If you want an answer on composting toilets, youre far more likely to get a response if you post your question on the forum. Natural enzyme based additives these claim to aid the breakdown of solids and thus reduce the smells. With the growth of the leisure industry and overlapping motor home and caravan markets, the choice for boaters is now pretty sophisticated. Warm regards, ~Allan~. Flushing anything else along with wads of paper is a bit unpleasant. The cassette would be enough for me on my own but not practical for a larger group. The cassette toilet, of which Porta Potti is a make, works on the same principle. The disadvantages of a pump out toilet are: Whichever toilet you choose, youll get much closer to the contents of your toilet than you ever do at home, but youll soon get used to it. Item: 113163796656 Even when extended cruising, we never used the pumpout at all for the next 8 years. Because most of these types of loo have a small extractor fan in the vent system, A deep bilge would be required to account for top mounted level indicators and vent pipes. The tank is often stored in the space under your bed (so when youre laying in bed on a windy night being rocked to sleep by what you think are waves outside the boat maybe its not waves you hear). Please be aware if the Elsan disposal unit flows into a tank this needs to be emptied and often you cannot use self pump out kits. I will ask Allan to answer your question about compost. Hello and welcome to the site. The reservoir is separated from the bowl for emptying. Very basic cassette toilets have a separate reservoir tank below the bowl for collecting waste. Cassette toilet systems are less expensive to install than both holding tank types and composting. I understand that Paul is developing a marina map but apart from guide books having facilities on the map would be of interest. Another manufacturer claims a couple living aboard should last 3 months without emptying the solid matter. Theoretically, a tank could be installed centrally if built into the bilges under the sub floor but this would take careful planning of pipe work and regard to future access. With an emphasis on the environment, easy installation and space saving, the initial cost is relatively high compared to a cassette unit. The solid waste is the same consistency as soil once dried and you can bag it and bin it in normal household rubbish bins.
and it costs me nothing. Composting Toilets (Envirolet and many others). The majority of these units will have cassette access to the rear, being designed for caravans and motor homes where an access door can be externally mounted. Solid waste is collected in a paper bowl liner and flushed without water into a composting tank below the bowl. 0% negative feedback. If the Elsan flows into the main sewer there is no problem using one. A vacuum is created in the waste pipe work which sucks the waste in to the pump. The down sides of this unit are: Its noisy while drawing a vacuum. For a simple fitting and very little maintenance, an external gauge can be fitted to the holding tank on a canal boat, which sensor tank levels from the outside of the tank. High amount watching. I didnt get on with my Envirolet (MyComposting Loo) for more than Not impossible, just easier and less costly. The only work installing them is to fit a vent, preferably vertical, rather At least the better ones do. Cassette toilets require regular emptying and access to sanitary stations. decomposition) which is to be avoided, One can usually tell when a boat is fitted with a *Composter*, because they have Now they're back where they belong, constantly stuck in mud in a beautiful traditional narrowboat. Please DO NOT think about emptying a cassette down a toilet. In general terms, two people will fill a 17/19L cassette in around 2 days. Note: When you pass stinging nettles about 100 high, I have probably cruised by some time earlier and may be responsible for the growth! There are many products out there claiming to reduce toilet odours, a subject close to the heart of many boaters trying to find the magic solution! Sometimes it can be part of the mooring fee (see marina services). You have to buy and fit new seals to the toilet bowl and the cassette mounting occasionally. Gauges will often be fitted at empty, half full and full positions on the holding tank and connected to a control box with LED display. Sorry if they seem stupid questions, Im just trying to determine the finer details..or in this case not so fine. Some marinas and boat yards will offer this included in the price of pump-out. These toilets work by separating solids from liquids. As we mentioned above, some Canal & River Trust sanitation points have a pump-out station. A neat door can be used to cover the access hole. The idea of composting toilets has been around a long time but relatively slow to catch on in the boating market, mainly as they have been designed for domestic use first and foremost. Household cleaners such as bleach will destroy plastic seals and tanks pretty quickly so use only products formulated for the purpose. ), With my Composting loo, I spend about an hour every 3 4 months, emptying Be very careful what you use. Many of the basic pump out toilets simply have a flap at the bottom of the bowl which, when opened, allows the waste to drop straight into the tank. There are two options to choose from, either an internal sensor in the tank or an external sensor on the tank gauge. They use very little flush water and are very simple in operation. this boasted a remote cassette and ceramic bowl. I stand corected Allan. Good quality polyethylene is the material of choice when using a tank for waste. There is also the cost element. The pipework is normally only 1.5 inches wide and it is not unheard of for lipsticks, lighters, baby wipes etc to be found to be the cause of the problem! Only They are often quoted as a solution for when its impossible to empty the pump out options? It all depends on which pump out fitting you have on your boat, most European boats will have a 1 1/2" BSP deck fitting and most boats imported from the USA into Europe will have a 1 1/4" NPT pump out deck fitting. These are all types of toilets available on a narrowboat. There are cassette toilets that you can plumb into your boats water supply for the flush water but this one has a self contained manual flush. The more sophisticated toilets may have electric pre flush and post flush plus a macerator for chopping up your unmentionables (which can sometimes get clogged up with dried out toilet paper). Ideally pump out fittings in the stern deck will aid discharge and make the fittings easier and safer to access. The composting tank has a quantity of peat moss into which the solid waste is turned by an externally mounted handle. We jumped at it. this on the market today and they are all less expensive than the Envirolet and need no That is not exactly true I do buy liquid compost accelerator from the Garden The kit features a waste diaphragm pump and all the hose and deck connections you will need. At this stage all electrical supply cables and water supply pipe can be planned and installed as well. Then we found the Vacuflush. Dear Lyraboat, There is a wide variety of treatments available for dealing with both stored waste and for keeping the toilet systems in good order. You also have the option to buy (and store on board somewhere) a range of self pump-out equipment that will enable you to use sanitation points that do not have the facility. but the relative humidity over there is Arid at around 3%, I modified my loo to separate the solids from the liquid and treat the solids (Squirt (I mention this for those who are There are many other tried and tested alternative solutions to keeping your toilet smelling fresh which boaters will swear by, such as: Whatever chemical/method you use, make sure it is approved by the manufacturer of your system for use in the equipment. Your canal boat toilet is one piece of boating kit you really want to keep in good condition! Each has advantages and disadvantages but which is best for you? For the traditional portable toilets with a built in flush water container there are chemicals formulated to lubricate seals, help reduce uric lime scale formation by coating the bowl & provides a fresh odour for the system. We have really found your site useful. Hi The boat has twin holding tanks, one under each of two single berths and we seeem t0 be able to go for 6 8 weeks between pump outs. Sani- stations are marked on the special canal maps, produced by Nicholsons and other Printers; just pop into any chandlery shop and you should be able to get one off the shelf for the area(s) you are interested in. Thank you for your questions And NO! Firstly, I would like to say thanks for the info on your website. And what Holding tank toilet systems have to be emptied less frequently. Thanks in advance. Having a spare cassette eases the issue as it is in no way acceptable to dump the contents either into a bush on the towpath or into the cut! The cassette emptying points are called Elsan points. This is the principle consideration when planning the position of the toilet. New to this, so excuse any ignorance In fitting out a liveaboard, is there a middle route of porta potti AND holding tank(s)? On an existing boat it is possible to have one retro-fitted relatively easily. I also add a small amount of earth/peat These units mimic a household unit in terms of the lid and seat so there is less emotional stress when moving between the two! Moving From Living Abroad To Living On A Narrowboat In The UK, Beware The Ebay Buyer Protection Narrowboat Scam, Boat TV Narrowboat Television License Requirements, How To Collect Snail Mail When You Live Afloat. I wish you good luck with the choice of your proposed new narrowboat I am confident you will wish you had taken this decision years ago! Depending on whether you are specifying for a new build, or retro-fitting to an existing set up, may sway your decision as to which one is more feasible. many thanks. Therefore you will often find sanitation stations or chemical disposal points referred to as Elsan points. than through the side of the boat, (More efficient), can you tell me what envirolet you have and what the modifications were. Some more, some less. It makes an awful mess! I inherited one when I bought the boat. It is also designed to use minimal amount of water per flush, only 0.5 litres compared to the average 1.5 litres. Use only the best quality sanitation grade material as recommended by the toilet system manufacturer. Thus at least one pump out toilet will be needed. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings. Can be used to revitalise dry seals, particularly on cassette toilets that are not used very often. Alternatively use the access to a vanity cupboard. This enables them to use standard chemical toilet waste disposal points which are much more common than the dedicated pump out facilities. It has had 2 pump out toilets removed and replaced by a single cassette type (with spare cassette) since it was being lived on by a single person. If you are having a canal boat built it is very worthwhile to specify a level gauge for your pump out holding tank to be installed (as well as water and fuel gauges). Whilst there is a cost to pump out how many BW sites are there for a sluice ? If the diameter is neither of these then the only option will be to utilise the LeeSan Rubber Pump Out Adapter which acts as a universal pump out adapter. around for sani-stations and basically cruise from one sani-station to another the cassett lasts 4 person/days, so with guests on board I have to empty it every day, otherwise it last two days. The composter does sound interesting but I think I would be worried about what might happen if anything went wrong with the composting action at any time! I also have a question in relation to on board toilets. They are very useful. 3 watchers, 0.3 new watchers per day, 12 days for sale on eBay. Common locations for deck fittings are in gunnel tops or the centre of the roof. It is much easier at this stage to decide on the position of sanitation pipe work and holding tanks than to try and retro-fit when the boat is completed. A Christmas cruise from Market Harborough to Calcutt Boats, All You Need to Know About Narrowboat Toilet Systems, Discover the Answer to the Often Asked Question, Is A Narrowboat Cold In Winter?, Why A Narrowboat Centre Line Is So Important For Solo Owners, The Pros and Cons of Narrowboat Pram Covers, A Creative Solution to Narrowboat Finance Part 2, A Creative Solution to Narrowboat Finance Part One, Bottom Blacking, Rust Removal and Aerial Advice, Laughable Lockmates and Mirth in the Mikron Marquee, Horrible Heatwaves and Newbie Cruising Catastrophes, Sid the Swan, Solar Savings and Troublesome Toilets, Buying a Second Hand Narrowboat Orient, Six Months On, Celebrating Shared Experiences And Moving Forward, A Brush With The English Waterways Silent Killer. At every marina, some boatyards and at some BW service points. Capacity: If there are two or more of you on board you will probably need to empty your cassette at least every other day. A family of four eating and drinking on board all the time though will probably have to empty the tank once a week at a cost of about ?15. This is not always possible but worth thinking about. There are two types of toilet you can use on your narrowboat; theres the pump out toilet and the cassette toilet (sometimes referred to as a Porta Potti). Retro-fitting a gauge into the holding tank is generally more complex. More importantly, it no longer holds its vacuum so Ive installed a switch next to the loo and turn it on when you need to flush it and off again afterwards. If you are going for a sailaway canal boat, you need to make your toilet decision early on as this will impact the subsequent design and layout of your canal boat. Smiths and Watermans should also have them, Cassette toilets can usually be emptied and washed out (Hose) by many water points but not all. Toilets Which One To Choose? Composting? There is a limited, but expanding, market for these toilets. every 3 days or so, I wouldnt have the *pump-out* type as this is a continual drain on funds paying The advantage of using a cassette toilet is that you dont have to move your boat to a service point in order to empty your toilet. Without a gauge you run the risk of either pumping out to often which can be costly or not reaching a pump out in time and over-filling which will be very unpleasant. Once the holes are drilled and the pipe work connected, test all the electrical connections to any accessories such as tank level indicator and control panel whilst you can still get to the tank. LeeSan your enquiry details, Alternatively for more information use any of the following methods. -Designed by Thrive Themes
What Is The Difference Between Residential And Leisure Moorings? The disadvantages of cassette toilets on narrowboats are: It looks and acts just like a normal toilet. Generally speaking, the further north you are, the more reasonable the charge. Remember to correctly size cables with reference to power requirements and voltage drop. After six and a half years living on a narrowboat on England's inland waterways, Paul and his wife Cynthia wandered Europe by motorhome during the winter, and on the Dutch and French waterways in the warmer months on their 35' Dutch motor cruiser. You will find Elsan points at marinas, boatyards and at British Waterways service points along the canal. Its worth ringing ahead to marinas and boatyards on your route to get an approximation of cost. Toilets Keeping It Clean & Smelling Fresh! Wall thickness should be between 8-10 mm and should be of at least a medium grade. These treatments prevent humping of waste near pipe outlets and enable the waste to breakdown efficiently for easy pumping out. Dont forget to use ISO standard deck fittings or else you will come a cropper when pumping out. Even the biggest capacity tanks will require emptying. Telephone: +44 (0)1295 770000 Fax: +44 (0)1295 770022 e-mail: sales@leesan.com. See More. Green coloured waste tank chemicals usually denote a more environmentally friendly composition. A macerator is a machine which reduces solids into smaller pieces, think of it like a soup maker!. Using our narrowboat & widebeam Design Service will help you to design your layout to encompass the toilet of your choice. If you have a used boat with issues such as this, replacing pipe work and filters can often revitalise the system and is an alternative to removal and full replacement. In my case, I put this in a bucket, with a lid on and place it on the roof for another period of time as the process is not fully completed, (Thats by the by and is the method I use). These gauges work using ultra-sonic and listens for an echo; others use a shaker/accelerator method. Try where possible to minimise pipe work runs to external vents, flush and discharge ports, with an eye on how easy the ports are to access when you actually pump-out. In response to Dannyboyz question, Im just looking to buy a 70ft boat which was originally an 8-berth. LeeSan Manual Self Pump Out Kit, Light Duty. So far it hasnt been too bad. Would You Like A Canal Boat Toilet Quotation? maneuvering a full cassette around the narrow confines of a narrowboat trying to avoid touching curtains and seat covers is hard work. You can empty a cassette down a foul manhole (NOT a stormwater drain) or in desperation dig a hole and bury it somewhere discretely in the countryside if you cannot get to a disposal point. Canal Boat, Narrow Boat. Olive oil lightly smeared on will do the job without attacking the seal. These basic units are self contained, require no plumbing, very little space and are fully portable. Prices and purchase available from: LeeSan, at Fenny Compton. British Waterways, (Soon to become a trust) also have pump-out stations in strategic places. One thing that we would appreciate is comments on the ease of disposal of a port poti down a domestic loo? Ours leaks when you flush it. One manufacturer claims 80 uses before the solids tank is full and two days on the liquids tank for an average couple. Only just got back on the site so a belated thanks for the replies. You do need to be very careful with what is disposed of in a macerator toilet to ensure no blockages occur. If you are purchasing a second hand narrowboat, the type of toilet may be a deciding factor over which boats you are interested in as it is not easy to change the type of toilet down the line. Where can you empty a cassette? The more high-tech your toilet, the greater the risk. The cost of a pump-out varies. If you are buying a new narrowboat speak to your canal boat builder to establish which system is installed as standard and whether there is an option to change this if it is not suitable. The exchange rate Some of these units can be hooked up to a pump-out storage tank should you require extra long periods between empties. The tank itself is of heavy duty construction in line with the specification of the system. Whilst recreating a vacuum for the next flush it will send the waste in to the holding tank. It is still important to fit an in-line charcoal filter to ensure an odour free cabin. Usually blue or green in colour. Many older narrowboats started out with the trusty cassette camping toilet. We bought our ex hire boat 3years ago and have found our macerator/pump out system very effective. (This may depend on how much beer, wine and water you drink and how often one uses pub/restaurant toilets too! This comment system isnt used much these days. Location: warwick, Warwickshire, GB, Wharf Road, Fenny Compton Warwickshire CV47 2FE, Complete the form to send Once the tank is in and the pipe work connected, its a simple matter of installing the electrical controls for flush, near the loo, and the main control box. (see direct instructions). The vent pipe will vent odours externally through a skin fitting. When we bought our last boat we wanted a ceramic affair that looked like a toilet but after spending weekends cracking ice and doing a pile of locks in the snow to pump out we gave up and bought a portapotti. You have to take your boat to a service point so if you cant move your boat because of bad weather and/or canal or lock restrictions you have a problem, The cost: Anywhere between ?10 and ?20 each time you want to empty your tank. The LeeSan Light Duty Manual Self Pump Out Kit has been designed for boat owners who need to be able to pump out their own waste tanks to a sewer or portable tank on an occasional basis. Speak to your narrowboat / widebeam boat builder to have these included. Because pump out toilets have a large waste tank they dont need emptying so often. For the more environmentally conscious, there are products available that offer a greener option to the traditional formaldehyde based waste tank treatments. Work out ballast requirements on a half full holding tank for the best compromise and accept that when either empty or full there may be a bit of movement from the horizontal. All of them have a plastic or stainless steel waste tank very close to the toilet. Its a bit of a pain. Flushing it involves opening a flap which drops the waste into the holding tank beneath. The basic pump out toilet is mechanically as simple as a cassette toilet. Canal Boat, Narrow Boat, LeeSan Manual Self Pump Out Kit, Light Duty. On board tanks also require dosing with treatment in order to assist the breaking down of the waste so this cost has to be factored as well. Urine is deposited into a receptacle which can be detached and emptied when full in to a standard sanitary station, or used as a fertiliser (diluted 1:8) if you have permission on nearby land. | Powered by WordPress, Choosing the best type of toilet for a narrowboat, Hire Boat And Live Aboard Narrowboat Heating Costs Compared, Comparing A Hire Boat With A Live Aboard Narrowboat, The Pros And Cons Of Narrowboat Marina Moorings, Unexpected Canal Dredging And Another Remote Icy Mooring, Snow, Ice And A Worrying List On The South Oxford Canal, Curtailed Cruising And The Lunacy Of A Lonely Lad, The Life Of An Occasional Continuous Cruiser, Common Narrowboat Newbie Mistakes And How To Avoid Them Part 2, Common Narrowboat Newbie Mistakes And How To Avoid Them, Form Over Function: The Pros and Cons Of Pretty Narrowboat Ownership, Life After Lockdown And Why Social Distancing Can Be Fun, Fifteen Reasons Why Living On A Narrowboat Is A Bad Idea: Part 2, Fifteen Reasons Why Living On A Narrowboat Is A Bad Idea, Buying A Narrowboat: Tools, Equipment and Security, Buying a Narrowboat: Pre Purchase Tips and Recommendations. Regular inspection and cleaning will be required to ensure the seal is intact and clean. It is simple and quick, taking the same time as flushing a loo (Pump-out type), I would recommend a composter that separates the fluid and solids. The pump outs themselves are situated at sanitation stations managed by the Canal & River Trust around the inland waterways network. Also with regards the compost type toilet, how is the final product disposed of? The standard 17/19 litre capacity holding tank of the most popular units can be removed out into most narrowboat walkways. Make a note in your boat maintenance schedule for planned replacement of this inexpensive charcoal filter. Also worth mentioning, the vent size needs to be the same size as the waste in and waste out. You can usually empty your cassette free of charge. On that basis at 10 for a pump out, the cost is around 50p per person per week which seems very reasonable for the convenience of not having to carry a portapotti waste to the sanitary station every few days! This diameter will either be 41mm, which is likely to require theLeeSan 1 1/4" NPT Pump Out Adapter (TT041A), or if the diameter of the deck filler plug thread is 48mm you will likely require theLeeSan 1 1/2" BSP Pump Out Adapter (TT041B). compost mix and sometimes diluted Bio-magic. Thus, the mechanical simplicity of the porta potti and the convenience of larger storage when not close to sanitation points? Lime scale inhibitors are always a good idea both for dosing and for the annual deep clean. For the disposal of toilet waste, the Canal and River Trust provide sanitation stations at well marked locations along the inland waterways. Copyright 2017 - The Fit Out Pontoon | All Rights Reserved | Powered by Knowledge. One brand of chemical treatments, Elsan, has become synonymous with chemical waste disposal points in the same way Hoover is synonymous with vacuum cleaners! Installation of even the most sophisticated units in this class is simple, requiring a water supply from the on-board pump and a 12VDC feed of the appropriate size cable to prevent volt drop. (The UK Being surrounded by water), The Envirolet is designed for the Canadian and USA climate, which may surprise you These are like an open drain specifically for toilet waste and usually with a water supply nearby to wash down the drain and your cassette once it is empty. Have just joined this site and thank you Paul for bringing folk together even over such a topic as loos We are in the process of building and fitting out a boat. makes it too expensive in the UK. Canal Boat, Narrow Boat. When travelling and stopping to sight-see/relax there may be the odd occasion when it becomes tight on capacity. Copyright 2008-2022 PicClick Inc. All Rights Reserved. the roof vent Sheer bliss for the crew! Plastic cassette toilet bowls can cause emotional trauma for those used to porcelain, due in part to the fact they dont always stay white! Simple physics! It is referred to as a dump through toilet. The middle ground, if there is one, is to have a cassette toilet with one or more spare cassettes in case you are caught short. As the waste doesnt stay in the cassette very long before it is disposed of it doesnt have the time to start to break down. Given the choice, if we found ourselves in the position of being able to buy another boat, I think we would still probably choose the macerator/pump out system again its the convenience. Its easier to sort a pipe blockage if youve planned ahead! The cheapest to buy and maintain is the cassette toilet. As an overview, we will say that the days of galvanised buckets and gazunders are, for most, long gone (the chamber pot that gazunder the bed in case youre wondering). It is very much personal choice which one you prefer, however space on a narrow boat may dictate which system you can install. Flushing: The manual flush of most cassette toilets is a bit of a weak affair. They work to eliminate odours by absorbing them in to porous activated charcoal block. Usually all thats required is waste in, waste out, rinse (optional), a vent and finally a level indicator. The smallest macerator on the market currently is only 295mm (11.6in) high, which makes it practical for smaller boats and cruisers. Dont compromise on the pipe work. Seller: cleza-2007 (862) 100%, I liked the design, capacity and ease of use but I didnt like the fact that it had been used by someone else so I replaced it with the same model. Full stop. They are compact and reasonably pleasing to the eye. to keep it sweet, If it is looked after, there is no unpleasant odour, as some people suggest. With a conventional flush system it has the feel of a conventional loo but we do not seem ot suffer from the problem of having to empty it as often as we had expected. Or is there a restriction on what can be pumped out (chemical etc.)? I also want to live on board but in addition, I plan to take youth groups away on holiday with it so I am planning to add another pair of bunks (making 10 altogether) and re-instate at least one of the pumpout loos. Another boat of the same type on our marina claim to be able to go for 8 10weeks between pump outs. There are also macerator toilets on the market with a 360 degree rotating bowl, allowing it to be fitted in to the most restrictive of areas. Generally the system includes a single action diaphragm pump and is available in manual and 12v or 24v electric versions. The toilet pictured is the model that I have on my own boat. I might be wrong on this score and it is possible that it is a coin system and ones buys coins along the way- Perhaps someone else Who Knows will comment? In this section we hope to be able to advise you on which system is the best suited to your needs. Holding tanks take up storage space and can upset ballast if not correctly located.
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