The least positive aspect I have seen is the price - 'bout a thousand bucks
by the time you get it shipped. Also the constant need for "liners" and
other supplies. Seems a bit pricey for what is, a (well designed) plastic bin.
Philip
At 10:18 AM 2/6/2008, you wrote:
Very nice report! Thank you very much.
I would like to ask if there are ANY negative aspects that have been
encountered. Or perhaps, what was the least positive aspect you find
about the Air Head?
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
Lying Julington Creek FL
30 07.72N 081 38.4W
> [Original Message]
> From: Jeff Barfett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[email protected]>
> Date: 2/5/2008 10:58:15 PM
> Subject: [Liveaboard] Was Heads now Composting heads
>
> Hi Norm!
>
> Thinking about a Airhead composting toilet - here is a review I did a few
> years ago and a few other emails I had archived on the subject. This
letter
> was written to counter Peggy Hall's misconceptions about the Airhead -
keep
> that in mind as you read this. Get back to me if you have any further
> questions (I you will...)
>
> Jeff on Southern Nights
>
>
>
> I have been using the AIRHEAD toilet for 3 years now, first I find the
unit
> very satisfactory over the marine head / holding tank scenario that it
> replaced on my boat. The urine storage situation is manageable and even if
> you have to pump it to an onboard tank, it is much more reasonable than
have
> a black tank. Urine is sterile as it leaves the body (verified by my
> Urologist) I see no issue in pumping this overboard if you have the same
> options with other marine systems as they can't sterilize urine any more
> than what it leaves the body - but laws are laws....
>
> The system is engineered so that the urine is diverted and isn't
> contaminated, so e-coli isn't an issue.
>
> Most users of the Airheads these days are using Coir, instead of peat,
> "coir" is the short name for coir fiber pith, the residue of the process
> that extracts the long fibers from coconuts. Those long fibers have been
> used for floor mats, basket liners, and lots of other things, but until
> recently, the residue was just tossed into piles. In Sri Lanka, some of
> those piles are a hundred years old! Coir acts very much like peat and has
> high lignin content. Lignin is an organic substance that, with cellulose,
> forms the chief part of woody tissue. It is the lignin that provides the
> longevity. Coir is an organic material that breaks down very slowly. It
> holds water and nutrients beautifully. And it will not waterlog.
>
> This Coir is purchased as 2 X 4 X 8 bricks, which are compressed 8-to-1 it
> weighs 1.5 pounds. One brick expands to make between 2 to 2.5 gallons
worth
> of coir bedding material. 2 bricks make enough for the initial load and a
> few quarts extra. So, you can store a few years worth of material in a
very
> small space.
>
> As for adding peat, I find we only add a quart of the medium
> about once a month. We find that the composting action and the drying
> process require one to add water to the pile once a week to keep it from
> drying too much.
>
> With 2 of living aboard, we get about 2 months of usage before having to
> recharge the unit with more Coir. In the holding tank days, we got maybe
15
> days between pump outs.
>
> The Airhead uses 12volt power - it has a small computer fan which creates
a
> negative pressure in the tank and is exhausted to the outside. The fan
> consumes .050 amps / about 1.2 amps per 24 hours. Also helps a little in
> ventilation of the boat as a bonus.
>
> The system utilizes a 1.5" vent and as far as I know, always has. While we
> are on this subject the air coming out the vent, doesn't smell anything
like
> a vent on a holding tank, the smell is more like a dense forest smell.
Ever
> been close to your holding tank vent when someone else 'flushes' the
toilet?
>
> As far as the composting working only above 70 degrees, Geoff Trott, the
> originator of this system has studies to show that even with the air
> temperature of 35 degree's in the room where the toilet sits, the core
> temperature of the composting is above 65 degrees and is still active. The
> drying and the composting are still going on. Geoff really likes to
educate
> people on how the composting process works.
>
> Airhead recommends if you store the boat unused for the winter that you
> leave the compost over the winter to continue the process and to recharge
> during decommissioning in the spring.
>
> Composting toilets are not for everyone, like all things with boats, it
has
> its own compromises. I find that this process is a lot more earth friendly
> that the alternatives. This system makes great compost; it doesn't stink
and
> if left to completely finish the composting process, will kill off any
bugs.
>
> One of my best boat maintenance days was when I determined the Airhead was
> a permanent solution for ME, and was thrilled recapturing the space that a
> 40 gallon holding tank took up, 30' of $8+ per foot of stinky hose, a
number
> of valves,a macerator pump, wiring, switches and sealing some of the holes
> in the bottom of my boat.
>
> One of the unfortunate situations on my boat was the problem of the sewage
> hose running uphill to the tank, which always left something in the lines
> and created a situation of replacing hose every 18 months to keep the
stench
> down.
>
> No financial interest in this company, just a happy user and one of the
few
> that seem to have actual usage history and facts.
>
> Geoff Trott is the engineer/designer and manufacturer of this system.
Norm,
> I think you would like him.
>
> END - Other archives to follow
>
> I wouldn't contradict Peggy Hall either but those that don't know should
> know that the Airhead has an ingenious way of allowing the urine to run
off
> and into a separate removable tank at the front of the unit. This never
> allows the urine to get into the composting bowl or affect composting
> action. That leaves only the moisture of the solids to deal with in the
> peat moss. As this is turned after every use with a hand crank the
> breakdown action of the peatmoss and the continuous fan are enough to
> compost the contents very effectively. I have an Airhead on my boat and
am
> very satisfied with it. No connection with the company, just a very
> satisfied customer. The guy who runs it, Jeff something or other is very
> knowledgeable and easy to work with. For me there is no contest when I
> think about holding tanks, holes in my boat, electrasan gadgets etc vs the
> simple no moving parts, no holes in the boat Airhead.
> Best,
>
> Michael C.
> Portsmouth Downeast 30
>
> I have had Airhead composting toilets on both my 36' sailboat and my 52'
> Malahide trawler. They have worked very well. They need no power when
hooked
> up to a solar power vent. There is little odor. I think they are a very
good
> solution for the marine toilet function. I can't understand why anyone
would
> have a traditional holding tank and thru hulls on their boats. I took mine
> out years ago and have used the Airhead composting toilets with fewer
> problems and better results. Just my opinion which is based on a couple
> years of actual use of the product. I have no business relationship with
the
> Airhead Composting toilet business- just a very satisfied customer.
>
> Dave H
> Malahide trawler Tsmyne Too
> Connecticut
>
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Philip & Marilyn Lange
AE4OV & KD4JRC,
ORYOKI
Witness 35 Catamaran
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