1st use of composting toilet. Not sure I'll keep it.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2023 6:08 pm Post subject:

We deleted the standard marine head in 2005 prior to Daydream's build for a credit and installed an Airhead ourselves. We are so glad we did!

As Dr. Bob said, commercially available composting toilets have, or should have, a handle on the outside that rotates the bars inside to mix the poop and the medium after each use. We used cocoanut coir for the medium. It is important to slightly dampen the medium at the start, but never to let it get very wet - that is why they have separate solids and liquid receptacles!

We chose not to put TP in the solids container but you can, it is just slower to decompose. The exhaust fan is an ordinary 12 volt computer fan that runs all the time. I carried a spare fan since it is essential to have air flow but I did not need to replace it. The fan vents to the outside and the Airhead is basically odor-free in operation.

As Patty said, we bagged the solids up only four times over 8 months on the Loop and disposed of it in dumpsters. The liquid tank got carried up to a toilet at marinas or dumped overboard in deep water.

We really cannot think of a single reason NOT to have a composting toilet.

Avidmagnum12 · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 8:48 am Post subject:

What brand of composing toilet do you have? I do not know of any that do not have a way of turning the solids. I have an airhead but have also used a natures way and a c-head. They all work well and I’d never go back to using a holding tank toilet again. We’ve had our airhead for over 6 years now and have had no issues with it. There can be a learning curve with the main problem being too much moisture in the material where the solids collect.

I have not heard of anyone removing a Airhead……yet.

ssobol · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 3:20 pm Post subject:

I wonder, does a composting toilet count as a permanent toilet for Ontario, Canada? Apparently a porta-potti does not.

However, since you don't need a pump out or plumbing for a composting toilet, is it a permanent installation?

This is not a question about the toilet itself (you can argue it either way), but how the Ontario legal system identifies it.

robhwa · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 4:19 pm Post subject:

ssobol · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 5:05 pm Post subject:

serpa4 · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 8:30 pm Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2023 10:49 pm Post subject:

I am not sure if you are going to convert the original head/tank to salt or raw water. I would strongly advise against this, because of potential corrosion issues. You would also have to have a thru hull intake, and pump. I am not sure if a raw water wash down system could be adopted--but most likely that is possible.

serpa4 · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:28 am Post subject:

Yes I'll be tapping into the raw water system since it's already has a through hole and a screen and a pump for salt water. I'll simply tee into the line and run it into the bathroom as opposed to fresh water. I've had several Marine saltwater toilets.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 9:57 am Post subject:

Having had marine toilets that use salt water and the RV-type toilet in the CD-25, I would have to recommend against using salt water. The smell that typical marine heads get is due to the critters in the salt water dying in the lines. With the fresh water flush and use of RV holding tank solution, you don't get that smell. You can put a ball valve in the toilet fresh water feed line and greatly control your use of fresh water.

We found we could generally get 5 to 7 days between pump-outs when spending extended time on the boat.

As far as the airheads, I have never used one, but I have been "downwind" of a close dock neighbor who did. Maybe it didn't stink in his boat, but is sure drifted our way. I gave him a hand one day getting a dinghy down, which put me right at the vent... yep, that's where that smell is coming from. I'd take the RV type with fresh water rinse every time.

thataway · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 3:29 pm Post subject:

robhwa · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2023 4:15 pm Post subject:

Phil Barnes · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2023 4:54 pm Post subject:

robhwa wrote "
Conclusion: If the system is smelling really bad, it is anaerobic, and the answer is adding more fiber and mixing to increase aeration."

That is our experience as well. It can be overwhelmed. More input needs more mixing. Don't let it get too wet in the tank as that precludes oxygen. We have not had complaints at our marina or at other docks. If it smells then something likely needs adjusted. If you put your nose at the vent you may get some slight odor but should not be offensive.

We have had an AirHead on a 25 for three seasons and it works very well for us.

Ken O · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 9:17 pm Post subject:

Too bad about C-Head. We have one in the boat and one on our house construction site and they are great.

There's only 3 key elements to a composting toilet:
1) Separate the pee from the solids. A plastic jug works well. They key here is a urine diverter:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CHMV5J6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_dlnCFbY8VP0YP

2) Use a good medium. The C-Head folks liked shredded aspen Gerbil bedding, available at Walmart, and it works well for us:

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/aspen-pet-bedding

3) Stir it up after every use. The C-head came with a crank. Otherwise, you need to improvise.

These RV folks are offering free build-your-own plans:

https://timshannonltd.com/free-plans-for-build-your-own-composting-toilet/

I borrowed some from their plans and built a cockpit locker on the starboard side of our C-22 Cruiser that also has a super-insulated place for the cooler. It's also a great place to stretch out and have a beer. We get a week out of the ice and 2 weeks out of the C-head.

Ken O

Key #4: Put the TP in a separate container. It's really not that hard to do. I found a tall thin plastic cereal container at Walmart, built a hinged lid over it, and it works great. The TP doesn't really interfere with the moisture absorption, it just wastes space. Line the container with a plastic shopping bag and toss when full. I bag of used TP isn't really as ugly as it sounds.

thataway · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2023 9:41 pm Post subject:

I reviewed the last link and several others related to it. These folks are not using an agitator, they are just putting more petemoss or or wood shavings etc on top of each poop. This is definitely not a composting toilet--it is cover up the poop toilet. When we were at a point of taking our "material" out of the airhead, especially after several trips before we disposed of the solid area content, it looked just like composted earth. Part of that I contend is due to the regular agitation and allowing oxygen to react and increased the composting process.

The gal said she "sealed" the plywood with a water based urethane varnish. I would be very uncomfortable with that type of "sealing"--I doubt that the end grain wood was really sealed. I would use epoxy, and perhaps even put a light fiberglass cloth over the wood. I can see down the line in the unit in the van, as being a real mess with the wood there.