Hi,

I am about to take the plunge and purchase a Sun-Mar composting toilet for
my boat. It is a marine version. It requires a fan (4 watts) for a 3" stack
and also has a heater (12v 120 watt or 1 amp ac). The fan I could easily run
off of a solar panel. Heater (~50% duty cycle). While on shore power, no
concern. Foor print - 16" X 17". Capacity - wk end/vacation use - 3/4
adults.

Any one have any comments for and against, to help me make a final decision?

Also, the boat currently has a shower and I am considering tossing it to
reclaim the space. I know it can be a personal thing,but do you think I
would regret getting rid of it?

Thanks

I am about to take the plunge and purchase a Sun-Mar composting toilet for
my boat. It is a marine version. It requires a fan (4 watts) for a 3" stack
and also has a heater (12v 120 watt or 1 amp ac). The fan I could easily run
off of a solar panel. Heater (~50% duty cycle). While on shore power, no
concern. Foor print - 16" X 17". Capacity - wk end/vacation use - 3/4
adults.

Any one have any comments for and against, to help me make a final decision?


Before I can offer any advice, I have questions: what size boat? Power
or sail? Where are you--coastal waters or inland?

Also, the boat currently has a shower and I am considering tossing it to
reclaim the space. I know it can be a personal thing,but do you think I
would regret getting rid of it?

If only to make room for the toilet, yes.
--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...

Before I can offer any advice, I have questions: what size boat? Power
or sail? Where are you--coastal waters or inland?

Also, the boat currently has a shower and I am considering tossing it to
reclaim the space. I know it can be a personal thing,but do you think I
would regret getting rid of it?

If only to make room for the toilet, yes.
--
Peggie

Hi Peggie,

The boat is a 40' glass hulled houseboat. The cabin is 8.5' X 28. Lower
level is 21'. The bathroom is in the centre on one side of the lower level
which breaks it up such that I want to make it smaller. Placement of large
windows all around makes it kind of difficult to want to move the bathroom.
I'm confined to inland waters.

Steve

sel1 wrote:
"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...

Before I can offer any advice, I have questions: what size boat? Power
or sail? Where are you--coastal waters or inland?


Also, the boat currently has a shower and I am considering tossing it to
reclaim the space. I know it can be a personal thing,but do you think I
would regret getting rid of it?

If only to make room for the toilet, yes.
--
Peggie


Hi Peggie,

The boat is a 40' glass hulled houseboat. The cabin is 8.5' X 28. Lower
level is 21'. The bathroom is in the centre on one side of the lower level
which breaks it up such that I want to make it smaller. Placement of large
windows all around makes it kind of difficult to want to move the bathroom.
I'm confined to inland waters.

I don't THINK you have enough room for the Sun-Mar marine composter on
your boat...it's 28" high x 21 deep x 19 wide...plus space needed for
the "boarding step" and handle to turn to drum. That doesn't leave much
room for the user. Composters have other issues too, starting with
excess liquids, 'cuz they can't be drained overboard. Sun-Mar even says:
"Evaporation capacity on Sun-Mar Mobile units is limited by the size of
the heater, the surface area of the evaporation chamber, and the volume
of air movement. Consequently, arrangements should be made to connect
the Sun-Mar Mobile drains to a container or small holding tank for
disposal in an approved manner, especially if you are unable to
incorporate the 12 Volt heater option into the unit." Since at least 90%
of body waste is liquid (even solids are at least 75%), it's almost a
certainty that you will have excess liquids...'cuz when a composter is
installed on land, people are out of the house most of the time, but
they pretty much stay aboard a boat.

Then there's matter of power...composter fans and heaters have to run
24/7/365 for composting to happen, which means they don't work well at
all on boats that are on moorings or trailers instead of in slips
connected to shore power. Even if you have continuous shore power,
you'll need adequate battery resources to keep the fan and heater
running while away from the dock.

A similar system called the Air Head is smaller and costs less, but also
has the same power and excess liquids issue.

Bottom line: IMO, the best choice for YOUR boat, on your waters, is the
SeaLand 711-M28 Marine Traveler...a self-contained toilet/holding tank
that has real china toilet mounted atop a 9 gal holding tank...9 gal
doesn't sound big enough, but because the system uses so little flush
water water, it holds about as many flushes as a 20 gallons tank connect
to any marine toilet...and it's no-brainer for guests and children to
use--just step on the pedal. The tank does have to be pumped out, but
you'd also have some kind of tank--fixed or portable--to deal with if
you install a composter, and just as often. It also costs a LOT less
(list is about $500...Defender has it for $359--which is about 1/4 the
price of the Sun-Mar.

That's my $.02 worth...

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

Thanks Peggie. I will check out the SeaLand toilets and hum and hah some
more.


I don't THINK you have enough room for the Sun-Mar marine composter on
your boat...it's 28" high x 21 deep x 19 wide...plus space needed for
the "boarding step" and handle to turn to drum. That doesn't leave much
room for the user. Composters have other issues too, starting with
excess liquids, 'cuz they can't be drained overboard. Sun-Mar even says:
"Evaporation capacity on Sun-Mar Mobile units is limited by the size of
the heater, the surface area of the evaporation chamber, and the volume
of air movement. Consequently, arrangements should be made to connect
the Sun-Mar Mobile drains to a container or small holding tank for
disposal in an approved manner, especially if you are unable to
incorporate the 12 Volt heater option into the unit." Since at least 90%
of body waste is liquid (even solids are at least 75%), it's almost a
certainty that you will have excess liquids...'cuz when a composter is
installed on land, people are out of the house most of the time, but
they pretty much stay aboard a boat.

Then there's matter of power...composter fans and heaters have to run
24/7/365 for composting to happen, which means they don't work well at
all on boats that are on moorings or trailers instead of in slips
connected to shore power. Even if you have continuous shore power,
you'll need adequate battery resources to keep the fan and heater
running while away from the dock.

A similar system called the Air Head is smaller and costs less, but also
has the same power and excess liquids issue.

Bottom line: IMO, the best choice for YOUR boat, on your waters, is the
SeaLand 711-M28 Marine Traveler...a self-contained toilet/holding tank
that has real china toilet mounted atop a 9 gal holding tank...9 gal
doesn't sound big enough, but because the system uses so little flush
water water, it holds about as many flushes as a 20 gallons tank connect
to any marine toilet...and it's no-brainer for guests and children to
use--just step on the pedal. The tank does have to be pumped out, but
you'd also have some kind of tank--fixed or portable--to deal with if
you install a composter, and just as often. It also costs a LOT less
(list is about $500...Defender has it for $359--which is about 1/4 the
price of the Sun-Mar.

That's my $.02 worth...

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"

http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327