[Public-List] Bad Holding Tank

Mon Apr 30 12:18:13 PDT 2012

That's what I was thinking.  Does it overly restrict headroom? 

-----Original Message-----
From: public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org [mailto:public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org] On Behalf Of Bill Wallace
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 3:17 PM
To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Bad Holding Tank

For my nature's head, I just attached the hose to the bottom of the dorade outlet in the cabin.  

Bill.

________________________________
 From: "Manza, John CIV OSD POLICY" <John.Manza at osd.mil>
To: 'Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all' <public-list at lists.alberg30.org> 
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 3:08:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Bad Holding Tank

Kris...thanks for that info.  Can you give me a few words on how your ran the hose through the deck?  I have a dorade box right above the head in my boat.  John

-----Original Message-----
From: public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org [mailto:public-list-bounces at lists.alberg30.org] On Behalf Of Kris Coward
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 2:55 PM
To: Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all
Subject: Re: [Public-List] Bad Holding Tank

It took me about half a year to get used to using the Airhead as a
non-cruising liveaboard. Eventually, I figured out that half of a 2cu ft
bag of peat moss tossed in _before_ giving the new/newly-emptied head
any use is about the right amount to get a good, earthy humanure that
doesn't stink, and is pretty easy to scoop out when the head's full.
I've also found that as one adult using the head while not at work, I
can get about 6 months between emptying.

For emptying, I'fe got a pair of latex dishwashing gloves, and a small
gardening trowel (which I keep the dirty ends of tied up in a plastic
shopping bag when not in use), and just shovel the humanure out from the
solids tank into a paper yard waste bag. I then take the bag and put it
out at someone's nearby curbside for inclusion with the municipal
compost pick-up here (they accept baby diapers, so I don't feel that I'm
doing anything untoward by introducing human waste to the compost
stream).

The liquids tank has enough capacity for about one person-week of urine
in my experience, and should be emptied before it gets all that full,
since it's pretty easy to spill from an overly full tank.

I also keep a roll of cheap brown paper towel in the bottom head locker
(along with the peat moss, the bag of emptying tools, the yard waste
bags, and a jug of pickling vinegar--admittedly, it takes a little more
space than head chemicals, but if/when I really need that space, I'll
reclaim it from the holding tank). Overflows and spills will happen, but
cheap paper towels can be used to wipe them up, and then tossed in the
solids container. They're also handy (along with the vinegar) for wiping
off any smudges in the bowl that can't be promptly dealt with using a
little toilet paper.

Apart from this, the installation is easy, the included instructions on
use are quite clear, and I've generally found it to be a tidy and
efficient system.

Oh, also, if you're covering up the boat in the winter and want to keep
the toilet venting fan running, get some flexible ducting to lead the
vent outside the cover _before_ you put the cover on.

Cheers,
Kris

On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 12:36:32PM -0400, Manza, John CIV OSD POLICY wrote:
> When I opened up the companionway Saturday morning, I was greeted by the sweet smell of open sewage!  
> 
> I checked hoses and clamps and found nothing...but there was a small stream of "stuff" oozing down the bilge from the bow to the deepest reaches of the bilge under the steps.  What I found was bilge juice seeping out from underneath the forward cabin sole.  On my 1966 version A30, the step down from the forward cabin to the head has a gap underneath that runs under the fixed flooring to the holding tank (originally the water tank) between the two berths.  
> 
> With few options available, I pumped out the holding tank, unscrewed the inspection port, and dove in.  The tank itself employs the hull itself as two of the tank sides and has GRP walls for the back and top.  I cleaned it out, and with the aid of a small flashlight, I found several small cracks in the fiberglass in several different locations.  I'm not sure which one of these is the guilty party.  
> 
> I had a little strategy session with my crew/wife and we discussed three options: (1) Reseal the inside of the current tank, (2) put a new tank in the locker next to the head, or (3) install a composting head.  We decided that a repair job would only last a few seasons...and then I would be back in the sewer business -- perhaps in the middle of our annual cruise.  A new tank is fairly expensive and would require the loss of my underway boat repair shop that I keep in that portside locker.  The composting option has been under consideration for several years...but is expensive.
> 
> We decided to go with the composting head system.  This weekend, I'm going to pull the hoses and seal up the existing holding tank...perhaps it will serve out its time as buoyancy or later will become an additional stowage space.  I ordered the Airhead toilet last night and plan on putting it in as soon as it arrives. http://www.airheadtoilet.com/  
> 
> Anxious to hear insights from the group on this system.
> 
> John 
> JANTE II # 150    
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> These businesses support your Association:
> http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
> Please support them.
> _______________________________________________
> Public-List mailing list
> Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
> http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org

-- 
Kris Coward                    http://unripe.melon.org/
GPG Fingerprint: 2BF3 957D 310A FEEC 4733  830E 21A4 05C7 1FEB 12B3
_______________________________________________
These businesses support your Association:
http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
Please support them.
_______________________________________________
Public-List mailing list
Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
_______________________________________________
These businesses support your Association:
http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
Please support them.
_______________________________________________
Public-List mailing list
Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org
_______________________________________________
These businesses support your Association:
http://www.alberg30.org/store/A30supporters.html
Please support them.
_______________________________________________
Public-List mailing list
Public-List at lists.alberg30.org
http://lists.alberg30.org/listinfo.cgi/public-list-alberg30.org

 1335813493.0