Question for Peggy
 

Peggy,

I have a Lavac head that works great but the output pipe at the bottom is
craked and comes out of the head itself.

Is there somewhere that I can get a new part or is it time for a new head?

Any info appreciated.

Ansley Sawyer
SV Pacem

Question for Peggy
 

Ansley W. Sawyer wrote:
Peggy,

I have a Lavac head that works great but the output pipe at the bottom is
craked and comes out of the head itself.

Is there somewhere that I can get a new part or is it time for a new head?

Hi Ansley...sorry for the delay in responding...I just got back from the
Newport Boat Show last night. If that part is replaceable, you should
be able to get it from these folks: http://www.lavac.com/ That's not a
link to Blake in the UK, but to a dealer in FL who managed to capture
the Lavac domain name before Blake could.


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/detai...=400&group=327

http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Question for Peggy
 

Thanks Peggy,

I will keep you informed.

Ansley Sawyer

Question for Peggy
 

Dave wrote:
Was at the boat this weekend, and found that the seacock on my head's
through-hull discharge was frozen in the closed position. The PO had
disconnected the Y-valve to the through-hull, and just routed all discharge
to the holding tank. I'm replacing hose, and am thinking of doing the same
if it can't free up the seacock. If I do this is there any need for a vented
loop? Another owner has one installed between the head discharge and the
holding tank, and says it's to prevent siphoning back from the holding tank.
Since the inlet to the holding tank is near the top, is this really a
problem -- do I need a vented loop?

On a powerboat, no....'cuz powerboats don't heel. But on a sailboat, if
the inlet fitting on the tank is toward the hull instead of toward the
centerline of the boat, a loop--though not necessarily a vented loop--is
a good idea to prevent tank contents from running back toward the toilet
when you're heeled.

It's not necessary if the inlet and vent fittings are toward the
centerline because waste in the tank runs to the side away from the
fitting on one tack, the hoses run uphill on the other tack. Worth
remembering when you spec out an installation.

--
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/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Question for Peggy
 

Dave wrote:
Was at the boat this weekend, and found that the seacock on my head's
through-hull discharge was frozen in the closed position. The PO had
disconnected the Y-valve to the through-hull, and just routed all discharge
to the holding tank. I'm replacing hose, and am thinking of doing the same
if it can't free up the seacock. If I do this is there any need for a vented
loop? Another owner has one installed between the head discharge and the
holding tank, and says it's to prevent siphoning back from the holding tank.
Since the inlet to the holding tank is near the top, is this really a
problem -- do I need a vented loop?

On a powerboat, no....'cuz powerboats don't heel. But on a sailboat, if
the inlet fitting on the tank is toward the hull instead of toward the
centerline of the boat, a loop--though not necessarily a vented loop--is
a good idea to prevent tank contents from running back toward the toilet
when you're heeled.

It's not necessary if the inlet and vent fittings are toward the
centerline because waste in the tank runs to the side away from the
fitting on one tack, the hoses run uphill on the other tack. Worth
remembering when you spec out an installation.

--
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/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Question for Peggy
 

Peggie Hall writes:

On a powerboat, no....'cuz powerboats don't heel. But on a sailboat,
if the inlet fitting on the tank is toward the hull instead of toward
the centerline of the boat, a loop--though not necessarily a vented
loop--is a good idea to prevent tank contents from running back toward
the toilet when you're heeled.

It's not necessary if the inlet and vent fittings are toward the
centerline because waste in the tank runs to the side away from the
fitting on one tack, the hoses run uphill on the other tack. Worth
remembering when you spec out an installation.

--
Peggie

Peggie,

thanks for all the great work you are doing! I read may of your
postings in different forums and benefitted a lot from your knowledge
in the installation of my holding tank.

However, this one I don't understand. When I read it first I thought
'shoot, my fittings are on the wrong side' since they are towards the
hull. But then I thought again and I don't see what's wrong about it.

Why is holding tank contents more likely to run out of the tank with
the fittings towards the hull than towards the centerline? Let's say
the fittings are on the hull side on the port side (as in my case).
Then, at a certain heel angle to port, the level of liquids inside the
tank will reach the fitting and overflow may occur (yuck). But if the
fittings were towards the centerline, why wouldn't the same occur when
the boat heels by exactly the same angle to starboard??

--Ernst
Columbia 32

Question for Peggy
 

Peggie Hall writes:

On a powerboat, no....'cuz powerboats don't heel. But on a sailboat,
if the inlet fitting on the tank is toward the hull instead of toward
the centerline of the boat, a loop--though not necessarily a vented
loop--is a good idea to prevent tank contents from running back toward
the toilet when you're heeled.

It's not necessary if the inlet and vent fittings are toward the
centerline because waste in the tank runs to the side away from the
fitting on one tack, the hoses run uphill on the other tack. Worth
remembering when you spec out an installation.

--
Peggie

Peggie,

thanks for all the great work you are doing! I read may of your
postings in different forums and benefitted a lot from your knowledge
in the installation of my holding tank.

However, this one I don't understand. When I read it first I thought
'shoot, my fittings are on the wrong side' since they are towards the
hull. But then I thought again and I don't see what's wrong about it.

Why is holding tank contents more likely to run out of the tank with
the fittings towards the hull than towards the centerline? Let's say
the fittings are on the hull side on the port side (as in my case).
Then, at a certain heel angle to port, the level of liquids inside the
tank will reach the fitting and overflow may occur (yuck). But if the
fittings were towards the centerline, why wouldn't the same occur when
the boat heels by exactly the same angle to starboard??

--Ernst
Columbia 32

Question for Peggy
 

Why is holding tank contents more likely to run out of the tank with
the fittings towards the hull than towards the centerline? Let's say
the fittings are on the hull side on the port side (as in my case).
Then, at a certain heel angle to port, the level of liquids inside the
tank will reach the fitting and overflow may occur (yuck).

Yep...because stuff runs downhill...So when you're heeled to port, if
fittings are on the port side of the tank, contents can spill out the
vent or run back toward a head on the port side. But if the tank
fittings are toward the centerline, contents will run to the port side
of the tank when you're heeled to port, but have no place to go because
the lines are on the other side of the tank.

But if the
fittings were towards the centerline, why wouldn't the same occur when
the boat heels by exactly the same angle to starboard??

No, because stuff DOESN'T run UPhill...your head and vent fitting are
still on the port side...right? So when you're heeled to starboard, it's
an uphill run from the centerline to a head and vent thru-hull on the
port side of the boat.

Liquid in a tank is always gonna run toward the low side of the
boat...so it's always gonna run away from any fitting that's toward the
centerline on one tack... any hoses running across the tank from the
side toward the centerline are gonna be running uphill on the other tack.

If the tank is set on the centerline--for instance, a bow-shaped tank
under the v-berth--the fittings should ideally be on the top and in the
center of the tank. But even if they're on the end, tank contents will
run to one side or the other, never toward the hoses, when you're
heeled...the boat would have to be stood on its stern to create a
downhill run in either direction.


--
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/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Question for Peggy
 

Why is holding tank contents more likely to run out of the tank with
the fittings towards the hull than towards the centerline? Let's say
the fittings are on the hull side on the port side (as in my case).
Then, at a certain heel angle to port, the level of liquids inside the
tank will reach the fitting and overflow may occur (yuck).

Yep...because stuff runs downhill...So when you're heeled to port, if
fittings are on the port side of the tank, contents can spill out the
vent or run back toward a head on the port side. But if the tank
fittings are toward the centerline, contents will run to the port side
of the tank when you're heeled to port, but have no place to go because
the lines are on the other side of the tank.

But if the
fittings were towards the centerline, why wouldn't the same occur when
the boat heels by exactly the same angle to starboard??

No, because stuff DOESN'T run UPhill...your head and vent fitting are
still on the port side...right? So when you're heeled to starboard, it's
an uphill run from the centerline to a head and vent thru-hull on the
port side of the boat.

Liquid in a tank is always gonna run toward the low side of the
boat...so it's always gonna run away from any fitting that's toward the
centerline on one tack... any hoses running across the tank from the
side toward the centerline are gonna be running uphill on the other tack.

If the tank is set on the centerline--for instance, a bow-shaped tank
under the v-berth--the fittings should ideally be on the top and in the
center of the tank. But even if they're on the end, tank contents will
run to one side or the other, never toward the hoses, when you're
heeled...the boat would have to be stood on its stern to create a
downhill run in either direction.


--
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/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Question for Peggy
 

Peggie Hall writes:

But if the
fittings were towards the centerline, why wouldn't the same occur when
the boat heels by exactly the same angle to starboard??

No, because stuff DOESN'T run UPhill...your head and vent fitting are
still on the port side...right? So when you're heeled to starboard,
it's an uphill run from the centerline to a head and vent thru-hull on
the port side of the boat.

Liquid in a tank is always gonna run toward the low side of the
boat...so it's always gonna run away from any fitting that's toward
the centerline on one tack... any hoses running across the tank from
the side toward the centerline are gonna be running uphill on the
other tack.


OK, maybe I understand it now. Do you propose to have the outlet
fitting towards the centerline and the hose then OVER the tank? I
guess that would work, then the 'stuff' would have to run uphill to
get out of the tank.

That would have been hard to achieve in my situation, the tank is
pretty much shoehorned in, to give max. volume. I guess I'll have to
pay attention to not overfilling the tank when on starboard tack...

I have a Lavac toilet (with which I am so far extremely happy). Does
this make me more or less vulnerable to this kind of problem?
Although the outlet valve of the Henderson pump seemed pretty sturdy,
it is my only line of defence, right? Once liquid gets through the
pump, it can flow right out of the toilet.

--Ernst