Head or no Head?

[emergpa1]

OK, where are the composter folks? We have a marine head on our boat, but if we didn't already, I'd put in a C-head or one of the other composters. I considered taking out our marine head this year and swapping to one of these, but I'm going to go with the known entity for now, and just replace the hoses. Ours has a 10 gal tank, and that's small enough that you don't get too many days between pumpouts when you're cruising. I like the idea of not having to worry about it with one of the composters, but I've never used one, and there are always some compromises whatever system you use. I've used the wag bag setups before, and would again in a pinch, but they aren't pleasant.

Well since you asked, I'll give my opinion. I put a composting head into an O'Day 26. I will see if I can find a picture of that installation. But I had to use the Vbirth, which we used as a storage area, and put it immediately aft and facing aft of the birth. It would not fit in the area built for the Porta potty on that boat. It was not pretty, and I had to keep the entrance to the head area closed, but it work for us.
When we purchased and Moved a board full-time our Island packet 31 she had head issues. I decided to remove all that complicated and smelly gear and install the same composting head in the Island packet. The holding tank on this boat was completely in adequate given the fact that you must flush the pipes out with water or they will soon begin to stink. So when I did the install it opened up the old locker for the holding tank as well as got rid of all that stinky pipe. I did leave the macerator and pump out line in so that I can reinstall the head when we choose to sell the boat.
With that as background let me discuss the composting toilet in particular. First of all, once you get biologically balanced which takes about six weeks, it works beautifully. I certainly would not go back and install a regular toilet. For the nature's head, which we have, it takes a space 23 x 23". And the width is a little tight. 25 inches width would be better. But absolutely not less than 23 x 23. Part of that width involves the elbow for the vent pipe and being able to get your hand down on the side to crank the wheel which mixes the compost after each use. Once it is balanced and as long as you keep the little filter for the vent pipe clean there is almost no odor. In fact I would say no odor when things are working correctly. Certainly much less than we experienced with the traditional sailboat head. The urinal must be emptied daily. We simply pour the urine down the sink drain.. The urine is separated from the stool which keeps the compost from stinking. The compost material itself has not been even partially had to be removed over the past several months. Yes that's right several months. The only reason to remove compost periodically is that, as it becomes dense, it becomes more difficult to turn with the crank. I guess almost all of the bulk of the compost is eaten by the bacteria.
The only reason I can think of not to use a composting head is the space you need.. It takes more room for a composting head because of the venting and crank than a traditional sailboat head. Best luck! Keith

 

[Scott T-Bird]

It seems that the proponents of porta-potti have found that limiting the flushwater is the key to making the whole process of disposal less objectionable. Also, it seems that some want the option of using their PP in the more traditional sense with extra holding capacity and the option to either discharge overboard or at pump-out station. However, the PP provides the option (that a marine toilet & holding tank doesn't) to manage discharge without relying on either overboard discharge or a pump-out station.

 

[Alan Gomes]

It seems that the proponents of porta-potti have found that limiting the flushwater is the key to making the whole process of disposal less objectionable. Also, it seems that some want the option of using their PP in the more traditional sense with extra holding capacity and the option to either discharge overboard or at pump-out station. However, the PP provides the option (that a marine toilet & holding tank doesn't) to manage discharge without relying on either overboard discharge or a pump-out station.

Actually, what I'd say is this: the fact that so little flush water is required with a porta potty vs. a standard head/holding tank installation results in a much greater effective capacity for a given tank volume. I found nothing especially "objectionable" with the setup on my Catalina 30 (A Groco head plumbed to a 14 gal. holding tank). It worked well enough and did not give me odor problems. However, when it came time to do a new installation in my Ericson 26, the MSD porta potty was much easier and actually *increased* my effective working capacity over what I had on the C30. So it was a win-win all around.

I do agree that you also have the option of removing the tank entirely and dumping it in a shore-side toilet if you are so inclined. But I never do this. I have (one time) removed the entire head with the tank empty, carted it home, and given it a "deep cleaning" just because the whole thing is so simple to remove.

 

[agprice22]

Thanks All. It seems the MSD gets a wide base of approval for many good reasons. I appreciate all the good advice and experience. That is what makes this forum so valuable.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[Alan Gomes]

Thanks All. It seems the MSD gets a wide base of approval for many good reasons. I appreciate all the good advice and experience. That is what makes this forum so valuable.

Thanks,
Andrew

Glad if this discussion proved helpful to you. I would add just one caveat about the MSD porta potty--or at least the one I installed (a Thetford 555P): The brackets for securing it were made of flimsy plastic and a joke. I had a stainless one fabricated and now it's very secure. You certainly don't want a full porta potty flying around the cabin!

 

[John23883]

Here's my pump-out system

When we go to Canada, I attach this pump-out system to the head. Once home I remove, clean and put away for next time. The aluminum plate in the port has brackets that take 2 minutes to remove.

 

[agprice22]

When we go to , I attach this pump-out system to the head. Once home I remove, clean and put away for next time. The aluminum plate in the port has brackets that take 2 minutes to remove.

Nicely done...

Thanks,

Andrew