel Name: Capricorn
Vessel Model: Mariner 30 - Sedan Cruiser 1969
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 2,019
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I usually post this video for composting toilet talks. This video is from the "Gone with the Wynns" series. They started the series in a motorhome then moved to a large cat sailing vessel, and use their Nature's Heads on the boat as well.
Air Heads are better if space is tight as you don't have to include space for the hinged top as you do with Nature's Head. The top just lifts off from an Air Head.
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08-18-2019, 03:16 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rsn48
I usually post this video for composting toilet talks. This video is from the "Gone with the Wynns" series. They started the series in a motorhome then moved to a large cat sailing vessel, and use their Nature's Heads on the boat as well.
Air Heads are better if space is tight as you don't have to include space for the hinged top as you do with Nature's Head. The top just lifts off from an Air Head.
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That’s a great video, and the Wynns are the ones who “talked me into” a composting head.
The cool thing about the Wynns is they admit they are “know nothing” sailors (although they’ve been about 1/2 way around the world at this point), so they are not held back by any norms or conventions.
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08-18-2019, 03:33 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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I visited a boat that had a composting head. I think the owner went 'nose blind'.
I have no idea of the brand name. This was about 15 years ago. Perhaps it was poorly maintained.
Needless to say, I did not stay long.
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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08-18-2019, 03:43 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
City: Rockford, IL
Vessel Name: Du NORD
Vessel Model: Albin-25
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 350
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Sounds like their vent fan had quit working. That happens; I've replaced the original. I listen for the very fan noise when I turn on the power in our boat.
When parked in our driveway on the trailer the composting head vent fan operates on garage power.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDan1943
I visited a boat that had a composting head. I think the owner went 'nose blind'.
Needless to say, I did not stay long.
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08-18-2019, 04:18 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moby Nick
Sounds like their vent fan had quit working. That happens; I've replaced the original. I listen for the very fan noise when I turn on the power in our boat.
When parked in our driveway on the trailer the composting head vent fan operates on garage power.
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and technology can change in 20 years too.
What happens when one runs out the proper moss or the coconut fiber?
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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08-18-2019, 04:56 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDan1943
and technology can change in 20 years too.
What happens when one runs out the proper moss or the coconut fiber?
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They sell it in gardening stores...gardening stores should be around for a while.
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
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08-18-2019, 04:56 PM
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#16
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Veteran Member
City: Mena, AR
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 44
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We are looking at this one. This portable is attractive and battery operated. It states it is good for about 56 flushes. How may people will you have aboard and how long will you be out?
https://www.hodgesmarine.com/Thetfor...tm?click=39123
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08-18-2019, 05:23 PM
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#17
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,131
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I know you are asking about composting heads, but maybe in a charter boat it may not meet your needs. If you end up going with a traditional head, I would get a Raritan Marine Elegance. Not the cheapest but it is one of the best.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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08-18-2019, 06:03 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MurrayM
They sell it in gardening stores...gardening stores should be around for a while.
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Yup, if you are close enough.
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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08-18-2019, 06:10 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Kitimat, North Coast BC
Vessel Name: Badger
Vessel Model: 30' Sundowner Tug
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 5,946
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldDan1943
Yup, if you are close enough.
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I live in a temperate rain forest...you can't walk two paces in any direction without stepping on moss.
I can do this all day
__________________
"The most interesting path between two points is not a straight line" MurrayM
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08-18-2019, 06:15 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Aventura FL
Vessel Name: Kinja
Vessel Model: American Tug 34 #116 2008
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 10,595
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MurrayM
I live in a temperate rain forest...you can't walk two paces in any direction without stepping on moss.
I can do this all day
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Moss? Ah but, is it the correct species of moss.
__________________
Two days out the hospital after a week in the hospital because of a significant heart attack.
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