tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post737823506928529457..comments2023-09-22T22:59:06.032-07:00Comments on A Barge in the Making: Getting aHeadDave Zhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-22363944516011796152015-05-17T23:10:53.698-07:002015-05-17T23:10:53.698-07:00Another success story!
Urine overboard... been th...Another success story!<br /><br />Urine overboard... been thinking about that as well. Maybe a funnel type urinal with a long stem led outboard and down to below the waterline. Could have a one way valve, but doubt it would need it if angled a bit aft. Follow with a rinse of seawater?<br /><br />Tougher for women... some funnelly type options now available for sport active women are gaining popularity. They definitely ease the challenge.<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-4194160619648058702015-05-15T07:24:03.106-07:002015-05-15T07:24:03.106-07:00Thanks, Dave! Pretty much, yes. I only put in more...Thanks, Dave! Pretty much, yes. I only put in more moss (or lately, coconut coir) as needed when the 'biological mass' ;) begins to overtake the amount of 'covering stuff' (moss or coir).<br />I do not put toilet paper in the bucket, although the idea of doing so with a spritz of water might work. I put that into a paper bag which can be burnt, or if offshore, discarded overboard to break down naturally. You may have a solution for that with your woodstove. :)<br />Additionally - for the last 6 months I have been living on a 'new-to-me' boat which came with a Groco wet head system. While it has functioned fine and with no problems for that period, I can now confirm through personal experience that a composting head is a MUCH better solution than this "traditional" method. It is much less hassle, in every way. No 5-minute pumping sessions to flush, and less odor are the two day-to-day reasons, and long term, the lack of thru-hulls and plumbing and all that, definitely makes for a "win" for the dry system.<br />The only thing I would like to do/can think of to improve it, would be to somehow have the urine go straight overboard. :)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630059242493070659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-64426559145788675492015-05-15T00:53:59.467-07:002015-05-15T00:53:59.467-07:00Hi Cap'n Kurt,
Nice job on your bucket head! ...Hi Cap'n Kurt,<br /><br />Nice job on your bucket head! I especially like the trick of heating and reforming plastic. <br /><br />I take it that stirring into the peat means you don't have to add to cover? And thus only need a single bucket?<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-55456743832883363332015-05-14T18:10:30.756-07:002015-05-14T18:10:30.756-07:00Not sure if it got what I wrote before, but I thou...Not sure if it got what I wrote before, but I thought you might want to take a look at this thread on my forum from back in 2010 when I made my first own composter aboard my boat, along with lots of input from others since then: "The $10-20 (or even free) composting toilet" Link: http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=2936.0<br /><br />Loving reading about your boats and ideas! Kurt/CapnKUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09630059242493070659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-63570267872097724102014-12-02T19:27:36.950-08:002014-12-02T19:27:36.950-08:00This is great! Definitely one for the annals (anne...This is great! Definitely one for the annals (annelids?) of composting toilets!<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-25889273288230217492014-12-01T09:00:16.151-08:002014-12-01T09:00:16.151-08:00So far we have only done short trials to assess co...So far we have only done short trials to assess comfort and odour, so don't have a definite answer to that one. From my experience with vermiculture and kitchen scraps, I find that the worm population increases to match the food input, so over time it will balance out. Of course, I consider the resulting worm casting compost a valuable commodity, so I was just planning to have a duplicate bucket and swap them out occasionally. When separating the castings, I usually just wear rubber gloves and put stuff that looks like soil in one container, and all worms and anything else just goes back in to the working container. I think that the time delay between one bucket getting full and the next would provide enough time that there would be very little that would be recognizable. The process is temperature dependant as well, but at 70 degrees F the worms will eat their body weight in 24 hours. Dennis Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04525900170454935174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-9439572325324786362014-11-16T21:35:21.070-08:002014-11-16T21:35:21.070-08:00Must be something in the air, as it were...
Check...Must be something in the air, as it were...<br /><br />Check out Roy Schreyer's article on bucket composting toilets aboard, at http://shantyboatliving.com/2014/5119/.Dave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-46305798487997092282014-11-16T11:15:08.457-08:002014-11-16T11:15:08.457-08:00Hi David,
Wow! Your page on composting toilets is...Hi David,<br /><br />Wow! Your page on composting toilets is a great resource! Thanks for sharing all that good info.<br /><br />The insect trap is brilliant... wish we'd seen that before the horsefly season, early in the build! It would have to be attractive (motion, especially of blue or black), and baited with carrion (rather than light) but that's reportedly easy to do.<br /><br />We haven't tried (two bucket) composting on board, but my brother and several friends use it with high praise, and we've admired their odor-free success. This will be the first boat where it will be an option.<br /><br />Thanks for the input!<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-85387093290779696932014-11-16T10:51:44.145-08:002014-11-16T10:51:44.145-08:00Hi Dennis,
I passed the verminous (worm) suggesti...Hi Dennis,<br /><br />I passed the verminous (worm) suggestion to my brother - who uses the bucket system on his homestead - and he said, "WOW! I wonder how often he empties his bucket??"<br /><br />Good question... can the worms keep up with daily use by one? Two? More??<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-45218106734732868512014-11-16T07:22:20.821-08:002014-11-16T07:22:20.821-08:00Dave,
Forgot to add this tip we use with our bucke...Dave,<br />Forgot to add this tip we use with our bucket toilet: We keep a 1 qt. squirt bottle of water beside the bucket. After doing one's business, use it to wet down the toilet paper. This does two things: It causes the toilet paper to collapse, thus reducing its volume and allows the cover material to stick to it, so less is needed. Both extend the time before bucket emptying is needed. <br /><br />Cheers,<br />David David Omickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10083233179218186381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-30038204595945932292014-11-16T07:11:06.233-08:002014-11-16T07:11:06.233-08:00Dave,
Composting toilets, now there's a subjec...Dave,<br />Composting toilets, now there's a subject near and dear to my heart, er... <br /><br />All my designs have been land-bound, so may not have much application on a Triloboat, but just in case, here's the URL of our composting toilet pages: http://www.omick.net/composting_toilets/composting_toilets.htm<br /><br />Looks like you'll have sunny skies again today before the clouds roll back in tomorrow. No snow in the coming week though.<br /> <br />Cheers,<br />David<br /><br /><br /><br />David Omickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10083233179218186381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-87267146328003147362014-11-12T12:02:56.174-08:002014-11-12T12:02:56.174-08:00Hi Dennis,
After the waffling shared in that post...Hi Dennis,<br /><br />After the waffling shared in that post, we settled on 5ft sides and 8in crown. This gives Anke standing headroom throughout and raises the side windows to awesome. The high sides mean clambering aboard, a bit, but we can always add an extra step as we become less nimble.<br /><br />The sole is a compromise between two opposing wishes... the higher it is, the better the view and the storage under. But the lower it is, the less 'crouchy' the entrance to salon through the fwd galley bulkhead (it's a step-down from the raised galley sole to the unraised salon sole).<br /><br />8in is plenty for upright quart jars, and a generous view (for 5ft6in) Anke out the pilot house (galley) sides. She basically traded a view forward from the galley for the headroom.<br /><br />Counter levels are 3ft above the sole, so the view while sitting on the counters had to be factored in, as well. Too high and I (6ft) have to crouch to look out the sides while sitting.<br /><br />We're happy to say that it all worked out! More pics when the pilot house windows come in.<br /><br />The only downside is that the side lockers (under the counter and workbench) have quite a drop off down into them (8in sole + 4in dustlip). We're going to have to be creative in our storage arrangements, since we can't just slide heavy stuff inboard from a level that's near to that of the sole. Either have to store lighter stuff in removable bins (milk-crates, say), or raise a shelf to near cut-out height with 'deep' (rarely accessed) storage under.<br /><br />One solution we're considering is a light block and tackle in each (of the two) spaces... storage crates / containers would each have a webbing 'cargo strap' permenantly attached. The block and tackle (with a short track?) would lift it up, out of the hole, and allow it to be swung inboard from there for a more ergonomic lift.<br /><br />When it comes to design, if it ain't one durned thang, it's another!<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-75133267574507500632014-11-12T11:36:17.553-08:002014-11-12T11:36:17.553-08:00Hi Dennis,
I like your system a lot. The Urine Di...Hi Dennis,<br /><br />I like your system a lot. The Urine Diverter is well and cleverly done! <br /><br />As a side thought, I often think about getting a plastic welder and learn myself to use it. Would be extremely useful in our own lives (especially with all the great plastic crap washing up where it shouldn't), and would make a fine little moneymaker on the side.<br /><br />The worms are a twist I'd not heard of that sounds like just the ticket, and yes, perfect for GG!<br /><br />BTW, the 'bible' of all such technologies, the >Humanure Handbook< is available free online at:<br /><br />humanurehandbook.com/downloads/Humanure_Handbook_all.pdf<br /><br />The site is well worth checking out, too.<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-27553337599951793462014-11-12T11:22:19.497-08:002014-11-12T11:22:19.497-08:00Oh yeah... that IS a great cartoon! Oh the humanit...Oh yeah... that IS a great cartoon! Oh the humanity! -- DZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-90923358071854886292014-11-12T11:07:41.650-08:002014-11-12T11:07:41.650-08:00Hi Linn,
Porta-potties (and luggable loos) do wor...Hi Linn,<br /><br />Porta-potties (and luggable loos) do work fine, though harder to rinse at the end of a painter! One comfy choice is a rubber bucket often sold by farming suppliers. They have an ample, fold over rim, that's easy to mount in a box 'commode' for raised elevation.<br /><br />Check out this great article, too: sailingauklet.com/2013/09/22/homemade-composting-head/.<br /><br />RE hull flare/side curve (plan view): The primary advantage is in reduced wetted-surface (the amount of surface area in contact with water) which accounts for drag. There may be hydrodynamic advantage to curved vs straight lines (possible to probable). If so, any differences appear to be near the upper end of hull speed.<br /><br />Bringing the ends narrower means the ends don't have to be drawn so high to keep their outboard corners from dragging when heeled.<br /><br />Downsides are loss of displacement, interior volume and the increase of construction complexity, which plays out through the whole building phase.<br /><br />Sheer can add construction complexity, but, if the gunnels stand proud of the decks, it's relatively easy to add... only cost there is material and windage.<br /><br />Hope that helps!<br /><br />Dave ZDave Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13241033623115158564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-19416583666702745672014-11-12T10:19:18.659-08:002014-11-12T10:19:18.659-08:00In a previous post, you alluded to reasons why the...In a previous post, you alluded to reasons why the sole in the gally was only raised 8 inch max. Can you give some more details on why? Dennis Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04525900170454935174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-28202334761751693012014-11-12T10:07:32.831-08:002014-11-12T10:07:32.831-08:00Here is a link to my version of a composting sailb...Here is a link to my version of a composting sailboat toilet<br />http://dennisdonohue.blogspot.ca/2013/12/composting-toilets_15.html<br />I have used it in the house as a trial, very good results. I think I will add a 12v computer exhaust fan venting overboard fo immediatly after use, other than that the smell is minimal. I seeded the pail with some worms from my vermiculture, and by the time I emptied it, all the pail except the top inch was worm soil, which would be perfect for gurrilla gardeningDennis Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04525900170454935174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3252341255542272869.post-5542325107131944682014-11-12T06:37:43.302-08:002014-11-12T06:37:43.302-08:00Cartoon was great - porta potty works but must be ...Cartoon was great - porta potty works but must be raised up for us old folks - quick question - do flared sides (6' bottom and 6'3"" shear and narrow bow 6'3 beam and 5'6" bow have any advantage vs straight box shape) When you have the time - thanks - enjoy following the progress on your new boatAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01849162667195514266noreply@blogger.com