Composting head vs classic head

[tomfl]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Start making the boys clean it up if it overflows...they will figure out to check first real quick.

But as Mike said, they are really best suited to a couple if more than day sailing. 4-5 people for a week will be a problem.

I have to wonder about peeps who have issues with composting heads yet never seem to have any issues with conventional heads. Both require training to use and maintain. My experience has been a composting head is much simpler and has much less to go wrong than a conventional head.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by jmh2002

Best comment ever in relation to this thread (and probably a few others too).

Yes, but look at the entertainment value of someone that has no practical experience endeavouring to demonstrate the opposite.

[AliB]

You need to rethink your responses on this site. The gentleman you just sunk may not have been on site a few days ago. Regardless, be a gentleman, and respectful sailor. I am disappointed with you. Stop. With sailor kindness....try harder. Not ok

[AliB]

No, you are not right. The not so gentlemanly skipper just denounced you on a website which is designed to help all skippers and sailors with whatever questions we all have. That guy was rude and unhelpful. I wish I had an answer to your head question but I am sure others here can and will help. There is no need for any nastiness on this site. Wishing you well, and hoping you will get good information from other like minded sailors.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by AliB

No, you are not right. The not so gentlemanly skipper just denounced you on a website which is designed to help all skippers and sailors with whatever questions we all have. That guy was rude and unhelpful. I wish I had an answer to your head question but I am sure others here can and will help. There is no need for any nastiness on this site. Wishing you well, and hoping you will get good information from other like minded sailors.

Trust un the fact that those of us who have experiende with both are at least trying to empart a bit if our experience and hopefully wisdom . Any and all real questions are welcome

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by tomfl

. . . yet never seem to have any issues with conventional heads. . . ..

Whoever said that? I think almost every sailor knows the challenges of dealing with toilets on board. One of the most maintenance intensive and failure prone systems on board. Easiest and most common way to spoil a cruise is with toilet problems.


So look guys, I get that. This is an obviously huge advantage of composting heads, among serveral others.



But I'm just not going to keep human waste on board my boat. That's just my personal and even irrational (from your point of view) choice, so I'm going to continue doing that maintenance and those repairs. It's better once you've experienced every possible failure and know what to do. And have a really good set of spares on board.


But I'm happy for you, that you've found a away around all this. Good for you. I would never try to talk you out of your own choice.

[mvweebles]

One additional item - Blake's Lavac head is a unique and simple option. Uses an externally mounted manual diaphragm pump (more or less a bilge pump) for flush. With addition of a second y-valve, this same pump can be used to empty the holding tank overboard too. Many, many reports of this head being trouble free for decades. Issue of holding tank and plumbing are unchanged. I considered one 25 years ago but decided on the Groco K as it had a household sized oval seat. The Lavac and WC Skipper (since discontinued) had small round seats and I'm not a tiny guy.

https://www.sbimailservice.com/mobile/lavac.htm

[susgal]

Hi pzmaria. A year ago I was mostly new to houseboat living, certainly new to composting heads. I dove into it (heh, heh, not literally, you understand) and offer you insights into my process. Take a look at the blog Delta Hand (https://deltahand.blogspot.com/ ) and you'll find several pertinent posts. I hope they're helpful.

[TeddyDiver]

One thing worth mentioning with marin head seats and with separating seats especially. They aren't designed for "well equipped" chaps. Thou same stands for many landlubber seats too.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by AliB

You need to rethink your responses on this site. The gentleman you just sunk may not have been on site a few days ago. Regardless, be a gentleman, and respectful sailor. I am disappointed with you. Stop. With sailor kindness....try harder. Not ok

I don't know who you're referring to, but since you so kindly sent me a private message saying the same, I assume I'm on your naughty list.

Given that my responses to qwerme (whom I assume you believe is the aggrieved poster) have consisted of words of sympathy, offers of assistance, and attempts to diagnose and suggest improvements, I am honestly confused, and a little annoyed at your tone.

Please quote my words which you find so disrespectful.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

One thing worth mentioning with marin head seats and with separating seats especially. They aren't designed for "well equipped" chaps. Thou same stands for many landlubber seats too.

????? Are you referring to larger backsides ?????

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I don't know who you're referring to, but since you so kindly sent me a private message saying the same, I assume I'm on your naughty list.

Given that my responses to qwerme (whom I assume you believe is the aggrieved poster) have consisted of words of sympathy, offers of assistance, and attempts to diagnose and suggest improvements, I am honestly confused, and a little annoyed at your tone.

Please quote my words which you find so disrespectful.

i feel left out now I assumed those posts were directed at me .

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Composting toilets seem gross to me, but it's not something I need to think about, so I don't think about it, and I don't know anything useful about composting toilets, so my opinion will be of zero interest to anyone.

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Hence I keep my mouth shut.

Too funny. ;-)

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by ramblinrod

Too funny. ;-)

dockhead gives you good advice .

Here it is in its entirety for proper context
And not cherry picked .

[Quoted]I don't know anything useful about composting toilets, so my opinion will be of zero interest to anyone. Hence I keep my mouth shut; a practice which should be more widespread when people lack experience or any kind of specific knowledge.[end quote ]

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

...But I'm just not going to keep human waste on board my boat. That's just my personal and even irrational (from your point of view) choice, so I'm going to continue doing that maintenance and those repairs. It's better once you've experienced every possible failure and know what to do. And have a really good set of spares on board.

But I'm happy for you, that you've found a away around all this. Good for you. I would never try to talk you out of your own choice.

Nicely put DH. I don't think I've ever tried to talk anyone out of, or into, a particular head. I have spent a lot of time answering questions about these composters. I've offered assistance, and highlighted what I see as the benefits of these types of heads. I've also shared what I think are the negatives.

Based on my own experience, I do believe composters are the best option for mid-sized, small-crewed long distance/duration cruising boats. But I know other systems work just fine, and different people have different assessments of the pros vs the cons. That's just fine.