Part 2

 

Separett Tiny at sea: a three-month sailing adventure

When we began planning our three-month sailing trip with Olivia, our 31-foot sailing boat, across the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay, one of our biggest questions was how our urine-diverting toilet, Separett Tiny, would work at sea. Now, after 1,800 nautical miles (3,200 km) and three months, we can confidently say that Tiny has exceeded all our expectations. It has worked flawlessly, both in calm seas and in rough conditions.

 

How does Separett Tiny work on a sailing boat?

Before we set off, we had two main concerns:

1. How would the toilet handle the boat’s heel while sailing?
2. Would there be any odour issues?

We can now happily report that Tiny has worked perfectly in all conditions. The heel has not caused any problems at all, and everything stays securely in place inside the toilet, even in the most challenging waves.

When it comes to keeping the space odour-free, Tiny gets top marks. The built-in fan effectively removes odours from the bathroom, and we also installed a flexible ventilation pipe through the roof, which has kept the entire boat free from any unpleasant smells. This combination has made our sailing experience much more comfortable.

 

Emptying and use

The solid waste container fills up in about one week with two people using it. Changing the waste bag is quick and easy, and we have been able to dispose of it with mixed waste in all harbours. We have used Separett’s absorbent pads at the bottom of the bag, which has proved to be important. If the pad is forgotten, moisture can collect in the container, but this has been the only minor drawback so far.

The urine container fills up in one day, but fortunately Tiny has two containers, giving us more time before they need to be emptied. Changing containers is easy, and the practical handles make them easy to carry. During open-sea passages, we empty the urine containers overboard, while in harbours we use the toilets available on site.

We found that the bio tablets initially had too strong a scent for our small boat, so we have used a vinegar and water solution in the urine collector to prevent blockages. Time will tell whether the bio tablets would have been necessary, but for now we are happy with this solution.

 

Tiny compared with traditional marine toilets

We have found Tiny to be extremely well designed and simple, with no technical problems so far. Traditional marine toilets often involve complex systems with pumps and hoses that can leak or become blocked. Thanks to Tiny’s simple yet smart design, we have avoided these problems.

Another major advantage is the lack of pump-out stations outside the Baltic Sea. Most sailors have no choice but to discharge toilet waste directly into the sea, but with Tiny we have been able to avoid releasing any solid waste into the sea throughout the entire trip, which makes us proud of this environmentally friendly solution.

A simple solution for sailing

We are very happy that we decided to switch from a traditional marine toilet to a urine-diverting Separett Tiny. It is maintenance-free, environmentally friendly and simply an excellent solution for sailing. We believe that toilets like Tiny will eventually replace traditional marine toilets, especially thanks to their practical advantages as well as their environmental benefits.

 

– Heikki & Outi, Finland

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