It should be noted that sawdust, peat moss, and rotting leaves are NOT nitrogen rich. It's the poop & pee that are nitrogen rich. The sawdust dilutes the nitrate and probably achieves a better balance for composting; but in the short run it probably absorbs moisture, slows the fermentation, and to some extent absorbs odors, at least for a while. The deodorizing chemicals available for porta potties probably are way more effective. --Gary Hyde N24 'Sailabration' M17 #637 'Hydeaway2' M15 #235 'Vanilla' On Aug 19, 2005, at 10:20 AM, Brian Gilbert wrote:
Hi all:
I know this particular topic is a little gross, but I'd like to hear more about other folks' solutions to the head problem as well. I've been trying to come up with something for my boat that would be similar to a very small composting toilet. I've read a little bit of The Humanure Handbook (available online, I think) and it seems that it's possible, but needs experimentation (yech!) to see if one can make or adapt a sawdust toilet for boat use.
A sawdust toilet is commonly used in no-septic cabins. It's just a 5-gal bucket. As long as deposits are covered with sawdust, peat moss, rotted leaves, or other nitrogen-rich cover it doesn't smell. I would guess they mean it doesn't smell THAT bad, as sleeping with my head two inches away from a bucket full of rotten leaves and poop has got to have some sort of smell. According to the book, if the contents are heated to 140 degrees, pathogens are killed and it's safe to bury. It seems to get almost that hot in my car when the windows are rolled up...maybe some kind of black bucket with a glass or plexi top? Still, I think I may opt for some heavy-duty plastic bags and a clandestine trip to a dumpster whenever possible.
On commercial composting heads (about $1200!) there's some kind of way to divert urine into a separate container. A teaspoon of sugar added to this reportedly gets rid of odors from urine. My M17 came with with a head that really isn't much more than a glorified bucket with a toilet seat on top. I might try to modify that somehow.
Has anyone else though about this a lot, or should I seek counseling?
Best BG
-- Brian Gilbert Marine Media M17 "Tiny Dancer" (ex "Stargazer") (423)876-9990 3404 Hartford Drive Chattanooga, TN 37415 www.sailingsmall.com
on 8/19/05 12:22 PM, montgomery_boats-request@mailman.xmission.com at montgomery_boats-request@mailman.xmission.com wrote:
Hi Tom,
I carry a portable crapper called a boom box rather than the potti that came with the M15... We use it for extended whitewater trips on rivers were carrying out all waste is a requirement...
I'd like to hear more about this (sorry if it's a bit indelicate...). I've been considering the simple bucket for my next boat (not a Monty, but still space-challenged and the head is in some prime real estate right now). I was remembering back to my whitewater days, during which I took a raft-supported trip down the Salmon River and we used 5-gallon buckets.
We used some sort of mixture (lime?) that we sprinkled in to the bucket between uses and it actually wasn't too hideous. I mean, the first person to use the bucket has it just fine, but assuming you can't immediately jettison the contents, then what? This powder kind of ... stabilized things since in that case we actually had to use each bucket until it was full. Of course a smaller container would be much better for a small boat with one or two people on it...
So, I'm curious to know more about the boom box, and also if you use the powder I remember and what was it, actually? I never knew.
In the case of the river trips (in case anyone's still reading ;-), we had to pack *everything* out, so we just used the buckets until they were full, then put the lid on and ran a bead or two of duct tape around the joint between lid and bucket, just for extra security. Then we started a new bucket...
And to think I was writing about ice cream and 20-year-old port just yesterday :-)
--- R.
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