composting head substrate in the south pacific?

[farotherside]

hey all,

I installed an Airhead composting toilet on s/v X-Wing, and I am very happy with it. we get about two weeks between changes, and we use a brick and a half of coconut coir when we change over. we have been using these bricks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09LFMPQXL/

we are now cruising in French Polynesia, headed westward, and we have about three changes worth of coconut coir bricks left. we'd rather find something local to use instead of having incoming crew bring us bricks from the US.

what substrate are you using in the south pacific? where do you get it? there's a lot of coconut here, obviously, but I haven't come across anyone shredding up the coir, and on a 34' boat there's no room to carry a dedicated shredder, lol...

[JPA Cate]

Perhaps you have a contact who could ship it to you, you could have a few bricks shipped to Noumea (it will have to go through Customs, and I don't envy you explaining what it is for, my French is pretty limited.) You can arrange it beforehand to avoid duty on it. That involves letter writing in French, which may be more doable. It IS for a yacht in transit.

Similarly, you could have it shipped to Australia. But honestly, if you're having visitors, let them bring (between them) all you need to get to NZ or Oz. They should bring some kind of boat gift, you've just made it easy for them. Amazon will ship to them w/o a problem. There is also Amazon.au.

Ann

[paralog]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Perhaps you have a contact who could ship it to you, you could have a few bricks shipped to Noumea (it will have to go through Customs, and I don't envy you explaining what it is for, my French is pretty limited.) You can arrange it beforehand to avoid duty on it. That involves letter writing in French, which may be more doable. It IS for a yacht in transit.

Similarly, you could have it shipped to Australia. But honestly, if you're having visitors, let them bring (between them) all you need to get to NZ or Oz. They should bring some kind of boat gift, you've just made it easy for them. Amazon will ship to them w/o a problem. There is also Amazon.au.

Ann

I would not have any of my friends try to to take that stuff into Australia or New Zealand as they have very strict controls on the importation of natural materials. You should check with their customs beforehand if you can do it.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by paralog

I would not have any of my friends try to to take that stuff into Australia or New Zealand as they have very strict controls on the importation of natural materials. You should check with their customs beforehand if you can do it.

A site for biosecurity info for Aust.
https://bicon.agriculture.gov.au/BiconWeb4.0

[fxykty]

Bunnings in NZ and AUS sells coir bricks - we use 1.5 for our Nature’s Head so likely the same size as the OP. Look at buying from NZ and ship to Rarotonga.