Composting Toilet

Ken and Heidi Maitland, Victorious, 37VT26, have solar panels and enjoy being on a mooring and anchoring out. Having a composting toilet allows them to be more self-sufficient. This also solves the problem of finding pump outs. On their long voyage last winter they found many times that they were out of service at marinas and gas docks. This prompted them to replace their conventional toilet during the trip.

In their own words
We have used both main types of composting toilets: Air Head on their LNVT, and Nature's Head on their previous boat. Both types have a mostly pleasant odor, which is the smell of peat moss used in the toilet tank. There have been a few situations when the composting toilet didn't work as designed and can be traced to use by a visitor who did not follow the simple directions (in our case, children). Check the manufacturer's comments on-line for dumping the contents.

INSTALLATION: For the shelf it sits on: make a cut out wide enough for the toilet and the crank handle; for us we lowered the base 6"  (still about 3-4" above the floor of the head).  If you lower the base more, the whole toilet moves more into the center of the head because of the turn of the hull in the head. There is a new vent hose that runs up the head inside the port wall and we added a clamshell vent outside just forward of the head port.

After lowering the shelf, it is just a matter of bolting the composting toilet down and removing the hoses to the holding tank. Plug and cap the short length of hose a couple of inches at the holding tank end and plug and cap after the vented loop at the sea cock end. Note: we intend to remove the holding tank and the seacock but our job was done while we were cruising in Florida and we were in the water and had time constraints.

LESSONS LEARNED: make cuts to the old shelf in such a way that the remaining shelf can be trimmed with teak. We made some rounded cuts and are finding that trimming the new straight edges is not a problem but the rounded edges will be difficult!

Galley Sink Faucet

Allan and Sally Seymour aboard Sally W, 37LNVT42, needed to replace their galley sink faucet. They found this Moen pullout spray faucet from the Renzo collection in spot resistant stainless steel finish. A shiny chrome finish is also available. They like the joystick feature and the fact that the faucet arm is a good length for extension over the sinks; but not too far. It's available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004462XYM/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apip_y6YmLVvc6M87x

East Coast Rendezvous 2017

Lord Nelson Victory Tugs gathered for the tenth east coast gathering in Fairhaven, MA. The Fairhaven Shipyard's marina is home to two LNVTs, Neptune and LaSalle. Salty Paws, Sally W, Tugnacious, and Victorious brought the count to six. Crews from six other tugs, plus past owners and family and friends of hosts John and Ellen Isaksen, LNVT Neptune #37 brought the body count close to 40.

Hosts Ellen and John Isaksen

The Isaksens put together a great variety of activities which included tours of the harbor, a scallop boat, and a guided walk of the historic area, meals featuring local favorites, and of course, ongoing tug talk. 

"So good to see you again."

Something new this year was planned arrivals on Thursday to give everyone two solid days to enjoy the event before departures on Sunday. It worked well.

John Mackie and Dave Howell 

John Mackie and Dave Howell compared notes on their recent trips. The Mackies spent three months in the Bahamas. The Howells are in their second year of cruising the Great Loop in reverse. They began in Ft. Myers, FL in 2016 and have made it to the top of Lake Michigan.

Jeanne Koenig

The Isaksen family ensured that no one was ever hungry. Menus of local fare included sea scallops, clam chowder, Portugese pulled pork sandwiches, and sweets featuring local favorites such as Butter Almond Bars, cookies, cakes and pastries. All were homemade on the spot. 

Saturday morning's Tug Talk was held in one of the shipyard's buildings called "The Big Shed." People shared a variety of interesting stories from voyages to composting toilets.

And Tug Talk continued throughout the event with everyone inspecting all the boats. Bob Allnutt admired the shiny brass aboard Neptune.

Tug talk aboard Victorious: L-R: Bob Allnutt, Jeanne Koenig, Bob Ewing and Sue Mackie

Harbor tours were conducted aboard Neptune. The NewBedford/Fairhaven Harbor is home to the largest fishing fleet in New England.

A local historian conducted a walking tour of Fairhaven, highlighting several buildings donated to the town by a financier who grew up there. Henry Huddleston Rogers built the town hall, library, high school and Unitarian Church, each in a separate and distinctive architectural style.

The Isaksens were thanked by Dave and Bicki Howell for the very successful event. The Isaksen's children Randi and Mark, and cousins Arne, Gail and Max also worked tirelessly.

The happy group gathered on the final night for a photo record of the event.

Tug Differences: Wheelhouse Windows

A new tug difference was just spotted: the size of the windows behind the wheelhouse seat.  Thistle Dew 37VT46's are 31" x 13" while C'est Si Bon 37VT38's are 31" x 14".  The one inch difference looks even more dramatic in the picture above.

Spotted: Denny G. 37VT01

Just sold, Excelsior 36VT01 has a new owner and has been renamed Denny G.  Here she is today in Flounder Bay, just south of Anacortes, Washington.

Dutch Door Lights

Perfect tug decor available at Ship Breakers Nautical for $98.

Action!

It's not very often we get an LNVT action shot!  That is Sally W 37VT42 on Lake Champlain handling the rough seas with ease.  28 knot winds, seas 1-3 foot and those freeing ports work exactly as Jim Backus designed!  

Tug Spotting

Saltwater Joys 37VT12 is in the water and now on her new mooring in Grand Lake.

Special Birthday

From Mike Dunn, Wally 41VT02

My granddaughter turned 9 yesterday, they are out on Wally for the weekend. They spelled NLC with the signal flags for Neve Carter.

Buddy Boating

Sally W 37VT42 buddy boating with Callisto 37VT19. Pictured are Keefer and Bill Irwin with Allan Seymour aboard Callisto. [photos by Sally Seymour]

Tug Spotting

Nellie D. 37VT63 recently spotted in Joliet, Illinois on her way to Chicago.

After the rain

Received this lovely shot from Sally Seymour of her tug, Sally W 37VT42. Titled, "After the Rain."

Tug Spotting

That's Salty Paws 37VT66 (lower left) on the Upper Rideau Lake.

Tug Spotting

Lady 37VT08 was spotted in the Broughtons, BC.

Just came on the market

Carla B. 37VT05 is now for sale.  See all the details at:  http://www.lnvt.org/37vt05