Composting toilets?

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Yup, seven would be pushing things. These heads are definitely not meant for large crew numbers. Two, maybe three adults max. for full time use. Of course, for shorter periods you can get away with more, but that is not what they are designed to do.

And it also would be pushing the typical 15-25 gallon holding tank! Two days between pump-outs, tops.


It's gotta be the right tool for the job.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Afrinus

SMJ, did you sell those other boats with the desiccator installed or did you revert to the holding tank when selling.
Assuming you sold with the dedicating head, did you experience any issues selling a boat?

Pieter

Sold them all with composters, and to my knowledge they still have the composters installed. Nobody questioned the head arrangement when sold

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by thinwater

And it also would be pushing the typical 15-25 gallon holding tank! Two days between pump-outs, tops.

It's gotta be the right tool for the job.

No kidding...

When you put it that way, I bet a composter would actually be better than a standard holding tank in sailingunity's situation. With a composter, there really isn't a hard-stop point. You can push the system quite a long time before it becomes completely unusable.

But with a standard holding tank, once y're full, y're done.

[smj]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

No kidding...

When you put it that way, I bet a composter would actually be better than a standard holding tank in sailingunity's situation. With a composter, there really isn't a hard-stop point. You can push the system quite a long time before it becomes completely unusable.

But with a standard holding tank, once y're full, y're done.

And with the composter you can always dump the full head into a bucket or trash bag and start again. Try that with a holding tank!

[fillintheblank]

I guess we have it easy in the chesapeake, the state subsidizes pump outs, including mobile ones. Its only 3 bucks for a pump out, and places like annapolis and other boat destinations there are mobile pump out boats that will come to you.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by smj

Same sh!t different day. Don’t they start the composting process which can be completed?

Not if you keep adding fresh poop every day.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Depends. If you are weekend cruisers, composting will happen. Particularlly up north, you can store it over the winter and by spring, it will typically be fully composted. When used on full time cruisers, the composting will happen but it's unlikely to finish.

Of course, most people don't get them for the purpose of generating garden fertilizer anyway, so it's largely irrelevant.

Not irrelevant, misleading. They do not produce compost. Period!

[Narfi]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Not irrelevant, misleading. They do not produce compost. Period!

So what you are trying to say is that if I do not intend to do any gardening and I want to avoid the need for frequent pump out, they would be the perfect solution for me?

[smj]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Not irrelevant, misleading. They do not produce compost. Period!

Your incorrect

[smj]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Not if you keep adding fresh poop every day.

Not entirely true

[ChrisJHC]

A number of boats these days have two heads.
Maybe you could have one set up with a composting toilet and the other with a flushing toilet.

You could then use them according to where you are on the day.

[thinwater]

Since the mode of operation of these toilets is to...

• Separate urine. That helps reduce the odor and keeps the solids side much drier.
• Adding absorbants to dry the poop.
• Ventilate, in part for drying (some units)

... why don't we just call them desiccating heads or desiccating toilets? Some compost, but that's not the goal for most. They dry out the poop, after which it doesn't stink and is easier to handle.


Yes, the composting label always bothered me, and is most cases, not wholly accurate.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Not irrelevant, misleading. They do not produce compost. Period!

Technically, true.

A true composting toilet, as defined by NSF/ANSI standard 41, Non-Liquid Saturated Treatment Systems, provides actual composting and will reduce coliform bacteria to <200 MPN/100ml. This takes months of holding capacity, venting, controlled temperature, moisture, aeration, and mixing, and a lot more space and power than any boat can afford.

Perhaps they start the process. So does your colon, but that doesn't make what comes out compost, unless we really stretch the definition! LOL

[rwidman]

As a former avid gardener, I know well what compost is and what is not compost. Ground coconut shells, peat moss or any other substance with today's or yesterday's poop mixed in it is not compost.

[smj]

At what point does desiccating become composting? If the head starts the composting process can’t one remove it from the head and place it in a composting pile to finish the process?