Com-Pac Yacht Owners Association

General Com-Pac and Sailing Related Discussions => Boat and Hardware Modification => Topic started by: brackish on May 12, 2014, 10:21:44 PM

Title: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: brackish on May 12, 2014, 10:21:44 PM
...Yeah I know, not the favorite forum subject, however, I've permanently replaced my Sealand Sani-potty with a Clean Waste toilet.  I got so tired of dumping then recharging the nasty holding tank, lifting in and out the top unit filled with water, winterizing the unit, in my non standing headroom 23 that something had to be done.  So when not so Crazy Carl put me on a lifetime supply of Wag Bags on the cheap I had to make a move.  It fits perfectly in a 23, the rear legs actually fit right up against the compartment bulkhead, so I made a teak cleat to position and lock the front leg and it is done.

Additionally, at night, when the berth is made up for sleeping, because the unit is so light, I can move it to the cockpit which was fairly difficult to do with the porta-potty. 

Thank you Carl for the inspiration. 

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af200/brackish_photos/P1000571_zps0aaea1f2.jpg)

(http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af200/brackish_photos/P1000562_zps9b9353a7.jpg)
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: crazycarl on May 12, 2014, 11:06:18 PM
thanks brack!

i've made many improvements to boats i've owned over the years.

designed and built cradles, sleds, rocking horses, and furniture.

designed and built toys for mattel, kenner, american toy co., and processed plastic co.

made numerous items for plano molding co.

built the models for a 1989 ford crown victoria dash board and many other automotive items.

worked on the space shuttle, sky lab, the original artificial heart (jarvic 7), countless military ordinances, and even prototype nuclear warheads.

now, on this site, i'll forever be remembered as the guy who inspired sailors to defecate in plastic bags.

seriously tho, we used them for the florida trip and they where so much easier to deal with than the porti-potti.

cc
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: fried fish on May 13, 2014, 08:01:34 AM
3 legs stable?
Looks precarious for a midnight mission in the cockpit.
Just saying.....
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: brackish on May 13, 2014, 08:44:37 AM
Quote from: fried fish on May 13, 2014, 08:01:34 AM
3 legs stable?
Looks precarious for a midnight mission in the cockpit.
Just saying.....

All good tool engineers know that it takes three points to create a locating plane, any additional are just superfluous.:)
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: BruceW on May 13, 2014, 09:50:32 AM
I had a  bucket with a round seat on it on last boat. I like the bags a lot. I have them, and was going to try using them with the porta potti I have on the CP 23. Haven't really tried to yet though. Do you think they won't work, or that it is just not on.

I could try to find one of those seats for my bucket if this way won't work.
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: brackish on May 13, 2014, 10:26:31 AM
Quote from: BruceW on May 13, 2014, 09:50:32 AM
I had a  bucket with a round seat on it on last boat. I like the bags a lot. I have them, and was going to try using them with the porta potti I have on the CP 23. Haven't really tried to yet though. Do you think they won't work, or that it is just not on.

I could try to find one of those seats for my bucket if this way won't work.

I have used the Wag Bags with the Sealand porta potti and they work OK.  The Clean waste mesh support bag is a little deeper so it is a little easier to use.  My theory is that I can sell the Sealand unit, along with two holding tanks, the chemical and hold down clamps on Craigslist for what I paid for the clean waste unit and have a much more versatile unit that can be easily moved to the cockpit, or even the beach or woods for other camping excursions.
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: wes on May 13, 2014, 11:08:18 AM
Brackish -

The optimist says: "the glass is half full."
The pessimist says: "the glass is half empty."
The engineer says: "looks like you've got about twice as much glass as you need there."

Wes (a fellow engineer)
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: capt_nemo on May 13, 2014, 04:19:25 PM
brackish,

Very well done!

I too got rid of the Porta Potti on my Sun Cat in favor of a bucket, homemade wood seat, and Wag Bags. (Can carry Porta Potti below if necessary for rare daysails with first mate.)

The Potti used to fit in the center space between the long wood cleats under the bridge deck as shown below.

(http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l594/CPYOA/Com-Pac%20Sun%20Cat%20Mods/IMG_0074.jpg) (http://s1125.photobucket.com/user/CPYOA/media/Com-Pac%20Sun%20Cat%20Mods/IMG_0074.jpg.html)


That space is now occupied by a Step/Two Drawer Storage Module that I designed, fabricated, and installed. Much better use of the limited space below. Step top removes easily to reveal storage compartments below.

(http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l594/CPYOA/Com-Pac%20Sun%20Cat%20Mods/IMG_0076.jpg) (http://s1125.photobucket.com/user/CPYOA/media/Com-Pac%20Sun%20Cat%20Mods/IMG_0076.jpg.html)

capt_nemo
'nuther ENGINEER
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: BruceW on May 15, 2014, 07:24:33 AM
I went to the site and looked at the device; haha, it was funny to click on the link for a "demo" but hey, they did a good "job" of it.

Looks like a good move to make; perhaps I can also sell my portapotty and obtain one of these. Meanwhile, the bags ought to help out.
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: csugg on May 15, 2014, 02:22:52 PM
Perhaps some should use this product. Yes it's real.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKLnhuzh9uY

Ches
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: crazycarl on May 15, 2014, 03:39:03 PM
ches,

this product is available at our local ace hardware

cc
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: HideAway on May 15, 2014, 10:57:03 PM
I decided early on that I would not be lugging a porta pottie about.  Instead I bought the 5 gallon version and set it up for deck pump out.  The only issue after years of use has been trying to find a pump out station when on a cruise.   I also built a vanity with sink and water pump to address sanitary concerns.   We sleep on the settees in the main cabin, using the v berth area for storage and head.  HideAway s decor is more work boat than yacht.

Here s my latest video about the v berth area.      http://youtu.be/qbeefxn05G4
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: BruceW on May 16, 2014, 08:07:52 AM
Cool video; I haven't done anything to the v-berth, except put stuff in there, haha. I missed the original reason you have a through hull there. Was it there just for the sink? I don't have anything up there. My sink is just below companionway; it holds tools now. I have a through hull below the port side of the boat for that drain. I was thinking of just glassing it up.

Now, about that area below the rug, where you added the cut: how much space is under there? Maybe that would be a good storage area for something. My main issue with all the storage areas is having to move the cushions to get to them. I might like to look some more on the site, see about some other way to deal with that. Or, I could cave in and just put stuff in the v-berth, haha.

Also, the bilge area I have looks hard to get to, back under the port side.

Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: HideAway on May 17, 2014, 04:24:31 PM

The original purpose of that thru hull was to pump the head over board when such things were legal.  You can still do that on your boat if you go more than three miles off shore - otherwise known as  the S cruise.   Not a good solution, especially if you don t have a ocean nearby.  The thru hull diameter is larger than necessary for draining a sink but I have no interest in putting in a new thru hull. 

I m not sure what your reference to the carpet is but there is a lot of storage space under  both berths near the bulkhead.  Less under the settees in the main cabin.  We have access panels on all areas and store things that aren t used often but are needful.  We have an egg crate full of stuff and tool box always handy on top of the v berth.   

The best way to access the bilge is to remove the  settee cushion so you have more clearance to crawl to the bilge.  There is minimal access from the cockpit.    The bilge is very deep.  You don t need to access it often- perhaps just to see if it is dry.
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: BruceW on May 17, 2014, 07:53:28 PM
Thanks.

In my boat the cabin sole is wood (plywood, probably) until the point where the V-berth starts. That floor is covered with carpet in my boat.  I was just wondering if there was something worth getting to below that. Today, I looked further into the area below the v berth bow-wards of the porta potty, and I saw another storage area I hadn't seen before; it has a large water jug in it. I don't know what that's about.

Anyway, if I figure out where to put stuff, and put it there, then I won't have as much on top of the cushions so I can raise them to look in the storage areas. !!!

Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: HideAway on May 18, 2014, 10:01:04 AM
The water jug is for your sink faucet.   I never could get the system to work well.  like yours, our sink/step area is used to store things we need in  a hurry. 

The post earlier about the tri pod wag bag set up is worrisome to me.  I ve heard good things about the wag bags but while the tripod is arrangement stable at rest I would be concerned using it underway with the boat heeling.     
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: BruceW on May 18, 2014, 12:50:09 PM
Gimbals!

Ah, so maybe I'll take the water container out, an see what all will fit in that forward area. If the thing comes out without breaking, I'll perhaps put it in the actual bilge. If it isn't worth anything, well, it doesn't need to be taking up space.
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: skip1930 on May 18, 2014, 06:59:22 PM
--> "  The post earlier about the tri pod wag bag set up is worrisome to me.  I ve heard good things about the wag bags but while the tripod is arrangement stable at rest I would be concerned using it underway with the boat heeling. "

Well, better learn how to Heave Too while doing your business.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 legs stable? Good enough for the Lunar Landing Modular on the moon.

skip.
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: zimco on May 20, 2014, 12:42:49 AM
HI BRACKISH,

I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE BAG-IT UNIT YOUR ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH,-- SEPERATE - AND BAG IT.

HERE IS SOME INFO ON COMPOSTING TOILETS USING URINE SEPATION :
MY ARTICLE -- 
SMALL CRAFT ADVISOR 2013 #82
"SEPARATION ANXIETY" PAGE 38
Marine composting heads compared
THE COMPOSTING TOILET INSTALLED IN MY BOAT IS A C-HEAD MARINE COMPOSTING TOILET
http://www.c-head.com/

How does a dry toilet work?
The urine and solid waste are separated at source. The solid waste goes to the back of the dry toilet and the urine is piped to one gallon container. The solid waste is collected in the dry toilet in a container lined with a compostable bag.  A GENEROUS HANDFULL OF PEAT MOSS OR SAWDUST ON THE SOLIDS AFTER EACH USE WILL RESULT IN NO ODORS.  IT ACTUALLY WORKS!

A SMALL PORTABLE URINE SEPARTING TOILET SIMILAR TO THE ONE YOU ARE USING IS THE ECOVITA RESCUE TOILET --

URINE SEPERATING TOILETS ARE AN ELEGANT SOLUTION TO AN AGE OLD INELEGANT PROBLEM.

zimco
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: Bob23 on May 20, 2014, 01:30:16 AM
Very interesting, Zim. I'm gonna dig up the back issue and check it out. Thanks,
Bob23
Title: Re: so let's talk toilets.....
Post by: brackish on May 20, 2014, 07:43:31 AM
Hey Zimco, the experimentation is over, my current cruising profile indicates the best option is the Wag Bag.

I did look at separation and composting heads.  Someone (was it you?) had built a homemade unit to check the process before investing in one of the fairly expensive.commercial units.  I was impressed with the process.  I think it is much better when compared to permanent holding tank and pump out option.  If my cruising profile ever changed to much longer duration cruises or live aboard that is the direction I would go.  But for short cruises and day sailing what I'm doing now is best IMHO.