Air heads
Earlier in the discussion of look down heads this web site was mentioned
and I read the very informative article there.
http://boatbuilding.com/content/sanitation.html
When somebody mentioned the Airhead,
http://www.airheadtoilet.com/Air_Headx.html
I emailed Peggie Hall about it as she sounds like a knowledgeable
source, and I got this reply, posted here with her permission. Easy on
the comments about the subject line guys.
Ms Hall's response
I'm familiar with it. I can't see any real advantage to it. Disposing of
liquid is no better than dumping a portapotty...they still have to be
carried off the boat. He says that the liquids tank will hold approx 4
days use per person...that translates to 2 days for 2 people, only a day
for a family of four...and it's not big enough for a day outing with a
party of 6 or 8. And there's no getting around the fact that urine--like
water--water weighs 8.33 lbs/gal. Any larger tank would be VERY heavy to
carry off the boat.
And this statement definitely bothers me:
"Once solid matter enters the main tank the foul-smelling anaerobic
bacteria dies in a few days..."
For one thing, they DON'T die--if they did, so would aerobic
bacteria--they only become dormant. But it's that "few days" that
worries me most. It apparently takes some time for the system to balance
itself...a process that has to happen each time new solids are
added...so I'm very skeptical that the system is always odorless. He
makes a big deal about the fan...I suspect that while odor is reduced
(compared to the worst cases), it's only going outside rather than being
eliminated.
This sentence bothers me too:
"A once a season emptying scenario is possible where a family of two
consistently uses the Air Head Dry Toilet..."
...the use of the word "consistently" leads me to believe that the
system doesn't profit from sitting at the dock for extended periods
without being used. In fact, it cannot be used on any boat that doesn't
have a power source to keep the fan running.
Bottom line IMO: this toilet has been around long enough for the major
equipment mfrs. to know about it. If it offered any real advantages over
anything anyone else is making, one of 'em would either have cut a
licensing deal with him to mfr. it, or developed their own version of
it....'cuz the boating public is VERY hungry for something better.
There's another issue he doesn't address that wouldn't affect many boat
owners in the lower 48, but would affect you: As you noted, the system
relies on bio-activity...which doesn't occur at all below 40 degrees F,
and doesn't really get moving much below 70 F. Composters don't work in
AK very well...neither will this toilet.
Feel free to call again any time...however, do NOT just hit
"reply"....please use a different e-mail address:
peghall@...
I've moved and changed ISP...kept this account open only long enough to
"round up any strays"...and am hoping to close it by the end of this
month.
Peggie Hall
HJ
and I read the very informative article there.
http://boatbuilding.com/content/sanitation.html
When somebody mentioned the Airhead,
http://www.airheadtoilet.com/Air_Headx.html
I emailed Peggie Hall about it as she sounds like a knowledgeable
source, and I got this reply, posted here with her permission. Easy on
the comments about the subject line guys.
Ms Hall's response
I'm familiar with it. I can't see any real advantage to it. Disposing of
liquid is no better than dumping a portapotty...they still have to be
carried off the boat. He says that the liquids tank will hold approx 4
days use per person...that translates to 2 days for 2 people, only a day
for a family of four...and it's not big enough for a day outing with a
party of 6 or 8. And there's no getting around the fact that urine--like
water--water weighs 8.33 lbs/gal. Any larger tank would be VERY heavy to
carry off the boat.
And this statement definitely bothers me:
"Once solid matter enters the main tank the foul-smelling anaerobic
bacteria dies in a few days..."
For one thing, they DON'T die--if they did, so would aerobic
bacteria--they only become dormant. But it's that "few days" that
worries me most. It apparently takes some time for the system to balance
itself...a process that has to happen each time new solids are
added...so I'm very skeptical that the system is always odorless. He
makes a big deal about the fan...I suspect that while odor is reduced
(compared to the worst cases), it's only going outside rather than being
eliminated.
This sentence bothers me too:
"A once a season emptying scenario is possible where a family of two
consistently uses the Air Head Dry Toilet..."
...the use of the word "consistently" leads me to believe that the
system doesn't profit from sitting at the dock for extended periods
without being used. In fact, it cannot be used on any boat that doesn't
have a power source to keep the fan running.
Bottom line IMO: this toilet has been around long enough for the major
equipment mfrs. to know about it. If it offered any real advantages over
anything anyone else is making, one of 'em would either have cut a
licensing deal with him to mfr. it, or developed their own version of
it....'cuz the boating public is VERY hungry for something better.
There's another issue he doesn't address that wouldn't affect many boat
owners in the lower 48, but would affect you: As you noted, the system
relies on bio-activity...which doesn't occur at all below 40 degrees F,
and doesn't really get moving much below 70 F. Composters don't work in
AK very well...neither will this toilet.
Feel free to call again any time...however, do NOT just hit
"reply"....please use a different e-mail address:
peghall@...
I've moved and changed ISP...kept this account open only long enough to
"round up any strays"...and am hoping to close it by the end of this
month.
Peggie Hall
HJ