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.

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.
The price is actually not that high. I'm in the middle of
re-installing my system so I could write at length, but I'm too tired
right now, and not in the best of moods on the topic. You could do a
quick google groups search for my (and Peggy's) previous comments on
Lavacs.

A friend with a Lavac was complaining about his a few days ago (seat
broke, sometimes too much water, sometimes too little) so I told him
my issues, mostly revolving around a poor installation, and the next
day he said, "yah know, I think I'll keep the Lavac, its been pretty
good all things considered."

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?

Lavac is not a brand, it's the model name for a toilet made by Blake,
http://www.blakes-lavac-taylors.co.uk/index.htm
a British mfr of what most consider to be the best quality manual
toilets on the planet. A "Baby Blake" is over $2000...another of their
models is over $3k...and worth their prices!

The Lavac is more reasonably priced...about $350 here in the US. It
employs technology that's somewhat unique: after use, close the
lid--which seals...and pump a remote diaphragm pump X times to create a
vacuum in the discharge line...release the vacuum. No moving parts, so
the toilet is more durable and requires less maintenance than most other
marine toilets that use piston/cylinder pumps.

The Lavac is actually VERY popular with live-aboard cruising sailors,
but has never caught on among "weekend warriors" for a number of
reasons...price (although it's not THAT expensive)...limited US
distribution...and it's "different"--a manual diaphragm pump is likely
to be something the average powerboat owner--and an increasing number of
"floating condo" sailboat owners--wouldn't recognize or know what to
do with if one fell off a boat store shelf and hit him in the head...and
neither would their landlubber guests. So it may not be the right choice
for all owners.

It's an excellent toilet, though whether they work the best or have the
least maintenance is highly debatable. They're GOOD quality--one of only
2 toilets costing less than $500 that are...but hardly the same quality
as Blake's top of the line toilets or others in the $700+ price range.

I believe Defender http://www.defender.com/productsearchresult.jsp is
the exclusive US importer...they do carry it and usually have the best
prices.

Btw...avoid the electric version, and any other "electrified" manual
toilet.
--
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

I just talked to Blakes on Friday - they told me that while Defender
might have stock, St. Brendan Isles is the new distributor.

And yes, my current headaches are related to the electric. I decided
to add back the manual in series but I'm not sure the new setup is
twice as reliable or twice the grief. When we get back from two weeks
aboard (with guests) I'll probably have a story to tell, one way or
the other.

Peggie Hall 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?

Lavac is not a brand, it's the model name for a toilet made by Blake,
http://www.blakes-lavac-taylors.co.uk/index.htm
a British mfr of what most consider to be the best quality manual
toilets on the planet. A "Baby Blake" is over $2000...another of their
models is over $3k...and worth their prices!

The Lavac is more reasonably priced...about $350 here in the US. It
employs technology that's somewhat unique: after use, close the
lid--which seals...and pump a remote diaphragm pump X times to create a
vacuum in the discharge line...release the vacuum. No moving parts, so
the toilet is more durable and requires less maintenance than most other
marine toilets that use piston/cylinder pumps.

The Lavac is actually VERY popular with live-aboard cruising sailors,
but has never caught on among "weekend warriors" for a number of
reasons...price (although it's not THAT expensive)...limited US
distribution...and it's "different"--a manual diaphragm pump is likely
to be something the average powerboat owner--and an increasing number of
"floating condo" sailboat owners--wouldn't recognize or know what to do
with if one fell off a boat store shelf and hit him in the head...and
neither would their landlubber guests. So it may not be the right choice
for all owners.

It's an excellent toilet, though whether they work the best or have the
least maintenance is highly debatable. They're GOOD quality--one of only
2 toilets costing less than $500 that are...but hardly the same quality
as Blake's top of the line toilets or others in the $700+ price range.

I believe Defender http://www.defender.com/productsearchresult.jsp is
the exclusive US importer...they do carry it and usually have the best
prices.

Btw...avoid the electric version, and any other "electrified" manual
toilet.

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

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.

Blalke must have a sense of humor. Went to their web site today and
their headline reads:
"Press Release - Toilet Prices Bottom Out"

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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