Hi Everyone,

I got around to fixing problems with our Irwin
38's head recently, and as a result, I'm seriously
considering completely rebuilding the sanitation
system. For one thing, the 1-1/2" sanitation hose
was original, and it was quite brittle. For
another, the holding tank is only 8-1/2 gallons,
which is ludicrously small even for just two people.

We currently have a small electric head with a
macerator which pumps through a vented loop
directly to a 1-1/2" thru-hull under the floor in
the aft cabin. If you shut off the valve at the
thru-hull, and open another valve, it pumps to the
holding tank in the back of the boat (behind the
aft cabin).

Right now, I'm "cogitating" (that's a Texas
expression) on whether it would be better to pull
the electric head, and install a Sealand Vacuflush
head and vacuum generator while I'm re-doing
everything. In any case, I will put in a larger
holding tank.

An advantage to the Vacuflush system is that I can
install the vacuum generator in the top of my
starboard cockpit locker, and let it drain by
gravity into the holding tank. Since the holding
tank is vented at the top, this does away with the
need for a vented loop since there would be no way
that a siphon could develop from the thru-hull.
Also, since the vacuum generator effectively
"sucks" the line clean there is an added advantage
of not having anything standing in the sanitation
hose--a disadvantage of the present system.

I'm thinking that I might use an electric
macerating pump to pump the contents of the
holding tank to the thru-hull when emptying at
sea, rather than relying on gravity to do the job.
I'm a little concerned about having the
macerator head sitting in raw sewage all of the time.

All of this is likely to cost a few boat bucks, so
I'd like to be sure I've thought it through before
commiting the money.

Any thoughts or comments you'd like to offer??

Don W.

Don W brought forth on stone tablets:
Hi Everyone,

I got around to fixing problems with our Irwin 38's head recently, and
as a result, I'm seriously considering completely rebuilding the
sanitation system. For one thing, the 1-1/2" sanitation hose was
original, and it was quite brittle. For another, the holding tank is
only 8-1/2 gallons, which is ludicrously small even for just two people.

We currently have a small electric head with a macerator which pumps
through a vented loop directly to a 1-1/2" thru-hull under the floor in
the aft cabin. If you shut off the valve at the thru-hull, and open
another valve, it pumps to the holding tank in the back of the boat
(behind the aft cabin).

Right now, I'm "cogitating" (that's a Texas expression) on whether it
would be better to pull the electric head, and install a Sealand
Vacuflush head and vacuum generator while I'm re-doing everything. In
any case, I will put in a larger holding tank.

An advantage to the Vacuflush system is that I can install the vacuum
generator in the top of my starboard cockpit locker, and let it drain by
gravity into the holding tank. Since the holding tank is vented at the
top, this does away with the need for a vented loop since there would be
no way that a siphon could develop from the thru-hull. Also, since the
vacuum generator effectively "sucks" the line clean there is an added
advantage of not having anything standing in the sanitation hose--a
disadvantage of the present system.

I'm thinking that I might use an electric macerating pump to pump the
contents of the holding tank to the thru-hull when emptying at sea,
rather than relying on gravity to do the job. I'm a little concerned
about having the macerator head sitting in raw sewage all of the time.

All of this is likely to cost a few boat bucks, so I'd like to be sure
I've thought it through before commiting the money.

Any thoughts or comments you'd like to offer??

Don W.


I'd skip the use of the head hose, except as for flexible connections to
hard-mounted items, unless the runs are very short. Instead, plumb with
rigid white PVC pipe - it has an essentially infinite permeation time -
unlike the hose.

bob
s/v Eolian
Seattle

Subject

One word: LAVAC

By comparison, everything else is a toy, IMHO.

Lew

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Subject

One word: LAVAC

By comparison, everything else is a toy, IMHO.

Lew

If you must have a marine head, LaVac is, indeed, the way to go. If you in a
large no-discharge zone like the Great Lakes, a porta-potti makes more
sense. Some would say even if you're NOT in a no-discharge zone.

Don W wrote:
Right now, I'm "cogitating" (that's a Texas expression) on whether it
would be better to pull the electric head, and install a Sealand
Vacuflush head and vacuum generator while I'm re-doing everything.

Only if you want to spend up to 3x more than you need to have everything
the Vacuflush offers and more.

You haven't said what size your boat is, whether it's power or sail, and
what kind of space is available...your budget...or what part of the
country you're in. I need the answers to all those questions to be able
to advise what (IMO) is the best system for YOUR boat.


In
any case, I will put in a larger holding tank.

Well...maybe. Or maybe a Type I MSD. Again, that depends on your
location...whether inland on "no discharge" waters, or in coastal waters
where the discharge of treated waste is legal.

An advantage to the Vacuflush system is that I can install the vacuum
generator in the top of my starboard cockpit locker, and let it drain by
gravity into the holding tank.

Nope...the vacuum generator doesn't drain by gravity...it pushes the
waste to its ultimate destination.

Since the holding tank is vented at the
top, this does away with the need for a vented loop since there would be
no way that a siphon could develop from the thru-hull.

Not true...the holding tank vent has nothing whatever to do whether a
siphon can start from the overboard thru-hull, 'cuz a tank vent can't
break the flow of water in the tank discharge hose.

Also, since the
vacuum generator effectively "sucks" the line clean there is an added
advantage of not having anything standing in the sanitation hose--a
disadvantage of the present system.

Again...not quite true. The V/flush does suck all the bowl contents all
the way to the vacuum pump, but it also splatters 'em all over the
inside of the hoses on the way to the pump.

I'm thinking that I might use an electric macerating pump to pump the
contents of the holding tank to the thru-hull when emptying at sea,
rather than relying on gravity to do the job. I'm a little concerned
about having the macerator head sitting in raw sewage all of the time.

That would depend on where you put the macerator.

All of this is likely to cost a few boat bucks, so I'd like to be sure
I've thought it through before commiting the money.

Any thoughts or comments you'd like to offer??

There are much better, less expensive ways to do it. I'll be glad to
help you sort out the best ones for your boat and use.

--
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

Ummm...folks...if he has a 40' MY and regularly has a gaggle of
landlubbers aboard, a Lavac would be a ridiculous choice...and if the
route from the toilet to the tank and/or thru-hull is something only a
snake could love, hard pipe isn't a good option either.

He hasn't provided enough information yet to allow any of us to make any
recommendations that are right for HIS boat.
--
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

"Don W" wrote in message
.. .
Hi Everyone,

I got around to fixing problems with our Irwin 38's head recently, and
as a result, I'm seriously considering completely rebuilding the
sanitation system. For one thing, the 1-1/2" sanitation hose was
original, and it was quite brittle. For another, the holding tank is
only 8-1/2 gallons, which is ludicrously small even for just two
people.

We currently have a small electric head with a macerator which pumps
through a vented loop directly to a 1-1/2" thru-hull under the floor
in the aft cabin. If you shut off the valve at the thru-hull, and
open another valve, it pumps to the holding tank in the back of the
boat (behind the aft cabin).

Right now, I'm "cogitating" (that's a Texas expression) on whether it
would be better to pull the electric head, and install a Sealand
Vacuflush head and vacuum generator while I'm re-doing everything. In
any case, I will put in a larger holding tank.

An advantage to the Vacuflush system is that I can install the vacuum
generator in the top of my starboard cockpit locker, and let it drain
by gravity into the holding tank. Since the holding tank is vented at
the top, this does away with the need for a vented loop since there
would be no way that a siphon could develop from the thru-hull. Also,
since the vacuum generator effectively "sucks" the line clean there is
an added advantage of not having anything standing in the sanitation
hose--a disadvantage of the present system.

I'm thinking that I might use an electric macerating pump to pump the
contents of the holding tank to the thru-hull when emptying at sea,
rather than relying on gravity to do the job. I'm a little concerned
about having the macerator head sitting in raw sewage all of the time.

All of this is likely to cost a few boat bucks, so I'd like to be sure
I've thought it through before commiting the money.

Any thoughts or comments you'd like to offer??

Don W.


Hi Don,

I, the Princess of Poop, will happily answer your questions. First of
all, thank you for the poop inquiry.
"You smell that? Do you smell that? Poop, son. Nothing else in the world
smells like that. I love the smell of poop in the morning. You know, one
time we had a holding tank split. It sat that way for two months. When
it was all over I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin'
whole turd. The smell, you know that rotting smell, the whole boat.
Smelled like... money. Some day I'm gonna retire..."

Sorry, Don, but nothing gets my juices flowing like poop. But, to answer
your questions. Yes, yes, no, no, and yes.

Ms. Hall






--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"Peggie Hall" wrote in
message .. .

"Don W" wrote in message
.. .
Hi Everyone,

I got around to fixing problems with our Irwin 38's head recently,
and as a result, I'm seriously considering completely rebuilding the
sanitation system. For one thing, the 1-1/2" sanitation hose was
original, and it was quite brittle. For another, the holding tank is
only 8-1/2 gallons, which is ludicrously small even for just two
people.

We currently have a small electric head with a macerator which pumps
through a vented loop directly to a 1-1/2" thru-hull under the floor
in the aft cabin. If you shut off the valve at the thru-hull, and
open another valve, it pumps to the holding tank in the back of the
boat (behind the aft cabin).

Right now, I'm "cogitating" (that's a Texas expression) on whether it
would be better to pull the electric head, and install a Sealand
Vacuflush head and vacuum generator while I'm re-doing everything.
In any case, I will put in a larger holding tank.

An advantage to the Vacuflush system is that I can install the vacuum
generator in the top of my starboard cockpit locker, and let it drain
by gravity into the holding tank. Since the holding tank is vented
at the top, this does away with the need for a vented loop since
there would be no way that a siphon could develop from the thru-hull.
Also, since the vacuum generator effectively "sucks" the line clean
there is an added advantage of not having anything standing in the
sanitation hose--a disadvantage of the present system.

I'm thinking that I might use an electric macerating pump to pump the
contents of the holding tank to the thru-hull when emptying at sea,
rather than relying on gravity to do the job. I'm a little concerned
about having the macerator head sitting in raw sewage all of the
time.

All of this is likely to cost a few boat bucks, so I'd like to be
sure I've thought it through before commiting the money.

Any thoughts or comments you'd like to offer??

Don W.


Hi Don,

I, the Princess of Poop, will happily answer your questions. First of
all, thank you for the poop inquiry.
"You smell that? Do you smell that? Poop, son. Nothing else in the
world smells like that. I love the smell of poop in the morning. You
know, one time we had a holding tank split. It sat that way for two
months. When it was all over I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em,
not one stinkin' whole turd. The smell, you know that rotting smell,
the whole boat. Smelled like... money. Some day I'm gonna retire..."

Sorry, Don, but nothing gets my juices flowing like poop. But, to
answer your questions. Yes, yes, no, no, and yes.

Ms. Hall


roflmao
I knew you weren't the real Peggy the minute I read your post. Everybody
knows the real Peggy has absolutely no sense of humor.

Wilbur Hubbard

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
et...
Ummm...folks...if he has a 40' MY and regularly has a gaggle of
landlubbers aboard, a Lavac would be a ridiculous choice...and if the
route from the toilet to the tank and/or thru-hull is something only a
snake could love, hard pipe isn't a good option either.

He hasn't provided enough information yet to allow any of us to make any
recommendations that are right for HIS boat.
--
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


Yes, Peggie, but that's why we have you. :-)

Hi Peggie,

Its an Irwin Citation 38 aft cockpit. The routing
from the head back to the holding tank is not too
bad. The routing from the thru-hull to the
holding tank is not too bad. The routing from the
head to the thru-hull is damn near impossible--a
reason why I'm seriously considering routing
everything through the holding tank.

Primary use of boat is as a liveaboard for two
people while cruising. OTOH there will certainly
be visitors aboard at times, and they will be
landlubbers.

Don W.

Peggie Hall wrote:

Ummm...folks...if he has a 40' MY and regularly has a gaggle of
landlubbers aboard, a Lavac would be a ridiculous choice...and if the
route from the toilet to the tank and/or thru-hull is something only a
snake could love, hard pipe isn't a good option either.

He hasn't provided enough information yet to allow any of us to make any
recommendations that are right for HIS boat.