ANYBODY HAVE INFO OR EXPERIENCE WITH COMPOSTING HEADS (SUN MAR OR AIR HEAD)? AS MUCH AS I LIKE THE ELECTRASAN AFTER 5 YEARS OF DAILY USE I'M READY TO LOOK AT ALTERNATE SYSTEMS. AS MORE RESTRICTIONS ARE PLACED ON SANATATION DEVICES, LACK OF PUMP OUT FACILITIES IN SOME AREAS, ZERO DISCHARGE, ETC. I HAVE SPOKE TO A FEW PEOPLE WITH THIS SYSTEM AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE REALLY GOOD THINGS TO SAY. ANY THOUGHTS???
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Caps lock
Hi Tim, Some people using forums interpret all caps as 'shouting.' You may gett better responses if you type in lower case. There are people who swear by those units, and others who don't like the idea of working sewage that has not been chemically treated. I'm sure you'll get plenty of both sides here.
Hi Tim, Some people using forums interpret all caps as 'shouting.' You may gett better responses if you type in lower case. There are people who swear by those units, and others who don't like the idea of working sewage that has not been chemically treated. I'm sure you'll get plenty of both sides here.
I'll wrie quietly........
Okay, sorry I wrote so loud I'll write this again in quiet lower case letters.Most of the documents I work with daily are in upper case & I forget to change over. Does any one have any info or qualified opinion on the composting heads? How about you Peggy? Thanks, Tim
Okay, sorry I wrote so loud I'll write this again in quiet lower case letters.Most of the documents I work with daily are in upper case & I forget to change over. Does any one have any info or qualified opinion on the composting heads? How about you Peggy? Thanks, Tim
I'll answer softly,,,,,
That's one of the things people ask about here but NO ONE has ever installed it. Oops, sorry for shouting. *sry
That's one of the things people ask about here but NO ONE has ever installed it. Oops, sorry for shouting. *sry
I don't see the advantage...
At least, not in coastal waters where the discharge of treated waste is legal. The Sun Mar is a composter...the Air Head is a dessicator. The difference: urine and solid waste aren't separated in a composter..what liquids can be evaporated are evaporated, the rest is drained off. The Air Head diverts urine into jugs or a holding tank...only solids go into the evaporation chamber. Urine cannot be discharged (which includes pouring it over the side) inside the "3 mile limit," which means that Sun Mar requires installing tank...the AirHead jugs have to be taken ashore. If you have to put the urine into a tank or take jugs ashore, you might as well put it all into a tank or a portapotty. Both composters and the Air Head need continuous power 24/7/365 to run the evaporator...and the Sun-Mar also has a heated evaporator plate. Both systems also need some bacteria to help things along, and some peat moss to absorb some of the liquids, so you'd have keep a supply of both aboard. And both require a bit of maintenance. The Sun Mar is too big to fit in most heads, and costs around $1200. The AirHead fits most heads and costs around $700. You can buy a Lectra/San (CG certified Type I MSD) and flush it ALL overboard legally in all waters except those specifically designated "no discharge" (the Keys are the nearest one to your waters--the only NDZ in FL except for Destin Harbor), one flush at a time--with -0- harm to the environment--for about $750. And it only needs power for 2.5 minutes after each flush. Otoh, people who've installed the Air Head claim to love it, so you might too.
At least, not in coastal waters where the discharge of treated waste is legal. The Sun Mar is a composter...the Air Head is a dessicator. The difference: urine and solid waste aren't separated in a composter..what liquids can be evaporated are evaporated, the rest is drained off. The Air Head diverts urine into jugs or a holding tank...only solids go into the evaporation chamber. Urine cannot be discharged (which includes pouring it over the side) inside the "3 mile limit," which means that Sun Mar requires installing tank...the AirHead jugs have to be taken ashore. If you have to put the urine into a tank or take jugs ashore, you might as well put it all into a tank or a portapotty. Both composters and the Air Head need continuous power 24/7/365 to run the evaporator...and the Sun-Mar also has a heated evaporator plate. Both systems also need some bacteria to help things along, and some peat moss to absorb some of the liquids, so you'd have keep a supply of both aboard. And both require a bit of maintenance. The Sun Mar is too big to fit in most heads, and costs around $1200. The AirHead fits most heads and costs around $700. You can buy a Lectra/San (CG certified Type I MSD) and flush it ALL overboard legally in all waters except those specifically designated "no discharge" (the Keys are the nearest one to your waters--the only NDZ in FL except for Destin Harbor), one flush at a time--with -0- harm to the environment--for about $750. And it only needs power for 2.5 minutes after each flush. Otoh, people who've installed the Air Head claim to love it, so you might too.
After 3 seasons with the AirHead,
it works for us. When we purchased the boat 3 years ago, one of the first projects was to replace the odor-permeated hoses/fittings, sterilize tank and rebuild the toilet. I sat to marvel at the new clean white installation only to find my response lacked enthusiasm. Being new to the boating world, I reactively just rebuilt the existing setup,,,the longer I looked at the system, thoughts of pumping solid(or macerated) human waste through 1.5" hoses in all directions seemed totally nuts to me. A few weeks of researching alternatives and considering the ever-present-constant, *All things being trade-offs* I settled with the AirHead. Condensed Assesment to-date : With two people(including occasional guests) using the boat 2-3 times a week, the dehydration process kept-up nicely and did not need to be emptied for the first 6 months,,,and was quite managable in a small plastic bag. It had an earthy odor and we dumped it on a flower bed at home. However, on our recent 4200nm/8 month trip from Maine - Key West we had to empty it 4 times. The dehydration process was not as effective for two people living aboard,,, although a major contributing factor, my mate found keeping the urine separated during use more of a challenge for the female anatomy. The 4 times we emptied we were offshore, and only took a few minutes to do. Overall the head has functioned well, although the quality of the materials used could be better, and much room for design improvements. For more specific +/- details, feel free to email me. Rusty,,, S/V EarthSpinner PS. Tim, had a great time last year while at the city mooring field in Stuart,,,where are you in Stuart? Hoping to sail down this year if the damn lows will stop pounding the NE long enough to leave :^|
it works for us. When we purchased the boat 3 years ago, one of the first projects was to replace the odor-permeated hoses/fittings, sterilize tank and rebuild the toilet. I sat to marvel at the new clean white installation only to find my response lacked enthusiasm. Being new to the boating world, I reactively just rebuilt the existing setup,,,the longer I looked at the system, thoughts of pumping solid(or macerated) human waste through 1.5" hoses in all directions seemed totally nuts to me. A few weeks of researching alternatives and considering the ever-present-constant, *All things being trade-offs* I settled with the AirHead. Condensed Assesment to-date : With two people(including occasional guests) using the boat 2-3 times a week, the dehydration process kept-up nicely and did not need to be emptied for the first 6 months,,,and was quite managable in a small plastic bag. It had an earthy odor and we dumped it on a flower bed at home. However, on our recent 4200nm/8 month trip from Maine - Key West we had to empty it 4 times. The dehydration process was not as effective for two people living aboard,,, although a major contributing factor, my mate found keeping the urine separated during use more of a challenge for the female anatomy. The 4 times we emptied we were offshore, and only took a few minutes to do. Overall the head has functioned well, although the quality of the materials used could be better, and much room for design improvements. For more specific +/- details, feel free to email me. Rusty,,, S/V EarthSpinner PS. Tim, had a great time last year while at the city mooring field in Stuart,,,where are you in Stuart? Hoping to sail down this year if the damn lows will stop pounding the NE long enough to leave :^|
Rusty..........
Rusty, When in Stuart we live aboard in the Southpoint Anchorage on the south side of the fairway approching the dock. We will be back there mid Nov. after we finish haul out at Indiantown. Look for "IMPETUOUS", Irwin 37 Ketch w/teak dodger& hardtop. Tim
Rusty, When in Stuart we live aboard in the Southpoint Anchorage on the south side of the fairway approching the dock. We will be back there mid Nov. after we finish haul out at Indiantown. Look for "IMPETUOUS", Irwin 37 Ketch w/teak dodger& hardtop. Tim
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