Where you poop on a boat is a very CONTROVERSIAL topic as already clearly illustrated by Sailing Uma. In the video we only briefly mention one of the reasons we chose to go with a composting head, so here’s a few more: 1. Our holding tank was a 12-gallon tank. That’s TINY. We’d get 3 or 4 days out of that with full-time use before needing to pump it out. As full-time cruisers, that wasn’t going to work for us. We didn’t want to be paying for pump outs all the time, nor did we want to have to try to find a marina every time our holding tank got full. And lastly we don’t want to be pumping out in an anchorage. 2. The head smelled. It just did. Always. 3. We’ve been using our composting toilet for a while now, and believe it or not, it’s not the solids that smell, it’s the liquids, and really only when you open the lid. HOWEVER, we’ve been told that rinsing out the liquids container with a little vinegar takes care of this. We have yet to try it, and are excited that this might solve this issue. And last but not least it’s a gallon milk jug which means we can get a new one almost any time we want and get rid of the smell. 4. We’ve gained 10+ cubic feet of storage space under our v-berth by getting rid of the holding tank, as well as space in the hanging locker after removing the hoses. (Storage is super valuable!) 5. Our pump handle leaked, which in and of itself wasn’t an unfixable issue, however, it portended what could happen when you store many gallons of liquid waste inside your boat. It is possible one day some other part of the system could become compromised - a hose clamp, a hose, the tank itself - and we end up with poop water everywhere. This is not something we wanted to continue to worry about. 6. We like the idea of simplifying as many systems aboard as reasonably possible, and to us a composting toilet makes the entire head system much simpler. We aren’t advocating that this is the best decision for everyone, but it has been the best decision for us. Thanks so much for watching, and we appreciate your thoughtful comments! Cheers, Lauren & Kirk
Sailing Soulianis Sailing Uma only had a bucket and sawdust . A Proper composting toilet uses peat moss and tiny power vent fan to dry out waste properly so it lasts longer between changes. Hope it works out for your guys. You are still dumping at sea if no access to shore so what's the advantage? You have to carry it ashore instead of pumping? But the "wynns" have sworn but them for years so good luck. You say you've been using for a while ....but the pee tank smells....then stop using milk jugs and tell Kirk to pee overboard! Cheers Warren
warp21drive, I think they were referring to Sailing Uma's recent videos where they replaced their composting bucket with a more traditional system, except instead of installing a holding tank they have a large pipe that will hold only two flushes. the system will satisfy certain regulations regarding holding tanks, but I have no doubt that their anchorage neighbors will be less than pleased to be swimming around in Dan and Kika's shit. Hey, I could be wrong though, maybe they will sail Uma 3 miles offshore every single morning and pump out their sewage instead of shitting up every single pristine anchorage they visit.
Hi Warren, Good points. You are correct, we do have a "proper" composting toilet that separtes solids and liquids. It also has a device to "agitate" the solid waste. We've been using aspen shavings (amzn.to/2MzTC2I) successfully so far and have not yet installed a vent fan, but plan to do so this next year. We will still dump at sea if we are ever in that situation (multi-week ocean crossing), but will not be in that situation for the foreseeable future. We've only emptied the solids a handful of times in total since purchasing. But the bonus is that we don't have to empty it after ever use, so it will never go over the side in an anchorage. The liquids smells a bit, but it's easily curable with a rinse.
Not sure I would have removed the tank, I know it freed up valuable storage space. But think I would have repurposed it for something else ... and have heard that some areas and marina require a holding tank and composting head is not sufficient. If had left tank in, could not one simply claim that as their holding tank and get away by meeting such requirements? Or was the tank simply not big enough to even meet most requirements anyway?
My wife and I switched over to a composting toilet last year. After the install we had a two week sail on the west coast of Florida. My wife initially questioned the whole concept, but now she is a believer. Absolutely no smell, and we didn't install a vent fan. The real test came when we left our boat. I disposed of the gallon jug of liquid, but left the solid bucket full. THREE MONTHS later I returned to the boat expecting it to be "ripe." Instead, there was no oder at all. I disposed of the contents of the bucket, which was like dirt and reinstalled the solids bucket fore the next use. So glad we switched. Enjoy your videos, Alan & Patti
Allan: Do you mind sharing which composting toilet you installed? How much time did it take for the removal of the previous system, including the storage tank, plus installing the compost system? I’m considering doing this switch myself. Thanks for your time. 🇨🇦
Oh wow I just found you and I upgraded the same anchor combination on my Morgan 38 AND I need to understand my heads and go el natural with a compostable head. AND I was a Hobie dealer for many years! So much in common, small world! Great content!
Great video. I am enjoying watching you two. Hope the new pooper works out well. I think I my convert one of our heads to a compost type as you have done. I will check back in a year and see how you like it.
I'm in the same situation. I hate my toilet and will be removing it this weekend. I don't have a replacement picked out yet, but whatever it will be, it will be better than a tank water and poop. I have an Irwin 33.
I don't like to even think about poop in such a confining space as a sailboat, especially considering that sometimes awful and unreachable space called the bilge. I knew, however, that you would make something somewhat nice about the subject, and you did not disappoint. I would probably just resort to adult diapers and rig up a massive slingshot at the stern to get rid of them.
Lol! There is no real “good” answer every option for getting rid of waste has its downsides. We went with what we felt like was the least crappy solution for us. ;)
The best wood screws/drivers (IMHO) are Robertson - aka square. They rarely strip, are self seating, you get a huge amount of force, the screw can often be placed on the screwdriver for sideways or upsidedown work, often work when the screws are painted over and work well one handed. The downside is they are not well known in many places in the USA and you can apply so much torque that if it's a cheap screw you can twist the head right off. So much better than Phillips which are almost as bad as 'common' slot heads.
Smart move to bring in a port-a-podi like head. If you notice how small the diameter the hoses are to the holding tank, then you can imagine the size of a typical stool, and how it is inevitable it is to clog. So every sailor will have to take apart their head at one time or another. It really is a right of passage for the typical large boat owner.
Good day, nice moves with the tank and head removals, I hope ours goes as well. I'm looking forward to your feedback on the C-head installation, and experience-based performance information. Thanks.
Look forward to the composting toilet going in. I'm about to do the same and have the same issue with the finished height due to the curve of the hull, not sure what to do.
We brought it into the shop at our marina and used a hydraulic press. We already have two other anchors onboard so we gave it to our boat neighbor for helping out :)
The best toilet solution for almost every imaginable reason I can think of is the composting head. It not only solved nearly all my complaints over the traditional marine head but helps solve problems associated with municipal sewage treatments. For two people the little composting marine heads are nearly perfect. We never feel guilty emptying a little urine overboard (which is fairly sterile anyway) while feces is quickly reduced to compost and thereby rendered harmless. This goes directly in the trash bin. Any laws or restrictions concerning composting toilets should be aimed at flushing toilets which are truly terrible for almost every imaginable reason.
Sounds like your original head just needed a new joker valve (fairly inexpensive, easy to do, and not as gross to change as you might think if you prepare a bit by thoroughly flushing, using a bit of bleach to disinfect the line). I probably will go for a composting unit in my boat eventually, because admittedly holding tanks do stink no matter how you slice it. My main hesitation is that in Canadian inland waters 9e.g., Great lakes) where I sail, composting heads are not legal as they are regarded to be the same as a porta-potty.
Yeah, actual biological action requires warm temperatures (lesson learned: don't keep the composting toilet in the coldest part of the house, even 10 degrees Celcius is too cold, it will just be a porta-potty). And storage space for 2-3 extra containers in the warm while they compost properly.
Great job guys! Does anyone have experience removing a pump out sea toilet (straight out to sea rather than to a holding tank) to replace with a composting toilet? We want to do this but worried about pulling out hoses that go below sea level in case we damage any seacocks and sink the boat 😬
Taking out the head was a shame. A conventional head and tank just need a little but of annual maintenance and they work just fine. A joker valve is dirt cheap and even having an extra head pump is inexpensive. If you are off shore (US rules) you can easily pump the holding tank. I'm afraid your new setup will be a hassle more than you realize. Sail on. Love your channel.
Awesome! Kinda wish I wouldn't have watched it so soon after you released it...now I have to wait longer for the next one ;) Correct me if I'm wrong, but you guys are traveling the Midwest as of now? Do you have any plans to come through Indianapolis?? It would be so cool to meet you guys! Also, do either of you ever regret your decision to start living on a boat? Do you ever wish you could just go back to a normal home? Was it worth the money? etc...I've often heard it said that a boater's happiest days are when he buys a boat and when he sells it...Does that hold true for you guys? I appreciate the videos, and I can't wait to see how the throne fits! Thanks guys, --Neal
Actually last we heard they were already in FL .. and am sure they will cover this (if not already recorded) later after having spent some time using it.
Hey Neal, yep, we are traveling around the Midwest this summer for a bunch of family reunions, birthdays and friends’ weddings, and sailing as much as we can on our friends' boats! Soulianis is currently on the hard in Florida, and will be returning to her this fall. EXCELLENT question. The short answer: no regrets! Traveling and living on a boat is just so different than life on land in a house, I (Lauren) like to compare it to learning a new language. Both Kirk and I felt like we had been living the same life day in and day out, year over year for the previous several years, and we were eager to experience a whole new way of living. There were certainly points throughout this past year living aboard where we were frustrated or exhausted, and we thought ‘why are we doing this?’ Life onboard is definitely not all beaches, palm trees and sunshine ;). I think the largest factor in any decision is to have a choice. If Kirk and I were given the option to live on a boat OR in a house - and once we chose we could never go back - I think that would be tough to answer. We do have the ability to go back to land when we want to, and this makes living on a boat feel like true freedom. Was it worth the money? Absolutely. This has been a dream of ours for over a decade now, and finally making it happen has been amazing. It hasn’t really been cheaper than living on land, because we’ve put a bunch of money into boat upgrades, but next year it may be. Either way, our main goal of living aboard wasn’t to necessarily cut costs, but to live a new, more adventurous lifestyle.
We try to stay away from marinas. That said we have never been to a marina that requires a holding tank and has not recognized the composting toilet as a valid option.
I used to think composting toilets were pretty gross "filthy hippy" stuff. Then I helped service a broken macerating head. I learned. The hard way. {shudder}. The only hassle is that on most boats actually composting isn't really an option - it takes a few months to break down into garden-safe compost, so you need multiple containers and store them somewhere not-cold. Easy in a detached house with garden, do-able on a van, I haven't seen it happen on a small yacht yet. So "composting head" usually ends up in landfill, which is not ideal. Pooping over the side is better once you're offshore, but on land "composting" is kinda the least wrost option for boat-board. IMO, anyway.
Sorry guys but I think you should have kept to original system and got it perfect working order. And have the composting toilet for use when you can and the original system for a backup or when you sell the boat in the future.
We held onto the old holding tank and toilet for a while, just to make sure this was what we wanted. In a perfect world I think you’re right. We’d have a catamaran, with a regular water flush head in one hull that went straight over the side or into a small holding tank for use at sea. And a composting head in the other hull for when we are in port. But then we’d have to buy a whole new boat... ;)
After a few years with this composting head, what are your thoughts on it now? We recently bought a Catalina 36, the PO put in a very nice electric head, however, like you, I wish to simplify systems and gain storage. Less electrical 'stuff" seems better to me. Thanks
All good options! We hold 53 gallons of diesel plus jerry cans and burn .6 an hour. Even on the river we never needed that much. A water maker would be cool but for now it’s just dry storage.
@@SailingSoulianis : That’s a great place for it. I was going to install a “Head Compost Toilet”, remove the tank & put all expensive tools & parts in the space. Thanks for replying and have a great Thanksgiving holiday! ⛵️
Hi Anna, not really, there wasn't much to video to be honest. We just plopped it down. Eventually we added the tie down straps so it doesn't go sliding around while under sail and heeling over.
Great video. I am excited to see how the composting toilet works. It makes total sense in port but I wonder about its effectiveness at see and on long voyages. :)
Thank you. That is really interesting, I thought it would be the opposite. With 2 people on board how frequently do you need to empty the liquids and the solids?
Hi Jeffrey, the liquids container is a gallon milk jug. We find we need to empty it once a day. We keep an extra jug or two around in case we need to keep it on board for a few days. But typically liquids go overboard. The solid waste is hard to determine. We’ve only emptied it 4 times since purchasing the unit. But have yet to rely on it as our only option for extended periods of time. So it is likely to last two weeks of daily use. However, in our time owning it we’ve often had alternative options for #2s. 😊
Apparently, as long that you don't mix the pee with the poop and with a proper poop to compost process, you should not have any problems. Compost does not smell at all like poop and poop tends to compact as its water is absorbed or evaporates. Proper compost can be used in a garden or discarded without much of an afterthoughts. You may have created a few new problems, but you got rid of a lot of old ones.
Hiya C-Head poop-mates. We just ripped out both heads on our boat in favour of 1 C-Head.. Next up is blanking all those redundant through-hulls and deck pump outs.
Hey there, that’s interesting to hear. I think if we had the option of having two heads, we thought we would keep one marine head with a very small holding tank or one that was piped straight over so that it could be used while on passage/at sea. And the composter for all other times. Was this a consideration? Or did the extra storage outweigh the benefits of having two heads?
The C-head which we installed is built by a sailor for sailors. It’s an incredibly simple design that uses simple parts that can be found almost anywhere on earth. We don’t want to throw shade at Uma, they make their own decisions, but they felt OK sailing around on a boat with no lifelines, toe rails or any nonskid. That is beyond unconventional and incredibly unsafe even with a tether. We would never sail long distance with a boat in that condition. They did. We have never met Uma and they seem like very nice people. They made decisions that work for them and we’re going to make decisions that work best for us. Regarding their “holding tank,” it may be legal to the letter of the law, but not the intent. They are exploiting a way to “hack” the system, and if they feel comfortable doing that good on them, but there is zero chance that it will not pumped overboard in an anchorage at some point, and we prefer not to swim in our own 💩.
@@SailingSoulianis - I’m in the process of deciding which compost toilet system to buy. Question: What made you guys decide to ‘not’ purchase the “Head Composting Toilet”?
Im new here, great vid. Yer i Was one of many who gave uma a hard time about their holding tank pipe thingy, its obviously a delema. Sounds like uma got rid of their bucket thingy cos it was a pain to empty. Doesnt seem like there is an easy way. Please give an update on how you go with the bucket. Doesnt really look like it composts, just a bucket...Sounds just as smelly but be good to know how it goes. What about a vent fan in the head to remove the smell? I suppose you are stuck between a smelly tank and a smelly bucket.. Hope it works out for you.
We’ve been using it full time and happy to report there is no noticeable smell beyond the container when it is closed. The only smell is the liquids container and we found we can remedy that by replacing it (it’s just a milk jug) or rinsing it.
Some countries you are required by law to have some kind of holding tank..Friends of mine did the same as you...Never got a chance to smell it , but they said the composting toilet smelled worst than the tank...you might not want to throw old toilet and tank out yet....Just sharing there toilet experience with you guys.......T.Gunz........
Likely their composting loo wasn't kept warm, or possibly they didn't have the right starter culture so it all turned to s..t. The thermophilic microbes that do the real work die if it's too cold (they're used to living at 38 Celcius) . If that happens you get flies if you're lucky, mould if you're not, and it smells worse than fresh poop.
mozismobile dont they come with a heater? I would think an aquarium heater would be a must to keep the bugs happy otherwise its just a porta potty. And they need aeration and agitation too or its just a bucket. Looked like a bucket they fitted, to me. There seem to be some good units out there with fans and a crank handle etc, but i dont think this was one of them...
Heating depends where you are, and with good design you don't need to agitate it - the one I have looks a lot like a compost bin, with a perforated sheet at the bottom, a pipe down for air and a pipe out the back for excess fluid. Mildly tricky as a DIY project but it works really well. There's a tap for the liquid drain and 99% of the time I have very little in it when the bin is full (don't pee in the compost!), so it's only when I go to empty it that the fluid is an issue... but that's once it's outside. You could do something similar with a bit of plastic in the bottom of a bucket and a small fan (40mm computer fan?). I should try that.
Great work guys. I applaud you on tackling this issue and much better solution than Sailing Uma imho. Not that it's a competition, but I love to see your responsible actions over quick workarounds.
hello greetings from barcelona spain a tip what about the composting toilet already Sailing Uma tried it and in the end they decided to change it I recommend that you watch their latest episodes they make ingenious and very reliable solutions regards If this translation is wrong, it is because of Google translator, waiting for more videos of yours
you know if you would have asked I could have saved you a crapload of money! no pun intended what's wrong with 7 gallon plastic pails with heavy duty garbage bags inside , put a little bit of floor dry you know oil dry throw in a cup there you go, rap it up and throw in the garbage...Or kitty litter ! Tada !!!
I'd like the idea of a compost toilet but it's kind of pointless on a boat unless you're going to start a garden then you have something to use the compost for. keep it simple dump it overboard yes is a few situations you need to use the holding. You might find it difficult to get sawdust for the toilet one more thing taking up storage space bags of sawdust on your boat I wonder if that stuff is specially treated so it doesn't get moldy and musty.
The critics are mostly right in that there is less composting going on than in a typical home environment. We do carry a second bucket that we thought we might use to allow the waste to finish composting. But have yet to use it. That said the composting toilet is far superior to just a plain bucket for odor issues. Having the ability to easily agitate the waste to keep it covered is critically important. We use aspen shavings in place of sawdust which we keep in a vaccum packed bag. We’re only halfway through one bag, so I think we'll need less than one per season. Mold and must are taken care of by the heat of the aerobic process and through venting of the toilet.
Congrats on another successful project! You kids work very well together and maybe you should get married! Was there any value to the old toilet/tank? You know.....slightly used pooper!
We held onto the old equipment until we left to go down the river just to make sure that this is what we wanted to do. We’re happy to report that things are going well. We tried to find someone interested in the head but no takers.
Lots of laughs that was a very funny video watching you do that if you think that was a s***** job you should have work with me before I retired the job I used to do would have made you sick you would have never come back lots of laughsand I can prove it because I have friends that said they could do it and after an hour on the new job they would quit and not even ask for that hours pay they would say lesson learned lots of laughs but it payed damn good
i passed up on buying a boat because it had a litter box for a commode.. people.. theres no dirt at sea.. this is a kinda good concept for rv's but a boat, i just dont get it... what do you do on a ocean passage .. pack dirt then throw dirt and shit into the sea in large clumps.. rather then grind it up and disperse as a liquid in the sea.. makes me sick to think of do that.. good luck and fair winds
Composting toilet? Is there really such a thing? A compost pile takes months of proper maintenance but your saying this is done right under your own ass? Comon, your smarter than that. You may as well be crapping in the litter box with the cat. Don't get me wrong, if you want to bag your shit that's fine with us but they ain't no composting being done in that magic bucket. I guess composting toilet sounds "environmentally friendly" and better then "human litter box" but if your just going to put it in a plastic bag and dump it... How is that environmentally friendly?
Human litter box sounds like a good synonym. For us bagging once a month or dumping when at sea is preferable to the constant smell and maintenance issues with the old system. We do have a second bucket that we brought on board to allow the composting to finish but have not used it yet. Yes, we have bagged the waste and dropped it in a dumpster. I don’t know of the legalities of it, but would wonder how it's different than dumping baby diapers. What solution(s) are you proposing as superior to this option?
You could have used a VHF instead of making noise pollution... You know somebody could have a night job and sleep during the day. I still like you guys very much!
If you think that smells a decomposing turd pile will be an interesting aroma,hope you didn't throw hundreds of dollars worth of tank and head if you decide it's not for you 😂
![We left our boat for 8 months. This is what happened. [Ep 26]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8tq4dhO6a-s/mqdefault.jpg)
Where you poop on a boat is a very CONTROVERSIAL topic as already clearly illustrated by Sailing Uma. In the video we only briefly mention one of the reasons we chose to go with a composting head, so here’s a few more:
1. Our holding tank was a 12-gallon tank. That’s TINY. We’d get 3 or 4 days out of that with full-time use before needing to pump it out. As full-time cruisers, that wasn’t going to work for us. We didn’t want to be paying for pump outs all the time, nor did we want to have to try to find a marina every time our holding tank got full. And lastly we don’t want to be pumping out in an anchorage.
2. The head smelled. It just did. Always.
3. We’ve been using our composting toilet for a while now, and believe it or not, it’s not the solids that smell, it’s the liquids, and really only when you open the lid. HOWEVER, we’ve been told that rinsing out the liquids container with a little vinegar takes care of this. We have yet to try it, and are excited that this might solve this issue. And last but not least it’s a gallon milk jug which means we can get a new one almost any time we want and get rid of the smell.
4. We’ve gained 10+ cubic feet of storage space under our v-berth by getting rid of the holding tank, as well as space in the hanging locker after removing the hoses. (Storage is super valuable!)
5. Our pump handle leaked, which in and of itself wasn’t an unfixable issue, however, it portended what could happen when you store many gallons of liquid waste inside your boat. It is possible one day some other part of the system could become compromised - a hose clamp, a hose, the tank itself - and we end up with poop water everywhere. This is not something we wanted to continue to worry about.
6. We like the idea of simplifying as many systems aboard as reasonably possible, and to us a composting toilet makes the entire head system much simpler.
We aren’t advocating that this is the best decision for everyone, but it has been the best decision for us. Thanks so much for watching, and we appreciate your thoughtful comments!
Cheers,
Lauren & Kirk
Sailing Soulianis Sailing Uma only had a bucket and sawdust . A Proper composting toilet uses peat moss and tiny power vent fan to dry out waste properly so it lasts longer between changes. Hope it works out for your guys. You are still dumping at sea if no access to shore so what's the advantage? You have to carry it ashore instead of pumping? But the "wynns" have sworn but them for years so good luck.
You say you've been using for a while ....but the pee tank smells....then stop using milk jugs and tell Kirk to pee overboard!
Cheers Warren
warp21drive, I think they were referring to Sailing Uma's recent videos where they replaced their composting bucket with a more traditional system, except instead of installing a holding tank they have a large pipe that will hold only two flushes. the system will satisfy certain regulations regarding holding tanks, but I have no doubt that their anchorage neighbors will be less than pleased to be swimming around in Dan and Kika's shit. Hey, I could be wrong though, maybe they will sail Uma 3 miles offshore every single morning and pump out their sewage instead of shitting up every single pristine anchorage they visit.
Hi Warren, Good points. You are correct, we do have a "proper" composting toilet that separtes solids and liquids. It also has a device to "agitate" the solid waste. We've been using aspen shavings (amzn.to/2MzTC2I) successfully so far and have not yet installed a vent fan, but plan to do so this next year.
We will still dump at sea if we are ever in that situation (multi-week ocean crossing), but will not be in that situation for the foreseeable future. We've only emptied the solids a handful of times in total since purchasing. But the bonus is that we don't have to empty it after ever use, so it will never go over the side in an anchorage.
The liquids smells a bit, but it's easily curable with a rinse.
Not sure I would have removed the tank, I know it freed up valuable storage space. But think I would have repurposed it for something else ... and have heard that some areas and marina require a holding tank and composting head is not sufficient. If had left tank in, could not one simply claim that as their holding tank and get away by meeting such requirements? Or was the tank simply not big enough to even meet most requirements anyway?
Sailing Soulianis Great, I’m encouraged to hear how well it’s working for you. Cheers Warren
My wife and I switched over to a composting toilet last year. After the install we had a two week sail on the west coast of Florida. My wife initially questioned the whole concept, but now she is a believer. Absolutely no smell, and we didn't install a vent fan. The real test came when we left our boat. I disposed of the gallon jug of liquid, but left the solid bucket full. THREE MONTHS later I returned to the boat expecting it to be "ripe." Instead, there was no oder at all. I disposed of the contents of the bucket, which was like dirt and reinstalled the solids bucket fore the next use. So glad we switched.
Enjoy your videos,
Alan & Patti
Awesome to hear Alan! Mimics our experience almost exactly. However we were not brave enough to leave the boat with the head full of waste. Very cool.
Allan: Do you mind sharing which composting toilet you installed? How
much time did it take for the removal of the previous system, including the storage tank, plus installing the compost system? I’m considering doing this switch myself. Thanks for your time. 🇨🇦
Your playful aerobics cracked me up ! I envy you guys living wild and free !! Keep the videos coming. We are looking forward to seeing more .
Oh wow I just found you and I upgraded the same anchor combination on my Morgan 38 AND I need to understand my heads and go el natural with a compostable head. AND I was a Hobie dealer for many years! So much in common, small world! Great content!
You 2 work as a great team. Waaaaay less cussing than I expected this episode. Lol
Keep it up, living vicariously through you both.
Great episode. Tks for edumacating us on how the toilet was removed lol. Love the humorous banter between you too. Lot to like on this channel👍
The title totally sold me! Old man winters called the s#$% poop! You guys are great, been fun watching the whole journey, safe travels!
I just did this job on my T37. Here's a tip I'd add, that I leaned the hard way. Open the inspection port on the tank and pour in a bag of cat litter.
Excellent video and fun cast. Loved the yoga. Looks like a great improvement to the head. Thanks for sharing.
I find it interesting that some channels are upgrading from compost toilet to tank, and others are upgrading from tank to compost.
We love our Hobie Outfitter Tandum. Of course we opted for the additional sail 😁.
Love your new anchor too. 👍
Good job tackling a unpleasant job. Looking forward to your continued adventure 👍
The project videos make us feel not so alone : )
Great video. I am enjoying watching you two. Hope the new pooper works out well. I think I my convert one of our heads to a compost type as you have done. I will check back in a year and see how you like it.
Sounds good Steve! If you have the space/option of having two toilets. We think having one of each is definitely the way to go.
Loved the gymnastics!
I'm in the same situation. I hate my toilet and will be removing it this weekend. I don't have a replacement picked out yet, but whatever it will be, it will be better than a tank water and poop. I have an Irwin 33.
I bet you are glad to get that stinky thing out of your boat👍
Hoping you are happy with your new option.
See you next time 😊
Always the best videos. Loved it. Laughed a lot at your friends' "yoga". Fingers crossed for not too much of a wait for the next one... :-)
Thanks Ian!! 💜
You guys have picked the right anker we love our rockna ankor you are going to love it to
As always another great video although I always find myself just getting into it when...…..It ends. Thanks for sharing this amazing adventure.
I can't wait to hear how the new composting system works out. I would have had a professional fix the factory unit.
Now, with all the compost you are going to have, you can start a garden on deck!
I was at that cardboard boat festival, had no idea I’d later get a tour of one of the boats below.
I don't like to even think about poop in such a confining space as a sailboat, especially considering that sometimes awful and unreachable space called the bilge. I knew, however, that you would make something somewhat nice about the subject, and you did not disappoint. I would probably just resort to adult diapers and rig up a massive slingshot at the stern to get rid of them.
Lol! There is no real “good” answer every option for getting rid of waste has its downsides. We went with what we felt like was the least crappy solution for us. ;)
Larry Kramer the « massive slingshot » made my day ! Brilliant !!!
@@Roucasson ditto!! LOL
Best anchor, ever.
Good Job Guys👍 That is nasty work❗ Stay Safe, Vinny 🇺🇸
Great great great episode. If you guys lived in Sheboygan we would totally stalk you and make you be our friends!
Hi David, we had the pleasure of passing through Sheboygan last month and I was able to catch some surf! Cool little town. -Kirk
The best wood screws/drivers (IMHO) are Robertson - aka square. They rarely strip, are self seating, you get a huge amount of force, the screw can often be placed on the screwdriver for sideways or upsidedown work, often work when the screws are painted over and work well one handed. The downside is they are not well known in many places in the USA and you can apply so much torque that if it's a cheap screw you can twist the head right off.
So much better than Phillips which are almost as bad as 'common' slot heads.
Smart move to bring in a port-a-podi like head. If you notice how small the diameter the hoses are to the holding tank, then you can imagine the size of a typical stool, and how it is inevitable it is to clog. So every sailor will have to take apart their head at one time or another. It really is a right of passage for the typical large boat owner.
Good day, nice moves with the tank and head removals, I hope ours goes as well. I'm looking forward to your feedback on the C-head installation, and experience-based performance information. Thanks.
Was there a long term review of the c-head? I can't find it. It would be great to know.
Cedar chips and potporri mixed into your composting will help with the smell.
Look forward to the composting toilet going in. I'm about to do the same and have the same issue with the finished height due to the curve of the hull, not sure what to do.
If you still have the bent anchor and it's servicable, take it to a metal shop and ask them to straighten it to keep as a spare.
We brought it into the shop at our marina and used a hydraulic press. We already have two other anchors onboard so we gave it to our boat neighbor for helping out :)
The best toilet solution for almost every imaginable reason I can think of is the composting head.
It not only solved nearly all my complaints over the traditional marine head but helps solve problems associated with municipal sewage treatments.
For two people the little composting marine heads are nearly perfect.
We never feel guilty emptying a little urine overboard (which is fairly sterile anyway) while feces is quickly reduced to compost and thereby rendered harmless. This goes directly in the trash bin.
Any laws or restrictions concerning composting toilets should be aimed at flushing toilets which are truly terrible for almost every imaginable reason.
Sounds like your original head just needed a new joker valve (fairly inexpensive, easy to do, and not as gross to change as you might think if you prepare a bit by thoroughly flushing, using a bit of bleach to disinfect the line). I probably will go for a composting unit in my boat eventually, because admittedly holding tanks do stink no matter how you slice it. My main hesitation is that in Canadian inland waters 9e.g., Great lakes) where I sail, composting heads are not legal as they are regarded to be the same as a porta-potty.
Yeah, actual biological action requires warm temperatures (lesson learned: don't keep the composting toilet in the coldest part of the house, even 10 degrees Celcius is too cold, it will just be a porta-potty). And storage space for 2-3 extra containers in the warm while they compost properly.
Hi, nice moves on the tank and toilet removal. I'm looking forward to your feedback on the installation and experience-based use of the C-head. Thanks
Thanks Marty!
Hey! like you guys. doing a good job. good team. Lauren, like your hair.
I have fixed/removed several boat pump out systems, and I can recommend any system that gets you out the risk of a godawful sewage leak
I just ended up with water overflowing 🤢🤮
Thank you so much for this detail video it’s very helpful. The teamwork is amazing
Great job guys! Does anyone have experience removing a pump out sea toilet (straight out to sea rather than to a holding tank) to replace with a composting toilet? We want to do this but worried about pulling out hoses that go below sea level in case we damage any seacocks and sink the boat 😬
Taking out the head was a shame. A conventional head and tank just need a little but of annual maintenance and they work just fine. A joker valve is dirt cheap and even having an extra head pump is inexpensive. If you are off shore (US rules) you can easily pump the holding tank. I'm afraid your new setup will be a hassle more than you realize.
Sail on. Love your channel.
Totally agree.
Awesome! Kinda wish I wouldn't have watched it so soon after you released it...now I have to wait longer for the next one ;)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but you guys are traveling the Midwest as of now? Do you have any plans to come through Indianapolis?? It would be so cool to meet you guys!
Also, do either of you ever regret your decision to start living on a boat? Do you ever wish you could just go back to a normal home? Was it worth the money? etc...I've often heard it said that a boater's happiest days are when he buys a boat and when he sells it...Does that hold true for you guys?
I appreciate the videos, and I can't wait to see how the throne fits!
Thanks guys,
--Neal
Actually last we heard they were already in FL .. and am sure they will cover this (if not already recorded) later after having spent some time using it.
Hey Neal, yep, we are traveling around the Midwest this summer for a bunch of family reunions, birthdays and friends’ weddings, and sailing as much as we can on our friends' boats! Soulianis is currently on the hard in Florida, and will be returning to her this fall.
EXCELLENT question. The short answer: no regrets! Traveling and living on a boat is just so different than life on land in a house, I (Lauren) like to compare it to learning a new language. Both Kirk and I felt like we had been living the same life day in and day out, year over year for the previous several years, and we were eager to experience a whole new way of living. There were certainly points throughout this past year living aboard where we were frustrated or exhausted, and we thought ‘why are we doing this?’ Life onboard is definitely not all beaches, palm trees and sunshine ;). I think the largest factor in any decision is to have a choice. If Kirk and I were given the option to live on a boat OR in a house - and once we chose we could never go back - I think that would be tough to answer. We do have the ability to go back to land when we want to, and this makes living on a boat feel like true freedom.
Was it worth the money? Absolutely. This has been a dream of ours for over a decade now, and finally making it happen has been amazing. It hasn’t really been cheaper than living on land, because we’ve put a bunch of money into boat upgrades, but next year it may be. Either way, our main goal of living aboard wasn’t to necessarily cut costs, but to live a new, more adventurous lifestyle.
What do you do when you are in a marina that requires a holding tank? I ask as I will be needing a practical solution to this problem.
We try to stay away from marinas. That said we have never been to a marina that requires a holding tank and has not recognized the composting toilet as a valid option.
YUK! :-) what are the laws down there re composting toilettes and holding tanks?
@jack rabbit, i thought porta-potty heads were ok up here?
Great job.
Your bud works for Hobie, I love my Hobie Tandem Island its a little badass. Cool wish you all well.
I used to think composting toilets were pretty gross "filthy hippy" stuff. Then I helped service a broken macerating head. I learned. The hard way. {shudder}.
The only hassle is that on most boats actually composting isn't really an option - it takes a few months to break down into garden-safe compost, so you need multiple containers and store them somewhere not-cold. Easy in a detached house with garden, do-able on a van, I haven't seen it happen on a small yacht yet. So "composting head" usually ends up in landfill, which is not ideal. Pooping over the side is better once you're offshore, but on land "composting" is kinda the least wrost option for boat-board. IMO, anyway.
Sorry guys but I think you should have kept to original system and got it perfect working order. And have the composting toilet for use when you can and the original system for a backup or when you sell the boat in the future.
We held onto the old holding tank and toilet for a while, just to make sure this was what we wanted. In a perfect world I think you’re right. We’d have a catamaran, with a regular water flush head in one hull that went straight over the side or into a small holding tank for use at sea. And a composting head in the other hull for when we are in port. But then we’d have to buy a whole new boat... ;)
After the years using the C Head, was it a pass or a fail?
It was great. Plan to purchase again. If we don’t make our own.
After a few years with this composting head, what are your thoughts on it now? We recently bought a Catalina 36, the PO put in a very nice electric head, however, like you, I wish to simplify systems and gain storage. Less electrical 'stuff" seems better to me. Thanks
Has the holding tank been trashed? WTJ, Reefpoint Marina
very curious how the composting toilet worked out??
Make sure you can off the overboard pump line and make sure it's water tight those thruhules can sink you if they leak
That line from the toilet should not have been straight like that xD
Holding tank area or tank could be another fuel tank , if you don’t need the room. Did you ever look at the rareitan (sp) composting toilet?
All good options! We hold 53 gallons of diesel plus jerry cans and burn .6 an hour. Even on the river we never needed that much. A water maker would be cool but for now it’s just dry storage.
@@SailingSoulianis - May I ask you … with the storage container gone … what
are you using the extra space for now?
@@doracotterell2863 The "storage container" was the black water tank, so now we use it for spare parts storage.
@@SailingSoulianis : That’s a great place for it. I was going to install a “Head Compost Toilet”, remove the tank & put all expensive tools & parts in the space.
Thanks for replying and have a great Thanksgiving holiday! ⛵️
I'm sure that was a real load off your decks.
Not a way I would have gone but then its your boat and your choice.
awesome job guys :-)
Cheers, thanks!
Do you have a video of the installation of the c head?
Hi Anna, not really, there wasn't much to video to be honest. We just plopped it down. Eventually we added the tie down straps so it doesn't go sliding around while under sail and heeling over.
Great video. I am excited to see how the composting toilet works. It makes total sense in port but I wonder about its effectiveness at see and on long voyages. :)
Three miles out and further, you just dump it. In port, is the hassle of finding where to dump.
Thank you. That is really interesting, I thought it would be the opposite. With 2 people on board how frequently do you need to empty the liquids and the solids?
Hi Jeffrey, the liquids container is a gallon milk jug. We find we need to empty it once a day. We keep an extra jug or two around in case we need to keep it on board for a few days. But typically liquids go overboard. The solid waste is hard to determine. We’ve only emptied it 4 times since purchasing the unit. But have yet to rely on it as our only option for extended periods of time. So it is likely to last two weeks of daily use. However, in our time owning it we’ve often had alternative options for #2s. 😊
Thank you :)
That tank could be a good diesel tank.. and I’m sure you gone regret the new toilet .. it’s fancy but.
Apparently, as long that you don't mix the pee with the poop and with a proper poop to compost process, you should not have any problems. Compost does not smell at all like poop and poop tends to compact as its water is absorbed or evaporates. Proper compost can be used in a garden or discarded without much of an afterthoughts. You may have created a few new problems, but you got rid of a lot of old ones.
Silly question can someone tell me the name of the song playing in the background?
Hiya C-Head poop-mates.
We just ripped out both heads on our boat in favour of 1 C-Head.. Next up is blanking all those redundant through-hulls and deck pump outs.
Hey there, that’s interesting to hear. I think if we had the option of having two heads, we thought we would keep one marine head with a very small holding tank or one that was piped straight over so that it could be used while on passage/at sea. And the composter for all other times.
Was this a consideration? Or did the extra storage outweigh the benefits of having two heads?
Circus Soleil, baby
Sailing UMA takes theirs Out & You put one one, Interesting
The C-head which we installed is built by a sailor for sailors. It’s an incredibly simple design that uses simple parts that can be found almost anywhere on earth.
We don’t want to throw shade at Uma, they make their own decisions, but they felt OK sailing around on a boat with no lifelines, toe rails or any nonskid. That is beyond unconventional and incredibly unsafe even with a tether. We would never sail long distance with a boat in that condition. They did.
We have never met Uma and they seem like very nice people. They made decisions that work for them and we’re going to make decisions that work best for us.
Regarding their “holding tank,” it may be legal to the letter of the law, but not the intent. They are exploiting a way to “hack” the system, and if they feel comfortable doing that good on them, but there is zero chance that it will not pumped overboard in an anchorage at some point, and we prefer not to swim in our own 💩.
@@SailingSoulianis - I’m in the process of deciding which compost toilet system to buy.
Question:
What made you guys decide to ‘not’ purchase the “Head Composting Toilet”?
There’s a good reason comments are listed down below. Like poop, everyone has em and many stink.
Im new here, great vid. Yer i Was one of many who gave uma a hard time about their holding tank pipe thingy, its obviously a delema.
Sounds like uma got rid of their bucket thingy cos it was a pain to empty. Doesnt seem like there is an easy way. Please give an update on how you go with the bucket. Doesnt really look like it composts, just a bucket...Sounds just as smelly but be good to know how it goes. What about a vent fan in the head to remove the smell?
I suppose you are stuck between a smelly tank and a smelly bucket.. Hope it works out for you.
We’ve been using it full time and happy to report there is no noticeable smell beyond the container when it is closed.
The only smell is the liquids container and we found we can remedy that by replacing it (it’s just a milk jug) or rinsing it.
Flathead screws are the WORST
Some countries you are required by law to have some kind of holding tank..Friends of mine did the same as you...Never got a chance to smell it , but they said the composting toilet smelled worst than the tank...you might not want to throw old toilet and tank out yet....Just sharing there toilet experience with you guys.......T.Gunz........
Likely their composting loo wasn't kept warm, or possibly they didn't have the right starter culture so it all turned to s..t. The thermophilic microbes that do the real work die if it's too cold (they're used to living at 38 Celcius) . If that happens you get flies if you're lucky, mould if you're not, and it smells worse than fresh poop.
mozismobile dont they come with a heater? I would think an aquarium heater would be a must to keep the bugs happy otherwise its just a porta potty. And they need aeration and agitation too or its just a bucket. Looked like a bucket they fitted, to me. There seem to be some good units out there with fans and a crank handle etc, but i dont think this was one of them...
max nex so long as its not someone elses poo floating by (hmmm isnt there a poo emoji somewhere)...
Heating depends where you are, and with good design you don't need to agitate it - the one I have looks a lot like a compost bin, with a perforated sheet at the bottom, a pipe down for air and a pipe out the back for excess fluid. Mildly tricky as a DIY project but it works really well. There's a tap for the liquid drain and 99% of the time I have very little in it when the bin is full (don't pee in the compost!), so it's only when I go to empty it that the fluid is an issue... but that's once it's outside. You could do something similar with a bit of plastic in the bottom of a bucket and a small fan (40mm computer fan?). I should try that.
if a compost toilet stinks it's usually because someone sprayed disinfectant in it. killing the microbes causing the shit to rot and ferment.
Great work guys. I applaud you on tackling this issue and much better solution than Sailing Uma imho. Not that it's a competition, but I love to see your responsible actions over quick workarounds.
hello greetings from barcelona spain a tip what about the composting toilet already Sailing Uma tried it and in the end they decided to change it I recommend that you watch their latest episodes they make ingenious and very reliable solutions
regards
If this translation is wrong, it is because of Google translator, waiting for more videos of yours
you know if you would have asked I could have saved you a crapload of money! no pun intended what's wrong with 7 gallon plastic pails with heavy duty garbage bags inside , put a little bit of floor dry you know oil dry throw in a cup there you go, rap it up and throw in the garbage...Or kitty litter ! Tada !!!
Well done on a shitty job. Thanks for the laughs!
Cheers, guys!
Awesome+
I'd like the idea of a compost toilet but it's kind of pointless on a boat unless you're going to start a garden then you have something to use the compost for. keep it simple dump it overboard yes is a few situations you need to use the holding. You might find it difficult to get sawdust for the toilet one more thing taking up storage space bags of sawdust on your boat I wonder if that stuff is specially treated so it doesn't get moldy and musty.
The critics are mostly right in that there is less composting going on than in a typical home environment. We do carry a second bucket that we thought we might use to allow the waste to finish composting. But have yet to use it.
That said the composting toilet is far superior to just a plain bucket for odor issues. Having the ability to easily agitate the waste to keep it covered is critically important.
We use aspen shavings in place of sawdust which we keep in a vaccum packed bag. We’re only halfway through one bag, so I think we'll need less than one per season.
Mold and must are taken care of by the heat of the aerobic process and through venting of the toilet.
Need to check laws, some waterways will not allow composting toilet, must have a holding tank......I think Florida is that way, but I could be wrong
Congrats on another successful project! You kids work very well together and maybe you should get married! Was there any value to the old toilet/tank? You know.....slightly used pooper!
We held onto the old equipment until we left to go down the river just to make sure that this is what we wanted to do. We’re happy to report that things are going well.
We tried to find someone interested in the head but no takers.
He called the shit poop Haha
We have the same anchor, 44# Rocna 20. Holds very nice on the first try
We’ve been quite happy with ours so far, too!
Lots of laughs that was a very funny video watching you do that if you think that was a s***** job you should have work with me before I retired the job I used to do would have made you sick you would have never come back lots of laughsand I can prove it because I have friends that said they could do it and after an hour on the new job they would quit and not even ask for that hours pay they would say lesson learned lots of laughs but it payed damn good
i passed up on buying a boat because it had a litter box for a commode.. people.. theres no dirt at sea.. this is a kinda good concept for rv's but a boat, i just dont get it... what do you do on a ocean passage .. pack dirt then throw dirt and shit into the sea in large clumps.. rather then grind it up and disperse as a liquid in the sea.. makes me sick to think of do that.. good luck and fair winds
He called the shit "POOP"!
Had a composting toilet once, they don't work worth shit.
$hitty Job! Ha! Bet your glad you can ck. that one off the never
ending, need too do, list!?
👍⛵👍☀️👍
Composting toilet? Is there really such a thing? A compost pile takes months of proper maintenance but your saying this is done right under your own ass? Comon, your smarter than that. You may as well be crapping in the litter box with the cat. Don't get me wrong, if you want to bag your shit that's fine with us but they ain't no composting being done in that magic bucket. I guess composting toilet sounds "environmentally friendly" and better then "human litter box" but if your just going to put it in a plastic bag and dump it... How is that environmentally friendly?
Human litter box sounds like a good synonym. For us bagging once a month or dumping when at sea is preferable to the constant smell and maintenance issues with the old system.
We do have a second bucket that we brought on board to allow the composting to finish but have not used it yet.
Yes, we have bagged the waste and dropped it in a dumpster. I don’t know of the legalities of it, but would wonder how it's different than dumping baby diapers.
What solution(s) are you proposing as superior to this option?
You could have used a VHF instead of making noise pollution... You know somebody could have a night job and sleep during the day.
I still like you guys very much!
Is it legal do dump untreated human waste in a dumpster in the United States ?
Not sure to be honest. But I guess I would wonder how it differs to disposing if baby diapers.
If you think that smells a decomposing turd pile will be an interesting aroma,hope you didn't throw hundreds of dollars worth of tank and head if you decide it's not for you 😂
None of these hippies understand how composting works but the virtue signaling proves they're superior.
All the yoga positions
Are you guys all pooped out now?
Soprry No stupid handsignals
Flat head screws should be banned.
Yes! I legitimately don’t understand their usefulness. They are terrible!
Shitty job. *rimshot
That's a crapy job
Do y'all ever incorporate that into your sex life .
How ever did you end up with the most beautifull women on the net you luckey guy Lol
why why why. electric toilets r much better. dont know why you would want to handle poop and wee so oftern.