Converting Tecma easy fit to Composting or similar poop talk

[Her Choice Ranger 29]

I think Jim’s post on converting his r25 to an airhead a few years ago is the only discussion on getting rid of the black tank and electric flush issue. I have searched the web looking for similar ranger tug posts without luck. Lots of utube posts from RV and other boaters but not Ranger. Since Jim did his conversion there are a lot of new companies offering different and better looking systems than the industrial appearance of the airhead. Our Tecma easy fit just started whining during a flush and as expected, Thetford service said the pump most likely is going bad, and we are in the boonies with no access to parts, and ordering parts is a week plus process.

I am seriously looking at getting rid of the entire black tank poop system. Has anyone else done a conversion? Ogo, Natures Head, Cuddy, Trevino and even GottaGo are just a few. Even Leveo which is like an expensive baby diaper genie. Some have power for auger if an auger system is used, some are manual auger or in lieu of an auger system, just a plastic bag with a medium and easier to service. Most have small powered venting system as part of the drying process. RV’ers say they do not smell and any smell is more early not poop due to the pee being removed from the mix. We seem to get buy with getting rid of our trash every day or every few days, so tossing a bag of poop when these can go well more than a week without changing should not be an issue. I would be the one doing the weekly service. Oh I also had a guest who must have tossed in a sanitary device this summer that required complete tear down of my macerating, even after the onboard pre trip orientation. That was fun. All this could be avoided.

Instead of spending 400 bucks to replace the Tecma motor and wait for another problem I am hoping I can talk my wife into a system change. Anyone else here make the change and have opinion?

 

[Bosn Mate]

Good Morning:

I installed a Nature's Head upon receiving our new R29 Sedan in 2018. Best move my wife and I ever made.

Happy to share our experiences. Best to send me a PM and we can schedule a time to talk on the phone.

Mike

 

[Her Choice Ranger 29]

Good Morning:

I installed a Nature's Head upon receiving our new R29 Sedan in 2018. Best move my wife and I ever made.

Happy to share our experiences. Best to send me a PM and we can schedule a time to talk on the phone.

Mike

Thanks Mike, I was showing my wife various videos and she is so NO on the idea other than a possible yes on the Leveo. But she still did not want to go this direction. She is not the one doing the service nor the one replacing the Tecma. Pump or side discharge macerator pump so I can at least do a winterization later this week as the macerator never did work after tearing it apart and cleaning it earlier this summer. We only use that when we are parked in our driveway in between towing to different destinations. I have a portable tote that RV’rs use and that worked great for on land side discharge this summer until it did not. Easy to pump out and keep system empty. We have not boated in an area that allows actual discharge overboard yet.

 

[Bosn Mate]

Not unusual; my wife was the same way. Fast forward to last week at the Annapolis boat show. My wife went up to the Nature’s Head booth thanking them for a great product and answering LOTs of questions!

 

[Pandion]

We'll echo Bosn Mate.

I installed a Nature's Head in our '21 R27OB upon delivery and converted the unused black tank to fresh water. We are both proponents of this system and would do it again. There is no objectionable smell and the continuously running exhaust fan helps to ventilate the boat.

 

[Her Choice Ranger 29]

We'll echo Bosn Mate.

I installed a Nature's Head in our '21 R27OB upon delivery and converted the unused black tank to fresh water. We are both proponents of this system and would do it again. There is no objectionable smell and the continuously running exhaust fan helps to ventilate the boat.

Thanks for feedback. Airhead now makes a Tejo model with the pee bottle being replaced with a diversion line. We only use the potable water tank for sinks and showers. I still treat it that water and filter it too when we rill it but we use gallon jugs for drinking and coffee so water capacity or taste has not been a problem with just the original tank capacity. I was measuring height of the black tank today as I replaced the macerator pump and was thinking the pee diversion line could easily gravity feed to the black tank and essentially be a 40 gallon holding tank just for pee. That could easily be either dumped at pump out or where legal pumped out with macerator side discharge. Man with that I could see 30 day cycles for both systems. However my wife requests that I replace the Tecma pump and if or when that system or other system related to the black tank fails then circle back to the composting discussion.

Did either of you have issues with natures head height and not being able to to use or open the bathroom cabinet door behind the toilet? The r29 has a cabinet door not sure if the r27 or r25 does too. So total height would need to be 17 inches.

 

[Pandion]

We have an R27OB, so a bit different configuration than a R29. Height has not been as issue for us due to the way I installed it, although the toilet is higher than normal. It's actually a positive for the gents, as it's easier to directly pee into the liquids hole when standing.

I didn't directly swap out the factory toilet with the Nature's Head, which has a much bigger footprint than the factory unit. I could see that there was either going to be an interference issue with the cabinet door or the toilet taking up shower space, but it couldn't be just installed where the old toilet was without one of those problems. So I mounted the Nature's Head on a HDPE plastic platform. The platform is screwed down where the factory toilet was installed, but in a way that allows the platform to rotate maybe 20 degrees. The Nature's Head is attached to the platform. This allows the toilet to be either rotated left so it's more flush against the hull (for taking a shower) or right into the shower space for normal toilet use. The platform sticks out a bit in front of the toilet base, which gives those shorter people who are sitting on the toilet a place to put their feet. Without that extended platform, the height would definitely be a challenge.

 

[SKing]

Seems like you are just changing 1 frustration for another. Pumping out the standard blackwater tank is easy and clean if you are careful and have good habits. So why change to something else that you have to empty out????

 

[DMcClintic]

We have an R27OB, so a bit different configuration than a R29. Height has not been as issue for us due to the way I installed it, although the toilet is higher than normal. It's actually a positive for the gents, as it's easier to directly pee into the liquids hole when standing.

I didn't directly swap out the factory toilet with the Nature's Head, which has a much bigger footprint than the factory unit. I could see that there was either going to be an interference issue with the cabinet door or the toilet taking up shower space, but it couldn't be just installed where the old toilet was without one of those problems. So I mounted the Nature's Head on a HDPE plastic platform. The platform is screwed down where the factory toilet was installed, but in a way that allows the platform to rotate maybe 20 degrees. The Nature's Head is attached to the platform. This allows the toilet to be either rotated left so it's more flush against the hull (for taking a shower) or right into the shower space for normal toilet use. The platform sticks out a bit in front of the toilet base, which gives those shorter people who are sitting on the toilet a place to put their feet. Without that extended platform, the height would definitely be a challenge.

 

[DMcClintic]

We have an R27OB, so a bit different configuration than a R29. Height has not been as issue for us due to the way I installed it, although the toilet is higher than normal. It's actually a positive for the gents, as it's easier to directly pee into the liquids hole when standing.

I didn't directly swap out the factory toilet with the Nature's Head, which has a much bigger footprint than the factory unit. I could see that there was either going to be an interference issue with the cabinet door or the toilet taking up shower space, but it couldn't be just installed where the old toilet was without one of those problems. So I mounted the Nature's Head on a HDPE plastic platform. The platform is screwed down where the factory toilet was installed, but in a way that allows the platform to rotate maybe 20 degrees. The Nature's Head is attached to the platform. This allows the toilet to be either rotated left so it's more flush against the hull (for taking a shower) or right into the shower space for normal toilet use. The platform sticks out a bit in front of the toilet base, which gives those shorter people who are sitting on the toilet a place to put their feet. Without that extended platform, the height would definitely be a challenge.

Would love to see some pictures of your installation. We are hoping to install an Airhead Tejo when we close on our 2022 R27. We have installed three Nature’s Heads in 2 different Oliver Travel trailers and in our 40’ Pilgrim on which we completed about 3/4 of the loop. I hope never to go back to pump-outs. I’m very interested in where you vented it.
Thanks
Dave

 

[Pandion]

I don't have any decent pics on my phone of the platform install but I'll take some when I get back down to the boat next week.

I vented the Natures Head through the side of the hull using a Vetus vent I installed under the starboard sliding window. The vent hose runs through the same bulkhead hole where the previous water supply hose entered the head. I had to add several feet of vent hose to reach the new vent location. I'm not sure how that would go with an Airhead as I seem to recall that the Airhead fan is attached to the vent housing rather than the head itself like the Nature's Head.

 

[DMcClintic]

Thanks… would very much appreciate the pics.

 

[TristenT]

Not sure if it’s been considered but there’s always type 1 MSD systems.

Raritan Electro Scan Type I MSD System | West Marine

Optimize waste management with the Raritan Electro Scan Type I MSD, a reliable marine sanitation device for eco-friendly, compliant onboard discharge.

www.westmarine.com

 

[DMcClintic]

Very interesting, thanks. We are hoping to spend most of our time in Great Lakes & freshwater environments which complicate the installation and maintenance. I’ve owned 3 Nature’s Heads in 2 RV’s and our last boat, so I’m comfortable with the management of the composting system. I actually thought about converting the Nature’s Head to a urine diversion to holding tank system like the new Tejo. I’ll also check out the fan situation.

 

[Pandion]

Attached are photos of our Nature's Head (NH) install that allow it to rotate out of the way for showering. The NH is wider than the factory head, so installing it in a fixed location was going to have an effect on some aspect of using the head/shower. Having it rotate a few inches gives a lot more usability to both.

The NH is mounted on a piece of HDPE plastic that is secured to the hull liner where the OEM head was mounted. The plastic board is held down with two washer-headed screws, one of which rides in a slot that allow the board to rotate. The NH unit is just mounted on the board with the included brackets.

I used the existing OEM flush switch wiring for the fan power. The vent hose is routed through the hole in the bulkhead where the original plumbing was. I cut a hole in the starboard side of hull about mid-way between the tank vents and the heater exhaust, where I installed a Vetus vent.

All-in-all, I haven't found anything I would change from the original design.

 

[serendipity]

We had 2 NH on our 43’ ketch prior to our joyous transition to our R27 OB. NH’s worked well, were easy to maintain, were well supported by the mfg. Liked your install!

We kept our R27 head factory, but converted to fresh water flush.

 

[NorthernFocus]

...I’m very interested in where you vented it.

We vented our AirHead out the generator(removed) exhaust through hull on port side just above the waterline. There's a good bit of odor that comes out of it. Doesn't smell like sewage. IMO smells like stale cigars. Depending on wind it occasionally wafts into the cockpit. Honestly it's more of an issue when the boat is on the trailer parked next to our house.

The little fan supplied with the toilet lasted almost ten years. Finally had to replace it last season. Used a $10 fan bought on Amazon. There's rubber foam around the fan to seal it in the housing. It was deteriorated with time and had to be replaced. I used some closed cell foam from a swimming "noodle". The fan is more important than you'd think. While it was out of service tiny flies found their way into the head and we ended up with a fly nursery(if you know what I mean).

 

[DMcClintic]

Attached are photos of our Nature's Head (NH) install that allow it to rotate out of the way for showering. The NH is wider than the factory head, so installing it in a fixed location was going to have an effect on some aspect of using the head/shower. Having it rotate a few inches gives a lot more usability to both.

The NH is mounted on a piece of HDPE plastic that is secured to the hull liner where the OEM head was mounted. The plastic board is held down with two washer-headed screws, one of which rides in a slot that allow the board to rotate. The NH unit is just mounted on the board with the included brackets.

I used the existing OEM flush switch wiring for the fan power. The vent hose is routed through the hole in the bulkhead where the original plumbing was. I cut a hole in the starboard side of hull about mid-way between the tank vents and the heater exhaust, where I installed a Vetus vent.

All-in-all, I haven't found anything I would change from the original design.


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Many thanks for the pics. Just what I needed. I believe we will follow your design exactly. Have you had any issues with water coming in the Vetus air vent thru-hull?

 

[Pandion]

Have you had any issues with water coming in the Vetus air vent thru-hull?

Not at all.

Here is the vent I used:

Vetus Denouden AB38B | Fisheries Supply

Save More on Your Vetus Denouden #AB38B Stainless Steel Breathe Nipples - Straight, 1-1/2" Angled at Fisheries Supply. Excellent Customer Service, Ready to Ship. Marine Supplies Since 1928!

www.fisheriessupply.com

I installed it so the elbow points up, creating a loop in the hose that is above the vent. Water would need to be forced pretty high into the hose before it could get past the loop. So far, it hasn't been an issue.

You'll need to remove the ceiling panels in the quarterberth (cave) to access the area where the vent will go. Once I determined where I wanted the vent to be from inside the cave, I taped a strong magent in the center of where the hole would be cut. That made it easy to use another magnet to determine where to start the hole saw from the outside of the hull. Measure 10 times, cut once...you only get one shot at it!

(Edit to correct url)

 

[DMcClintic]

Excellent, thank you again. I had just located that through-hull and was about to ask further about location, but I think you’ve covered it. I really can’t thank you enough, this will be my first project. Survey was just completed (minutes ago). No major problems, so looks like deal will go through.