I just talked to Blakes on Friday - they told me that while Defender
might have stock, St. Brendan Isles is the new distributor.

And yes, my current headaches are related to the electric. I decided
to add back the manual in series but I'm not sure the new setup is
twice as reliable or twice the grief. When we get back from two weeks
aboard (with guests) I'll probably have a story to tell, one way or
the other.

Peggie Hall wrote:
Cindy wrote:
I read in another group that the 'Lavac' brand marine toilets work the
best, have the least maintenance, and the highest quality.
http://www.lavac.com/

Any feedback on this product? If this is true, why is this brand
rarely found in cruising boats? Is it the price?

Lavac is not a brand, it's the model name for a toilet made by Blake,
http://www.blakes-lavac-taylors.co.uk/index.htm
a British mfr of what most consider to be the best quality manual
toilets on the planet. A "Baby Blake" is over $2000...another of their
models is over $3k...and worth their prices!

The Lavac is more reasonably priced...about $350 here in the US. It
employs technology that's somewhat unique: after use, close the
lid--which seals...and pump a remote diaphragm pump X times to create a
vacuum in the discharge line...release the vacuum. No moving parts, so
the toilet is more durable and requires less maintenance than most other
marine toilets that use piston/cylinder pumps.

The Lavac is actually VERY popular with live-aboard cruising sailors,
but has never caught on among "weekend warriors" for a number of
reasons...price (although it's not THAT expensive)...limited US
distribution...and it's "different"--a manual diaphragm pump is likely
to be something the average powerboat owner--and an increasing number of
"floating condo" sailboat owners--wouldn't recognize or know what to do
with if one fell off a boat store shelf and hit him in the head...and
neither would their landlubber guests. So it may not be the right choice
for all owners.

It's an excellent toilet, though whether they work the best or have the
least maintenance is highly debatable. They're GOOD quality--one of only
2 toilets costing less than $500 that are...but hardly the same quality
as Blake's top of the line toilets or others in the $700+ price range.

I believe Defender http://www.defender.com/productsearchresult.jsp is
the exclusive US importer...they do carry it and usually have the best
prices.

Btw...avoid the electric version, and any other "electrified" manual
toilet.