Don W wrote:
Right now, I'm "cogitating" (that's a Texas expression) on whether it
would be better to pull the electric head, and install a Sealand
Vacuflush head and vacuum generator while I'm re-doing everything.
Only if you want to spend up to 3x more than you need to have everything
the Vacuflush offers and more.
You haven't said what size your boat is, whether it's power or sail, and
what kind of space is available...your budget...or what part of the
country you're in. I need the answers to all those questions to be able
to advise what (IMO) is the best system for YOUR boat.
In
any case, I will put in a larger holding tank.
Well...maybe. Or maybe a Type I MSD. Again, that depends on your
location...whether inland on "no discharge" waters, or in coastal waters
where the discharge of treated waste is legal.
An advantage to the Vacuflush system is that I can install the vacuum
generator in the top of my starboard cockpit locker, and let it drain by
gravity into the holding tank.
Nope...the vacuum generator doesn't drain by gravity...it pushes the
waste to its ultimate destination.
Since the holding tank is vented at the
top, this does away with the need for a vented loop since there would be
no way that a siphon could develop from the thru-hull.
Not true...the holding tank vent has nothing whatever to do whether a
siphon can start from the overboard thru-hull, 'cuz a tank vent can't
break the flow of water in the tank discharge hose.
Also, since the
vacuum generator effectively "sucks" the line clean there is an added
advantage of not having anything standing in the sanitation hose--a
disadvantage of the present system.
Again...not quite true. The V/flush does suck all the bowl contents all
the way to the vacuum pump, but it also splatters 'em all over the
inside of the hoses on the way to the pump.
I'm thinking that I might use an electric macerating pump to pump the
contents of the holding tank to the thru-hull when emptying at sea,
rather than relying on gravity to do the job. I'm a little concerned
about having the macerator head sitting in raw sewage all of the time.
That would depend on where you put the macerator.
All of this is likely to cost a few boat bucks, so I'd like to be sure
I've thought it through before commiting the money.
Any thoughts or comments you'd like to offer??
There are much better, less expensive ways to do it. I'll be glad to
help you sort out the best ones for your boat and use.
--
Peggie
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Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304