The recent thread about the idea of change-out waste containers brought back an old thought of mine having to do with installing a functional urinal in the head, with a goal of extending the time between full holding tanks.
We are all caught between wanting to use a minimum of flush water to extend the fill time of the holding tank, and making sure we use enough flush water to clear the hoses and prevent them from absorbing odors prematurely. If there were a way to reduce the flush water and still clear the hoses adequately, it would be very attractive in my mind.
My trips to the head to relieve myself of "liquid waste only" outnumbers those for solid waste by some 3–4:1. That means that, conservatively, 75% of the time I'm adding flush water to the holding tank simply to move urine, another liquid, from the bowl the to tank.
So, the minimum requirements for a water-saving urinal add-on would be:
1. a dedicated, small-diameter tube running from the holding tank to the head, attached to :
2. the urinal proper, be it plastic funnel or something more aesthetic
3. a way to seal the opening (let's not use the unfortunate term "throat" here, if you please) of the urinal for odor control.
Have at it, folks:
1. Do you think a concept like this is feasible?
2. Do you know of any installations like this on modest sailing yachts?
3. What caveats should be acknowledged that would inform the design and/or use of such an auxiliary?
4. Is there anything about this that you think aesthetically repulsive? I mean, you have to show your guests how to use TP strategically, how to twist valves and pump while looking at their own waste, or for those of you who are inclined, how to throw their soiled TP into a little bag under the sink (let's not re-hash (oops, no pun intended) that debate here). What about the sight/function of a urinal would be worse than that? But I may not be seeing it, so give my your aesthetic responses, as well.
Off the top of my head, I think that a simple, rather steep-walled, funnel-shaped cup would drain straighter/quicker, and leave less behind, and that a quick wipe with TP before re-inserting a stopper would be sufficient; also, that a small chaser of rinse water before drying the cup would both make clean-up more sanitary and serve to clear the line, preventing odoriferous hosing.
An installation that leaves the cup as, um, flush to the bulkhead would be necessary for most of our phone-booth sized heads.
Okay, I've gone on too long: your turn!
We are all caught between wanting to use a minimum of flush water to extend the fill time of the holding tank, and making sure we use enough flush water to clear the hoses and prevent them from absorbing odors prematurely. If there were a way to reduce the flush water and still clear the hoses adequately, it would be very attractive in my mind.
My trips to the head to relieve myself of "liquid waste only" outnumbers those for solid waste by some 3–4:1. That means that, conservatively, 75% of the time I'm adding flush water to the holding tank simply to move urine, another liquid, from the bowl the to tank.
So, the minimum requirements for a water-saving urinal add-on would be:
1. a dedicated, small-diameter tube running from the holding tank to the head, attached to :
2. the urinal proper, be it plastic funnel or something more aesthetic
3. a way to seal the opening (let's not use the unfortunate term "throat" here, if you please) of the urinal for odor control.
Have at it, folks:
1. Do you think a concept like this is feasible?
2. Do you know of any installations like this on modest sailing yachts?
3. What caveats should be acknowledged that would inform the design and/or use of such an auxiliary?
4. Is there anything about this that you think aesthetically repulsive? I mean, you have to show your guests how to use TP strategically, how to twist valves and pump while looking at their own waste, or for those of you who are inclined, how to throw their soiled TP into a little bag under the sink (let's not re-hash (oops, no pun intended) that debate here). What about the sight/function of a urinal would be worse than that? But I may not be seeing it, so give my your aesthetic responses, as well.
Off the top of my head, I think that a simple, rather steep-walled, funnel-shaped cup would drain straighter/quicker, and leave less behind, and that a quick wipe with TP before re-inserting a stopper would be sufficient; also, that a small chaser of rinse water before drying the cup would both make clean-up more sanitary and serve to clear the line, preventing odoriferous hosing.
An installation that leaves the cup as, um, flush to the bulkhead would be necessary for most of our phone-booth sized heads.
Okay, I've gone on too long: your turn!
-Paul
