Compost Head - my take on Natures Head after a month

[mvweebles]

Compost Head – my experience so far.
Easily one of the most controversial decisions I made in my refit was to go with a Compost Head. I’ve been living with it for about a month and wanted to give feedback. Now, I realize these are not for everyone. Peggie Hall calls them a “Litter Box” with good reason: operating principles are similar though with one important difference: urine is separated from solid waste. I don’t write this to persuade anyone, certainly not to justify anything, just offer my experience and reasoning for going with a Compost Head (I chose the Natures Head HERE).


The principle behind a Compost Head.
First, “Compost Head” is a misnomer. They end product is desiccated but by no means composted, a process that can take months. The magic of a Compost Head is it has two compartments: Urine is diverted into a separate holding bottle and solid waste is deposited into a holding bin with a barely moistened media such as peat moss or coco coir. This is what separates a Compost Head from all other methods of waste management, including a litter box that develop an acrid, ammonia smell.

Why did I go compost?
When I was preparing to bring Weebles to Ensenada from San Francisco, my macerator pump died a couple days before departure. No problem, I bought a new one. It would run then immediately shut down. I was certain it was an install error – I tried reversing it, checking wires, maybe the breaker was bad. Everything. Spent many hours. And cleaned-up 3-4 times. Turns out the Macerator Pump was DOA – the overheat cut-off had malfunctioned.

But this was not my first head-related issue over 25-years. I thought about going a traditional head – the Elegance. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it wasn’t just the head, it was everything connected to the head. When I was young I worked on a ranch and did my share of mucking so I was past the “Ick Factor.” It seemed like a Compost Head might work for me. I pinged CruisersForum asking for people who had one, would they do it again? About 50 unique answers from CH owners, and 100 or so hyperbolic responses from folks who were aghast at the idea (pretty sure at least a couple had some trauma during potty-training). Of the 50 owners, one was neutral, 49 were some version of enthusiastic “hell yea – never go back!” Then I started to realize how may threads there are on malfunctioning head systems and and how the stars must align for a joyful relationship with your head. I decided to give it a whirl. So far so good.

Usage
It’s important to keep moisture from the solids’ bin so men really should sit when peeing. Even though I make it a habit to sit when underway, it’s been a small adjustment. Afterwards, a couple sprits from a spray bottle with vinegar and water chases any residual urine into the bottle.

For solids, you open a fairly large trap door and let it fly. Close the trap door and rotate the churn a few times to bury the deposit and you’re done with that part. But…what about TP? While you could just put it in the solids’ bin, my guess is 99% of Compost Head users put it in a separate waste basket. Why? Without water and moisture, the paper will not really break down. While it’s not mandatory, I would say its recommended. Another learning-curve for me even though I’ve spent more time in Mexico than the US over the last 2-years.

Emptying and maintenance
With two people aboard, the urine bottle needs to be emptied every couple days. Now, I’m expecting someone to react negatively to this but I’ll say it anyway. I dump it overboard. Urine is almost entirely inert, though I’ll concede that while it’s legal to pee overboard, few people pee 2-gals at a time so maybe it makes a difference. Personally, I believe that if you’re not comfortable doing this, a Compost Head is too much trouble.

The solids bin is a bit more work. For a couple aboard, it needs to be emptied every 3-4 weeks. Amazingly, while it has an earthy smell, it is not objectionable. The biggest hassle is the lower half of the head has to be removed and inverted over a plastic bag. The bin is then re-charged with fresh media. Process takes about 15-20 minutes and needs to be done 12-15 times per year for full-timers, so compare to pump-outs. The contents are then deposited in the trash like dog poo; or could be dumped onto non-edible landscaping.

Closing
Clearly, this is a niche solution, especially for the TF crowd who are older, a bit more well-heeled, and with larger boats. It probably seems like camping and in a way I see the point. I’ve listed my best guess at Advantages/Disadvantages – some of the disadvantages are real deal-killers (Ick Factor). I think the ultimate setup for a 2-head boat is one compost, one traditional. As mentioned at the opening, I’m not going to pretend to persuade. Just offer my perspective.

 

[ssobol]

Urine is hardly inert and is not, as widely believed, sterile. Think about it. If everything else that comes out of a human body is a biohazard, why would urine be any different?

There are metabolites of whatever drugs you are taking, naturally occurring bacteria, and compounds like ammonia and urea. Ammonia is highly reactive with a lot of things. Urea (in DEF) is used to clean the exhaust emissions of diesel engines, can't do that if it is inert.

As an example, the reefs in the vicinity of Key West have been heavily damaged from all the urine released by reef snorkeling trips. Now they tell you not to pee on the reef.

Here's a simple test. Simply pee in your toilet and do not flush (an enclosed head helps). Come back in 12-24 hours. Notice the smell. If urine was inert, it would not smell any different after 24 hours from when it was first "dispensed".

 

[mvweebles]

Urine is hardly inert and is not, as widely believed, sterile. Think about it. If everything else that comes out of a human body is a biohazard, why would urine be any different?

There are metabolites of whatever drugs you are taking, naturally occurring bacteria, and compounds like ammonia and urea. Ammonia is highly reactive with a lot of things. Urea (in DEF) is used to clean the exhaust emissions of diesel engines, can't do that if it is inert.

As an example, the reefs in the vicinity of Key West have been heavily damaged from all the urine released by reef snorkeling trips. Now they tell you not to pee on the reef.

Here's a simple test. Simply pee in your toilet and do not flush (an enclosed head helps). Come back in 12-24 hours. Notice the smell. If urine was inert, it would not smell any different after 24 hours from when it was first "dispensed".

I purposefully avoided the word "Sterile" though perhaps "inert" is imperfect too. Best I can tell, urine has urea and some bacteria though not bad bacteria unless the person is unhealthy. I hate the "two wrongs make a right" argument, but of all the crap boats wash into the water, urine has a relatively low toxicity. Which is why it's not illegal to pee off a boat (though holding the pee for more than a handful of days is a different story).

Peter

 

[ssobol]

... and some bacteria though not bad bacteria unless the person is unhealthy...

Whether bacteria is good or bad depends on the situation and environment. E. Coli is a naturally occurring bacteria. In lots of situations it does no harm. Get certain strains of it inside you and you'll have a different opinion.

 

[mvweebles]

I know e-coli causes urinary tract infections, but is e-coli commonly found in urine of an otherwise healthy person? Is it a risk to human or aquatic life, or both? I thought the e-coli risk was from feces where contamination risk approaches 100% if you consume even tiny amounts of fecal matter through improper hygiene.

I'm no expert and have done a fair amount of online research so I'd be interested in something that desribe the risks of dumping urine. It would make a difference in how I handle it. Best I can tell, the risk is extremely low in the concentrations a boat might produce - on par with what washes off the decks of many boats.

Peter

 

[mmullins]

mvweebles- thanks for the comprehensive and informative post on a very relevant topic. I'm thinking about installing one in my forward head this Spring. This would give me one Lectrasan and one composting head.BTW, a single Fin whale urinates approimately 260 gallons into the ocean a day. Nearly twice what the average human urinates in a year.

 

[O C Diver]

So the question I would ask is, "would you replace the toilets in your house with these?" Think of the water savings for the environment and never having to repair a broken home toilet.

While some boat manufacturers do a poor job when it comes to a head, associated plumbing, and holding tank size, I think the best systems beat a litter box hands down.

Ted

 

[Arc]

Anyone concerned about pee in the ocean should never ever swim in a pool

 

[mvweebles]

So the question I would ask is, "would you replace the toilets in your house with these?" Think of the water savings for the environment and never having to repair a broken home toilet.



While some boat manufacturers do a poor job when it comes to a head, associated plumbing, and holding tank size, I think the best systems beat a litter box hands down.



Ted

All I can say is that was not my experience. If a marine head was as predictable and trouble free as my home toilets, would never have even looked for a solution for there would be no problem.

I realize there are those who have a trouble-free, odor-free relationship with their boats head. Head problems are a top 10 common thread on most boating forums. Whenever someone asks for advice on their head, the answers are always the same - as if the owner skipped a base. I just never felt like I could get everything to work just right at the same time. Always felt like a game of 3-card Monty on Canal Street. No matter what I did, I lost.

So I took a different direction.

Peter

 

[heysteve]

Nice write-up! We converted to an Air Head last year and are happy with the solution. It definitely had a learning curve but have now figured it out. We removed the internal mixing bar as it was a pain to clean and now just use a large kitchen spoon to add coco coir after usage. We also keep a supply of heavy-duty construction bags on-hand for holding the used material as having that bag tear open would really ruin your day.

I might add that anybody really squeamish should probably stay away from Mexico... or at least never leave the resort. The sewer systems can't handle TP so there's always a basket next the toilet for used TP. It a bit shocking when first encountered but soon becomes normal.

Also, the pump-out facilities down here are typically not very convenient. Self-serve facilities are very rare. Sometimes you call the marina and they send a couple guys over with some kind of homemade device to do it for you. Other times you go to a dedicated pump-out dock and hope it's actually working... an unlocked

 

[SteveK]

Indoor outhouse, who woulda thunk it. Gross
No Thanks

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Excellent summary

Wanted to chime in here. Not because we have thought about this conversion (spouse opposed at this point), but because this was a great explanation of the nuances of a technology that is great for some and too much of a yuk factor for others. Thanks Weebles. That was a terrific post.



Among my previous tribe (Ranger Tugs) a lot of the most progressive, techno-savvy members went this way and loved it.



Again, a thorough, balanced, and informative post. Everything on a boat involves some kind of transaction cost. Is the cost worth it? For some, yes.

 

[wfleenor]

That was, indeed, and excellent write up of your experience with the head. You are most correct in that it is not a composting head, but a desiccating solids head. Composting is done with moisture, not in the absence of moisture. As the founding adviser to an Engineers Without Borders chapter at a major west-coast university, I have built dozens of urine-diversion, solids-desiccating heads in Central America, South America, and Africa. They are quite well-suited to any environment where water is scarce. The urine is an excellent fertilizer and the desiccated solids, after composting, are a great soil amendment. While I would not put one on my boat, I can see that they would be quite suitable for many others.

 

[Comodave]

Or just go with a Marine Elegance head…

 

[Peter B]

Peter (Weebles), I had quite a chuckle at reading this thread. Especially your first explanatory post. I so relate to why you've done what I eventually did. No, not composting toilet - which as everyone agrees, does not actually compost.

My original experience with boat toilets was when we had a trailer yacht. It had a camping type toilet, but a poor and clumsy design, so we bought a true Porta Potti. It worked, but was never quite ideal either. I realise with the benefit oif hindsight that was because we didn't have a boat big enough to have a separate toilet cubicle.

When we bought our first diesel cruiser, a Cuddles 35, it was in charter via a company, so there were tax writ-off benefits so we left it with them, and we just booked it when we wanted it. In many ways a great way to own a boat - until we found out why not. It had a plumbed in toilet which we thought was fantastic - that is until the first time we encountered a blocked one (by a charter family), not picked up by the team who managed the charter side of things. Fortunately there were two toilets aboard, but the main one was the blocked one. The other was in the master cabin en suite. Not good..! And that was back in the old days when pump over the side was the norm.

Then we bought a CHB (Clipper) 34 which also had a proper manual marine toilet. Beauty we thought. Until it too blocked and refused to work..! So, I lashed out and bought a brand new, large bowl, electric toilet. Trouble is, by then pump over the side was banned and one had to have a holding tank. A 1975 era trawler was never designed to cater for that. Never mind - I can do this I said. So I placed a Turtle Pack bladder type tank under the engine room floor, did all the necessary plumbing, including a macerator pump which claimed to self-prime for up to 1.5m. Ok, well, it never did. I won't take up the space to describe what I have to do to get it to actually pump out, however for a time it worked as we hoped for - until a point was reached when it didn't. Also we found many marinas did not want to actually pump it out because it contained salt water flush, and many plumbed sewerage reticulations do not want salt water in their systems as it kills the good bacteria.

Here's the funny bit. After endless excursions down-under to sort out blockages and all the other issues that toilet plumbing creates, I finally decided that was it. I was done with such torture. I purchased what was sort of a Rolls Royce version of a camping toilet. Fixed it so it was stable in a seaway...and...sigh...bliss..! No blockages, lasted over a week before emptying needed. No odours thanks to a special additive, and the lower holding tank cassette could be merely emptied into the marina toilets as it used only fresh water for flushing.

We found that the main benefit in a proper boat toilet is the privacy and the plumbing for the shower and hand basin, not the type of toilet..! Ok, I'm sure Headmistress will have something to say here, but I kid you not. The sheer relief of the simplicity and no toilet plumbing or need for a special holding tank is a huge winner. So, if you get tired of the composting toilet Peter..? Sure not the answer for larger boats with more passengers, but worked for us... ? ?

 

[CaptTom]

Thanks for an honest review of this technology. So often we see wildly biased views from both sides. The reality is always somewhere in between.

My only quibble would be with the word "composting." I find that term a bit disingenuous, chosen to appeal to a certain demographic rather than for accuracy.

 

[koliver]

Anyone concerned about pee in the ocean should never ever swim in a pool

Given a choice between a pool and the ocean, we always swim in the ocean.
Pools are for little kids to pee in, like it or not.

 

[mvweebles]

Thanks for an honest review of this technology. So often we see wildly biased views from both sides. The reality is always somewhere in between.

My only quibble would be with the word "composting." I find that term a bit disingenuous, chosen to appeal to a certain demographic rather than for accuracy.

I'm pretty sure the term is an evolution of technology, not a marketing choice. When I was in my early 20s, I devoured self-sufficiency material like Foxfire books and Mother Earth News. Compost Toilets were very popular. Sunmar still makes a self-contained Compost Toilet HERE. There is a slide-out tray where the finished compost is removed. I doubt they work very well, but they are/were true composting toilets. If you watch one of the videos on their website, looks to be a 40-year old video that showing peat moss to start the process. Clearly, a predecessor to the urine-diversion head.


Airhead, a direct competitor to Natures Head (they are extremely similar) states on their website that they pioneered urine diversion in 2001. Sunmar now offers a urine-diversion head in their lineup too.

I really don't think there was any intent to mis-represent. These heads are a direct extension of what has been known as compost heads for decades. The folks who work in this field are not prone to grand marketing statements, nor are their buyers swayed by lofty claims. My take is it's just an evolution of terminology that make perfect sense in the context of how the products developed.

BTW - if I had room and power, I would definltely look at Incinolet incinerating toilet that reduces waste to ash. TF's Lepke is an enthusiastic proponent and it makes a lot of sense. For you folks with larger boats, I'm surprised they are not more common.

Peter

 

[mvweebles]

Or just go with a Marine Elegance head…

I was close to pulling the trigger on a Marine Elegance. Peggie Hall was quite generous with her time and we chatted a couple times. But in all candor, my issues have only been only partially related to the head itself. Most of the issues are with the stuff that's hidden from view - hoses, tanks, valves, through-hulls, pumps, vents, fittings, etc. Configuration and layout needs to be just-right to avoid longish hose runs with dips and curves. And then there are tank-size considerations to give time between pump-outs. From where I sat making a decision, a lot needed to go right without much margin for error. In the end, when I reflected on how much time I've spent repairing head systems over 25-years, it seemed like a 'moon shot' for me. So I said the hell with it - I'm trying something different, something simple. So far, so good.

The biggest knock against Compost Heads are perception issues - the litter box or what I call the Ick Factor thing. I totally understand that perception is reality. But if you can set these aside and really think through what problem is being solved - reliable disposal of human waste in confined quarters (RV or Boat), a Compost Head or Incinerating Head starts to tick a lot of boxes.

Peter

 

[Hippocampus]

For anyone who does passages the composing heads have difficulties

Compare direct overboard once outside the 3 m limit to having to dump urine and/or feces from a pitching deck. Although multiple types of media are acceptable to use they be difficult to find once off the beaten track. There’s never enough storage space on a boat and the media should be kept dry. y valves are good thing for some. Figure 4 people peeing up a storm you’re going to need to empty the pee bucket. Maybe not the poop but get one or two crew with the runs that as well.

Agree in a pure coastal setting they may make sense. No holding tank so more room. No significant servicing. And no limitations as regards no discharge zones. But urine isn’t either inert nor sterile. Would think dumping it in a no discharge zone would be illegal. Even ground water is sufficiently contaminated by hormones, drugs and biohazards from humans as to affect flora and fauna. In strong currents or sufficiently offshore would think there’s sufficient dilution but have been in many coastal settings where that’s not true. Of course i lakes (unless the Great Lakes) it’s not true.

So agree if you have the electricity incinerating toilets make sense. If you’re coastal perhaps composting. Otherwise we’re stuck with the same old same old. I currently hate traditional as I’m trying to diagnose and fix an air leak. But it’s a boat.

 

[CaptTom]

From the first link I found when I searched it:

A composting toilet is designed and operated to enhance conditions within the waste pile of human excreta to promote aerobic biological processes that gives off heat, which in turn can inactivate pathogens. A dry desiccating toilet is designed and operated to enhance the physical process of desiccation (or drying) of the waste pile that contains human excreta, which in turn can inactivate pathogens.

Call me pedantic, but you have admit the word composting has better PR than the word desiccating. Yes, it's a marketing thing. Just as marketing has convinced us that our recreational boats are trawlers, and that a ground-source heat pump is geothermal.

I've come to accept trawler. I don't think anyone actually expects to trawl nets with one. But the other two are downright deceptive, trying to make them sound like something they're not.

 

[tiltrider1]

Thank you for the review. I feel like I have a better understanding of the pros and cons.

 

[mvweebles]

For anyone who does passages the composing heads have difficulties

Compare direct overboard once outside the 3 m limit to having to dump urine and/or feces from a pitching deck. Although multiple types of media are acceptable to use they be difficult to find once off the beaten track. There’s never enough storage space on a boat and the media should be kept dry. y valves are good thing for some. Figure 4 people peeing up a storm you’re going to need to empty the pee bucket. Maybe not the poop but get one or two crew with the runs that as well.

Agree in a pure coastal setting they may make sense. No holding tank so more room. No significant servicing. And no limitations as regards no discharge zones. But urine isn’t either inert nor sterile. Would think dumping it in a no discharge zone would be illegal. Even ground water is sufficiently contaminated by hormones, drugs and biohazards from humans as to affect flora and fauna. In strong currents or sufficiently offshore would think there’s sufficient dilution but have been in many coastal settings where that’s not true. Of course i lakes (unless the Great Lakes) it’s not true.

So agree if you have the electricity incinerating toilets make sense. If you’re coastal perhaps composting. Otherwise we’re stuck with the same old same old. I currently hate traditional as I’m trying to diagnose and fix an air leak. But it’s a boat.

Make no mistake, it's illegal to dump urine anywhere in US waters, NDZ or not. Peeing off a boat is not illegal. Peeing into a cup and immediately pouring it into the water becomes illegal. But is it harmful, and if so at what concentrations? I did some research including EPA on the topic and I did not come up with much that concerned me, though a previous post talked about Urea decomposing to Ammonia which while not an issue for humans, can effect aquatic life. What I haven't found yet is in what concentration - so much of the info is based on large releases of municipal sewage vs the concentrations I'm talking about. My current thinking is this is illegal in the way that crossing a solid yellow line on a deserted/desolate highway is illegal. But I could be wrong at which point I will re-think my approach.

Heads on boats are problematic in heavy weather - any head. The contents of a Compost Head are well contained so no better/worse than holding tank. I agree that emptying the solids' bin would not be fun in heavy weather, but for 2-3 people, should not be a problem unless headed to Marquesas. The one thing I will miss is direct overboard discharge outside 3-nm limit - that is simple and reliable. But that was maybe 2% of my usage.

I have wondered about the media. The Coco Coir bricks are compressed and fairly small and easily stowed, but storing more than about 1-years' worth is not practical. Once I leave Ensenada, not sure how that works out. I'll have to ask around.

In the end, I figure in a year of full-time use with two aboard, Compost Head will take about 8-hours of maintenance for the solids/urine. For that, I don't have to go to a pump-out station ..... ever. I don't have to ever replace the DOA macerator pump that frustrated the heck out of me. I don't ever have to worry about smelly hoses. You get the idea. It's a tradeoff. For me it made sense. After a year I might have a different point of view, but right now, no complaints, even though using it is still a bit unusual.

Peter

 

[dannc]

For anyone who does passages the composing heads have difficulties

Compare direct overboard once outside the 3 m limit to having to dump urine and/or feces from a pitching deck. Although multiple types of media are acceptable to use they be difficult to find once off the beaten track. There’s never enough storage space on a boat and the media should be kept dry. y valves are good thing for some. Figure 4 people peeing up a storm you’re going to need to empty the pee bucket. Maybe not the poop but get one or two crew with the runs that as well.
...

Desiccating toilets, they really are not composting but that is a marketing term, are a frequent topic on the Cruising Forum. The people who are using these toilets do not have issues storing the media if they are using coir/coconut fiber. Something like a cubic foot of the coir blocks will last a couple a year.

At least one the desiccating toilets can use a regular one gallon milk jug to collect urine which makes it easier to store and/or dispose. I would think an empty one gallon vinegar jug would work better because of the cap and thick plastic. Tossing the solids over board would be more difficult than the liquid. Just don't toss upwind.

I think the downsides of these toilets, besides psychological, is the proper disposing of the solids and someone having the runs. Flip side of the disposal issue, is that people are throwing used diapers in the trash.

Later,
Dan

 

[mvweebles]

From the first link I found when I searched it:
Call me pedantic, but you have admit the word composting has better PR than the word desiccating. Yes, it's a marketing thing. Just as marketing has convinced us that our recreational boats are trawlers, and that a ground-source heat pump is geothermal.

I've come to accept trawler. I don't think anyone actually expects to trawl nets with one. But the other two are downright deceptive, trying to make them sound like something they're not.

The folks who are potential buyers and users of Compost Heads have no issues with the term 'Compost' and by no means feel decieved, though I would point out that the solids' byproduct is compost-ready, something raw sewage in a holding tank will never be (NOTE - should not be used for edible plants). The Compost Head solids' waste requires time to break-down vs the transportation, processing, and treatment required for holding tank sewage.

In all candor, these tend to be red herring issues from folks who are very unlikely to own or use one. As such, the owners of Compost Heads wish the generic term was not 'compost' because it's a lightning rod for the anti-crowd. "Urine Diverting" is a common term used by OEMs and their customers though these days, everyone knows that a compost head going into a van, RV, or boat is a urine-diverting head.

Peter

 

[Selidster]

I'm in the marine repair business. You'll never need to call for a repair on a composting toilet. I fix boat toilets regularly. No fun. But the composting can be a pain as well. We have 2 Natures Heads, and some days im really frustrated. The urine tank has no signal it's full. Then its a messy problem as you will spill urine just trying to remove the tank to empty it. If you have guests it can fill quickly and be overflowing into the solids tank. Also emptying the solids would be too hard for my wife. The lower part when full is pretty heavy. We'll be buying another boat in a few months haven't decided which way to go.

 

[slowgoesit]

Thanks so much Peter! An honest report from someone who actually OWNS what he is posting about! Hallelujah!
We also have a Natures Head toilet. We removed the existing salt water flush head in the master head shortly after we moved onto the boat in September of 2022.

We still have a salt water flush head in the fwd head . . . until this coming week, when we will be removing the salt water manual flush head and installing a Raritan Marine Elegance fresh water flush head, based on Peggy Hall's recommendations. Bless her, she's probably forgotten more about marine sanitation systems than I'll ever know!

We mostly poo in the forward head. Selidster, one of the reasons we chose the Natures Head over the Air Head was that you can see the urine level in the Natures Head when it gets about 3/4 full. When the urine bucket gets near full we dump it into the forward head. Our forward holding tank is 204 gallons, so we can go a LONG time between pumpouts.

A couple of notes here:

• We NEVER had to do any repairs to the two Groco Model K manual raw water flush heads. The ONLY reason we replaced the aft head is it flushed overboard, and the ONLY reason we're replacing the fwd Groco is it is raw water flush, and if not used regularly, the salt water smells. . . not the poo, the salt water.
• When we empty the urine bucket, we put about two tablespoons of vinegar in the pee bucket. It eliminates any smells, or at least for us it does. Can't speak for other people's experience.
• We had to replace the micro vent fan that stopped working on the Natures head after about 15 months. It takes about 15 minutes to replace, I bought a 4 pack for $12.99, so we're good for another 5 years or so on that.
• I really REALLY like two heads on a boat. Main reasons, convenience and redundancy.
• Some of the people who are enforcing our antipollution laws are complete idiot wackadoddles . . . An acquaintance of mine had the local Barney Fife insist on adding a dye pak to the Natures Head. No amount of explaining, even taking the two toggles off and lifting the entire toilet off the deck, proving that there was absolutely no physical connection between the head and the boat, sidetracked this highly educated professional from adding the dye pack, cranking the handle several times, and hollering to his steller and apparently highly trained (his words) members of his crew who maintained a vigilant watch on the water around his boat for telltale signs that the completely self contained Natures Head wasn't illegally discharging dye into the surrounding waters . . . .

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program of people with absolutely no personal experience with "Composting" (I think by now we've thoroughly established that it's really Desiccating) toilets expounding on:

• how "ick" these toilets are
• how they're going to explode some day, sinking your boat
• how it's illegal in all 50 states, Canada, and the rest of the world to put human feces in the trash (although diapers are legally disposed of there all day long) hmmmm, maybe they're assuming young children are not human?!? . . . .
• and how putting dried TP in your trash can will case your children to become sterile!

Enjoy!

 

[slowgoesit]

Just for info, here's a link to the micro fans I purchased:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JYWF4CB?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

The price went up since I bought, they're now $14.00, free shipping, so based on my original one lasting 15 months, that's about $2.80/year for repairs . . .

 

[Snapdragon III]

I put a composting head in our last boat. It was great. It was really great after I was able to install a gravity drain line from the urine outlet to our existing 50 Gal holding tank. Best of both worlds. Super reliable, not smelly, used not fresh water, but you didn't have to dump the urine bottle all the time.

 

[catalinajack]

All I can say is that was not my experience. If a marine head was as predictable and trouble free as my home toilets, would never have even looked for a solution for there would be no problem.

I realize there are those who have a trouble-free, odor-free relationship with their boats head. Head problems are a top 10 common thread on most boating forums. Whenever someone asks for advice on their head, the answers are always the same - as if the owner skipped a base. I just never felt like I could get everything to work just right at the same time. Always felt like a game of 3-card Monty on Canal Street. No matter what I did, I lost.

So I took a different direction.

Peter

Peter, was your past experience with the ubiquitos Vacuflush? If so, that explains a lot. A Marine Elegance head is truly flush and forget with the added benefit of not needing a macerating overboard pump. Simply use a Dometic TW series pump, almost bullet proof. Lived aboard for six years so daily use and not a single problem.