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09-19-2019, 11:01 PM
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#41
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadMistress
I suggest you fill the holes to prevent water intrusion through 'em, unlikely as that may be. With that platform covering the step, you wouldn't know there is any until the damage was substantial. Unnecessary work prob'ly...but I've always believed that it's hard to go wrong erring on the side of caution.
--Peggie
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Good idea and simple to do.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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09-20-2019, 01:13 AM
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#42
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Veteran Member
City: San Diego
Vessel Name: Tuna Fin Ity
Vessel Model: CHB Royal Star Sundeck
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 50
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadMistress
It's a poly tank with the inlet on the top. It looks like it's threaded, though I didn't measure it.
A fairly easy job to install a new 1. 5" inlet ftting in the tank using a Uniseal UNISEAL
I want to moving to vacuflush for a few reasons.
1) Holding tank capacity: The electric flush uses raw water and far too much of it. I have a 30 gallon holding tank that I need to empty more frequently than I would like.
2) Odor: The electric flush uses raw water. I only use the boat on weekends. The saltwater leaves an odor in the head after baking in the heat for a week.
3) Noise: The electric flush is loud
You're assuming that all electric macerating toilets are alike. Most are available in both sea water and pressurized flush versions. While all sea water toilets are noisier than those the use fresh water, some are a lot noisier than others. The Raritan Marine Elegance Raritan Marine_Elegance Promo.pdf --the top rated electric toilet--is VERY quiet...in fact the quietest. It's designed to use pressurized fresh water. The optional "Smart Flush" panel provides 4 flush options that will actually allow you to use LESS water than the VacuFlush actually needs to prevent problems. And there are several others you might like.
I estimate that at least 75% of the toilet problems I've seen in the 30 years I've been a specialist in marine sanitation are problems with VacuFlush, and that at least 9o% of 'em are caused by owners putting too little water through 'em. It's the reason I wrote a piece I call "VacuFlush 101" that describes how it works (an amazing number of owners think they know, but actually don't) and how much water it actually needs. I'll be glad to send it to you if you'll send me a PM that includes your email address (no way to attach anything to a PM). An earlier poster said it's 1980s technology...it's even older. It's changed so little except cosmetically since Mansfield Plumbing introduced it in 1978 (they spun off their entire marine toilet division to SeaLand Technology in 1984) that the same troubleshooting guide still works for all years, all models.
And btw...VacuFlush was the toilet on my last two boats and I was a distributor/dealer for nearly 10 years, so I'm intimately acquainted with it. If I were looking at used boats that already has one installed, it wouldn't be a deal breaker, but macerating electric toilet technology has changed so much in the last 20 years that I wouldn't spend my own money for another one.
Send me a PM...and I'll not only send you "VF 101" but I'll be glad to answer all your questions about it and every other toilet.
--Peggie
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crobe15645@gmail.com Please send it to me. I can use all the information I can get.
Thanks. It would be much appreciated.
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09-20-2019, 09:56 AM
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#43
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Guru
City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,515
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Should be landing in you inbox as I write this. And I'll be glad to send it to anyone else who requests it.
-Peggie
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09-23-2019, 01:01 PM
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#44
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Senior Member
City: Naples Fl
Vessel Name: Phantom
Vessel Model: Cheer Men PT41
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 149
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You are crazy - Vaccuflush is going backwards.
I ripped mine out and installed an Elegance.
Footprint no larger and so much better
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09-23-2019, 01:05 PM
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#45
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Guru
City: New England and Canada to Florida
Vessel Name: Tadhana
Vessel Model: Helmsman 38 Pilothouse
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 596
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Add me to the list of those who ask : Why? Been in the boat business my whole life. I have installed a number of Vacuflush systems. Have serviced a lot of heads. Almost all were Vacuflush. We have had 2 Jabsco electric heads and in 11 years of full time live aboard have had to replace the seals in each head one time, and changed the joker valve because the head was already apart.
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09-23-2019, 01:37 PM
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#46
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Newbie
City: Hernando Beach
Vessel Name: Spice of Life
Vessel Model: 1990 Californian 45' MY
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 4
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Peggy,
Please send me the VF 101 guidelines. I greatly appreciate your informative contributions to this site. In addition, your how to solution responses include a good technical explanation of why it works that way. I have your book on board and use it as I consider how increase vent line size and add a second vent.
Thank you,
cowdenl@aol.com
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09-23-2019, 01:49 PM
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#47
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Veteran Member
City: Belmont, CA,
Vessel Name: Se la Vi 2
Vessel Model: FuHwa, 35 feet, built aka a Taiwan Tub
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 62
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I converted our two heads to VF over 10 years ago. They are both on a single pump system and I have had no problems at all except having to change out the duck bills every few years. Quite simple, actually. I don't get it when others on this forum say that the system is complicated. It is a lot quieter than the electric systems that I have seen/heard and water usage is minimal. If there were a better system, wouldn't the airlines utilize it?
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09-23-2019, 02:30 PM
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#48
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Guru
City: Edgewater, MD
Vessel Name: Catalina Jack
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,585
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 88FuHwa
I converted our two heads to VF over 10 years ago. They are both on a single pump system and I have had no problems at all except having to change out the duck bills every few years. Quite simple, actually. I don't get it when others on this forum say that the system is complicated. It is a lot quieter than the electric systems that I have seen/heard and water usage is minimal. If there were a better system, wouldn't the airlines utilize it?
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Exactly, changing the duckbills every few years, a nasty, dirty, unsanitary job, maintenance. A Marine Elegance electric head is flush and forget for many years and service is a no-brainer when it does require service. The fact that you have not had problems means very little. Listen to Peggy. I did. Five plus years of ownership, living aboard for three years now. As I said, flush and forget. As for the airplane analogy, well, tell us why the airlines use what they use instead of asking why they use what they use.
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09-23-2019, 02:42 PM
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#49
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,191
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Fedex just delivered my new Marine Elegance head today. I will be installing it over the winter while I have my port engine out to replace the fuel tank. With the engine out it will be much much easier to access the area that I have to run the waste hoses. I am also going to add a second vent hose while I am at it along with a Groco Sweetank air pump system.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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09-23-2019, 04:49 PM
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#50
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Guru
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Aruna
Vessel Model: Kristen Yachts 50 Pilot House
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 541
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
Ask Peggie about how much water Vacuflush actually use, not their sales pitch. The Marine Elegance can be fresh water flush if you choose that setup. I just ordered one yesterday for our current boat. We put one in a previous boat and I didn’t think it was loud. I think that the ME will not use any more water than a Vacuflush and the ME can use 1” discharge so you can flush it completely with less water.
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I just replaced a whole Vacuflush setup with two brand new Raritan Marine Elegance heads about a month ago. My main reasons were similar to the above - the water usage of the Vacuflush was much, much higher than their sales pitch. I talked with Peggie for an hour about the pros and cons to various systems, with the Vacuflush being one of the least desirable.
That, combined with the size of the Vacuflush vacuum generators, amount of spare parts you need, the cost of them, and the yearly maintenance required, and I was sold.
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09-23-2019, 05:07 PM
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#51
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Veteran Member
City: Lake Champlain, VT
Vessel Name: Island Bound
Vessel Model: Chris Craft Catalina 48'
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 35
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Vacuflush - Mine works GREAT
On our boat, one head is a Vacuflush and the other is Jabsco electric. The Vacuflush gets used several times a day - our primary head.
Plumbing: Our setup goes from the 1.5" flex hose, connects to 1" PVC - straight run through the engine room and then back to 1.5" flex hose and into the top of the holding tank. Guessing the entire run is..18 or so feet - 1" PVC run is about 8'.
I like having two separate systems in case there is an issue with one head. And yes, TP goes into the Vacuflush.
Not real impressed with the Jabsco head but it does work (noisy!).
Gregg
48' Chris Craft Catalina
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09-23-2019, 06:53 PM
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#52
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Guru
City: Southport, FL near Panama City
Vessel Name: FROLIC
Vessel Model: Mainship 30 Pilot II since 2015. GB-42 1986-2015. Former Unlimited Tonnage Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,984
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Does the Elegance installation instruction have a specified drop to tank? Can the VF solve the issue where a sufficient drop is not there?
__________________
Rich Gano
FROLIC (2005 MainShip 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
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09-23-2019, 07:59 PM
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#53
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Guru
City: Signal Mtn., TN
Vessel Name: Stella Maris
Vessel Model: Defever 44
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,742
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
How do you like the Purasan? How much work is it to maintain?
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Sorry, just saw your question. We LOVE the Purasan. Once it’s programmed properly—which is drop dead easy—it works exactly as advertised. You need to follow directions to the letter winterizing it—no antifreeze, so it must be drained—but it’s surprisingly easy to do and not at all unpleasant. Changing the tablets every 75 flushes or so is a 5-10 minute job. It’s quality equipment and not having to worry about pump outs in most cruising areas is the best part.
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09-23-2019, 08:10 PM
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#54
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rgano
Does the Elegance installation instruction have a specified drop to tank? Can the VF solve the issue where a sufficient drop is not there?
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No specified drop to tank that I see. It has a maximum 10’ high vented loop with no distance to the tank. The maximum height drops with increased distance to the tank, for example the maximum height is 7’ with a hose length of 68’. You have to take into account 90s, Ys etc in the distance to the tank. I suppose if the tank were at the height of the ME then you could run the discharge hose up like a vented loop to get a drop to the tank. That is a guess on my part though. Maybe ask Peggie to be sure.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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09-23-2019, 08:10 PM
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#55
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by angus99
Sorry, just saw your question. We LOVE the Purasan. Once it’s programmed properly—which is drop dead easy—it works exactly as advertised. You need to follow directions to the letter winterizing it—no antifreeze, so it must be drained—but it’s surprisingly easy to do and not at all unpleasant. Changing the tablets every 75 flushes or so is a 5-10 minute job. It’s quality equipment and not having to worry about pump outs in most cruising areas is the best part.
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Ok, thanks for the info.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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09-23-2019, 08:36 PM
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#56
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Guru
City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,515
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Luther H
Peggy,
Please send me the VF 101 guidelines. I greatly appreciate your informative contributions to this site. In addition, your how to solution responses include a good technical explanation of why it works that way. I have your book on board and use it as I consider how increase vent line size and add a second vent. Thank you, cowdenl@aol.com
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It should be landing in your inbox as I type here. And I'll be glad to help you figure how to best increase the ventilation to your tank.
--Peggie
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09-23-2019, 08:38 PM
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#57
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,191
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Peggie,
What fitting goes into a Uniseal? I don’t remember. I am going to be adding at least one, maybe two 1” vents into my holding tank.
__________________
Boat Nut:
If you are one there is no explanation necessary.
If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.
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09-23-2019, 08:39 PM
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#58
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Guru
City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,515
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Does the Elegance installation instruction have a specified drop to tank? Can the VF solve the issue where a sufficient drop is not there?
I don't understand the question.
--Peggie
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09-23-2019, 08:42 PM
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#59
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Guru
City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,515
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
Peggie, What fitting goes into a Uniseal? I don’t remember.
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A short piece of PVC pipe--straight, 45 or 90 depending on what you need--becomes the hose fitting. Just be sure sure the OD of the pipe is the same size as the ID of the hose that has to fit onto it.
--Peggie
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09-23-2019, 08:47 PM
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#60
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Guru
City: Southport, FL near Panama City
Vessel Name: FROLIC
Vessel Model: Mainship 30 Pilot II since 2015. GB-42 1986-2015. Former Unlimited Tonnage Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,984
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadMistress
Does the Elegance installation instruction have a specified drop to tank? Can the VF solve the issue where a sufficient drop is not there?
I don't understand the question.
--Peggie
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It was probably an erroneous reference on my part to dirt home installations which require a "plumber's drop" in sewage lines. I was wondering if after the push up the vented loop what the drop to the tank should be to ensure the stuff gets where it has to go. Then thinking of how the VF works, would it overcome an uphill battle to the tank?
__________________
Rich Gano
FROLIC (2005 MainShip 30 Pilot II)
Panama City area
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