Thanks for the balanced perspective on this. I always get a bit concerned when a product seems too magical. I have a T37 as well so I'm particularly interested in your installation and experiences.
Well said.We used as Natures Head on a Macgregor 26M for 10 years living aboard for 6 weeks to two months a year. Similar experience for us in our usage patterns are at a marina and out at anchor. We found two of us usage gets us 17-18 days of use before we have to empty the base. Urine smell: we use Javex to keep it under control. In fact the only time it does smell is when we empty the jug. Cleanup isn’t’ all that difficult. We’ve switched to a keel sailboat with the traditional head which smells much more than our Nature’s Head. On the project list to “dump” the Marine head.
I got an idea from Atom Voyager, using a 2 litre clothes washing liquid bottle for urine. I triple rinse it and then spray an anti bacterial cleaner and give it a shake...Seems to work..
Thanks for yr honesty. I didnt realise I was using compost toilet on farm with grass clippings. But was just a bucket and sometimes urine when in. But i got a flash when watching yr show - that is to have two containers - one for loo, {and rig up something like computer fans for outside flow & drying } then empty into similar bigger container - that is actually like an incinerator that can burn & use that to heat fresh water for hot shower {to get it dry as & even if have to add a little fuel & again have little fan force blow to ensure oxygen / positive heat.} Regarding urine, I think it best if it goes into the sea each & every time. Logic & reality being its salts etc... mix with sea water but is dispersed in small amounts. There might be problem with urea regarding alge bloom, but u could also be encouraging marine growth / corral etc... Also - it is said urea has 4 times hydrogen so can use electric action to separate hydrogen to use as fuel. But obviously requires time to be safe.
I've only used coconut coir so far, but I've heard that sawdust, and even just dirt work fine. The coconut coir that I've purchased is dehydrated, so I can carry a lot in a small space. Additionally, I expect it's not too difficult to get in most areas. Worst-case scenario, I'll try sand or dirt, but I don't have experience with how well that does or doesn't work yet.
I was wondering why not just have a tube directly run urine into the ocean like sinks to on boats or the bilge. I have an expensive composting toilet on my sailboat and agree the urine is the worst to deal with. In my converted van I made a cheap bag in bucket with funnel for the urine section and it goes into a holding tank that I can open and drain when I feel is a good location to do so or driving down freeway. Would harbors/ marinas not like the urine dumping directly into the water? I do like the poop with small wood chips and shavings in the bag versus emptying the poop section of the expensive composting toilet to. About to remove from my sailboat and make a cheap composting toilet with the urine into ocean direct.
In a LOT of areas, dumping directly into the ocean/lake/whatever is outright illegal. While I'm sure a lot of people do it anyway, the authorities can't _prove_ that you do it when there's a system on board to capture it. However, if you've got the thing plumbed directly to the ocean, any inspection will result in a fine.
@@jasonkuyper4968 Well, first off, keep in mind that laws change from place to place and I'm certainly not an expert on all the laws everywhere. However, most places seem to accept that gray water is dumped directly into the ocean. At least, nowhere that I've been has any restrictions about it.
Everyone… and I mean EVERYONE at a beach or lake pee in the water. Having a hose that is connected to the urine port is no worse. Now at dock, use the facilities… but on anchor or ball, the hose to water should be fine at that distance (urine smell from others).
Rehabbing a C&C 35 this month. My first sailboat. Tons of work. Terrified. Thanks for these vids! I am going with composting toilet and ripping all the old stuff out, getting all the tank space back. The only questions are: do I pay $500 for a piece of molded plastic called a commercial C/T, or do I make my own out of a bucket and seat? Still deciding...
Good luck on your project. Owning a boat has been both terrifying and wonderful for me. The fancy things you get if you purchase are the compost mixing system and the urine diverting funnel. You could make those yourself, but they're the most complicated bits (in my opinion) so I'd use them to determine if the project is for you.
I've never felt the need to do that. The amount of cleanup I've had to do because of missing the target has never been bad enough for me to worry about it.
I'm not even going to touch the topic of morality in this regard, as I've spoken to many and the opinions are varied. In a legal sense, though, as far as I know it is illegal to dump urine in all US waterways. You have to be several miles offshore before the law no longer applies.
If it prevents me from being elbows deep in my own poop. Or getting sprayed by poop water when the hoses need descaling (raw water flush) I'll take it.
I keep a composting toilet in my work truck just use two trash liners and mylar bag in the bucket I use for the ease to just toss the bag into a trash can. When I built my composting toilet I just made out of wood and I didn't bother putting a separate container for urine. Especially when I use a mylar bag with two regular trash bags, and it's conspicuous ain't anyone gonna pay attention anyway.
50/50 water and white vinegar in a spray bottle to clean up the top, a splash of the same solution in the bottom of your urine container, with a cleaning with pure vinegar every time you dump it. Off shore it can go overboard, if not, dump it into the toilet and flush the urine, double bag solids and trash it. For great tips living aboard check out TheBoatGalley.com I like laundry detergent bottles with the rubber gasket for transport. I have two and rotate them... Cheers!
You are like me, easily distracted by the commotion around you. What medium do you use in your composting toilet? Personally I would not use the holding tank for urin. It’s rarely big enough, especially if you have 2 people on board. I use a 1/2 gallon plastic bottle either lid (beverage pitcher). It’s good for 3 times peeing. And just dump that overboard. That bottle is also handy when you are on a trip, so you don’t have to go below, or god forbid stand at the rail and risk falling overboard. Otherwise good review.
The biggest issue with that is that in many places it's illegal to dump untreated waste overboard. So, if you're travelling around, you have to be sure that you can manage the waste in a legal manner for each place you go.
Take heart, even NASA hasn't solved the toilet problem. On the ISS astronauts have to do their business in plastic bags behind a curtain. No opening hatches or port lights. And consider the challenges of zero gravity. At least on a boat there is still a dependable up and down. With a little sideways thrown in, when you're in a seaway.
Also. Something i mean to spread the word. Is loo stinkers with conventional flush toilet. I like to have a dump, quick 1st wipe / up "close lid" then flush, then open lid to new empty clean lo blow - then proceed to finish cleaning yr-self. I am sick of poo stinkers in places who like an animal stand there wiping themsleves while their offensive matter is permattingwith their ignorance mixing with the air and hitting everyone in the vicinity like a stink bomb. We all do / did it until thinking about it - but it sems no one else does. And even if they do - it may be a water shortage problem to have double flush.
The previous head was installed incorrectly and shared a seacock with the sink ... which caused no end of issues, so this was a good change all around for me.
@@AthelstanEngland The dehydrated bricks of coir are really small so they don't take up much space. Whether you have enough space depends on how long you're going to be away from resupply, of course.
Here’s some honest truth no one talks about I’m at a marina where they are now inspecting holding tanks Most liveaboards are being evicted because they removed their holding tanks You can use your composting toilet but do not forget about having a legal way to dispose of liquids
The only honest review of composting toilets on RUclips!
Thanks for the insight. We just bought ours. I can't wait to receive it!
Thanks for the balanced perspective on this. I always get a bit concerned when a product seems too magical. I have a T37 as well so I'm particularly interested in your installation and experiences.
Glad it was interesting. Now I wish I had better documented the installation process.
Well said.We used as Natures Head on a Macgregor 26M for 10 years living aboard for 6 weeks to two months a year. Similar experience for us in our usage patterns are at a marina and out at anchor. We found two of us usage gets us 17-18 days of use before we have to empty the base. Urine smell: we use Javex to keep it under control. In fact the only time it does smell is when we empty the jug. Cleanup isn’t’ all that difficult. We’ve switched to a keel sailboat with the traditional head which smells much more than our Nature’s Head. On the project list to “dump” the Marine head.
Thanks for the info
Enjoyed hearing about your experiences. Just purchased a Caliber 38, out of Vero Beach, Fl. From Wa State.
Vero Beach is a nice place, and it's far enough north in Florida that you're not playing the premium prices for marina and services!
I got an idea from Atom Voyager, using a 2 litre clothes washing liquid bottle for urine. I triple rinse it and then spray an anti bacterial cleaner and give it a shake...Seems to work..
Hi! Thanks for the sharing. I did not understand if you have a ventilation system or not. Do you?
Yes, I do.
Thanks for yr honesty. I didnt realise I was using compost toilet on farm with grass clippings. But was just a bucket and sometimes urine when in. But i got a flash when watching yr show - that is to have two containers - one for loo, {and rig up something like computer fans for outside flow & drying } then empty into similar bigger container - that is actually like an incinerator that can burn & use that to heat fresh water for hot shower {to get it dry as & even if have to add a little fuel & again have little fan force blow to ensure oxygen / positive heat.} Regarding urine, I think it best if it goes into the sea each & every time. Logic & reality being its salts etc... mix with sea water but is dispersed in small amounts. There might be problem with urea regarding alge bloom, but u could also be encouraging marine growth / corral etc... Also - it is said urea has 4 times hydrogen so can use electric action to separate hydrogen to use as fuel. But obviously requires time to be safe.
‘It gets a little bit gross sometimes, especially if you have Mexican’. Haha, great line ill have to use it some time! :)
What do you use for the medium in the bottom of the toilet?
Long term cruising I wonder if things will be available for that in foreign countries?
I've only used coconut coir so far, but I've heard that sawdust, and even just dirt work fine. The coconut coir that I've purchased is dehydrated, so I can carry a lot in a small space. Additionally, I expect it's not too difficult to get in most areas. Worst-case scenario, I'll try sand or dirt, but I don't have experience with how well that does or doesn't work yet.
@@tankneverfull3931 thank you definitely leaning toward compost on My Ericson 35 project boat
I was wondering why not just have a tube directly run urine into the ocean like sinks to on boats or the bilge. I have an expensive composting toilet on my sailboat and agree the urine is the worst to deal with. In my converted van I made a cheap bag in bucket with funnel for the urine section and it goes into a holding tank that I can open and drain when I feel is a good location to do so or driving down freeway. Would harbors/ marinas not like the urine dumping directly into the water? I do like the poop with small wood chips and shavings in the bag versus emptying the poop section of the expensive composting toilet to. About to remove from my sailboat and make a cheap composting toilet with the urine into ocean direct.
In a LOT of areas, dumping directly into the ocean/lake/whatever is outright illegal. While I'm sure a lot of people do it anyway, the authorities can't _prove_ that you do it when there's a system on board to capture it. However, if you've got the thing plumbed directly to the ocean, any inspection will result in a fine.
@@tankneverfull3931 That is good to know, what about gray water from sinks and or showers?
@@jasonkuyper4968 Well, first off, keep in mind that laws change from place to place and I'm certainly not an expert on all the laws everywhere. However, most places seem to accept that gray water is dumped directly into the ocean. At least, nowhere that I've been has any restrictions about it.
Everyone… and I mean EVERYONE at a beach or lake pee in the water. Having a hose that is connected to the urine port is no worse. Now at dock, use the facilities… but on anchor or ball, the hose to water should be fine at that distance (urine smell from others).
pee in the sink
Rehabbing a C&C 35 this month. My first sailboat. Tons of work. Terrified.
Thanks for these vids!
I am going with composting toilet and ripping all the old stuff out, getting all the tank space back. The only questions are: do I pay $500 for a piece of molded plastic called a commercial C/T, or do I make my own out of a bucket and seat? Still deciding...
Good luck on your project. Owning a boat has been both terrifying and wonderful for me. The fancy things you get if you purchase are the compost mixing system and the urine diverting funnel. You could make those yourself, but they're the most complicated bits (in my opinion) so I'd use them to determine if the project is for you.
Nice video. Could you share what model you have and what options you chose. That looks great and compact. C-head but which one? Thanks
It's a c-head basic. However, I had to make some modifications to it to make it fit in the available space.
@@tankneverfull3931 thanks. I like the c-head but space is very limited in my head. I probably will have to modify it as well. Thanks again 💨💨⛵
Do you use something like a coffee filter to catch the bomb before it "misses the target" so to speak?
I've never felt the need to do that. The amount of cleanup I've had to do because of missing the target has never been bad enough for me to worry about it.
Thanks for the info. With basic editing, this would have been a really good 2-minute video.
Forgive my ignorance- but is there a moral/legal obligation to keep the urine component contained? Why not drain this directly out of the boat?
I'm not even going to touch the topic of morality in this regard, as I've spoken to many and the opinions are varied. In a legal sense, though, as far as I know it is illegal to dump urine in all US waterways. You have to be several miles offshore before the law no longer applies.
Urine is drinkably clean. Try it for yourself to answer your own question.
If it prevents me from being elbows deep in my own poop. Or getting sprayed by poop water when the hoses need descaling (raw water flush) I'll take it.
Stories like that are the reasons I went with a composting toilet in the first place!
I keep a composting toilet in my work truck just use two trash liners and mylar bag in the bucket I use for the ease to just toss the bag into a trash can. When I built my composting toilet I just made out of wood and I didn't bother putting a separate container for urine. Especially when I use a mylar bag with two regular trash bags, and it's conspicuous ain't anyone gonna pay attention anyway.
50/50 water and white vinegar in a spray bottle to clean up the top, a splash of the same solution in the bottom of your urine container, with a cleaning with pure vinegar every time you dump it. Off shore it can go overboard, if not, dump it into the toilet and flush the urine, double bag solids and trash it. For great tips living aboard check out TheBoatGalley.com
I like laundry detergent bottles with the rubber gasket for transport. I have two and rotate them... Cheers!
Thanks for the advice!
You are like me, easily distracted by the commotion around you.
What medium do you use in your composting toilet?
Personally I would not use the holding tank for urin. It’s rarely big enough, especially if you have 2 people on board. I use a 1/2 gallon plastic bottle either lid (beverage pitcher). It’s good for 3 times peeing. And just dump that overboard. That bottle is also handy when you are on a trip, so you don’t have to go below, or god forbid stand at the rail and risk falling overboard.
Otherwise good review.
I thought to run the urine out in the ocean and then have the sink drain into the urine collector then when you wash hands it flushes the toilet? :)
The biggest issue with that is that in many places it's illegal to dump untreated waste overboard. So, if you're travelling around, you have to be sure that you can manage the waste in a legal manner for each place you go.
Take heart, even NASA hasn't solved the toilet problem. On the ISS astronauts have to do their business in plastic bags behind a curtain. No opening hatches or port lights. And consider the challenges of zero gravity. At least on a boat there is still a dependable up and down. With a little sideways thrown in, when you're in a seaway.
Composting toilet = Human cat box
Also. Something i mean to spread the word. Is loo stinkers with conventional flush toilet. I like to have a dump, quick 1st wipe / up "close lid" then flush, then open lid to new empty clean lo blow - then proceed to finish cleaning yr-self. I am sick of poo stinkers in places who like an animal stand there wiping themsleves while their offensive matter is permattingwith their ignorance mixing with the air and hitting everyone in the vicinity like a stink bomb. We all do / did it until thinking about it - but it sems no one else does. And even if they do - it may be a water shortage problem to have double flush.
now youtube thinks I want to know more about toilets... I watch these for the nice boat man youtube stop showing me things about poo!
Heh ... sooner or later, every boating youtuber has to make a poo video ... sorry you were tricked into watching it.
One other benefit of composting toilet is two less holes in your boat. No seacocks to maintain either.
The previous head was installed incorrectly and shared a seacock with the sink ... which caused no end of issues, so this was a good change all around for me.
@@tankneverfull3931 yikes! Smelly!
Can I ask a question, is storage space for the coconut coir an issue at all... thinking on a smaller 28 foot yacht.
@@AthelstanEngland The dehydrated bricks of coir are really small so they don't take up much space. Whether you have enough space depends on how long you're going to be away from resupply, of course.
@@tankneverfull3931 ok thanks. Initially not long.
Just get a $2 bucket and a toilet seat use the lid
Here’s some honest truth no one talks about I’m at a marina where they are now inspecting holding tanks Most liveaboards are being evicted because they removed their holding tanks You can use your composting toilet but do not forget about having a legal way to dispose of liquids
A capful of bleach in the urine container helps