installing waste systemin 66 30ft connie.

[66connie]

how to istall waste system in 66 30ft c0nnie

[Al Benton]

Welcome to Boat Buzz.

I had plans of installing a holding tank and head in my cruiser but elected to just use a porta-potty for now. It had a manual head with overboard plumbing originally but you can't do that now days. The original head could be fed into a new holding tank somewhere under the aft deck, add an electric macerator pump, an external vent and a cleanout fitting and you're in business.

Al

[Take Time]

I was able to install a 20 gallon holding tank in my 30' Connie. There was room under the aft deck to install the support for the tank. I went with a manual flush head and plumbed the outlet in the corner of the deck. The tank is vented through the hull above the water line.

Rob

[jahearne]

http://boatbuilding.com/article.php/MarineSanitationFactvsFolklore

Good info to get you started. Let us know how it works out for you. I got a '65 30 footer I want to intall a holding tank as well.

Welcome,
John
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John & Wendy

[jbsawdust]

I'm thinking of installing a composting head. Anyone have experience with them?
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John

Martini II
1964 30' Constellation

[Al Benton]

A composting head would be the way to go if you have the space and battery capacity. They take a large area, are taller and require constant current flow to operate. This may not be a problem when on shore power but may be while out and about.

Al

[jahearne]

According to that linked article, they are not practical in anything less than 40 feet because of the size of a composting head. But that article is an older one.

We currently have a LectraSan and electric toliet; it flushes and all, but i don't think the LectraSan is working properly. When I get time to look into it, I was going to add a holding tank. But maybe a composting head might be better.

John
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John & Wendy

[jahearne]

Slow day at work once again...

I discovered there are basically two composting marine heads, Air Head & Nature's Head. There's also Sun-Mar. They may be cheaper than a head/holding tank combo and a heck of lot easier to set up, but for what they are, I feel they are very expensive especially the Sun-Mar at well over a grand; others run around eight bills.

For power all the first two need is less than 1 amp to power a small continuous fan that can be ran off a solar vent, which you have to plumb a 3" vent outside with. The SunMar has a heater. They don't take up much more space than a good size porti-potty maybe a bit bigger and perhaps a bit taller and you need room for a hand-crank to rotate the peat-moss / compost. Require no other plumbing and no water or chemicals.

What makes a marine compost head different than a cabin one is that marine version seperates the urine from the solids. Basically you crap into a coffee filter or it's directional - #1 aimed foward #2 aft, the pee runs into a seperate bottle, which you frequently have to empty especially with a few beer drinking females on board. Spare bottle is a must. You can leave the trap door open and not use the filter because paper doesn't break down as rapidly as waste, but then you can't seperate the urine or you get a messing door. Keep a spray bottle handy I suppose.

If you have to empty the urine bottle, why bother and not go with a porti-potty? The pee bottle is much smaller, easier to manage and contains no chemicals like the ones in a porti-potty. Sounds like folks emtpty the compost once a season. It's not like the stuff breaks down over night, but I didn't get a feeling how long a certain amount of use takes. Without a lot of moisture and paper, the waste breaks down fairly quickly from what I understand, week or two. The Sun-Mar heater breaks it down faster.

I think they're meant for 2-3 people moderate use weekender kind of thing; that and the simplicity of installation makes it a good candidate for a small boat especially a house boat, but not a liveaboard. A long labor day weekend with a few freinds over - forget 'bout it. If the compost doesn't break down fast enough, you're stuck with emptying the compost bucket and urinal jar then what's the point. You might as well use a porti-potty for a fraction of the price. But with very little use on a weekend cruiser, I think they'd be ideal; however, they don't add much value to the decor of our beautiful mahogony boats.

http://www.airheadtoilet.com/advantages.html
http://www.natureshead.net/information.html
http://www.sun-mar.com/products/mobileslopedback.php
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/05/articles/toilet/index.cfm
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John & Wendy

[Al Benton]

John,

Those do sound interesting. They all make statements about being odorless but I wonder if that's because they are vented to the exterior. Does the exterior vent smell like an outhouse then? That may cause a problem with marina neighbors. For that matter it may be a problem while enjoying the cruiser deck areas when out or walkways when in the slip.

You can add chemicals to a portapotty or holding tank to offset odors but that can't be done with these. Do you think this might be a problem?

Al

[jbsawdust]

Hey John,
Thanks for the summary, sounds like you've been reading the same stuff I have. My original question still stands- do any of you have first hand experience with one of these? Since I really don't want to install a holding tank, I think this is the way to go. I'd just really like to hear from someone who owns one, and is not affiliated with any of the aforementioned mfrs. Thanks!
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John

Martini II
1964 30' Constellation

[jahearne]

Without actually using one, I'd say as long as the composting isn't over burdened with a lot of waste there wouldn't be any smell. The composting has to keep up with the amount of waste going in, right?

Imagine with a lot of use, it could get pretty stinky and start smelling like a livestock ranch. toss in some fresh peatmoss, mix it up, throw some cedar or pine chips over it. But then you have to give it time to compost... Al, your guess is as good as mine.

If the prices were comparible to a good porta-pottie then I'd go for it, but I just don't see these things being any easier to use or more complex to make than porta-pottie; therefore, can't justify the extra $$$ cost. You do get the good warm organic feeling of being environmently friendly by recycling waste and not using any chemicals. And my kids would think that's a good thing.
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John & Wendy

[jahearne]

Hi John!

Ya, without actually using one, I'm just basing my comments on my experience with porti-potties, out-houses and growing up on a ranch. I really like the Nature's Head because it looks like it can hold a decent amount, but at $850 plus an extra $40 bottle, shipping and installation, you're into it a grand.

For the same cost, I think I'm going to upgrade our LectraSan to a Hold n Treat.

Did you read that Duckworkmagazine article? Build a nice console around it, keep an extra bucket or two, one filled with pine chips, which would store easily in our lazette aft of the fuel tanks. That might work.
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John & Wendy

[Al Benton]

We have been using the porta-potty for the last few years. Not the most pleasant thing to deal with but we only use it for the liquid form and line it with a plastic shopping bag for the other purpose. When your done, tie it up, drop it into another one and tote that puppy home for disposal in the compost pile on the back 40.

Al

[BrokenRule2]

Our 61 32' connie has a LectraSan and electric toilet installed under a modified couch. Here are some photos.










Let me know if you need additional photos or details. Works fine and no smell.