Have a friend that hated his when he first got the boat, but as you said,
once he learned how to use wouldn't have anything else.
I've heard you can actually flush a cat with the Lavac, probably want to go
straight over the side and not into the holding tank right?
MMC

"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message
...
chuck 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?

Thanks for any feedback.

There are not many things on a small
boat that truly excite, but our manual
Lavac surely ranks near the top of our
(well, at least MY) list.

It is as simple a design as possible,
with no moving parts other than in the
pump. It is powerful, dependable, and
easy to understand.

The operation, however, is pretty
unusual for the uninitiated, but that is
doubtless true for many marine heads.

It is hard to find someone who hates the
Lavac. I have no experience with the
electric pump model.

Chuck
S/V Sans Serif

Agreed. It takes a couple of uses to learn the basics of how to use the
Lavac, and the main problems come from those unfortunate souls (and there
are many) who never bother to read or learn instructions. Once you take
the
trouble to do exactly what the manual says, the Lavac is virtually
indestructible. You may have to replace the seal around the lid once in a
blue moon, but that is all. The pump is actually a bilge pump, full stop.

MMC wrote:
Have a friend that hated his when he first got the boat, but as you said,
once he learned how to use wouldn't have anything else.
I've heard you can actually flush a cat with the Lavac, probably want to go
straight over the side and not into the holding tank right?
MMC

It's a tough life for a cat.

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Folks, if you were going to single-hand around the world for a few
years, would you recommend a manual Lavac, or the manual Wilcox
Crittenden Skipper?

I understand that the Skipper is the least likely to clog due to
having the largest hole.

Also, what do you think about the idea of eliminating the 'Y' valve in
the system and just having direct to holding tank with the deck
pump-out? In a pinch, couldn't one manually pump it overboard from the
deck? Are not the macerator and Y vales the most likely place for
clogs to occur?

I've beaten the odor problem by using Trident Sani Shield hoses and
fresh water flushing. Now my concerns are clogging and
maintenance/durability.

I'm willing to pay as much as neeeded to avoid having to handle crap
off-shore.

One last question. Is there anything special about the Baby Blake?
Just why is it so expensive? As a former Lexus technician, I can tell
you that a Lexus is virtually identical to a Toyota Camry LE. The
price difference is 99 percent cosmetic. Maybe it's the same with the
Baby Blake? Their website is completely void of detail. (I used one on
a Swan once. Bur didn't have time to inspect it.)









On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:48:17 -0400, chuck wrote:

MMC wrote:
Have a friend that hated his when he first got the boat, but as you said,
once he learned how to use wouldn't have anything else.
I've heard you can actually flush a cat with the Lavac, probably want to go
straight over the side and not into the holding tank right?
MMC

It's a tough life for a cat.

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BocaJack wrote:
Folks, if you were going to single-hand around the world for a few
years, would you recommend a manual Lavac, or the manual Wilcox
Crittenden Skipper?

Lavac. Easy Choice. You can carry an entire spare pump for $160 and
swap it in 15 minutes.



I understand that the Skipper is the least likely to clog due to
having the largest hole.

What are you trying to flush? Tennis balls?


Also, what do you think about the idea of eliminating the 'Y' valve in
the system and just having direct to holding tank with the deck
pump-out? In a pinch, couldn't one manually pump it overboard from the
deck? Are not the macerator and Y vales the most likely place for
clogs to occur?

Mine goes direct to the holding tank with a manual pump on a y-valve.
This end of the system has been trouble free.



I've beaten the odor problem by using Trident Sani Shield hoses and
fresh water flushing. Now my concerns are clogging and
maintenance/durability.

I'm willing to pay as much as neeeded to avoid having to handle crap
off-shore.

Why would you go to a holding tank if you're planning to go offshore?


One last question. Is there anything special about the Baby Blake?
Just why is it so expensive? As a former Lexus technician, I can tell
you that a Lexus is virtually identical to a Toyota Camry LE. The
price difference is 99 percent cosmetic. Maybe it's the same with the
Baby Blake? Their website is completely void of detail. (I used one on
a Swan once. Bur didn't have time to inspect it.)


don't know.









On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 19:48:17 -0400, chuck wrote:

MMC wrote:
Have a friend that hated his when he first got the boat, but as you said,
once he learned how to use wouldn't have anything else.
I've heard you can actually flush a cat with the Lavac, probably want to go
straight over the side and not into the holding tank right?
MMC
It's a tough life for a cat.

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What are you trying to flush? Tennis balls?

No, but pretty close.

Also, what do you think about the idea of eliminating the 'Y' valve in
the system and just having direct to holding tank with the deck
pump-out? In a pinch, couldn't one manually pump it overboard from the
deck? Are not the macerator and Y vales the most likely place for
clogs to occur?

Mine goes direct to the holding tank with a manual pump on a y-valve.
This end of the system has been trouble free.

So the Y valve is_before_the holding tank? Isn't that illegal in many
areas?

Why would you go to a holding tank if you're planning to go offshore?

I prefer not to dump raw sewage into the ocean. Otherwise, I would
just crap over the side.

But thanks for the input!

"BocaJack" wrote in message
...

What are you trying to flush? Tennis balls?

No, but pretty close.

Also, what do you think about the idea of eliminating
the 'Y' valve in
the system and just having direct to holding tank with
the deck
pump-out? In a pinch, couldn't one manually pump it
overboard from the
deck? Are not the macerator and Y vales the most likely
place for
clogs to occur?

Mine goes direct to the holding tank with a manual pump
on a y-valve.
This end of the system has been trouble free.

So the Y valve is_before_the holding tank? Isn't that
illegal in many
areas?


Y valve *after* the holding tank. One side of Y goes to
manual pump and then thru hull. Other side goes to deck for
marina type pump out. I believe this is what he has?

Scotty

SBV

BocaJack wrote:
What are you trying to flush? Tennis balls?

No, but pretty close.

Except that solid waste is 75% water...tennis balls aren't.
So the Y valve is_before_the holding tank? Isn't that illegal in many
areas?

Nope. It doesn't matter where the y-valve is, only where waste ends up.

Why would you go to a holding tank if you're planning to go offshore?

I prefer not to dump raw sewage into the ocean. Otherwise, I would
just crap over the side.

So why would you install a macerator if you don't plan to dump the tank
at sea? Or do you think a whole tankful is better for the environment
than a single flush?
--
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://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304

So why would you install a macerator if you don't plan to dump the tank
at sea? Or do you think a whole tankful is better for the environment
than a single flush?

I don't want to install a macerator.

I am considering a new, simpler, and easier to maintain head
arrangement that would include 1) manual freshwater flushing, 2) no
macerator, 3) no Y valve, 4) Lavac or Skipper toilet, 5) just a
freshwater intake, a vent, and a deck pump-out, and 6) high-quality
hoses.

I am thinking about ordering a new Valiant 42. This set-up would
eliminate two holes in the boat, right? And, this would seem to be a
higher quality alternative to what you recommended a few strings up: a
permantent porta-potti with pump-out feature. Simple and easy to
maintain.

Just getting some ideas here. Thanks!

So what do you think all the marine life out there does? Use a whale
porta-potty? If that're really what you want to do, get a Lectra-San
and treat it all, even when you're offshore.

BocaJack wrote:


I prefer not to dump raw sewage into the ocean. Otherwise, I would
just crap over the side.

BocaJack wrote:
Folks, if you were going to single-hand around the world for a few
years, would you recommend a manual Lavac, or the manual Wilcox
Crittenden Skipper?

The Lavac.

I understand that the Skipper is the least likely to clog due to
having the largest hole.

Irrelevant unless you're trying flush a cat....or something else that
shouldn't go down ANY marine toilet. Anything that should be flushed
should have no trouble going through any marine toilet.


Also, what do you think about the idea of eliminating the 'Y' valve in
the system and just having direct to holding tank with the deck
pump-out? In a pinch, couldn't one manually pump it overboard from the
deck? Are not the macerator and Y vales the most likely place for
clogs to occur?

The macerator to dump the tank is FAR more likely to fail than a
y-valve. Why store waste aboard, or be forced to maintain a tank if
you're in waters where each flush can go out of your life forever?

I've beaten the odor problem by using Trident Sani Shield hoses and
fresh water flushing. Now my concerns are clogging and
maintenance/durability.

Just about all toilets with a price tag above $200 will provide at least
20 years of trouble-free service with minimal maintenance (keep 'em
lubricated, rebuild every 5-6 years). You can prevent clogging by
flushing only body waste and quick-dissolve TP and learning how to flush
it correctly.

I'm willing to pay as much as neeeded to avoid having to handle crap
off-shore.

So why do you want to put into the tank first??? Flush it overboard and
be rid of it!


One last question. Is there anything special about the Baby Blake?

Superior engineering, superior materials, superior craftsmanship,
attention to detail, molds that are replaced before they wear out...and
host of other things that may not be evident when inspecting a new one
side-by-side with a similar copy, but are the reason why a Blake will
last for 100 years with reasonable maintenance, compared to 20 for the
best similar designs made today.

As a former Lexus technician, I can tell
you that a Lexus is virtually identical to a Toyota Camry LE.

But neither one holds a candle to a Rolls Royce. And when you understand
why, you'll understand why a Blake costs so much more than a Skipper.

--
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://shop.sailboatowners.com/books...ku=90&cat=1304