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Hi,
last year I contacted Peggie Hall on her thoughts regarding the composting toilet systems for boats. Her reply (from Sept 2011) is below. Hope this helps.

You may also be interested in this article
http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/composting-toilet-passes-the-test
which gives another view on the composting toilet

cheers

Ron
Mundora 1726

Hi Ron,,,

Composting is a terrific concept, but IMHO, it's not quite there for onboard use yet, and definitely will cause more problems than it solves if only used occasionally.. "Nature's Head" seems to be very similar to the AirHead..http://www.airheadtoilet.com  Neither of which is a true composter but a dessicator. The main drawbacks to onboard composters and dessicators are:

1. What to do with excess liquids. 90% of human waste IS liquid...mostly urine, but even solids are at least 75% liquid. Excess liquids have to be drained off , or you have wet soggy organic material...and wet soggy material doesn't compost, it rots. Adding dry material--peat moss is the recommended material 'cuz it breaks down quickly--regularly helps some, and there's usually more liquids than the evaporator--which, btw, requires power--in the self-contained units can handle either. Both the AirHead and Nature's Head separate urine from solid waste the urine is directed into in jugs (or a tank). You can't legally drain 'em overboard (unless you're at sea beyond the 3 mile limit), so the jugs must be stored and carried off the boat or the tank must be pumped out same as any other tank. So I can't see much advantage to this over a portapotty.

2. Even though urine is collected separately, solid waste is 75% liquid, so peat moss is needed to keep it dry. Enough peat moss to keep the thing working during an extended cruise can take up more storage space than a holding tank.

3. Composters need a 3" vent stack... AirHead originally specified a 3 vent but is now claiming that a 1.5 vent is adequate.

4. Continuous power 24/7 to run the evaporator.

5. Composting only works in temperatures above 70 F....and only works really well above 75. Below 70, bacterial activity becomes increasingly sluggish--TOO sluggish to make anything happen. So you have to keep it warm all winter--that's 24/7--or waste will just sit there. The good news is, nothing stinks much in cold weather either.

IMO, an "MSD" portapotty ("MSD " designation means designed to be permanently installed and is fitted for pumpout and/or dumping at sea) makes a LOT more sense, espcially for occasional/weekend use,


--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?fno=0&sku=90&cat=1304

When I purchased my C34 back in 2005 I asked Catalina for the stability figures.

They advised
Limit of Positive Stability 127 degrees
STIX  36.25

cheers
Ron
Mundora 1726 (2005)

Wayne, Many thanks for the information. I have had to put this project aside for a moment because of the floods in Brisbane. You probably have seen the media reports. I will get back to this hopefully next week as I have also had some excellent feedback from Peggie Hall. In the meantime a lot of cleaning up to do. cheers Ron

Peggie,
Your email address in your profile is hidden (at least to me)
I used a bellsouth  email address that is contained in another thread on this forum. The tracer on the email informs me that the email has been delivered but not read.
My contact details are as follows
email - ron@degroottech.com.au
skype name - pestcert
profile name - Ron DeGroot

I suggest plan B is for you to send me an email at ron@degroottech.com.au or send an invitation via skype for me to add you to my contact list. I have done a search for you in skype but am unable to come up with a Little Rock location.

I do apologise for the messing about.

Hope this plan B does the trick.

Many thanks

Ron

Thanks Peggie, I have sent you an email with my skype and contact details.

cheers

Ron

Peggie,
Many thanks for your detailed response. You have challenged me to re think my needs. Let me respond to the various points you raise.
1. I have been in contact with AMI Sales on the Gold Coast, however as they sell very few Raritan toilets (according to them) their technical knowledge of the Raritan models appears to be limited. They 'push' the Tecma brand
2. Local legislation - you are correct in your summary. However in many of the areas where I cruise it is legal to discharge overboard once the waste is macerated. Hence my thought to install a toilet with an inbuilt macerator. Thus direct discharge is possible without going via the holding tank.
3. The manual pump on the headmate has given me no end of trouble particularly when operated by people who are not familiar with marine toilets. The pump clogs up very easily, the handle jams in one position, and the bowl fills with water ...and generally causing embarrassment to the user. Thus again my thinking that an inbuilt macerator would solve this problem, as it would break up the chunky bits and not clog.
4. I have no experience with the PHII but maybe this pump is so good that clogging does not occur.   
5. If I am interpreting your notes correctly, you are suggesting that I should stick with the manual toilet and go for the PHII pump. Your suggestion has appeal as it is simpler and cheaper - I will discuss with my family and let you know what we decide to do.
6. You mention that I can contact you by email - do I use the PM facility on this forum to do this?


Again many thanks for you response - much appreciated.

Ron

Over the past 5 years or so I have obtained a lot of information from this forum - a very useful resource. After five years of use the original Headmate toilet is requiring an upgrade. Previous discussions on this forum have strongly recommended a replacement toilet rather than replacing the seals etc on the headmate. (I have to import these from USA as the distributor no longer services this toilet in Australia). Previous contributors have recommended a Raritan PHII - either electric or manual. However this model does not have a inbuilt macerator.

I am wanting to install an electric toilet with a inbuilt macerator - the Raritan SeaEra marine sized toilet with a integral water pump. I have checked all the measurements and believe it will fit. However before importing the unit I would appreciate comment from anyone who has fitted this or another electric toilet on a Catalina 34 (2005).

I appreciate there is a macerator on board, however local regulations are moving towards requiring a macerator to be installed between the toilet and the holding tank. Having a macerating toilet installed is a preferable option for me than re routing the existing macerator and outlet hoses.
Any comments appreciated.
thanks
Ron
Mundora 1726 (2005)