I saw an ad in the Old Boat magazine advertising a marine compost toilet; I can't imagine these things as being that effective. Then again, I've been known to be wrong in life. How well do they work?
How well do compost toilets work
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I'm guessing you're asking about the AirHead
It's not a composter...it's a dessicator. Similar in principle to a composter, but not quite. It can be a viable alternative to a holding tank if you're in "no discharge" waters, but I can't see any reason to store waste aboard in any form if you don't have to. The discharge of treated waste is legal in 90% of coastal waters...it can be flushed directly overboard at sea...why store it aboard? In a holding tank, 90% of the volume is flush water...the Airhead doesn't use any. Instead, it separates urine from solids. The solids dry out, but the urine can't go overboard inside the "3 mile limit"...so it it has to be stored separately from the solids, either in jugs or a tank. No flush water means neither fills up as fast, but if you have to carry jugs of urine ashore and dump 'em, I don't see the advantage over a portapotty...if you have to deal with a tank, you gain nothing over maintaining any holding tank except it can be a much smaller tank. It MUST have power to run the fan 24/7/365...which makes it problematic for a boat on a mooring. If it were my boat, for about the same price I'd install a treatment device--Lectra/San or PuraSan--instead. They only need power after a flush...don't use any at sea where it can be bypassed (the Airhead cannot be), and are every bit as enviromentally friendly as the Airhead. All that said, the people who have installed the Airhead claim to love it. You might too. If you're asking about true composters, I have a few things to say about those too.
It's not a composter...it's a dessicator. Similar in principle to a composter, but not quite. It can be a viable alternative to a holding tank if you're in "no discharge" waters, but I can't see any reason to store waste aboard in any form if you don't have to. The discharge of treated waste is legal in 90% of coastal waters...it can be flushed directly overboard at sea...why store it aboard? In a holding tank, 90% of the volume is flush water...the Airhead doesn't use any. Instead, it separates urine from solids. The solids dry out, but the urine can't go overboard inside the "3 mile limit"...so it it has to be stored separately from the solids, either in jugs or a tank. No flush water means neither fills up as fast, but if you have to carry jugs of urine ashore and dump 'em, I don't see the advantage over a portapotty...if you have to deal with a tank, you gain nothing over maintaining any holding tank except it can be a much smaller tank. It MUST have power to run the fan 24/7/365...which makes it problematic for a boat on a mooring. If it were my boat, for about the same price I'd install a treatment device--Lectra/San or PuraSan--instead. They only need power after a flush...don't use any at sea where it can be bypassed (the Airhead cannot be), and are every bit as enviromentally friendly as the Airhead. All that said, the people who have installed the Airhead claim to love it. You might too. If you're asking about true composters, I have a few things to say about those too.
...but what is the real purpose?
I really do not see ANY benefits to a composting head. You cannot pump or dump ANY of the waste overboard (unless you are in an area were you could pump a holding tank overboard). Most of the waste is liquid which is the biggest problem. I think that these systems are worse than any porta potti ever built!
I really do not see ANY benefits to a composting head. You cannot pump or dump ANY of the waste overboard (unless you are in an area were you could pump a holding tank overboard). Most of the waste is liquid which is the biggest problem. I think that these systems are worse than any porta potti ever built!
They don't smell as bad as traditional heads
I have limited experience with these things but a neighbor invited me to his boat that had one and it did not smell at all. I don't know how/when/where the waste is removed but it did have the No Stink advantage. Mark
I have limited experience with these things but a neighbor invited me to his boat that had one and it did not smell at all. I don't know how/when/where the waste is removed but it did have the No Stink advantage. Mark
Traditional heads don't have to stink
It's lack of knowledge and/or neglect that causes odors. A composter can stink too if it's not installed, operated and maintained correctly.
It's lack of knowledge and/or neglect that causes odors. A composter can stink too if it's not installed, operated and maintained correctly.
Yes it was the Air Head
I checked the ad again and it was the AirHead. I forget which company makes the head I would like, but it is an RV manufacture. The head has "cassettes" that come in and out and you can own more than one. The problem is that the head is designed for an RV and the cassette comes out the back of the head, through a door in the wall of the RV. I sent an email off and suggested they make a marine head with the cassettes able to come out the front.
I checked the ad again and it was the AirHead. I forget which company makes the head I would like, but it is an RV manufacture. The head has "cassettes" that come in and out and you can own more than one. The problem is that the head is designed for an RV and the cassette comes out the back of the head, through a door in the wall of the RV. I sent an email off and suggested they make a marine head with the cassettes able to come out the front.
That would be Thetford...
This is the cassette toilet you're referring to: http://www.thetford.com/portable_cassette.cfm The trick is how to cut a hole in the side of the boat that won't leak to slide the cassettes in and out. What size is your boat? What kind of toilet/system do you have now, and what are you hoping to accomplish/improve on?
This is the cassette toilet you're referring to: http://www.thetford.com/portable_cassette.cfm The trick is how to cut a hole in the side of the boat that won't leak to slide the cassettes in and out.
What size is your boat? What kind of toilet/system do you have now, and what are you hoping to accomplish/improve on?
Peggy, I believe you
As a simple crew member (mast and bow), I am at the mercy of boatowners who may not have partaken of your wise potty advice. Thus, I find many a stinky. Would it be rude to give out copies of your book as Ground Hog Day presents? Mark (manners challenged)
As a simple crew member (mast and bow), I am at the mercy of boatowners who may not have partaken of your wise potty advice. Thus, I find many a stinky. Would it be rude to give out copies of your book as Ground Hog Day presents? Mark (manners challenged)
'Twouldn't be rude at all!
The sbo.com chandlery might even give you a bulk discount if you know enough people who need it.
The sbo.com chandlery might even give you a bulk discount if you know enough people who need it.
Cassette toilet
All the portable toilets I have seen, don't seem to turn my crank. I want a permanently mounted toilet with a removeable cassette (of which I can purchase a second one - return to jetty, clean one in, dirty one out). There might be something available but I haven't seen anything that really turns my crank here in Vancouver, BC. Nor in some of the boating catalogues I have seen. I would love a Thetford - a permanently mounted toilet - with a cassette removeable from the front. What I am looking for is not really a portable toilet, but a permanent mount with removeable cassettes. The cassette goes in, the cassette comes out; as easy as that. Of course, the Thetford I would like doesn't exist now.
All the portable toilets I have seen, don't seem to turn my crank. I want a permanently mounted toilet with a removeable cassette (of which I can purchase a second one - return to jetty, clean one in, dirty one out). There might be something available but I haven't seen anything that really turns my crank here in Vancouver, BC. Nor in some of the boating catalogues I have seen. I would love a Thetford - a permanently mounted toilet - with a cassette removeable from the front. What I am looking for is not really a portable toilet, but a permanent mount with removeable cassettes. The cassette goes in, the cassette comes out; as easy as that. Of course, the Thetford I would like doesn't exist now.
Why carry it ashore if you can dump or pumpout?
Have you looked at the "MSD" portapotty models that can be permanently installed and fitted for pumpout--or dumped at sea by installing a y-valve and pump in the discharge line? The SeaLand 965MSD and at least one Thetford model can be permanently installed, and have fittings that also allow the plumbing to be disconnected and the tank carried ashore. No reason why you couldn't buy an extra tank with either of 'em. Or...if you want something a bit fancier--AND your head is big enough for the tank to fit, check out the SeaLand 711-M28 "Marine Traveler: "http://www.sealandtechnology.com/productpages.asp?pid=37 About $350 from Defender. The tank holds 9.5 can't be removed and carried ashore, but if you can dump it at sea, you don't need to. And the tank holds 9 gallons, which is as much as two cassettes.
Have you looked at the "MSD" portapotty models that can be permanently installed and fitted for pumpout--or dumped at sea by installing a y-valve and pump in the discharge line? The SeaLand 965MSD and at least one Thetford model can be permanently installed, and have fittings that also allow the plumbing to be disconnected and the tank carried ashore. No reason why you couldn't buy an extra tank with either of 'em. Or...if you want something a bit fancier--AND your head is big enough for the tank to fit, check out the SeaLand 711-M28 "Marine Traveler: "http://www.sealandtechnology.com/productpages.asp?pid=37 About $350 from Defender. The tank holds 9.5 can't be removed and carried ashore, but if you can dump it at sea, you don't need to. And the tank holds 9 gallons, which is as much as two cassettes.
I'll check it out
Peggy, I"ll check out the head you linked too at the up and coming Vancouver, BC boat show.
Peggy, I"ll check out the head you linked too at the up and coming Vancouver, BC boat show.
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