Flatswing
Guru
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2016
- Messages
- 582
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- River Girl
- Vessel Make
- 2004 DeFever 49 RPH
I have a (new to me) 49 DeFever RPH. It has 2 well functioning vacuflush heads. All the hoses are permeated and need replacing (along with a partially blocked vent hose). Both heads have a direct discharge overboard option or to a single holding tank via Y valves. In addition to the marina pump out deck pipe, there is a separate holding tank discharge via a macerator pump to a direct discharge thru-hull.
My problem is all the hoses, Y valves, 2 vacuflush pumps, and the macerator pump are jammed under the forward companionway and difficult to access even for basic service like joker valve replacement on the vacuflush units. I can't personally even reach the vent hose to remove the filter let alone do any basic repairs so I'm going to have to write a big check to have all the hoses replaced, the vent changed and proactively service the vacuflush & macerator pumps.
Instead I am considering:
1) removing the vacuflush units
2) replacing both toilets with Raritan Marine Elegance heads as Peggy Hall & Hopcar rate them so highly
3) removing the Y valves & cap the individual direct discharge thru-hulls
4) connecting the new toilets directly to the holding tank (approx 6-8' from each).
5) maintaining the holding tank discharge (preferentially) by marina pumpout or (if offshore) directly overboard via the macerator pump.
I'm thinking that despite the cost of 2 new Marine Elegance toilets and a spare macerator pump because of the marine tech labor $$, the overall cost may not change much if I have them take everything out thus creating space to install this simplified system rather than the difficult task of servicing the existing units whilst replacing the hoses. More importantly in future, while cruising, I will have a simple accessible layout that I can fix myself.
I would value everyone's comments and experiences.
My problem is all the hoses, Y valves, 2 vacuflush pumps, and the macerator pump are jammed under the forward companionway and difficult to access even for basic service like joker valve replacement on the vacuflush units. I can't personally even reach the vent hose to remove the filter let alone do any basic repairs so I'm going to have to write a big check to have all the hoses replaced, the vent changed and proactively service the vacuflush & macerator pumps.
Instead I am considering:
1) removing the vacuflush units
2) replacing both toilets with Raritan Marine Elegance heads as Peggy Hall & Hopcar rate them so highly
3) removing the Y valves & cap the individual direct discharge thru-hulls
4) connecting the new toilets directly to the holding tank (approx 6-8' from each).
5) maintaining the holding tank discharge (preferentially) by marina pumpout or (if offshore) directly overboard via the macerator pump.
I'm thinking that despite the cost of 2 new Marine Elegance toilets and a spare macerator pump because of the marine tech labor $$, the overall cost may not change much if I have them take everything out thus creating space to install this simplified system rather than the difficult task of servicing the existing units whilst replacing the hoses. More importantly in future, while cruising, I will have a simple accessible layout that I can fix myself.
I would value everyone's comments and experiences.