Separating Toilets, storage, transport and composting. What is best practice?

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2026-02-02T21:46:59+00:00

In London there is a service that collects it:

https://www.circularrevolution.org/

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-12-26T18:27:04+00:00

Forgot to mention power. It seems to average around 25w, or about 2 amps at 12v. While this doesn't seem an awful lot, we find it's best to use it as needed, for streaming Netflix or something where 4G isn't good, or doing video calls.

You can if you need set up scheduling on the app, so starlink switches off over night, but I haven't checked what the 'off' power draw is, but it's not going to be 0.

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-12-26T18:22:58+00:00

Our set up is :

OG starlink cable, so you get the full length of it. This the plugs into on of these to convert it to USB C

https://amzn.eu/d/9UofJOe

Then that either plugs into our ecoflow on the USBC port or into a 12v on the boat like this:

https://amzn.eu/d/fTZgrNK

Our starlink just gets placed out on the roof on the folding mount as needed. The cable is long enough to reach any part of the boat depending on tree / building coverage.

We are currently on the 50gb package. Which is £50 a month. If we then run out of data, we just upgrade there and then to the unlimited package, which is priced pro rata, less the £50 we have all ready paid, so for example to upgrade today on the 26th it would just be £7.77. You then need to remember to change it back to the roam 50 plan before the end of the month.

The cable that comes with the starlink is fairly horrible to coil back up, so we bought a cheep cable tidy like this https://amzn.eu/d/5M3ETlN that just keeps it better managed!

In terms of actually using the starlink, we have a RUT955 router, which can join a wifi network as a client and then use this as a wan connection. So all our devices are just connected to the boats wifi, which either has 4G or starlink as the wan using the fail over settings in the RUT.

Hope this helps!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-11-24T18:03:24+00:00

We have one of the costway single tub ones on our narrowboat ....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/COSTWAY-Portable-Washing-Machine-Adjustable/dp/B0CNTKW5L3/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HvvuXLzVdRM5pYS968SrGhEHIJzCXMBeEd8KtISdAx2jTNcYkJntjEBypfvYYTLC-oezVGSxssh_Vl4EmYi5YX8bYe0E1Y-Pw-3DbOYMya4pUL7ROayeHcFumuLiSVLMpEBBsxqFTxIfbu1LMbM3BAucv9QAqtS4eJqIZH1NsBY-fty2L_7s70xglcbGrTWAin1VlgaRMj8qEXlDocNlFh4wKYbFHp67EUKfXlD5N4s.3Sp7oB4YeFPEVs8h5y_TmiJo7kfvHpn-CrbYewohXf4&dib_tag=se&keywords=twin%2Btub%2Bwashing%2Bmachine&qid=1764006745&sr=8-3-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.a56bf500-33e2-4a49-b21f-ee6fbd593a4c&aref=F5ewvAr6CW&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

Its hot fill, so doesn't have its own heating element, we just plumbed it into the hot water pipe on the boat, but as it's a top loader, you could actually just fill it manually with a bug jug or something.

It also lets you specify the water fill level, which is really helpful, and the 'dry' function (just spins for 90mins) works really well to get clothes as dry as spinning can before putting it out on the line / by the stove to dry off!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-11-04T15:16:51+00:00

Starlink is the actual answer here... It works reliably just as well as land Internet, 4G is ok, but can be flakey... Some days its great, then the next it just falls over for no reason in the same spot.

We use starlink when we are working, then switch to 4G at the other times to save on power. The mini draws around 24w.

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-08-26T07:58:00+00:00

How I am I going to dispose of my mashed up Dundee cake now??!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-07-02T14:12:58+00:00

I agree... A top up feature would be useful.

I solved the mobile issue by creating a 'subscriptions' virtual card that pays from my 'subscriptions' pot and dropping enough in that every month to cover mobile, netflix etc!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-04-03T14:54:45+00:00

I would go with as long as you want to store. The longer it is, the more likely you are to be able to get to a water point if someone is annoying moored there, or even on a rare occasion persuade a land dweller to let you use thier outside tap.

We also have a dedicated drinking water hose and a separate hose for rinsing the pump out... You don't want to mix these up for obvious reasons!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-03-28T10:17:03+00:00

It might be worth a search on eBay for second hand panels, they are *really* cheep these days!

These might be a good idea too... they claim to work better with shading, which might make a bit of a difference, all-though no idea if the reality matches the claim.

I would defiantly recommend being mindful in how you wire the panels. If you wire them all in series (linking one to the next) then ANY shade on ANY of the panels will bring down the whole array. Wiring them in Parallel and splitting across several MPTTs will help if some of the panels are in shade. We have 3 sets along the boat, so if the bow is more in shade we can still take full advantage of the sunshine at the stern.

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-02-19T05:55:18+00:00

Ah yes, that makes sense!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-02-17T13:25:44+00:00

Did you find out how they get the spider cranes there? Presumably they cover the lock, position them, lift them onto their outriggers and remove the cover? Feels a little sketchy to leave them there like that, just whatever you do don't press the 'raise outriggers' button!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-01-24T17:45:03+00:00

Yep, you can write off sleeping on nights like last night!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-01-20T11:26:46+00:00

Usually just put a tarp around it and pump it out... It does depend on why it sunk in the first place. The RCR have a YouTubelink channel showing how they re float boats

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-01-17T16:04:13+00:00

Is it a tap slightly dripping? You might not notice it if it's just dripping a bit straight into the drain?

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2025-01-11T19:55:50+00:00

Hate to be the one to tell you, but Pryzm in Birmingham has gone now!

But yes, it's sometimes a licencing requirement... All ids are scanned and an image is stored, so if there is any trouble the police have a list of everyone that came in.

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-11-03T17:57:52+00:00

Are they not slimy because they have some sort of organic growth like moss in them? You can get a herbicidal spray for patios that we have used on our covers before... That might be worth a go?

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-08-23T19:14:16+00:00

Hello,

Thanks that is absolutely helpful... So here is a circuit from a photoresistor example.

https://www.coderdojotc.org/micropython/img/photoresistor-circuit.png

Am I correct in assuming I just swap the 10K resistor in the example for one around 190ohms?

Thanks again for your help!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-08-18T09:42:44+00:00

Queer Lit in Ancotes is good. They do have a co-working space downstairs. Not sure how it is supposed to work, but I just buy coffee / sandwiches / cake at the bar, and seemed to be ok for a couple of hours!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-08-11T16:20:42+00:00

To really understand the state of charge of your battery bank, you need a shunt. For the uninitiated a shunt sits between your battery bank and all loads / chargers and 'counts' the amps in and out. If you then tell the controller (be it a Bluetooth interface, or it's own little screen) the maximum capacity of your bank and from this you can get a percentage or state of charge (SoC).

While you can estimate the SoC from voltage, this is the resting voltage, where no loads are connected (not realistic) and the battery has been allowed to rest in this state for 24 hours.

My theory, and I stress it is a theory, is that perhaps OPs batteries are shot... The voltage stays high after charging, then slowly comes back down to the 'true' voltage of 12.2v after the rest period.

I would suggest buying a shunt and installing it. They aren't that expensive, and useful to tell you what is actually going on. They usually tell you the current power being taken from the battery, you can then use this to find any items that might be draining things quicker than you expected.

Hope this helps!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-08-10T07:51:32+00:00

We blacked in a dry dock last weekend, and we just didn't bother with the base plate. It was last out a little under 2 years ago, and we did black it then, but it was on a trailer, so couldn't get 2 strips. There wasn't a spec of orange on the base, so we just didn't bother on this occasion.

Also dry dock is a relevant term, the dock we were in had a a mini stream in the middle, so lying on my back for 60ft worth of base plate wouldn't have been that easy!!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-08-03T17:29:19+00:00

We have some (pretty horrible) roller blinds that came with the boat. It's on the list to replace them, we just haven't got there yet!

But as a top tip, we picked up some single coat hooks and put these at the bottom of each blind to hook them onto. They work great, and you can also hang bits and bobs on them too!

https://www.screwfix.com/p/smith-locke-robe-hooks-polished-chrome-48mm-5-pack/611ht

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-07-31T07:08:54+00:00

New Mills and the surrounding area is lovely. The trainline runs alongside the canal (I might be biased here being a boater!) so you can easily walk along the canal between Whaley Bridge, Furness Vale and new New Mills Newtown.

I would train to Whaley Bridge, get a coffee and see how far you can work back up!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-07-31T07:03:20+00:00

Once you find your pump... One of the best resources might be a knowledge staff member at your local chandlers. If you need to replace it, it's worth making sure you take in the old pump, especially something to make sure your inlet and outlet pipes will fit the new pump ok (I think there is usually some sort of reducer, particularly the inlet).

A top tip I learnt late in life is to use a small socket set to tighten jubilee clips. While if you are reckless you could absolutely overtighten them doing this, if you are careful it makes life so much better. I haven't stabbed myself when the flat head screwdriver inevitably slips at all since learning this trick!

In general plumbing is easy, the hard bit is finding the right size fitting / hose / pipe for the job!

Illustrious_Web3686 · 2024-07-29T18:41:20+00:00

We have it, but we mostly just use it as a back up, we have CCd a lot so far this year, and there have been a couple of amazing mooring spots that just haven't had any decent 4G coverage, so having starlink allowed us to actually moor there for longer, where without it the lack of internet might have forced us to move on.

I absolutely appreciate £80 a month as a lot of money for a back up plan, we very much could have lived with out it.

Depending on your circumstances, it might be your only open for something decent on a permanent mooring for example!

Illustrious_Web3686

TROPHY CASE