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09-27-2019, 02:25 PM
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#1
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Guru
City: San Francisco
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,094
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Does a Raritan Marine Elegance use less water than a Vacuflush?
Been lots of threads on replacing marine heads, but I am interested in only this subject from people who have swapped from the Vacuflush. The head seems to use more water than showers on our boat (and yes, we do take showers!).
I know the Raritan can be had with switchable fresh/sea water flush, but the seawater requires a pump and thru hull, and will stink a little more after awhile.
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09-27-2019, 03:37 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,515
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With the addition of the optional "Smart Flush" panel which provides 4 choices, the Marine Elegance can actually use less flush water than a VF actually needs to keep the hoses, pump and duckbills rinsed out enough to prevent problems with it (90% of problems are caused by using too little water).
In the 10 years since Raritan introduced the Elegance, I've yet to hear from--or about--anyone who's complained about a sea water odor problem from the remote intake pump.
--Peggie
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09-27-2019, 03:39 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,189
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Per Peggie, you need to flush more with a Vacuflush than most people do. I don’t know which uses more water but I suspect that they are close if you actually use the proper amount if water in the Vacuflush. One advantage with the ME is that you have the option of using 1” discharge hose which will take less water to flush the crap to the holding tank than a 1 1/2” hose. I just got my new ME on Monday and will be installing it over the winter.
__________________
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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09-27-2019, 03:46 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Mississippi
Vessel Name: ADAGIO
Vessel Model: CHB Present 42 Sundeck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 920
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
Per Peggie, you need to flush more with a Vacuflush than most people do. I don’t know which uses more water but I suspect that they are close if you actually use the proper amount if water in the Vacuflush. One advantage with the ME is that you have the option of using 1” discharge hose which will take less water to flush the crap to the holding tank than a 1 1/2” hose. I just got my new ME on Monday and will be installing it over the winter.
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Our ME just arrived last week also But I think I will go with the 1.5" lines - just can't imagine, or bring myself to put a 1" drain line on a toilet
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09-27-2019, 04:01 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: San Francisco
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,094
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Sounds like not a dramatic difference.
If I swap, I'm thinking of using the sea water anchor washdown pump circuit for the sea water flush source. The pump is already needed, the thru hull already there. Only difference would be I'd need to leave it powered.
Any problems with the ME head connected to a fairly powerful washdown pump? The one currently in place is a wimpy Whale thing, I plan to replace it with something that can actually wash an anchor.
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09-27-2019, 04:10 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,515
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Any problems with the ME head connected to a fairly powerful washdown pump?
I'd install a pump that meets the water volume and pressure specs called for in the installation instructions Raritan Marine Elegance Owners Manual
And also keep in mind that you do need to install the SeaFresh system Raritan seafresh.pdf to be able to use both fresh and sea water, you can't just connect both water sources.
--Peggie
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09-27-2019, 04:19 PM
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#7
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,189
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxtrotCharlie
Our ME just arrived last week also But I think I will go with the 1.5" lines - just can't imagine, or bring myself to put a 1" drain line on a toilet
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Remember that the ME is a macerating head so there won’t be any large chunks going into the discharge hose.
__________________
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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09-27-2019, 05:07 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: San Francisco
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,094
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadMistress
Any problems with the ME head connected to a fairly powerful washdown pump?
I'd install a pump that meets the water volume and pressure specs called for in the installation instructions Raritan Marine Elegance Owners Manual
--Peggie
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The specs only list minimum volume and pressure, which any washdown pump will do. The question is will it stand 60 psi or even more, that a good washdown pump will put out?
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09-27-2019, 06:14 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Mississippi
Vessel Name: ADAGIO
Vessel Model: CHB Present 42 Sundeck
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 920
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
Remember that the ME is a macerating head so there won’t be any large chunks going into the discharge hose.
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I know, I know. But as a landlord who has seen his share of plugged-up plumbing ......
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09-27-2019, 06:24 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,266
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Now I’m curious.
For those who have removed a VF head and replaced with a Marine Elegance...
Thinking of the physical side of the installation, and the deck fittings that the VF uses, how did the installation work out?
* Were you able to down discharge like the VF?
* 1.5” hose like the VF?
* Capable of pumping a bit upward like the VF?
* Was the original VF deck hole completely covered, or did you need to fabricate a deck plate to complete the installation?
I’m pretty happy right now with my VF heads, but one of them has the vacuum generator in a not so easy to access spot, making it a candidate for possible replacement.
Both of my heads go to a 1.5” wye fitting and then to the holding tank, no valves in the way.
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09-27-2019, 06:31 PM
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#11
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,189
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxtrotCharlie
I know, I know. But as a landlord who has seen his share of plugged-up plumbing ......
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Have you looked at what comes out of the macerator? It is basically a slurry that I don’t see as a problem plugging up the hose. With the smaller hose you will be able to completely clear the poop to the holding tank with less water and therefore I think it will keep the hose cleaner since you won’t be as leery about using a bit more water to completely flush the hose.
__________________
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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09-27-2019, 06:34 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,189
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
Now I’m curious.
For those who have removed a VF head and replaced with a Marine Elegance...
Thinking of the physical side of the installation, and the deck fittings that the VF uses, how did the installation work out?
* Were you able to down discharge like the VF?
* 1.5” hose like the VF?
* Capable of pumping a bit upward like the VF?
* Was the original VF deck hole completely covered, or did you need to fabricate a deck plate to complete the installation?
I’m pretty happy right now with my VF heads, but one of them has the vacuum generator in a not so easy to access spot, making it a candidate for possible replacement.
Both of my heads go to a 1.5” wye fitting and then to the holding tank, no valves in the way.
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Yes it has a down discharge. I got an adapter so I can back discharge.
Yes it can use either 1” or 1 1/2” discharge hose.
Yes it can pump uphill.
Don’t know about the hole coverage since I have not replaced a Vacuflush.
I did make a 3/4” plywood base for mine since there are multiple holes in the fiberglass from who knows what over its 32 years.
__________________
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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09-27-2019, 06:38 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Seattle, WA
Vessel Name: Pau Hana
Vessel Model: 1989 PT52 Overseas Yachtfisher
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,676
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FoxtrotCharlie
I know, I know. But as a landlord who has seen his share of plugged-up plumbing ......
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My son drops torpedoes the size of human forearm (he's 6'5", around 275).
Our ME chews his remnants with no problem...
__________________
Peter- Marine Insurance Guru at Novamar Insurance Group (206-350-5051) & tuna fishing addict!
1989 52' PT Overseas yachtfisher
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09-27-2019, 08:30 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: AR
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,515
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DDW
The specs only list minimum volume and pressure, which any washdown pump will do. The question is will it stand 60 psi or even more, that a good washdown pump will put out?
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That's a question for Raritan. Give 'em a call at 800-352-5630. A real live person actually answers the phone in tech support.
--Peggie
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09-28-2019, 10:25 AM
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#15
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Guru
City: Beaufort, NC USA
Vessel Name: Sylphide
Vessel Model: Kingston Aluminum Yacht 44' Custom
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,228
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pau Hana
My son drops torpedoes the size of human forearm (he's 6'5", around 275).
Our ME chews his remnants with no problem...
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Please stop! I can only get SO aroused!
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09-28-2019, 11:48 AM
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#16
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,189
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As long as he doesn’t post photos even though we usually want photos of everything...
__________________
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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09-28-2019, 02:48 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Bellingham WA
Vessel Name: Hatt Trick
Vessel Model: 45' Hatteras Convertible
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,973
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadMistress
That's a question for Raritan. Give 'em a call at 800-352-5630. A real live person actually answers the phone in tech support.
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A good person to contact at Raritan tech support is Greg Morales. Very knowledgeable about their toilets and pleasant to deal with. I spoke and emailed with Greg on my original Crown toilet installations and am doing so presently on converting them to freshwater SeaEra's.
__________________
Ken on Hatt Trick
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09-28-2019, 04:15 PM
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#18
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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 DDW
Been lots of threads on replacing marine heads, but I am interested in only this subject from people who have swapped from the Vacuflush. The head seems to use more water than showers on our boat (and yes, we do take showers!).
I know the Raritan can be had with switchable fresh/sea water flush, but the seawater requires a pump and thru hull, and will stink a little more after awhile.
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I had a VacuFlush system on boat for the last year (the boat was new to me a year ago) and switched to Raritan Marine Elegance about 2 months ago. I had two heads, and switched both heads at the same time.
With the VacuFlush system, I had smells almost constantly, mainly due to the tiny size of my tank, and filling it up more often than I'd like. It used a lot of water, IF the crew used it right. That is part of the problem - you have to train them that for solids, they need to give it 7-10 seconds of water to ensure things get where they are supposed to go, and not gum up the works. After a year of use, things were starting to show issues which would have required more maintenance than I would have wanted.
With the Raritan system, I am 100% using less water, as I can go almost 3x as long without pumping out. Not only that, it is dead simple for my crew to use - I even put little colored stickers on the smart toilet control panel buttons that they should use the most often, and matched the colors to... well the input if you know what I mean.
Peggie was instrumental in providing data to help me make this decision.
I also installed a similar system on my previous boat (a sailboat) although I think it was the SeaEra model, but it still used the same control panel. Had it for 4 years with little or no maintenance, and a perfect track record.
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10-01-2019, 07:33 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: San Francisco
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 3,094
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^^^ Thanks for that info, just what I was looking for.
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10-07-2019, 12:43 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Port Townsend, WA
Vessel Name: Traveler
Vessel Model: Cheoy Lee 46 LRC
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,576
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pau Hana
My son drops torpedoes the size of human forearm (he's 6'5", around 275).
Our ME chews his remnants with no problem...
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LOL! Now THAT is a great example of the depth of actual experience (dispensed with a dose of good humor) that makes reading some threads so worthwhile.
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