R23, composition toilet fits or not?

TwoFootitis

Active member
Joined
Oct 22, 2020
Messages
38
Fluid Motion Model
C-242 C
Hull Identification Number
USFMLT2331J
Vessel Name
VALKYRIE
Has anyone had success installing a composting toilet in their R23?
What brand?
What plumbing, venting etc.?
What would you do differently?

I've searched the forum throughly, found a few R25's so rigged but no R23's.

Thanks in advance.
 
I did the research on composting toilets for our being built R25OB. We went with the Airhead because it’s USA built, lots of satisfied RT owners, ease of operation and it has the smallest footprint. With that said I’m mounting a 1/2” piece of starboard under the toilet to give the front overhang support. This is the only area of sizing concern on the 25 and what others have done on a 27 Classic. I plan on venting thru the existing wall hole then up to vent outside on the starboard side cabin white exterior area....yet to be determined. With this info I’d suggest you talk to someone at RT to ask if the head platform that the toilet sits on is the same on both the 23 n 25. If not you’ll need more input from others.

Jim
 
Thanks for the input Jim.

Congrats and best wishes on your next boat. I've enjoyed your wonderful videos, like throwing gas on a fire!

We went out and purchased a used R23 last fall and are looking forward to our first adventure soon.

I was just looking yesterday at the Columbia/Snake rivers. I had no idea it was possible to travel so far inland on these rivers here in the NW.
 
I have a R-23 and could not find a composting toilet that would fit. The smallest one I could find is the C-Head. https://www.c-head.com/explore. but still does not fit.

If you find a solution I would be interested to learn more.
 
I need help understanding the 'need' for a composting toilet. On my R23, I simply use fresh water flushing (not the raw water supplied by the factory) and use a product called Bio Clean, which is an enzyme/bacteria type of component (rather than the blue fluid used by many), which does an amazing job of breaking down the organics in the black-water tank.

Zero smell, zero issues... in my opinion, a zero-issue. Maybe I'm missing something? There is no need for add'l venting, and literally zero smell... so what does the composting toilet do that is better? Truly a serious question... as I just don't understand.
 
I have had the Airhead on my boat since new, 10 years. Pros - No pump out, No smell, No nasty repairs, no discharge issues. Good for 30 days when two people use it every day, have gone a whole season (5 months) when using marina heads when available and extra potable water if waste tank was converted before use. I really cannot think of any cons other than urine tank, if used regularly would probably have to be emptied every couple of days. Emptying of compost is easy and takes about 20 minutes the most, start to finish. Dump in garbage bag and throw out.
 
In addition to Mike’s comments from experience I’d add that we’re adding the compost toilet for all of those reasons plus taking the never been used 13gallon black water tank and converting it to add more fresh water. We anchor out a lot and found the idea of having to get a pump out every 5 days or so inconvenient, the composting toilet solves this situation with the ancillary benefit of more fresh water. It does not have to be for everyone but I think it’s beneficial to many. It must be as as the Airhead Co is 10 weeks out on orders.

Forfun1960.....when you stated you could not find one to fit, in what way? Width, depth or both? On the 25 there will be an overhang of 6 inches or so but there is plenty of width. I’m installing, as mentioned, with a 1/2” piece of starboard under the unit for added support.....as others have done.

Jim
 
The 23 has a much smaller toilet area than the 25. On the 23 the door nearly touches the toilet when closed. Any toilet I found would keep the bathroom door from closing after installation.

On the reason why we would like to have this. I have had composting toilets in our motorhome for years. Very nice to never have to look for an RV dump. Would love to have the same with the boat and not have to go to Marinas to pump out. But not possible on the 23.
 
Hi forfun1960, other than the door not closing which composting toilets did you try and which toilet fit the best? Thanks!
 
forfun1960":20rqpu5y said:
The 23 has a much smaller toilet area than the 25. On the 23 the door nearly touches the toilet when closed. Any toilet I found would keep the bathroom door from closing after installation.

On the reason why we would like to have this. I have had composting toilets in our motorhome for years. Very nice to never have to look for an RV dump. Would love to have the same with the boat and not have to go to Marinas to pump out. But not possible on the 23.

Not boat related, but what do you do with the gray water in your motorhome? We're into our 4th decade of RVing, and I've not come across any RV park or campground that allows you to dump gray water anyplace but the sewer connection (one of the things to consider when using an RV park with your boat).
 
I made a manifold connecting the gray water thru hulls together and then I can run a hose into the campground discharge pipe or a 5 gallon bucket and either dump in bathroom or down waste pipe.
 
forfun1960":2nj9nk5n said:
The smallest one I could find is the C-Head. https://www.c-head.com/explore.
But as I said without being able to close the door, the wife wouldn't go for it.

I guess there is the possibility of removing the door and use a pull curtain. Or... I see an R-25 in your future!
 
knotflying":3ssjetn9 said:
I made a manifold connecting the gray water thru hulls together and then I can run a hose into the campground discharge pipe or a 5 gallon bucket and either dump in bathroom or down waste pipe.

Yep, I get that; that's how you handle a boat when in an RV park. I'm just curious as to how forfun1960 is able to not need a sewer connection with an RV. You may be able to shovel out composted poop and put it in a dumpster, but you still have to do something with the urine and shower/sink gray water. With our current motorhome, we need to dump gray water every few days, even if the black tank isn't full. Composting toilets certainly serve a function, but they don't make gray water disappear.

With boating use, most of us let the gray water "just run out" (even though there are some "no discharge" areas, like the Florida Keys)... do that in an RV park, with an actual RV, and you will get tossed out. I've heard of the rare dispersed camping areas that allow an RVer to dump gray water on the ground, but I haven't come across one myself in all these years of RVing. Just looking to sort out the facts.
 
For our Urine in the C-head, it goes into a 1-gallon jug. When we stop at Rest Areas or parks with Port-a-Potty I put the jug in a Walmart bag and take it inside and pour it into the toilet. As for Greywater since I don't use the black water tank, I leave the outlet valve open. So the greywater is discharged just like on the boat. We seldom stay in RV parks when we do we dump grey water as normal.
 
forfun1960":1hvylbbf said:
For our Urine in the C-head, it goes into a 1-gallon jug. When we stop at Rest Areas or parks with Port-a-Potty I put the jug in a Walmart bag and take it inside and pour it into the toilet. As for Greywater since I don't use the black water tank, I leave the outlet valve open. So the greywater is discharged just like on the boat. We seldom stay in RV parks when we do we dump grey water as normal.

Got it. I did see in your photo album an image with your boat behind your motorhome in a Walmart parking lot. Please tell me you aren't using that "leave the outlet valve open" in that situation - the general public is horrified to see any liquid coming out of an RV, assuming it is sewage. Where we used to live, the local Walmart stopped allowing overnight parking in their lot because someone wrote a letter to the editor stating that RVers were using the Walmart parking lot as a "dump station." More than likely, it was their gray water, but perception matters.

"Dumping gray water on the ground" was the reason two different RV parks wouldn't allow us to overnight with our boat, even though I assured them that wouldn't occur. But, I understand you are using the sewer hook up in RV parks with your motorhome for your gray water ("as normal"). Thanks for the clarification. My apologies for drifting off-topic from the composting toilet topic.

http://www.aboutrving.com/rv-topics/wal-mart-rules/
 
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