Stuff for the boat

[Igotnuthin]

I am currently refitting my boat. I repair boats for a living up here in Hamilton Ontario. I understand we have a SHORT boating season here and so it is difficult for marine supply companies.
However boats DO get refitted and repaired here and it's really difficult to find stuff. For instance, besides other stuff, I would like to check out composting heads. Tell me, how? Where?
I want to actually look at them, gauge the quality, and compare the different brands. Our Toronto "Boat" Show, I'm sorry is NOT really for boaters. It is for pseudo boaters who have money to waste and someone to impress. It's the same stuff year in, year out. Nothing new and the stuff I'm interested in, the sailboats, are dwindling. Every year there are fewer and fewer. No new product showcasing so, forget boat show "specials"
So, people from up here, if you want to buy something for your boat, what do you do?

[Mike OReilly]

I hear ya! But I guess everything is relative. Most of my sailing life (so far) was spent in northern Ontario on Lake Superior. Try and get your hands on recreational boaty stuff up there?!? Virtually everything I purchased was done online or through catalogs. I’m surprised Hamilton doesn’t have any good chandlers, although Toronto isn’t that far away, and there are some there. Where I’m currently based we have an excellent shop nearby now called Marine Outfitters (used to be Pride Marine).

I used to go to the Toronto Boat Show each year just so I could do as you say; get my hands on the actual stuff. Either that or I would wander the Toronto chandlers down on Queens Quay whenever I was in town on work. I haven’t been to the TO boat show in many years now. When I was going sailboats were definitely a sideline to the massive expanse of power boats, but the basic chandlery stuff was still pretty good.

Of course the small or odd market stuff — stuff I too was interested in — rarely showed up at the show. Composting head, portabote, inflatable fenders … none of this stuff ever appeared at the show. But most of the basic stuff from sailmakers and personal gear to rope and blocks were there in abundance. So I guess it depends on what you’re looking for.

[Igotnuthin]

This year is the FIRST year I've seen Portabote there. There is one very good chandlery here in Hamilton, Brewers Marine Supply.
I loved "The Store" before Fogh took it over.....now it's typical, the same old as all the others, mostly stuff for dinghy sailing, fancy sailing brand named clothes that uppity folk like to buy to look like they're adventurous.
Holland Marine, I like. For some reason, I feel a little intimidated there. My point really is not only is there a lack of certain products, ....refrigeration, watermakers, bow thrusters, stainless steel portholes, composting heads, furnaces and stoves for boats....when the products ARE available they cost 5 times as much as online because there is no competition. So you buy online, blindly, not being able to actually get your hands on whatever it is and taking the risk that if it is unacceptable, not what you wanted or maybe not even fit-table, you may not be able to get a refund...... it kinda sucks.

[Igotnuthin]

And where IS marine Outfitters?

[Mike OReilly]

Portabote wasn’t even at the TO Show when I was going, so progress . I guess things have changed; when I was attending there were stuff like bow thrusters, refrigeration, stoves on display. Perhaps not all the brands, but they were usually available.

Prices are always funny in boating. Stuff seems generally over-priced, especially here in Canada. Even with exchange rates sucking, it is often (and sadly) way cheaper to buy online than local. But I did find some good deals at the TO Boat show on some items; especially on items with multiple vendors, or on the last day when vendors wanted to move stock instead of packing it back up.

Marine Outfitters is in Kingston. I’m currently based in Belleville, so it’s a short drive for me. Holland Marine was good, but it used to be owned/run by a crabby guy with too much attitude. Put me off buying much through them. In Toronto I like The Dock Shoppe or Genco down on Queens Quay.

[Sunsetrider]

There used to be a big old overstocked chandlery on Dundas St. West - west of Keele - but I guess maybe it's long gone. I haven't been there in 20 years. As for the Toronto show, great for cottagers wanting to spend 45K on a 20-foot bowrider. I have made the trip for the last time!

There is also an online chandlery in Ottawa, thechandlery.com - FWIW.

[sailortype]

yes the Toronto Boat Show is acres and acres of power boats and 6-8 sailboats and fewer every year. Money talks, I understand it is a very expensive show to exhibit at and clearly there are not enough sailboat sales to justify their presence. Sailors are slowly dying off being replaced by the younger crowd who are predominantly power boaters
The 'overstocked chandlery on Keele' was owned by the 'crabby guy' who still owns it, now on Lakeshore across from Triton sails. Some don't like the attitude and can be intimidated, but a very knowledgeable guy

[stewy]

I haven't been yet but I've been told that the Annapolis Strictly Sail show is the creme de la creme of shows. I went to the Toronto show this year for the seminars only.

A few of the chandleries will price match. Just ask. There is a new chandlery opening at end of March in Toronto called Marine Mart.

[jheldatksuedu]

I have a used Sun Mar excel, but I'm in South Florida. I had it completely apart, so I can tell you anything about it. I was going to install it but even apart the drum does not fit down my companionway. I also have an extra top to one, so I'm going to build a work alike, look alike unit that will fit my boat. The main part will be a plastic drum, slightly smaller than 55 gals.

you can download the manual for this toilet if you google the name and pdf.

[Igotnuthin]

"The 'overstocked chandlery on Keele' was owned by the 'crabby guy' who still owns it, now on Lakeshore across from Triton sails. Some don't like the attitude and can be intimidated, but a very knowledgeable guy"
Yeah THAT'S Holland Marine and yeah they use to be downtown and his dad use to run it. You had to be "buzzed in" to enter the store. He was a wee bit out there!

[Igotnuthin]

I saw this new Marine Mart booth at the boat show......looks mostly power boats geared towards watersports and stuff? Kinda like the "marine section" at Canadian Tire.

[Scout 30]

Regarding composting toilets I don't think you'll be able to find the C-Head at a boat show but I can personally will vouch for the quality which is very good. And at about half the price of the Air Head & Nature's Head I think it's a good deal. Another great thing, there are several different shapes available so you can make a template and then pick the one that fits best.

http://www.c-head.com/C-Head.html

[Mike OReilly]

Well, I’ll put in a plug for Nature’s Head. I spent a lot of time researching composting heads. I looked at the Sun Mar excel, but ruled it out due to the power demands and the fact that it’s rated for one to two people, full time. It’s nice b/c it doesn’t separate urine from feces so arguably more like a normal head/land toilet.

I then looked hard at Natures Head, Air Head and C-Head. The first two are pretty much the same; slight design and size differences, but basically the same. Costs are similar (NH is somewhat cheaper). C-head is a bit different in that it uses non-prioprietary urine bottles. Main holding tank is about 1/2 the capacity of NH and AH, which means you have to empty it twice as often. Nice designs though, and about 1/2 the price of the other two.

I went with NH b/c it fit a bit better in my existing space, and it’s capacities were slightly larger than AH — but I’m sure either one would work well. Absolutely love it. One of the best improvements we’ve made to our boat.

[Secondwind410]

Hi, Igotnuthin, we boat in Georgian Bay and have found that we do most our research to find boat parts in online, we buy on EBay and get free shipping on most items and others my brother brings back from the states for us! Go to the Annapolis boat show, it's the best and a great long weekend get a way. lots of great boats there and good seminars free to attend and nice people walking the docks too! Three days of sailboats to walk on and get new ideas for your current boat, we are starting to outfit our Hunter 410 for sailing in four years and have a large list of must haves!

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Well, I’ll put in a plug for Nature’s Head. I spent a lot of time researching composting heads. I looked at the Sun Mar excel, but ruled it out due to the power demands and the fact that it’s rated for one to two people, full time. It’s nice b/c it doesn’t separate urine from feces so arguably more like a normal head/land toilet.

I then looked hard at Natures Head, Air Head and C-Head. The first two are pretty much the same; slight design and size differences, but basically the same. Costs are similar (NH is somewhat cheaper). C-head is a bit different in that it uses non-prioprietary urine bottles. Main holding tank is about 1/2 the capacity of NH and AH, which means you have to empty it twice as often. Nice designs though, and about 1/2 the price of the other two.

I went with NH b/c it fit a bit better in my existing space, and it’s capacities were slightly larger than AH — but I’m sure either one would work well. Absolutely love it. One of the best improvements we’ve made to our boat.

We were able to view the Natures Head a the St Pete Boat Show & the quality was first rate. It was the placement of the stir on the side that killed that one for us because our head is in the bow. Regarding capacity the C-Head uses a 5 gallon bucket for solids so it's pretty big. I think it's the liquid capacity you're talking about. The C-Head uses gallon milk jugs which are half the capacity of the Natures Head. Pretty easy to store or dump though. Just lift the lid & pull it out. I think the main thing is to get whichever unit fits your space best.