Composting heads for long term Cruising?

[weavis]

I had a conversation with a marina once about installing a compost holding bin at one end of the berths.

He pointed out to me that few had composting heads and always tied the waste up in plastic bags. The deposits would be made as is and not put in au natural. Also he pointed out that people would not put in a shovel full of the leaves and wood bark that would be by the side of the compost bin.

Could not fault his logic and gave the dumpster a pat as I went back to the boat.

[Canibul]

how much does a manatee poop in a day?

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Canibul

how much does a manatee poop in a day?

Vero Beach Closed due to Manatee Poop - Boat Florida, (Space Coast)

[dannc]

Originally Posted by weavis

Vero Beach Closed due to Manatee Poop - Boat Florida, (Space Coast)

Officials with the county’s Environmental Health Department said they eliminated human waste as the substance when they arrived at Humiston.

“We did a feel and smell test, and based on the description we gave to Florida Fish and Wildlife, they told us it was manatee droppings,” environmental health specialist Charles Vogt said. “I’ve never followed a manatee closely enough to know otherwise.”

Gee, can I have Charles's job? Get to wake up each day and wonder if I will have to do a feel and smell test on poop....

Is there a text book out there that describes the feel and smell of various animal scat? This is a rhetorical question. I don't think I really want to know.

What is funny is that at Disney World they have an aquarium with Manatees. Disney feeds the Manatees some danged good looking veggies. You can see the uneaten leafs in the water. You can also see the "processed" veggies floating in the water. I wonder how many people notice.

Later,
Dan

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by dannc

Gee, can I have Charles's job? Get to wake up each day and wonder if I will have to do a feel and smell test on poop....

Is there a text book out there that describes the feel and smell of various animal scat? This is a rhetorical question. I don't think I really want to know.

What is funny is that at Disney World they have an aquarium with Manatees. Disney feeds the Manatees some danged good looking veggies. You can see the uneaten leafs in the water. You can also see the "processed" veggies floating in the water. I wonder how many people notice.

Later,
Dan

Poo, aquariums, and the subject of the thread reminded me of a former charter guest who was a architect specializing in aquariums. Learned a surprising fact from him: Q: What's the biggest water using in an aquarium facility? A: Flushing toilets!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by dannc

...

Is there a text book out there that describes the feel and smell of various animal scat? This is a rhetorical question. I don't think I really want to know.

...

Yep there are a few. Handy in identifying wildlife. See "scatology".

Example: a friend owns an lodge in a remote area near the Panama/Costa Rica border. We saw scat on a trail there that looked like it came from a medium sized carnivor...actually had an intact skeletal paw in it along with lots of other hair and bones. Set up game cameras there and got some great Puma shots.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by weavis

Vero Beach Closed due to Manatee Poop - Boat Florida, (Space Coast)

I'm surprised the EPA hasn't banned manatees from pooping the the water.

[Denny Vitton]

We have had an Airhead on our 34 Morgan for over ten years now and like it a lot. The owner has help us through a few problem with it but all told it is great. The biggest problem we have had with it is flies.But since we began using Diatomaceous earth we have had no flies. We can go about a months before empting it .

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by Denny Vitton

We have had an Airhead on our 34 Morgan for over ten years now and like it a lot. The owner has help us through a few problem with it but all told it is great. The biggest problem we have had with it is flies.But since we began using Diatomaceous earth we have had no flies. We can go about a months before empting it .

How much diatomaceous earth do you use & how? Also, where's the best place to get it? I'm just planning in case we ever run into that problem.

[Denny Vitton]

I purchased the Diatomaceous earth on eBay. Recently I saw it for sale at the local farm store. I use a turkey basted to suck up a some squirt on top of the poop, a light coating is all I do.

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by Denny Vitton

I purchased the Diatomaceous earth on eBay. Recently I saw it for sale at the local farm store. I use a turkey basted to suck up a some squirt on top of the poop, a light coating is all I do.

Thanks!

[dannc]

Be careful to avoid breathing Diatomaceous Earth. Its not something you want in your lungs and long term exposure is bad for you. Doubt putting a bit of DE in a toilet would be considered long term exposure but the DE I have used is a very fine powder and easily blown in the air.

There is a food grade DE that I buy for use around the home since it is supposed to be safer/safe compared to non food grade DE.

Later,
Dan

[ShaktiGurl]

We use food grade DE in our Airhead after a fly explosion. Seems to have fixed the issue. Picked it up at a Home Depot in the gardening section.

[Simply Sailing]

Originally Posted by ShaktiGurl

We use food grade DE in our Airhead after a fly explosion. Seems to have fixed the issue. Picked it up at a Home Depot in the gardening section.

We once had a fly problem, as well. Rather than continuing to try to get rid of them, we researched the problem. In our case, we had decided to forgo the screen at the fan, thinking we would get more ventilation that way. We did, but unfortunately we also got flies. Once we reinstalled the screen the flies never returned.

[JimJohnston]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Exactly. Of course, whether other jurisdictions care what the USCG says is another matter. In fact, I just went looking for Canadian regulations, and can't find them. I assume we're lock-step in line with our US friends here, but can any fellow Canuck point to the actual regulation up our way?

I found this in the Transport canada marine information for foreign pleasure boaters visiting canada (sorry I didn't keep the URL)

They write:

Sewage Restrictions
Help Keep Our Waterways Clean

There are restrictions against pumping sewage into all waters with the province of Ontario and some interior lakes of British Columbia and Manitoba. In these areas, a pleasure craft fitted with a toilet must also be fitted with a holding tank and if fitted with a piping system that allows the discharge of sewage directly overboard, then this discharge must be visibly disconnected. Sewage may only be discharged at shore pump-out facilities.

Portable Toilets

Portable toilets are illegal on Ontario waters.

The owner of a pleasure craft shall ensure that each toilet and the holding tank(s) is/are installed so that;

The toilet and equipment are connected in such a manner that the equipment receives all toilet waste from the toilet.
Equipment designed for the storage of human excrement is provided with a deck fitting and such connecting piping as is necessary for the removal of toilet waste by shore-based pumping equipment.
No means of removal of toilet waste is provided other than the means mentioned above.
All parts of the system for removal of toilet waste are congruent with one another and the boat.

It appears that there isn't a lot of wiggle room if you follow the regulation to the letter. Pity