The Simploo has a significant advantage - you don't depend on using filthy facilities which may have a fee for the privilege, be a long way off, and which may turn out to be out of order when you get there.
On the other hand you have to not mind toodling down the road nonchalantly carrying a large bag of your own excrement...its not a good look. And you may find yourself skulking around Biffa bins hoping no-one catches you at it...oh the shame...
Hi Loddon, Chagall's had to leave it, so Peterboat now has first refusal on the toilet and one of the cassettes, as his post was the next.
What I will do though, as you kindly offered me a chimney collar thing, is to drop off the spare cassette at Blackthorn for you. Not sure what day I'll be going past, but whenever it is, I'll be in a hurry! I need to clear out before my visitor license expires. I have to stop to work on Thursday, so I'll probably make Oundle on Friday, then I need to park the boat and take a day or so to go back and get my car, move it on ahead of me, and come back to the boat. I think Blackthorn might be Sunday or Monday, not sure- is there any way you could meet me there to save some time explaining to the staff? Or is there somewhere I can pop in, leave it and dash off?
I have a plan that means you may be able to pick up the collar at the same time. It will be from just outside Oundle at Lilford Marina Need to make a call tomorrow
No probs. In terms of my plan, I am off early tomorrow as I have to make Fotheringhay castle by evening, as it the only place with moorings (paid ones, as well). In theory I should make it there from Wansford with no problems, but there are four locks and that alone will add about two hours. I'll stay there tomorrow night and also thursday night if I can, because I have to work on thurs. So I'll move on and reach Oundle by Friday evening, if all goes to plan and I get through the four locks with no major hold ups. I'll keep you posted how it goes. Oundle charge £10 per night, so my plan was to stick the boat in there overnight whilst I go and fetch the car on Saturday. If I get my mooring sorted at oundle, I dont mind going the extra half mile to Lilford to drop off the cassette, and then going back to Oundle. I like the look of Oundle as the map says I can also get water there.
If Lilford is affordable I'll just use them instead- I'm going to call them both tomorrow and see what the score is re facilities and prices. If either of them will rid me of this turbulent bowthruster, that will do for me (without a haul out).
I'll keep you posted- and dont worry about bringing the collar if its an extra complication. I'm not sure I'm going to get the stove sorted for a few months yet, so thats all up in the air anyway at the moment.
I have a plan that means you may be able to pick up the collar at the same time. It will be from just outside Oundle at Lilford Marina Need to make a call tomorrow
No probs. In terms of my plan, I am off early tomorrow as I have to make Fotheringhay castle by evening, as it the only place with moorings (paid ones, as well). In theory I should make it there from Wansford with no problems, but there are four locks and that alone will add about two hours. I'll stay there tomorrow night and also thursday night if I can, because I have to work on thurs. So I'll move on and reach Oundle by Friday evening, if all goes to plan and I get through the four locks with no major hold ups. I'll keep you posted how it goes. Oundle charge £10 per night, so my plan was to stick the boat in there overnight whilst I go and fetch the car on Saturday. If I get my mooring sorted at oundle, I dont mind going the extra half mile to Lilford to drop off the cassette, and then going back to Oundle. I like the look of Oundle as the map says I can also get water there.
If Lilford is affordable I'll just use them instead- I'm going to call them both tomorrow and see what the score is re facilities and prices. If either of them will rid me of this turbulent bowthruster, that will do for me (without a haul out).
I'll keep you posted- and dont worry about bringing the collar if its an extra complication. I'm not sure I'm going to get the stove sorted for a few months yet, so thats all up in the air anyway at the moment.
The collar is at Lilford where my boat is being repainted, I just have to check with Tol (the painter) that he will be about.
The Simploo costs about £350 ... I suspect he's kind of committed already.
Rog
Thats fair enough, I just wouldn't be too quick to chuck away a Thetford ... the funnel and pipe on the simploo looks a bit of a nightmare with regard to cleanliness (although I suppose cheap enough to keep replacing) and one episode of mildy explosive liquid s*** wont be pleasant around the little trap door space when its open, too many corners to pollute but since Ive no experience of using one I shouldn't really judge. But if you have a family member with a garage then I'd keep the Thetford till you are sure.
Do you realise you could sell it for around £250? ...even in a year or so if you decide the simploo is still the bees bums you would earn something selling the Thetford.
I do agree in theory it makes sense to hang on to the Thetford and raise a couple of hundred quid, but at the moment I'm managing ok, and there are folks on here who would find it really useful. So I'm thinking bugger the money aspect of it- it sounds like these things are hard to come by, so this is one occasion when I can be of actual help to a couple of people. Their advice has been worth much more to me than the price of the toilet, so its only fair to give something back really. One good turn deserves another
No probs. In terms of my plan, I am off early tomorrow as I have to make Fotheringhay castle by evening, as it the only place with moorings (paid ones, as well). In theory I should make it there from Wansford with no problems, but there are four locks and that alone will add about two hours. I'll stay there tomorrow night and also thursday night if I can, because I have to work on thurs. So I'll move on and reach Oundle by Friday evening, if all goes to plan and I get through the four locks with no major hold ups. I'll keep you posted how it goes. Oundle charge £10 per night, so my plan was to stick the boat in there overnight whilst I go and fetch the car on Saturday. If I get my mooring sorted at oundle, I dont mind going the extra half mile to Lilford to drop off the cassette, and then going back to Oundle. I like the look of Oundle as the map says I can also get water there.
If Lilford is affordable I'll just use them instead- I'm going to call them both tomorrow and see what the score is re facilities and prices. If either of them will rid me of this turbulent bowthruster, that will do for me (without a haul out).
I'll keep you posted- and dont worry about bringing the collar if its an extra complication. I'm not sure I'm going to get the stove sorted for a few months yet, so thats all up in the air anyway at the moment.
The collar is at Lilford where my boat is being repainted, I just have to check with Tol (the painter) that he will be about.
Even better, if he knows a friend who can run me up to Green End near Stretham on Saturday to get my car, I'll give them £50 for their time and trouble. If I use buses, cabs and trains it will take literally all day, and cost not very much less
Spare cassettes aren't cheap, I think they might be around 80 quid. Once you've pooed once in one that used to be someone else's you can pretend in your mind that it's always been yours. 80 quid is 80 quid, not to be sniffed at.
Very feral....
Will you be giving yours up when you leave the boat??
Heading your way!!
No way would I spend 80 quid on a plastic box to store shit in. Having said that, even though I can make it last 3 weeks, just having one isn't ideal. A solution was found. Aldi were selling large plastic containers with 2 big screw on caps. Saw them and pondered. On my next visit there they were reduced from 9 quid to 6 quid. Snapped one up. This lives under the deck board, on the counter. I've not had to use it much but when I have I make sure no one is around before decanting from the 'proper' cassette into my bargain substitute. I only did this once on deck, there's inevitable spillage. You are welcome to it, if you like.
Apologies if I've missed something, having not trawled through the earlier s**t but why do you feel the need to dispense with something that seems so VERY much in demand, @tonyc ?
I'd stick with what I had for a while (you've trialled it for a mere matter of days?) and worry about it later .....
Good luck x
Well this was a bit foolhardy of me, but after watching a lot of youtube videos made by users of 'dry' toilets, and having used a cassette toilet on a caravan holiday, I decided that the dry (or separating) toilet was the one for me, so I got one, called a Simploo. I brought it with me to the boat and have used it since day 1, and I haven't used the cassette toilet at all, to be honest. Urine goes into a removable 6 litre bottle within the toilet body, and it can (apparently legally and safely) be poured into a hedge, and the solids container has a biodegradable bag which has lots of sawdust (or coco coir) mixed in, and can (legitimately) be pulled out every 15 days or so, double bagged and disposed of in a normal CRT bin. So I never need to visit an elsan point- only the normal rubbish disposal areas. So there you are- long story, but thats why I dont want the Thetford! The dry toilets mean you never have to worry about finding an elsan point every x days, which on the Ouse and Nene is a bonus
All well and good, but which hole does vomit go in?
The Simploo has a significant advantage - you don't depend on using filthy facilities which may have a fee for the privilege, be a long way off, and which may turn out to be out of order when you get there.
On the other hand you have to not mind toodling down the road nonchalantly carrying a large bag of your own excrement...its not a good look. And you may find yourself skulking around Biffa bins hoping no-one catches you at it...oh the shame...
I have no shame left, Nemesis. In defence of the dry toilets, I will say that I haven't yet had to actually walk down a public road with the Bag of Doom in hand (or more accurately, the double-bag of doom), looking for a suitable public bin. But I can't help feeling its just a matter of time. I had the impression that some younger gongoozlers in the last two days have observed my wildly unkempt appearance, and asked their parents whether I had lots of germs, and would they be ok if my unacceptably filthy shirt actually touched them....
Well this was a bit foolhardy of me, but after watching a lot of youtube videos made by users of 'dry' toilets, and having used a cassette toilet on a caravan holiday, I decided that the dry (or separating) toilet was the one for me, so I got one, called a Simploo. I brought it with me to the boat and have used it since day 1, and I haven't used the cassette toilet at all, to be honest. Urine goes into a removable 6 litre bottle within the toilet body, and it can (apparently legally and safely) be poured into a hedge, and the solids container has a biodegradable bag which has lots of sawdust (or coco coir) mixed in, and can (legitimately) be pulled out every 15 days or so, double bagged and disposed of in a normal CRT bin. So I never need to visit an elsan point- only the normal rubbish disposal areas. So there you are- long story, but thats why I dont want the Thetford! The dry toilets mean you never have to worry about finding an elsan point every x days, which on the Ouse and Nene is a bonus
All well and good, but which hole does vomit go in?
My dear Ricco, surely all civilised boaters vomit straight into the cut?
The Simploo has a significant advantage - you don't depend on using filthy facilities which may have a fee for the privilege, be a long way off, and which may turn out to be out of order when you get there.
On the other hand you have to not mind toodling down the road nonchalantly carrying a large bag of your own excrement...its not a good look. And you may find yourself skulking around Biffa bins hoping no-one catches you at it...oh the shame...
I have no shame left, Nemesis. In defence of the dry toilets, I will say that I haven't yet had to actually walk down a public road with the Bag of Doom in hand (or more accurately, the double-bag of doom), looking for a suitable public bin. But I can't help feeling its just a matter of time. I had the impression that some younger gongoozlers in the last two days have observed my wildly unkempt appearance, and asked their parents whether I had lots of germs, and would they be ok if my unacceptably filthy shirt actually touched them....
This is definitely moving in the direction of TMI. BTW, personally I would not use the urine facility on that toilet, the smell will infiltrate the plastic, although as Chagall suggested you can probably buy spares. A lot of boaters have a bucket for the purpose (but they don't talk about it). Also, the London canals blossomed into a riot of bright green algae a while ago. Limehouse basin was a picture. I understand that urine somehow promotes its growth.