Composting head

[Florida sail]

Has anyone had any experience with the C- Head? It is less than 1/2 the price of the Air head and considerably less expensive than the Natures Head. I would appreciate any feed back from sailors who might have had experience with the use of a composting head and in particular any experience with the C-head.

Thanks,

 

[HukilauMike]

Ron: If you want a real life depiction of what can happen with a composting head "out there", then read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Seas...sr=1-1&keywords=breaking+seas+by+glenn+damato

Even after the debacle Glenn suffered with his composting head (laugh out loud, disgustingly funny), he's still an advocate.

 

[Erieau]

I just finished that book, on the recommendation of someone here. Great read, hard to put down.
Seems to me the problem with Glenn's head was with the women, who couldn't "aim" into the pee pot when the boat was heeled.
And yeah, the "grit" in his teeth was disgusting.

 

[Bob J.]

There's some interesting threads on this very subject on sailnet including stuff posted by Sandy, the guy who makes the C-head. They seem to have a good reputation & many folks use them.

Although the C head is 1/2 the price of an airhead or natures head, the base it is made out of wood that is epoxied/painted. For me that is the only problem I have with it. Toilets are supposed to be made from a non absorbent materail which airhead & natures head are.

I suppose like many things in life, the price is what drives the equation for some.

 

[Steve Dion]

As you know the urine cannot be dumped overboard any more leagally than the poop. Why would anyone want one of these aboard their boat?

 

[Lake Superior Sailor]

They make seats of wood so whats the difference!...Dale

 

[Sailm8]

Has anyone had any experience with the C- Head? It is less than 1/2 the price of the Air head and considerably less expensive than the Natures Head. I would appreciate any feed back from sailors who might have had experience with the use of a composting head and in particular any experience with the C-head.

Thanks,

I am currently cruising with someone who has one. I will get the name of the product but he has been sailing for decades, owns several boats and swears by this thing. I told him about the one in "Breaking Seas" but he claims this one is designed differently and works with the ladies. He is on a 22 foot boat and says there is NO SMELL or he would know it. Runs on peat moss and a crank and makes turd balls that are dry and don;t smell. The pee jug you still must empty. It cost about 450.00. That's all I know.

 

[higgs]

I considered one but the fact that urine has to be manually disposed was a big factor in opting out. running the vent fan 24/7 was not very pratical, either.

 

[Steve Dion]

Higgs: For the life of me, I don't know why anyone would want one on a boat. I can understand one in a remote cabin or some place where a tank or plumbing is not practical. Please explain.

 

[Bob J.]

Higgs: For the life of me, I don't know why anyone would want one on a boat. I can understand one in a remote cabin or some place where a tank or plumbing is not practical. Please explain.

I can't speak for anyone else but for me the issue is not having to deal with pumpouts, a holding tank, chemicals put into the holding tank so one can cope with the smell. You have to admit a holding tank on a boat is not the most pleasant thing.

Although not legal & for some poltically correct, I do not see the disposal of urine overboard as being an issue. I somehow think when NDZ's were established they were targeting the brown stuff.

Not saying you viewpoint is wrong or mine is right, different strokes for different folks

 

[Steve Dion]

I need to tell you. My wife can smell a rock from 3 miles away. We use Odorlos powder and she never complains about head odor unless our tank is full. We pump out at the marina dock and it lasts us for 2-3 weeks depending if we stay at the dock.

But you are correct. Different strokes for different folks. I cannot even imagine what she would say about peat moss turd balls on board!

 

[shemandr]

S**t is S**t and it never smells like roses. Peat, no peat, unless you're "hard of smelling" , you're going to smell it.
A pal who took a raft trip down the Colorado, and had to use one, for that trip said that no one wanted to be in the the raft with it - because it stank. Just one man's report but .....
And I read breaking seas, and the compost toilet sounded like a real disaster. All due respect to Glenn but it sounded to me like someone who made a decision and thereafter supported the decision without regard to the contrary evidence.

 

[Steve Dion]

Andrew:

All S**t is NOT created equal.:dance:

 

[Bob J.]

I cannot even imagine what she would say about peat moss turd balls on board!

That was good for a laugh this morning.
You got a wife that likes sailing & being on the boat, that's a very good thing.
Whatever it takes to keep the peace brother

 

[Sailm8]

As promised it is the C head and he still loves it. My damn jabsco is leaking and smells and I have 2 or 3 weeks to go on this cruise

 

[Fireboat52]

Higgs: For the life of me, I don't know why anyone would want one on a boat. I can understand one in a remote cabin or some place where a tank or plumbing is not practical. Please explain.

I came across this thread while googling portable composting toilets. I am the guy who makes the C-Head and I would be glad to answer any questions anybody has. There are numerous reasons that people would want a composting toilet on their boat or else I wouldn't be selling any. The three main reasons people buy a C-Head is 1. They can no longer stand the smell of a holding tank system. 2. They are tired of having to find or worry about finding a pump out station every week or so and not being able to crusie extended trips into areas where there are no pump out stations (in a nutshell, tired of being tied to pump out stations) and 3. They are tired of maintaining the holding tank system and paying to pump it out.

You could just as easily argue that whoever decided to put a household flushing toilet on a boat, clearly wasn't thinking. And the notion that with a composting toilet you must pour your urine overboard illegally, is simply not correct and certainly isn't advolcated. I would note that one illegal dump of a holding tank when forced to is exponentially more polluting than occasionally pouring urine overboard in a pinch. If you examine any cruiser's cruising habits (blue water sailor, coastal hopper, gunkholer, dock knocker) there are numerous occasions when the urine can be disposed of easily and legally.

Anyway, I would be glad to answer any questions.

Sandy Graves

 

[motobasturd]

Thank you Sandy for your input. I am currently refitting my Cat 27 and will be looking into fitting a C-head in it. The 27 footer's space is a little tight but I'm sure I will be able to make it work.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I really don't see the advantage of the composting head. It is all well and good for normal stuff, I guess, but what if Montizuma visits and takes his revenge. I wouldn't want that sitting around in anything in my cabin.

I would rather deal with a portapotty than a composting head in my opinion!

 

[Fireboat52]

If you have explosive diarrhea, any toilet is going to be a problem. You are going to fill up a porta potty pretty fast as well as a holding tank. The C-Head system uses 5 gallon buckets for disposal and if you don't use 5 gallon buckets on your boat then you are missing out on a cheap way to store items below. If you have really bad diarrhea, use a five gallon bucket and cover the waste with peat moss or sawdust until you can either rinse it out offshore or seal and dispose of it ashore. Treat it with chlorox to kill the bug and seal it up tight if you are going to throw it in the trash. Colostomy bags, diapers and feminine hygeine products are regularlly disposed of in this way and they aren't even treated.

You can still use the C-Head if you choose. Add peat moss and churn to where it will pour out and then tie a rope around the handle and drop the emptied collection container overboard (not while underway) and let the fish clean off the remains. The sea water will kill the bugs and the miniscule amount of waste won't hurt the environment.

Hope this is helpful.

Sandy

 

[Ross]

seems like the description of a litter box for people.