greenboater

Thanks Mike, I had no idea you knew my boat builder but you describe him to a T!! Could you give me a clue how to go about rectifying his handiwork? I'd appreciate it if anyone can answer the questions I posed..... Regards

Hi, I'm going to try to seal the joints in the mdf trims my boat builder fitted! Can anyone give me details on how to do this? I need to clean out the joints and am not sure what tool to use to do this with? How and what I use to seal them and what to fill them with which will not be affected by damp or condensation in the future. The trims are painted and I have the paint to touch it all in. Is it too late to seal over the paint after the joints have been treated? You live and learn!

I totally agree but it's difficult to pin him down to specifics and I'm a 100 miles away and only possible to get there once a week to check on what's being done. I'm embarrassed to say I went about the whole situation in completely the wrong way - almost how not to go about having a boat built. Saying that tho' I do think he knows what he's talking about it's more that I don't!

Hi Peter, When you say your pumpout failed twice - what was the problem? I understand that you can dispose of wee on waste land but I didn't want the hassle of storing it and then having to carry it around. Which is why I was so keen on the Flame incinerating loo. Thanks for the advice tho' - I'm beginning to realise that my boatbuilder is not very flexible, not open to new ideas or discussion about anything he hasn't done before!

Hi Jim, I haven't found anyone who has one but must admit that's only speaking to the sellers - they haven't sold one to anyone on a boat! The Eco-Toilets website says the following...... "uses an electrical heating element and microprocessor control to incinerate all waste (urine and solids) at 550 degrees centigrade to leave a small quantity of dry ash for disposal, either into a waste bin, or, if available, spread on the garden where it makes an excellent fertiliser". Electrical Consumption 240 volt 1.6kw 2.4m lead 0.4-1.3 kw per visit The time it takes to burn the waste is between 15 and 45 minutes depending on the amount and that would be like having an electric kettle running for 45 minutes apparently. My boatbuilder said it was unlikely a marina would have enough power to run it!! and the engine wouldn't cope while on the cut. Mind you he also says I can't have a microwave or freezer - but most boats offered for sale picture a microwave in the photo's' so I'm not sure who to believe. Richard at Eco-toilets advised to have the engine running when it was being used to top up the batteries and suggested it be used once a day - say at night when there is little power being used, which then makes you think that it's a bit impractical and how much noise does it make? There you've got me going again!

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to give me some advice. My first choice of composting loo's is a Separate Flame which seems to be the best possible way to get rid of everything and just be left with a cup of white ash which you can empty anywhere, but I can't find anyone who has ever used or had one fitted on a boat and I'm advised that I wouldn't be able to use it due to the amount of power it requires to nuke the contents either hooked up or out and about! A urine diverting composter still leaves you with the problem of getting rid of the urine, which seems to defeat the object. Also I was told by a Villa owner (toilet not a place on the Riviera) that it was difficult to get rid of the produce as they didn't even like you taking it to the local refuse dump. After months of research and hours and hours deliberating about it I've decided to have a pump out as the composting loo is just too 'iffy' (not niffy!). You know what you're getting with a pump out! It's tried and tested and as far as I can see, apart from the cost of pumping out and the possibility of being frozen up in Winter, there are few downsides. My boatbuilder says I can have a composting loo installed later if I didn't get on with the pump out - which seems a good compromise. In response to the suggestion of the urine going straight in to the canal I was told that urine was a fertilizer and would promote the growth of weeds besides being against the C&RT rules. Again, Thanks

Thanks so much - good to hear he was happy with it. I'm new to the Forum and can't seem to find my way around it! Someone has just sent me a message but I don't know how to view it - do I have to add them as friends before I can see the response? Sorry to be dim......... Just seen your response Chubby and my first choice was a Separette Villa Incinerating loo but have been told I'd never have enough power to use it either from the engine or in a Marina due to the lack of power - is this right do you think?

Hello Ian, Many thanks for coming back to me so soon, I've got my boatbuilder on my back for a decision! I've been stressing about this subject since last September and still can't make up my mind. My latest mad idea (and my husband says having a canal boat built is the maddest thing I've done so far!) is to have a holding tank installed to fall back on if the Sun-Mar Excel proves a big mistake. The feedback is mixed and mostly bad from people who have non-electric models in the USA. My first preference was for a Sepparette Incinerating toilet but was immediately told that I would never have the power, either from the engine or on a marina, to run it. My doubts about the Sun-Mar is the size of it - and obviously it looks a bit utilitarian but I think I'll give it a go, as in all things in life - it's a compromise. Sue

Hello All, I'm literally a 'green boater' and take command of my vessel at the end of May! I'm having to make big decisions at a very early stage about what systems I'd like on the boat to be able to live comfortably. One thing I'm considering is a Sun-Mar Excel composting toilet but can't find any information about it. I posted an appeal to ask if anyone has one of these loo's and stupidly posted it under the wrong topic. I've had a couple of responses and I'm grateful but when I enter 'composting loos' on the forum nothing specific has come back. Maybe it's my inexperience of using the Forum? I'd be glad to hear anything anyone has to say. Many thanks

Thanks Tim, Only realised I put the request on condensation topic after I'd posted - completely new to this and finding (losing?) my way! Thanks for your help and you're right I won't be venturing out today - it's definitely DIY

Morning Everyone and Happy Mothers Day! I'm Sue a very 'green boater' and I'd like to ask if anyone out there has any experience of a Sun-Mar Excel composting toilet, which I'm thinking of having on my boat under construction at the moment? I've looked at the forum threads but can't find one for this particular composter. I'm grateful for any help, Cheers

Hi Neil, Would like to know if you went ahead with this boatbuilder as I am thinking of ordering mine - if so how was the build experience?

Has anyone out there had a boat built by Clearwater Boats of Nottingham recently and can let me know about the workmanship?