OK, I've had a Lavac for 4 years now and have completely mixed feelings about. On my
previous boat I had a nice W-C model which I was surprised to find out is well regarded!
Someday I'll find the perfect head.

One problem with the Lavac is that its not for amateurs. A guest will not know what to do
with it. It seems so easy - close the lid and push the button (we have an electric).
But the lid tends to stay locked by the vacuum for a long time (this depends on the
geometry of the intake hose - ours is a long run) and no one but me can open it. If you
have a different guest each weekend this might not be the best for you.

The head unit itself has no moving parts so it is virtually indestructible. The pump is a
pretty standard Henderson Mark 5 so you can get spares pretty easy. We use the electric
pump, but I also carry two manual pumps for fast swap outs - I can strip down and replace
the pump in about 20 minutes. The claim is that the Henderson can pass just about
anything, but we found that the "instant dissolve" toilet paper is necessary, and the
vacuum system is not, as is sometimes claimed, a replacement for a macerator. ( A bad
case of constipation may require manual maceration!)

This season it clogged 4 times in 8 days, until I discovered I had installed a "manual"
flapper instead of the "electric" version. The extra few grams of the electric version
helps it seal better. BTW, the manual pump was OK for short trips, but when we moved on
board I broke down and got the electric. Expensive, but cheaper than physical therapy for
"pumper's elbow." It comes with a timer, but I also wired a manual switch so you can run
it 5 seconds.

As for water usage, I've always heard it uses less than most, not more. I don't know
what others take, but our alleged 35 gallon (US) tank fills in 6 days with 3 people on
board.

So, you may be wondering if I still like it? Yes, I think its better than most, and for
all the little hassles its been easier to maintain than a normal head. However, the next
boat I setup I might go for a Vacuflush!

--
-jeff www.sv-loki.com
"The sea was angry that day, my friend. Like an old man trying to send back soup at the
deli."



wrote in message ...
To Peggie and the head heads:

I am intrigued by the vacuum method of Lavac heads: they seem simple
and efficient compared to the frankly sub-par (pun intended) majority
of marine heads I've seen. Peggie, I know you vend and prefer Raritan,
so feel free to make a case. I've never seen Raritan in Toronto, but I
assume I can buy anything I want here.

Most people are day and weekend sailors: most people use the low-end
Jabsco, etc. brands. Myself, I have a Bryson from the '80s with parts
salvaged from another Bryson. (Yes, that was unpleasant). I am
planning for next season a complete overhaul of my heads installation
and I am interested in Lavacs. The price is higher, but the logic
seems sound, and frankly, I value well-built and reliable over cheap
and cheerful.

I have a 30 gallon holding tank (probably the only piece I'll keep)
and it's the Great Lakes, so there's no overboard discharge. Access to
pumpouts is usually not an issue. This boat will likely never see salt
(why start now?) but will see extensive Great Lakes cruising. I have
heard that Lavacs use too much water and are only appropriate for
"weekending". Why? Lots of British distance cruisers use Lavacs with
no complaint, or so I hear.

If not Lavac, then, why, and what are good alternatives. The only
heads firm I have heard nothing but praise for is W-C, and if I have
to go that way, I will. Twice the price and half the frustration seems
like a good trade to me, and most consumer-level heads (I will stay
manual only for simplicity's sake) seem like cheap pieces of
you-know-what.

Feel free to blast away. I want the benefit of experience beyond
wanting for Practical Sailor to revisit the topic.

R.