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Airhead composting toilet in Mexico ($500US)

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  • July 08, 2012 10:20 AM
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    Reply # 1000803 on 1000619
    Deleted user
    Jay Bietz wrote:

     I still don't understand how the Airhead is "dumped" when daily useage is needed?  It would seem to me that the composting would NOT have time to "complete".

    Jay,
    We should probably move this discussion to a new category other then For Sale.

    Regarding your question above:
    You are correct.  There is no way that composting is completed by the time you have to dump the bucket.  Even if it only took 2 days to compost (it takes much longer than that), the poo from the last 2 days would still be mixed in with the "composted" poo when you dump.  As someone in one of the links you referenced said, you're not really making compost but rather a sort of pre-compost.  The poo in the bucket is going to range in age from about 3-4 weeks (first deposit) to a day (the last deposit).  This is based on a couple using it full time.  The older stuff will have been rendered completely unobjectionable and will resemble potting soil.  The newest stuff will be mixed in with it.  Even when our unit was working great and emptying it was totally unobjectionable, because we knew there was some relatively raw poo mixed in, we always bagged it up and deposited it in a dumpster.  I'm sure the composting continued inside the (double) garbage bag at least until the oxygen inside the bag was used up.  Considering what we've seen people do with dirty disposable diapers, we felt just fine with this practice.

    But, yes, the only way you're going to compost the whole batch is to be able to let it sit idle for a few weeks prior to dumping.  And, we were able to do that occasionally when, after being anchored for awhile, using the AirHead, we would hit a marina and be able to use shoreside facilities for a month or so.

    -Steve
  • July 08, 2012 12:14 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1000869 on 998454
    Anonymous member (Administrator)
    Steve - thanks for the answer - the Airhead might be a good solution for a weekend boat!  I figure that the time no one is aboard the boat - the composting can completly compost - for disposal.  
    Jay
    Last modified: July 09, 2012 5:53 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • July 09, 2012 9:02 AM
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    Reply # 1002497 on 998454
    Anonymous member

    What difference does it make if you pump out your holding tank while at sea, or if you dump your composting over board while at sea?  Clogging and failed pump/plumbing would ruin my day.  Finding a new pump in remote countries can be just as inconvenient as finding peat moss for composting.  In my opinion, I seek functionality over convenience.  Just like everything on a cruising boat, it is a compromise.  What are you willing to give up for what you get.  So I must disagree with Jay labeling the composting head as a weekend boat utility.

    I'll be putting a "Nature's Head" composting head in next spring when my project goes in.

    Just my two cents.

    T.
  • July 09, 2012 9:26 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 1002515 on 998454
    Anonymous
    I considered putting in an airhead style toilet, but it just seems like too much fiddling with things like peat moss, dumping, worrying about when to dump etc etc. 
    The idea of having to dump the urine tank about every day just seems like a pain. Carrying a can of pee around just seems......wrong. haha :)  Adding another urine tank somewhere else means that you have just added a holding tank... with no way of pumping it out.

    I carry a complete spare pump for my PHII Raritan. They are not that expensive.

    After having said all that, I do understand the attraction of the Airhead/Natures head
  • July 09, 2012 2:28 PM
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    Reply # 1002780 on 998454
    Deleted user
    Something not talked about is that almost no one uses a holding tank when cruising, even in anchorages.  The only time we used our tank was when we were in a marina, about seven weeks total. The small holding tank, about thirteen gallons lasts us about three days. We found the small tank not large enough to be practical, but large enough to take up precious space. 
     
    We cruised Mexico for two years with a Wilcox Critenden which is considered the Rolls Royce of the marine heads. The last few months the Wilcox was binding and we would have to remove the bowel and grease the cylinder to get it to work. We also replaced the hoses once in Mexico and again after returning home. Vinegar didn't help. We think we finally corrected the problem with the head when we returned home and would have replaced it with a new one if we could have found one, but they were no longer made.

    With all the problems with the holding tank system we were ready to try something else and settled on the Airhead. I'm not convinced that this the answer for long distance cruising so we kept everything to re-install if not satisfied. But I do think they would be great for a weekender or maybe even an RV where holding room is an issue.   

    Jim

  • July 09, 2012 4:59 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1002855 on 1002780
    Deleted user
    Jim Focha wrote:Something not talked about is that almost no one uses a holding tank when cruising, even in anchorages.  
    Yuck!  I was kind of hoping that those other boats in the anchorage were at least using their holding tanks for solids.  I understand about shifting the Y valve to "overboard" for liquid-only discharges.  I mean. that's no different than taking a leak over the side.  But, as I swim around these beautiful anchorages I'd like to think that the solids portion of the waste stream is being held on board until they get back out onto the sea before pumping overboard.  Obviously in large anchorages like La Paz, where boats may stay on anchor for years, this is not happening.  But, knowing that, I don't make a habit of swimming in La Paz harbor.
  • July 10, 2012 9:53 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 1004418 on 998454
    Deleted user
    Steve,  you have to be a believer in PPM (parts per million). We know how you feel and it was an additional consideration to go to an Airhead as we don't like pumping overboard into an anchorage. With a holding tank of thirteen gallons it makes it difficult to stay at an anchorage for days if not weeks as we often did.

    Some people do as you say and use their holding tank, but many we know didn't. We knew a couple  of cruisers whom waited until night to pump their tanks. Also most of the sewage winds up in the sea either untreated as in the smaller villages or partially treated as in Mazatlan.  We and our buddy boat went through the permanent sewage slick about three miles off the beach in Mazatlan running our water makers. You can see the slick as you fly in. We later found out the plant is only about 2/3 the size it needs to be and is usually broke  The outflow pipe in La Cruz dumps right at the end of the breakwater in the anchorage which you can smell when you go in.  La Paz has two plants which I understand work as they should.

    "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" really applies when out cruising.

    Jim

    Last modified: July 10, 2012 9:55 AM | Deleted user
  • September 29, 2024 11:09 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 13413511 on 998454
    Anonymous member

    Ok I see this thread is over 10 Years old!!! I have had a composting head in 2 previous boats and loved them however…I don’t really want to rip out smelly holding tank and stinky head…but I do!

    and in fact…I have open space below forepeak bed (that I cannot even climb on, lol have to build a step!) 

    soooo what to do lol!!

    1. How many of you have a composting head?! 

    2. If so: Did you remove it while in the water?! (Yes thru hulls have to hold & remove them on the hard)

    and d’uh I have only been to my boat once since purchase docs went through, so in the 35 degree heat, yep the 1st week of Sept I was out sailing!!! I only have this one pic (but video to go through with way more!) And did not check holding tank yet - were you scared to look the first time eek!!!

    1 file
  • September 29, 2024 11:24 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 13413515 on 998454
    Anonymous member

    Ok I see this thread is over 10 Years old!!!  Anyone still talking about it?!

    I have had a composting head in 2 previous boats and loved them however…I don’t really want to rip out smelly holding tank and stinky head…but I do!

    and in fact…I have open space below forepeak bed (that I cannot even climb on, lol have to build a step!) 

    soooo what to do lol!!

    1. How many of you have a composting head?! 

    2. If so: Did you remove it while in the water?! (Yes thru hulls have to hold & remove them on the hard)

    3. If you kept holding tank…hot water wash and/or power wash wand in there and pump out at a facility until clean?!

    and d’uh I have only been to my boat once since purchase docs went through, so in the 35 degree heat, yep the 1st week of Sept I was out sailing!!! I only have this one pic (but video to go through with way more!) And did not check holding tank yet - were you scared to look the first time eek!!! (Pic said it was already loaded but obviously it was not)

    and I won’t pump or dump anything overboard in a marina or anchorage- yuck!!! 
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