Good evening all, just a quick question. Is there a drop in solar vent to fit the current opening over the head on a NS22?
After a year of toil in the Florida heat, my 22 is almost ready for the water. I hope that will happen this November.
I think she will be named “MAGIC TIME”.
Thanks,
Ron Weber
N22 # 47
Punta Gorda, Fl.
Hi Ron -
This sounds like a good idea, in principal, but … the opening that we are talking about is more than just a convenient hole in the cabin top - it’s a “slightly special” dorade box. It’s likely that a popular and commonly-used Marinco 3" solar vent would “drop in” (maybe??) but all of those fans have a tendency to, at the WORST time, start to squeal a little or make a bit of noise. Usually at 3:17 AM when you have finally conked out. The common fix is to turn the sucker off or “futz and fiddle” carefully with the fan shaft or the blades. Magically, the noise goes away … for a while. Most of these fans are mounted through an overhead hatch and they are right there, easy to mess with. Inside of a dorade box, in the head, I think that it might be very tricky to mount it properly AND, especially, to stick your fingers up inside it to hit the switch or “adjust it”.
And, in truth, I’m not absolutely certain that it would fit in the hole (but, likely, it would). Mounting it properly and sealing it might be a challenge.
That said, maybe something else exists. If I lived in Florida and owned a boat, sorry, I’d put A/C into her and make her exquisitly comfortable. I don’t believe that a small unit would cost the earth or be difficult to install. I can see a Florida or Southern US boat being a serious sauna in the summer.
Ernie A. in Toronto
This was my answer to the head vent issue. It is easily installed / removed and deals very well with the unpleasant odour problem.
It provides a positive exhaust and leaves the existing dorade vent for an intake.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
Thank you gentlemen for your input. I should have been more descriptive of my need. Initially I thought it was a dorade, but if it originally was, then some component is now missing. The pipe that can be viewed from within provides a straight entry for water even with a cowling mounted if the wind is in the right direction. I am seeking a solution to keep the water out and allow some ventilation. I would be quite happy with a passive vent as long as it served to keep the rain out. As far as odors, I use a composting head which has it’s own ventilation so there is no odor.
Yes it is a sauna here in Florida in the summer months, but not too bad when you are in the shade, and the breeze is blowing. Of course there is always cold beer, and I do appreciate that the icebox has a larger capacity than the water tank.
Cheers all,
Ron Weber
Magic Time
N22 #47
Punta Gorda Fl
Your best bet would be to build a new dorade box. It’s a pretty straight forward project.
Ron -
In discussing the venting of the head compartment due to “bad smells”, we might be failing to see the forest for the trees or stopping a leak by patching the ceiling and ignoring the deck. I sail an N22 just like you. There is not a WHIFF of odour in my heads compartment. Even before I changed out the toilet last year and was still using the original 33 year old Wilcox-Crittendon, there was NO smell.
Originally, when I bought the boat in 2012, “that area” stank like hell. Like REALLY foul. It had the old aluminum tank (very bad) and the original ancient and vile hose. No wonder it stank. I replaced the tank with a Nauta flexible bladder-type 14 gallon bullet-proof tank. But, MOST important, I replaced the hose from the head to the tank with Raritan Sani-Flex hose. I also used a much smaller diameter Sani-Flex to go from the tank to the breather. I did this job 8 years ago. This system gets a decent workout for 6 months every year then sits, semi-frozen for months every winter.
You could eat out of the toilet bowl and you wouldn’t smell a thing. OK - that’s a bit much but I credit the lack of any odour to the hose. Not cheap but, oh my goodness, worth a hundred bucks give or take. And the tank is fantastic. Just ask the US Coast Guard about those tanks - they put diesel in them on their small patrol boats.
Zero smell. I don’t vent anything cuz there’s nuthin’ to vent !!
Ernie A. in Toronto
Ron -
I guess I was posting as you were posting about your composting toilet !!
Ernie A. in Toronto
To clarify Ernie, I replaced all my sanitary hoses with rigid pvc which was cheap and will insure no “ambient” odour … ever.
However I installed the fan to deal with “transient” odour which is something that unless you all know something I don’t is an issue no matter what kind of toilet you have. 
Ernie and all
There are more reasons that I prefer a composting head to a traditional MSD. I have re-engineered the holding tank space to hold three 7 gallon potable water containers. I now have 35 gallon capacity for longer trips where fresh water may be hard to come by, and I like carrying fresh water instead of sewage. These containers make it easy to empty when not needed and are portable if I have to transport water from a remote location. I no longer am slave to pump out stations, and if I must, I can store the composted solids with no odor. Personally I think traditional MSDs are impractical on small boats that are used primarily for cruising. A large boat can carry a fair amount of holding tank capacity, but 14 gallons including the liquid waste and flushing water doesn’t go far. They are perfectly fine for day sailing when you have a pump out in your marina. My community has it’s own marina, but no pump out so it’s an easy choice for me.
Ron Weber
Magic Time
N22 #47
Punta Gorda Fl
Ron and Paul -
Gotcha - good points and good ideas. And Paul, I have NO idea what you are referring to when you mention “transient odours” unless you are talking about what your guests smell like .
Ernie A. in Toronto
Great Idea Paul. I’ll add the computer fan bracket to the todo list.
When it’s really hot , usually at the dock so it is not draining the battery, we use a big 12 volt fan made for RVs. It moves a lot of air but also uses too much power and is noisy at anchor.
The pipe Ron is asking about may be a leftover exhaust stack after someone removed the propane Paloma hot hater heater? Maybe 22s didn’t have hot water and I can’t see why you would want that in Florida anyway. I have a solar 12volt computer fan on this stack blowing air out but it doesn’t really do much. BTW the new-this-year composting head does not smell likely because it has its own little fan that draws any offensive air out of the boat.
Tom
26C#28 North Star
Penetang
On Monday, 21 September 2020 at 16:22:24 UTC-4
Thanks again to all contributors, a great discussion. On my previous 23 foot boat I removed the MSD which included a 7 gallon holding tank, and replaced it with a basic composting head. I did install a vent because the hot humid summer here in Florida impeded the necessary drying and the media would not be enough alone to completely dry the solid waste. As a result it would get nasty after a couple of weeks. I know this because of a intentional test of leaving it for long period proved the need for additional ventilation. After I added the ventilation, there was no further problem. The key to a composting head is to dry the solid waste so that the is no opportunity for the growth of anaerobic bacteria, which produce the gases that cause the bad odor. I originally used a basic non-churning model from C-Head, but for personal reasons elected to craft my own based on a 5 gallon bucket for this boat. So far so good, and I love the blue bucket black lid combination. My wife thinks it has that tropical Florida look - as in Key West. In creating my own solution, I decided to route the liquid drain to the thru hull previously serving as the water intake for the original MSD. I know many of you would react with “I’m not anchoring near you”. I have read volumes on overboard waste from pleasure vessels, and have not found any evidence that liquid waste is toxic or detrimental to the environment, and as far as I have determined it does not violate any maritime sanitation rules. If I am mistaken, please share your rebuttal. I retained the original seacock, and added a ball valve upstream and easier to reach. The seacock will be closed when the boat is unattended.
P.S. I copied the concept of using a trash bag for the media instead of the bare bucket, so disposing of the waste is simple and no clean up needed.
Ron -
They say that curiosity killed the cat. That’s fine as long as it doesn’t kill the captain.
I am curious and would love some photos of your home-built head.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Ernie - I am short on time just now, as I am trying to finish up boat projects before I take a mandatory trip to Maryland for the month of October. I will try to manage some photos and get them on the site. It’s not YACHT fancy, but is of the same functional value. A STORE BOUGHT version is available from https://www.c-head.com/ . I don’t expect to be invited to the PARADE OF HOMES, so an upscale appearance wasn’t part of the planning, after all when you need it, it looks pretty good.
Ron
N22 #47
Punta Gorda Fl
Ron,
I have some thoughts but felt they would be better shared off line. I can’t find you in the directory so if you send an email to me I can respond directly.
Enjoy the trip to Maryland.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.
Hi Mark,
Hoping this reaches you. Yes I would be interested in your input. Alost everything that I have learned about sailing over the years has come from other experienced sailors.
Thanks.
Cheers
Ron
N22 #47
Ron,
I have some thoughts but felt they would be better shared off line. I can’t find you in the directory so if you send an email to me I can respond directly.
Enjoy the trip to Maryland.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.
Mark, this being posted to the group wasn’t the result I intended. You are welcome to email me: ronweber@rocketmail.com