I looked at a boat recently that had a Lectra/San head and I am
wondering about the pros and cons it. My rudimentary investigation has
found that it requires quite a bit of power for each flush and would
still require a holding tank for certain situations. I would prefer a
boat with simple system allowing me to reduce the size/number/cost of
batteries and am wondering if it is worth it. I'm sure the seller
thinks it adds value to the boat but I don't think I want it (nor do I
want to pay for it). What are the major advantages of it?

Thanks in advance.

Cam wrote:
I looked at a boat recently that had a Lectra/San head...

The Lectra/San is not a head (toilet)...it's a separate device into
which the toilet--any toilet--flushes where waste is treated and
discharged overboard legally.


...and I am
wondering about the pros and cons it. My rudimentary investigation has
found that it requires quite a bit of power for each flush...

It's consumption of 1.7 AH/flush looks a bit scary, but in fact,
translates to only 17 AH/day for a cruising couple--less than that if
you use the lee rail when possible--well within the resources of any
boat that isn't underpowered.

...and would
still require a holding tank for certain situations.

But a much smaller tank than you need for full time use...one that you'd
only use if/when you visit a "no discharge" harbor, which are VERY few
and far between except in New England, the FL Keys and SoCal. Where are
you? Where do you plan to cruise

What are the major advantages of it?

Can be used with any toilet...requires no chemicals, requires no
maintenance except for an occasional cleaning (which doesn't even
require taking it apart, just a solution of muriatic acid down the
toilet according to directions)...none of the maintenance problems
associated with holding tanks to prevent odor, deal with sludge, keeping
the vent clear, etc. no need to deal with finding pumpout facilities or
getting 3 miles offshore. Just flush and forget it. Highly reliable and
durable...it's been on the market 30 years, some of the original units
are still in service.

All the info and specs are he
http://www.raritaneng.com/products/w...lectrasan.html

I'll be glad to answer any questions after you've read it all.

--
Peggie
----------
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://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1

Thanks Peggie,
Based on that information it looks like a handy unit to have. Anything
specific I need to look for while inspecting it? Actually, how would I
inspect it? Since the boat batteries are probably dead is there any
manual inspection for it. It doesn't appear that the previous owner has
cared for the boat to well including, probably, this unit.

How is company support? I'm assuming that this specific unit is out of
warranty. Thinking of that are there specific models that need to be
looked for/avoided? How would I identify those?

Thanks again.

Peggie Hall wrote:
Cam wrote:

I looked at a boat recently that had a Lectra/San head...


The Lectra/San is not a head (toilet)...it's a separate device into
which the toilet--any toilet--flushes where waste is treated and
discharged overboard legally.


...and I am wondering about the pros and cons it. My rudimentary
investigation has found that it requires quite a bit of power for each
flush...


It's consumption of 1.7 AH/flush looks a bit scary, but in fact,
translates to only 17 AH/day for a cruising couple--less than that if
you use the lee rail when possible--well within the resources of any
boat that isn't underpowered.

...and would still require a holding tank for certain situations.


But a much smaller tank than you need for full time use...one that you'd
only use if/when you visit a "no discharge" harbor, which are VERY few
and far between except in New England, the FL Keys and SoCal. Where are
you? Where do you plan to cruise

What are the major advantages of it?

Can be used with any toilet...requires no chemicals, requires no
maintenance except for an occasional cleaning (which doesn't even
require taking it apart, just a solution of muriatic acid down the
toilet according to directions)...none of the maintenance problems
associated with holding tanks to prevent odor, deal with sludge, keeping
the vent clear, etc. no need to deal with finding pumpout facilities or
getting 3 miles offshore. Just flush and forget it. Highly reliable and
durable...it's been on the market 30 years, some of the original units
are still in service.

All the info and specs are he
http://www.raritaneng.com/products/w...lectrasan.html

I'll be glad to answer any questions after you've read it all.

In article et,
says...


I looked at a boat recently that had a Lectra/San head and I am
wondering about the pros and cons it. My rudimentary investigation has
found that it requires quite a bit of power for each flush and would
still require a holding tank for certain situations. I would prefer a
boat with simple system allowing me to reduce the size/number/cost of
batteries and am wondering if it is worth it. I'm sure the seller
thinks it adds value to the boat but I don't think I want it (nor do I
want to pay for it). What are the major advantages of it?

The Lecteasan is a good gadget, though the proliferation of no discharge
zones into the open sea increasingly threatens it. When it is operating
properly the sewage is treated to almost sterile levels and causes no harm
whatever to the environment. When flushed, it runs for two minutes and
draws 50 amps or so. Over a day. as Peggy points out, this is negligible.
The freedom from carrying around twenty or thirty gallons of raw sewage,
which will stink, is considerable, not to mention freedom from looking for
pump out stations.

We have two heads. A previous owner on the Chesapeake ripped out both
holding tanks and installed the Lectrasan on one and nothing on the other.
Clearly illegal. We installed a tiny five-gallon holding tank on one head.
This tank is custom fitted to the outside of the toilet which it
surrounds. It can be plumbed like any holding tank with all the valves and
pumps or it can be used as a carry ashore container. In any case, we were
boarded and inspected by the Coast Guard and the arrangement passed
muster. We have a certificate telling us so.

Keep the Lectrasan and get a bucket for no discharge areas.

Gogarty wrote:
The Lecteasan is a good gadget, though the proliferation of no discharge
zones into the open sea increasingly threatens it. When it is operating
properly the sewage is treated to almost sterile levels and causes no harm
whatever to the environment.

That's not entirely true.

The Lectra-San kills all the bacteria. It does not reduce or break down
the material effluent, which contains nutrients and changes the local
ecological balance.

Is this "damage" to the environment? It is, if you liked what was
growing there before.

DSK

"DSK" wrote in message
news
Gogarty wrote:
The Lecteasan is a good gadget, though the proliferation of no discharge
zones into the open sea increasingly threatens it. When it is operating
properly the sewage is treated to almost sterile levels and causes no
harm whatever to the environment.

That's not entirely true.

The Lectra-San kills all the bacteria. It does not reduce or break down
the material effluent, which contains nutrients and changes the local
ecological balance.

Is this "damage" to the environment? It is, if you liked what was growing
there before.

Actually, eutrification is a much greater threat than bacterial
contamination.
That is why phosphates were removed from detergents many years
ago.

DSK

Cam wrote:
Thanks Peggie, Based on that information it looks like a handy unit
to have. Anything specific I need to look for while inspecting it?
Actually, how would I inspect it? Since the boat batteries are
probably dead is there any manual inspection for it. It doesn't
appear that the previous owner has cared for the boat to well
including, probably, this unit.

There's no way to test it without power. Any visual inspection wouldn't
tell you anything...either the macerator and mixer motors run or they
don't...either the electrode pack works or it doesn't.

How old is it? The only way to tell is the type of controller. The
original Lectra/San had a dial timer--now obsolete, no parts still
available...that was replaced by the EC (electronic control)
version...the current version is the MC model. If it doesn't still have
the dial control, compare the control with the one in manual at the link
I gave you to know whether its the EC or the MC.


How is company support?

It's excellent.

Thinking of that are there specific models that need to be looked
for/avoided? How would I identify those?

As I said above, there are only 3 versions...the only real difference
between any of 'em is the controller...the treatment unit has actually
changed very little. If you were asking about buying a used one eBay,
I'd tell you to avoid the dial timer...but since it's already on the
boat, the system either works or it doesn't. If it doesn't, there could
be several reasons, some of which--like fuses--are not
expensive...others--electrode packs and controllers are...and it worries
me a bit that you say the boat has been neglected. So I wouldn't
consider it in deciding how much the boat is worth to you.

As for comments by others...

The Lectra-San kills all the bacteria.

Not necessarily...it does reduce the count to 10/100 ml (the law
requires only a reduction to 1000/100 ml)

It does not reduce or break
down the material effluent, which contains nutrients and changes the
local ecological balance.

Again, not quite true...The L/S does reduce BOD by 35%. The discharge
has the equivilant nutrient "load" of 4 oak leaves. In fact, just ONE
illegally dumped tank has more negative impact on the surrounding waters
within at least a mile than 1,000 boats, all equipped with L/S in the
same area for 24 hours. You'll find the results of a study he
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/...port-jun02.pdf

Runoff from the shore and the rivers that feed coastal waters are the
problem, not boats.


--
Peggie
----------
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://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1

I don't know if this part of the discussion has any impact or interest
for the original poster...


The Lectra-San kills all the bacteria.

Peggie Hall wrote:
Not necessarily...it does reduce the count to 10/100 ml (the law
requires only a reduction to 1000/100 ml)


Picky picky... OK it doesn't kill *all* the bacteria, just so many of
them that it's actually safer than many people's drinking water.


It does not reduce or break
down the material effluent, which contains nutrients and changes the
local ecological balance.


Again, not quite true...The L/S does reduce BOD by 35%. The discharge
has the equivilant nutrient "load" of 4 oak leaves.

Didn't know that... that's very good. Probably better than many
municipal treatment outlets.


... In fact, just ONE
illegally dumped tank has more negative impact on the surrounding waters
within at least a mile than 1,000 boats, all equipped with L/S in the
same area for 24 hours.

Now there I'll agree. Most boaters... especially the ones advocating a
bucket -n- chuck it strategy... would not believe the impact of a single
untreated flush.


You'll find the results of a study he
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/...port-jun02.pdf

Runoff from the shore and the rivers that feed coastal waters are the
problem, not boats.


The overwhelming part of the problem, yes. Absolutely. But because the
waters are already loaded with land source effluent, that magnifies the
effect of point-source effluent dump.

Most birds know better than to foul their own nests, why can't mankind
be that smart?

Regards
Doug King

In article ,
says...


Gogarty wrote:
The Lecteasan is a good gadget, though the proliferation of no discharge
zones into the open sea increasingly threatens it. When it is operating
properly the sewage is treated to almost sterile levels and causes no harm
whatever to the environment.

That's not entirely true.

The Lectra-San kills all the bacteria. It does not reduce or break down
the material effluent, which contains nutrients and changes the local
ecological balance.

Is this "damage" to the environment? It is, if you liked what was
growing there before.

It is still a whole lot better than raw sewage. And I suspect that in sea water
where there is a daily tide range of eight feet or more and only
seasonal boating, eutrification is not a major problem, nowhere near the
amount caused by runoff from coastal lands.

Do you suppose that's where our oysters went? By the way, have you ever seen
the effluent from an oyster farm? Eeeyuuu!

In article ,
says...

Most birds know better than to foul their own nests, why can't mankind
be that smart?

Where do sea birds poop? Just asking.