View Single Post
  #8   Report Post  
posted to rec.boats.cruising
Wilbur Hubbard Wilbur Hubbard is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,869
Default Head Trip -- Thoughts on Vacuflush Etc.


"Peggie Hall" wrote in
message .. .

"Don W" wrote in message
.. .
Hi Everyone,

I got around to fixing problems with our Irwin 38's head recently,
and as a result, I'm seriously considering completely rebuilding the
sanitation system. For one thing, the 1-1/2" sanitation hose was
original, and it was quite brittle. For another, the holding tank is
only 8-1/2 gallons, which is ludicrously small even for just two
people.

We currently have a small electric head with a macerator which pumps
through a vented loop directly to a 1-1/2" thru-hull under the floor
in the aft cabin. If you shut off the valve at the thru-hull, and
open another valve, it pumps to the holding tank in the back of the
boat (behind the aft cabin).

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.
In any case, I will put in a larger holding tank.

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. 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.
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.

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.

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??

Don W.


Hi Don,

I, the Princess of Poop, will happily answer your questions. First of
all, thank you for the poop inquiry.
"You smell that? Do you smell that? Poop, son. Nothing else in the
world smells like that. I love the smell of poop in the morning. You
know, one time we had a holding tank split. It sat that way for two
months. When it was all over I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em,
not one stinkin' whole turd. The smell, you know that rotting smell,
the whole boat. Smelled like... money. Some day I'm gonna retire..."

Sorry, Don, but nothing gets my juices flowing like poop. But, to
answer your questions. Yes, yes, no, no, and yes.

Ms. Hall



roflmao
I knew you weren't the real Peggy the minute I read your post. Everybody
knows the real Peggy has absolutely no sense of humor.

Wilbur Hubbard