Composting heads

R

rick&sue

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 5, 2014
Messages
135
Fluid Motion Model
C-248 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT2506J607
Vessel Name
POPEYE
I am at a point where I have to remove and replace all the black water hoses, tank, Y valve, and macerator pump due to leaks and permeation (R25). Now would be a great time to go to a Air Head or other? type of composting head. I have read a number of posts on the subject and it appears that everyone is happy with the conversion. We are planning to be living on board for 4 to 5 weeks at a time with a mix of stops at various marinas and on the hook. I would appreciate any further input as to the success or failure of a composting head installation and any tips would be greatly appreciated.
Rick
 
If you do a search for Airheads on this forum you will find a good deal of info. I just finished installing our second Airhead on our R27 (the first is on our old sailboat where we lived aboard for a year. My second purchase says it better than any other endorsement I can give - we really like the simplicity and ease of use. There is virtually no odor and we gained extra fresh water capacity by converting our unused holding tank to fresh water. I do not ever want a regular set up on our boats. We are sold on Airheads!
 
Does anyone have experience/thought of replacing the sanitary tank with an auxiliary fuel tank? Would it be segregated from the installed tank and drained into that tank at intervals or would there be an open pipe between the two, essentially making it all one tank?
 
I have been an advocate of the Airhead from day one as you will see from all my posts. I am not a paid sales representative. I just believe in touting good products when I see them. I never had a conventional head. After seeing what all my friend experienced I did a lot of research and installed the Airhead in my boat on day one and I am not disappointed. We live on the boat in the winter and use it a lot in the summer and I start the new compost in October and don't empty until June. 🙂 Pretty nice! Granted we use the marina heads whenever possible. You will get about 6 weeks of usage for a couple if you use it every day. So with that math you are talking 84 visits for number two. The liquids do have to be emptied about every 4 days if you use it every day, especially if you drink coffee and drink vodka! That will require an easy visit to the marina head carrying your urine container or when out 3 miles a dump overboard. Nothing is perfect, but I would take that any day over some of the sagas I have read about.
 
Thanks to everyone for the input. I will plan to make the conversion this winter when things are cold and solid! I look forward to a "stink free" environment next summer.
 
Does anyone have photos of an Air Head installed in an R25?

Question 2, does anyone know of Nature's Head rather than Air Head installed in a boat?
 
I am not familiar with Natures Head personally. I did speak to someone who had it installed in their boat. The concept is identical. The difference is construction with subtle differences. The Airhead may be a bit more compact. The seat on the Natures Head is molded, whereas the one on the Airhead is a typical seat. I don't think you will go wrong with either. I have the Air Head. I found Geoff to be responsive with questions and service. As they say, " I'd rather go with the devil I know then be damned with the one I don't know. "

Let us know how it goes.

Mike Rizzo
 
I'm just going to stick with the Air Head. I built a pattern/mockup of the Nature's Head and it looks awfully tight. They each have their advantages but the Air Head is definitely more compact. Looks a bit more Ranger friendly from that standpoint. The Nature's Head is $100 cheaper and the fan is mounted on the head/tank making a through hull discharge much easier. The Air Head fan is at the terminal end of the hose so more difficult to get to in anything other than an overhead penetration. In any case the installation will be a breeze compared to ripping out the marine head/holding tank system. That was not fun.
 
I did a modification to the exhaust and have the hose going out the rear of the airhead and then terminates at the starboard side stern. If you are interested send me your e-mail and I will send pictures.
 
In reference to the use of the holding tank as a diesel tank, my investigation from two manufactures suggest that the plastic used in the holding tank may absorb diesel and soften. There are plastic tanks for diesel, but for me to get the holding tank out; required removal of the exhaust muffler and other stuff, so I opted for its complete removal by cutting it out and replacing the space pumps and filters for the water maker, (RO Cruiser Water maker}, and a starting battery. I am in the precess of installing an Air Head. I find it a jig saw puzzle as to which part goes first so I don't have to move or replace it four or five steps afterwards.
 
ALICE J":9ubdmb3i said:
In reference to the use of the holding tank as a diesel tank, my investigation from two manufactures suggest that the plastic used in the holding tank may absorb diesel and soften. There are plastic tanks for diesel, but for me to get the holding tank out; required removal of the exhaust muffler and other stuff, so I opted for its complete removal by cutting it out ...
Click to expand...
Removing the tank is all that I have left to do. It is definitely a PITA. Aside from material issues a purpose built tank has the proper connections all located on top of the tank. I think I've found a 30 gal. tank that will fit in the space but may have to use a smaller one. If anyone else has done this and has a tank manufacturer/model number that works, please share.

Oh the joys of re-configuring a boat... :cry:
 
Dan,

I am now investigating an aluminum fuel tank to replace the sanitary tank. The material in the sanitary tank is not suitable for fuel, or I would buy a replacement tank. (I would never repurpose a used sanitary – there is simply no way to adequately clean it.) Here are the issues I am dealing with:

Fuel-grade plastic is hard to weld, so duplicating the complex shape (in plan view) is impossible. A mold is cost-prohibitive. A rectangular tank that would fit around the exhaust and other interferences reduces capacity to about 20 gallons – not enough increase in miles to make the expense worth it.

I suppose the vertical dimension of a rectangular tank could be increased, but I did not spend too much time pondering this because the first thing that came to mind was the weight of the fuel should be kept low. Also, I have plans for the space between the top of the tank and the bottom of the after cockpit seat.
 
Lenny and Louise":37fhu70r said:
... A rectangular tank that would fit around the exhaust and other interferences reduces capacity to about 20 gallons – not enough increase in miles to make the expense worth it...
Click to expand...
I don't know how different the 25 classic is vs. the 25SC. But going by tape and eyeball, it looks like this one will fit with the fill/vent facing aft and the tank offset a couple of inches to starboard to give some clearance with the engine exhaust piping. The true test will be to build a mockup and see how it goes. I doubt that I do that this season. Too many other priorities. For this season I'll likely just carry jerry cans on longer trips. Next year we plan to do Southeast and will need the additional fuel capacity.
 
Just an update and yet another endorsement for the Airhead. Install was relatively straight forward and we're loving the simplicity. Our install was somewhat complicated by my desire to use the abandoned generator exhaust in order to avoid adding another penetration somewhere. Running the vent hose was a challenge and had to get creative with the vent fan.

In general my bride was skeptical that there wouldn't be any odor from the composting design but is now a convert. On the R25 you do need a foot stool while seated on the thing.
 
How is the Airhead (funny name BTW :lol: ) flushed and brush cleaned as one has to do with the traditional head/bowl periodically ? This would seem to add more liquid to the catch basin and cause more dumping trips to the shore-base. It's easier to discuss this sort of thing online as apposed to in person. :roll: :lol:
 
Interesting question. I have never had to do a cleaning after use. On occasion I use some simple green and clean things up, but more as a house cleaning chore rather than a necessity.
 
We've only used ours for a few days. If you're referring to keeping the bowl clean of pee spatter, so far we just use a spray bottle full of water and give it a squirt or two after use. The manufacturer says to use a vinegar solution but water does the trick as long as you don't let it dry. For the more serious business neither one of us has had poor enough aim for it to be an issue so fare :mrgreen:
 
My Airhead makes me feel righteous!

As long as the flap to the solids tank is closed, you can toss some water (spray bottle, cup) into the Airhead and the liquid goes into the 2-quart liquids bottle. The liquids bottle can be emptied overboard, even in a marina.

The raised platform on which the head sits ruled out the Natures Head square shape for me, so I went for the Airhead and it's round shape. Much better fit.

I installed mine in February and have modest use -- and very pleased! I connected the air hose to the original discharge hose for part of the trip. The small fan and it's housing is stuffed behind the fuel hose (in the transom locker) and the original head vent opening has now been modified a bit to be the discharge end of the air hose with a small grill over it on the transom. With the fan at the aft end, wiring was a snap into the thruster/anchor battery.

I have yet to detect any odor from it.

Dave
Lobo
 
We also have completed the installation of the Airhead and used it for a one week outing. The question I have: is everyone using the coffee filters?? or not?
 
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