Gave up on vacuflush retrofit, now what?

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mchad

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Just bought a 2000 crownline 242, which oddly enough came out of storage w/o a head! Have an aluminium 22gal holding tank, raw water supply line and 1.5" waste line. Both are currently disconnected and plugged in the head cabin. Anyway, after getting a $3000 estimate to install a vacuflush system, I have decided not to go that route... I definitly want to convert to freshwater flush, but I can't decide between a good manual pump flush head and an electric, like the raritan elegance. I have never used a manual head, in fact, this is my first real head. My last boat had a pump out porta potti.

Looking at manual heads, everyone I see has the pump and hose fitting on the right side, or faceing the rear, but on my boat, the feed and tank hoses are on the left, so the output fittings would need to be at 9:00 on the head itself. Are there any good manual heads with the output at 9:00? (9:00 if you are looking at the head that is...)

Next, if I do go manual, can it accept pressurized freshwater?

Last, which do I choose???

Thanks and sorry for the long post...

Mike
 
On the original Jabsco heads, the bottom assembly can be rotated 180 degrees compared to the bowl. This should be what you are looking for.

I do not know if they can accept pressurized water
 
Our Jabsco manual pump is also able to be moved to the left side.
 
The back of the Raritan Elegance is angled. This may fit well in some boats but not others. Also, the Elegance looks like it was designed for supply and discahrge lines to come up through the sole (floor).

I've had a Raritan Atlantes for the last four or five years. The Atlantes can be fed from the back, but you need a vertical wall to mount it against.

My previous boat had a Vacuflush. Both the Atlantes and Vacuflush worked well, and I don't see that one was better than the other- except the Atlantes is a lot less expensive! The Vacuflush requires and hose runs for the vacuum pump and accumulator, but once the head is mounted it is unlikely you'll ever have to remove it for service- its the accumulator and pump you need to access. The Raritans require that you move the head to service, since all the guts are "inside". I put an access panel behind my Atlantes, but I'm happy to say that it hasn't been needed- I've not had a problem.
 
mchad, manual toilets are designed to flush with raw water only. You cannot connect them to pressurized fresh water without risking contaminating your tanks and making everyone on the boat sick. The only safe way to use fresh water with a manual head is to install a separate, dedicated tank that the toilet draws from, then refill the tank when necessary.

I'd also be a little leery of the aluminum holding tank. Their normal life is approximately 7 years, then they develop a pinhole leak - then another, then another - until the whole tank has turned into a reasonable facsimile of a colander.

Boat builders use scrap aluminum sheet to fabricate their holding tanks, as it doesn't cost them much of anything. But like everything else in this life, you get what you pay for (if you're lucky). The acids and salts in urine soon begin eating their way through the tank. And once you've found a leak, it's only the first of many. Its just like killing ants at a picnic; you kill one and ten thousand more of them show up for the funeral!

I recommend extra-thick walled plastic tanks. Apart from any external damage to them, they'll last forever if they're kept out of the sun.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

mchad, manual toilets are designed to flush with raw water only. You cannot connect them to pressurized fresh water without risking contaminating your tanks and making everyone on the boat sick. The only safe way to use fresh water with a manual head is to install a separate, dedicated tank that the toilet draws from, then refill the tank when necessary.

I'd also be a little leery of the aluminum holding tank. Their normal life is approximately 7 years, then they develop a pinhole leak - then another, then another - until the whole tank has turned into a reasonable facsimile of a colander.

Boat builders use scrap aluminum sheet to fabricate their holding tanks, as it doesn't cost them much of anything. But like everything else in this life, you get what you pay for (if you're lucky). The acids and salts in urine soon begin eating their way through the tank. And once you've found a leak, it's only the first of many. Its just like killing ants at a picnic; you kill one and ten thousand more of them show up for the funeral!

I recommend extra-thick walled plastic tanks. Apart from any external damage to them, they'll last forever if they're kept out of the sun.

Click to expand...


Well, hearing that a) I should replace the holding tank, and b) I can't use fresh water leads me to c) maybe I should consider the $3000 vacuflush system... I just wish I could find a dealer who just sells the parts, so I could do it myself and save the $1500 installation I am being quoted...
 
installing a manual head with an eletctra san treatment system may be the best solution from a cost/function perspetive. the vacuflush is a great system, but my guess is the boat may not have enough fresh water capacity to make it all work for you and still have enough water for showers. if you can eliminate the extra weight of the fresh water, the holding tank, and eliminate the complexity of an electric head my guess is you are saving alot of weight and space.
 
quote:
Originally posted by vic33004

installing a manual head with an eletctra san treatment system may be the best solution from a cost/function perspetive. the vacuflush is a great system, but my guess is the boat may not have enough fresh water capacity to make it all work for you and still have enough water for showers. if you can eliminate the extra weight of the fresh water, the holding tank, and eliminate the complexity of an electric head my guess is you are saving alot of weight and space.

Click to expand...


Electra San is a treatment/discharge system, right? I am on the Hudson River exclusively, so I can't use a discharge system, can I?

I have a huge engine compartment, where the existing holding and FW tanks are. The holding is 28 gal and the FW is 22. Should be more then enough for a vacuflush... Which is the direction I am going.

Which leads to my next question. Does Boatfix sell Vacuflush HTS-VG tanks? (Those are the holding tanks with the vac gen built in) I can only find a local installer who, wants to install it... I could install the system myself and save $1200 in installaion. If only I could order the parts somewhere.
 
Exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Do you want a fresh water flush or do you want an automated flush?

To improvise a fresh water flush, you can use the "shower head" to spray fresh water into the head. If you want an automated flush, I beleive that Jabsco has a conversion for about $500.

Looks like you can't have both unless you spend the big bucks.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Crownline 242

Exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Do you want a fresh water flush or do you want an automated flush?

To improvise a fresh water flush, you can use the "shower head" to spray fresh water into the head. If you want an automated flush, I beleive that Jabsco has a conversion for about $500.

Looks like you can't have both unless you spend the big bucks.

Click to expand...


Both, actually... I believe I am able to install the vacuflush system myself, but I need to find a seller...
 
Too bad the Elegance (freshwater model) won't work for you I just removed my 2 year old VacuFlush and replaced it with a Raritan Elegance. There is actually a noticable difference in simplicity and programmable adjustable water levels. My old aluminum tank's bottom looked like a cheese grater and leaked all over the bilge. I replaced it with a large Poly tank. Using a holding tank is nice if you boat in NDZ's I use a PuraSan Hold N Treat system along with the holding tank, once I am out of the NDZ I use the Hold-N-Treat with the PuraSan to start clearing the holding tank.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by mchad

quote:
Originally posted by Crownline 242

Exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Do you want a fresh water flush or do you want an automated flush?

To improvise a fresh water flush, you can use the "shower head" to spray fresh water into the head. If you want an automated flush, I beleive that Jabsco has a conversion for about $500.

Looks like you can't have both unless you spend the big bucks.

Click to expand...


Both, actually... I believe I am able to install the vacuflush system myself, but I need to find a seller...

Click to expand...


Give these folks a call:
Marine Surplus in Sarasota FL
(941) 758-3552

They seem to have Vacuflushes heads and parts almost every time I stop by.
 
For VacuFlush parts, you can also check in with Northeast Marine Sanitation:

69 Florida St
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Phone : 800-352-4323 Toll Free
Local : 631-752-7606

They are the regional Vacuflush distributor for the entire northeastern U.S., Maine to Virginia
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

For VacuFlush parts, you can also check in with Northeast Marine Sanitation:

69 Florida St
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Phone : 800-352-4323 Toll Free
Local : 631-752-7606

They are the regional Vacuflush distributor for the entire northeastern U.S., Maine to Virginia

Click to expand...


Thanks Vic. Unfortunatly, NMS won't sell to me. They only sell to "authorized" installers... I tried them first!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Capt. Bill1

quote:
Originally posted by mchad

quote:
Originally posted by Crownline 242

Exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Do you want a fresh water flush or do you want an automated flush?

To improvise a fresh water flush, you can use the "shower head" to spray fresh water into the head. If you want an automated flush, I beleive that Jabsco has a conversion for about $500.

Looks like you can't have both unless you spend the big bucks.

Click to expand...


Both, actually... I believe I am able to install the vacuflush system myself, but I need to find a seller...

Click to expand...


Give these folks a call:
Marine Surplus in Sarasota FL
(941) 758-3552

They seem to have Vacuflushes heads and parts almost every time I stop by.

Click to expand...


DAMN! I just spoke to them, and they have the head, but the smallest holding tank/vacuum generator they have is 28 gallons, and I need the 18 gal version! Nuts! Really great prices too.
 
If your interested let me see if my system which is only 1.5 seasons old with a new 18 gallon holding tank (never installed came with the package) and the separate all in one vacuum generator/pump and a bone colored VacuFlush head with spare duckbills (4) for $1k. My marina may have already sold the head I have to check. The system was sanitized and cleaned when removed. I can call the marina tomorrow if your interested. I have all the paperwork you will need new hoses I suggest buying the best sanitation hose.
Bill
 
mchad, if Northeast won't sell to you directly, contact George Melton at Seacoast Services in Amityville. (631) 598-2628 or (877) 645-2064 (toll-free)
 
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