Waterloo - or not?

Of course, no discussion about narrowboats would be complete without mentioning toilets. I can't think of any other topic which gets so much reaction, comment and counter-reaction.
We all produce liquid and solid waste and have to adopt one or more ways of getting rid of it.

So I'm just going to quickly cover the first three main options, then explain in more detail why I've chosen an incinerator.

1. Cassettes. Been there, done it. Hate them. They fill up too quickly, they stink and the job of emptying them is quite disgusting. Once I've eaten a meal, I really don't want to see it again.
2. Pump-out. The solution of choice for most people, usually with a macerator toilet. Reasons I don't want one: a) the large storage tank = wasted space; b) the cost of emptying; c) risk of the toilet blocking; d) reluctance to empty the tank when only 3/4 full, then not finding a pump-out station for days.
3. Compost. In a boat environment, solid waste does not compost. It doesn't get hot enough to compost properly, let alone kill off the dangerous pathogens. I even got a 'compost' toilet manufacturer to admit that it was nothing more than a storage device for solid matter. So far from converting your waste into compost, you end up having to bag it and dispose of it. And you still have to dispose of the separated urine. 

All of the above place restrictions on what you can put down the loo:

Avoid using too much paper!

 

Only put down the toilet what you have previously eaten!

My toilet of choice: an incinerator. Basically, everything falls into a paper liner, which is then dropped into a lower chamber, which is closed off. Once the lid is shut, the incineration begins. All of the matter is exposed to a temperature of 600C, which in 40 minutes or so, turns it into a spoonful of sterile ash. Exhaust gases from the process are passed through a catalytic converter, so no smell is produced when vented to the outside. Simples.

Having researched all the models on the market, my choice is the Cinderella Comfort:  https://www.cinderellaeco.com/be/vacation-homes/cinderella-comfort/

Cinderella have now appointed LeeSan as the main UK distributor https://www.leesan.com/shop/all-toilets/incineration-toilets

If you are planning to follow suit, and use the electric version, you will need to request the retaining device, which holds the ashpan securely in place, to comply with BSS regs. The gas version (Motion), which is slightly more expensive, already has this fitted.

The downside of the electric model is that it requires about 2KWh to go through a complete cycle. At this point, lots of people will throw up their hands in horror, but let's work this through. My generator will produce 5KW and use 1 litre of diesel per hour. Call that 70p. 5KWh should deal with two people's waste each day. So a 2-week cruise will cost £9.80 in diesel. A pump-out costs £16-£18 and toilet chemicals are around £10 for 2L.

That's the 'downside'! A saving of £6-£8. Plus, you don't have to queue for a pump-out, or have any of the other inconveniences. No storage tank, no toilet to block, no chemicals.

However, this does mean that you need to have a pretty hefty 230V AC supply, able to cope with the toilet supply requirement, even when the engine or generator are not running.

I'll go through Calbourne's electrical system spec in a later post. I'll also be adding a blog about the installation of the toilet.