Composting toilets

[Bobglas]

I made a mock up of the Nature's Head. Putting it on the 's shelf was way too tall. On the floor in front of the shelf was very doable as long as the door is replaced by a curtain that stretches to the port side. The mock up sits even with where the door used to be and is not in the way if going forward. It seems the C-head would also work. As soon as the snow goes I'm putting one in.

[Fireboat52]

Thank you for the link and someone has sent me a good plan view of the MacGregor 26M series. I have subsequently learned that not all MacGregors have the same plan so I will have to take advantage of any offers to see the layout first hand in order to learn more.

Just for general information, I currently own a Gemini catamaran but live in a house but I have lived aboard boats off and on for years. The most recent was for five years straight, cruising with my wife after retirement. While I could disagree with some comparisons to my competitors made here, I prefer to do that back channel because experience has shown that people are usually defensive of decisions that they have already made and challenging them tends to drive away good open discussion on these forums. I will say, that the C-Head is not a clone of the other two composting toilets but rather different in several important aspects and therefore comparison is not so simple. There is a ton of information on my website http://www.c-head.com and you can contact me there with questions about comparison.

What I would like to do here is come up with a solution to installing a composting toilet in a MacGregor 26. I think that a modified version of the angled back model would work best from the plan that I have received. It would put the seat 14 inches above the pedestal and move it slightly forward which should increase the headroom. In addition, that would leave room behind the toilet to build a cabinet like affair that would hold empty and full gallon jugs, hand cleaner, and other products associated with a composting toilet. I would also like to point out that you will probably not have to ventilate the toilet. I advise my customers to wait to see if they think they need it or not. I do not ventilate the one I have in my home and I have discontinued venting the one on my boat.

I have looked at the possiblity of modifying the head pedestal to lower the unit even more as Robert suggested, but I personally am not sure that that is worth the extra work considering the original design calls for a 15" high porta potty. The unit could be finished in white, teak or dark mahogany plastic laminate to match the surrounding wood and anchored in place with line and cleats or ss or black rubber latches. Just some thoughts.

[Saxacussionist]

Thanks Sandy,

Let us know when you have completed the design of the 14" high model. Can I assume I can cut down the the mock up of the standard model to 14" and test it? The porta-pottie is 12" high with plenty of head room. I'm guessing another 2" would be fine!

Thanks for the extra effort on this. I know several who will appreciate it!

[Obelix]

Bobglas,

Could you show a drawing, how you placed the nature head?

Obelix

[Fireboat52]

I haven't figured out how to attach photos to this forum so click here http://www.c-head.com/Macgregor.html to see the modified version. One picture is of how the modified C-Head toilet would look and one of how to modify the cardboard mock up to make it resemble the Macgregor version. Hope this is helpful.




[mod="kmclemore']Sandy, in order to prevent porn-spam we had to implement a system wherein a new person has make a certain number of posts (I think it's 10) prior to gaining the ability to post photos directly. Apologies for the inconvenience - I wish it did not have to be so, but such is the internets. I've fixed this one for you.[/mod]

[Saxacussionist]

That looks good Sandy. I will give it a shot this weekend and let you know....

[Obelix]

Sandy,
I measured the head area on my yesterday and the pedestal is 5" high, not 3" as indicated in your drawing.

Obelix

[Fireboat52]

Thanks for your input. Yes, the bottom of the C-Head can only be raised 3" so the overhang will be off the cabin sole by 2" as shown in the photo. I would suggest that a small 2"H x14"Wx6"D built up platform be installed on the sole so that the front of the C-Head rests on something although it probably isn't necessary. I will include instructions on building such a platform with the head. The added platform would make a good foot rest, raising the knees which is desirable but the front overhang portion of the C-Head is probably plenty strong enough just hanging unless you weigh over 200 pounds and tend to perch yourself over the front edge to wrap up the operation, so to speak. Sorry to be so graphic, but this kind of stuff is important with respect to the design.

[reastmure]

I've been watching this forum with great interest. I, as many I'm sure, have bean using the old stand by plastic 'porta potties' that you can pick up from Canadian Tire for under $100. and half that if you wait for the sale. They work ok for #1 but #2 is reserved for land (in our boat anyway)- either find a toilet or a head to the bush. I find them awkward to empty and if you don't get he lid on tight they leak. (had a big clean up last season when that happened -yuck!) I have been contemplating the composting units for a while now but get stuck on the price - call it $1000. when all is said and done for the two major competitors units. That's more than what I spent on my fancy coroma toilet for the house which comes all the way from Australia! The C heads have caught my interest because of size(height) and price. So a few questions to the manufacturer: Is there any difference between the C head and the boonjon other than the stainless steel fittings? My sailing thus far has been in fresh water but I have aspirations of heading to the salty. When you come up with the unit that will fit the Mac Ms, what will the price be and when might it be available?
Thanks,
Dick Eastmure

[Fireboat52]

Hello Dick,

To answer your questions, first there is no longer a difference between the BoonJon and the C-Head. It got to be too much of a hassle with two versions so now both the BoonJon and the C-Head are marine grade. The BoonJon is seperated on my website because the application is totally different.

Second, I don't know exactly how much the modified Macgregor version will cost, but in my minds eye, I don't see it costing any more than the "angled back" model. There may be a problem in construction that has not occured to me, so I won't know exactly until I build one. Initially I think $539 will cover it for the white version but that may change. I may be raising prices all around in the near future because plastic is a pretroleum product as you probably know and I am not optimistic about where that is headed.

I am trying to come up with a name for the MacGregor version (like "Mac C-Head" for example: McDonalds might sue me). Any ideas out there? It will probably be something as mundane as "cut-away" model. Anyway . . . Hope this answers your questions.

[kmclemore]

Hmm... names...

C-Head-26M
M-Head
C-Head-Tattoo (gotta be thinking a-head here... pardon the pun!)*
C-Head-Mac/Tattoo
MacTat-Head
TatMac-Head
MT-Head (although, presumably it won't always be mt )

The McHead.... yeah, McDonald's is gonna sue you for that one!

* Sandy, just FYI, the MacGregor 26M will be ceasing production soon (though a HUGE market still exists for your products, given how many 26M's have been sold). A new company, Tattoo Yachts in Florida, run by children of the MacGregor founder, will be producing a new boat that is quite similar to the 26M and I expect they will have great success. I don't know if the head floor is identical to the 26M, but I suspect it may be similar.

Photos of the new boat are here: https://www.facebook.com/TattooYachts?ref=ts&fref=ts

[Saxacussionist]

The first name that comes to mind is C-Mac 26...

[Fireboat52]

Thank you kmclemore for posting the photos.

[kmclemore]

Thank you kmclemore for posting the photos.

All part of the service.

I'm Kevin, BTW... also known by some as "The Great Satan Moderator".

[kmclemore]

BTW, Sandy, that new Tattoo Yachts place is just south of you, in Stuart, Florida. Might want to contact them and see if you can have a look at one of their new boats.