Vacuflush toilet, head. toilets

[Myblueheaven]

I am taking out my old tired heads and am considering those Sealand Vacuflush models. NO...not the vacuum flush toilets that require a sealed seat to work! The actual Sealand brand ''Vacuflush'' line. They work similar to a airplane head. I would appreciate anyone who has real experience with living with these. NOT A Sealand SALESMEN! Also, any advice on the best head you''ve come across.

[FalconEddie]

I like these heads and am not involved in selling them, but I have worked on all kinds of heads for customers over the years. Let me tell you what I like and what I don''t like.

I like that they work great 95% of the time, and if you use your head, they work great 99.5% of the time. They don''t smell. They only use a pint of your own fresh water, so you don''t need the extra thru-hull and you don''t get the smell of stale seawater or stinky-ass canal water in your head. Since the Sealand head uses so little water to flush (about 1/3 to 1/4 of a regular head) your holding tank lasts a lot longer. It is virtually impossible for a Vacuflush head to lose a seal and allow seawater to back into the boat and sink the boat. Women love them because they are oderless and clean. They are totally easy for anyone to fix.

That''s most of the good.

Now for the not so good.

They are expensive. About $1000 plus installation of about another $1000 for a full system. They need extra space for the vacuum pump and vacuum tank. If the little seal in the botom of the head is leaking a little (something nasty in it) the vacuum pump will automatically cycle every half hour or so all night long, making you finally get up, swearing and cursing the day you spent two grand for this freaking nightmare, and turn off the circuit breaker. The next day when you fix it in a second, you''ll be glad to have it again. There are also a half dozen clamps that might leak, which is why you really want to watch a pro install your first one.

By the way, Sealand makes their own oderless hose, and it really works, so let them include as much as is needed for the installation. At $8 per foot, it can get pricy.

Last item: there is a vacuum switch on the vacuum tank that controls the cycling. It costs about $150 and has a warning "Do Not Adjust - Calibrated At Factory" Take their word for it. It''s an expensive item to experiment with for fun. I have played with one while trying to fix a head that it turns out had a leaking vacuum pump (extremely rare). I was lucky that the head rep exchanged the vacuum switch for nothing because the whole system was under warranty.

As far as I''m concerned, the Sealand Vacuflush is the best head I know of, but I do know there are several other companies that make the exact same type systems, but I have zero experience or knowledge of them. There is one or two more U.S. makers, and a couple from Europe.

[levenezia]

Falcon Eddie, thanks for the informative description of the Vacu-flush head. I opted for one in the new Tartan 3700 I just purchased. Cost was $2200.00 factory installed, so you''re right on with the price. The reasons you listed as downsides to the standard raw water head are just the reasons I opted for the Vacu-flush. We''ll see how it works and I''ll bear in mind the nuances of the system that you mentioned. All the best, Larry

[elhanley]

Well, you''ve reminded me of this, so I have to tell you. Years ago, I was hired to take a 64'' ketch to Hong Kong from Manila and put it up for sale. It had four of those sealed-down seat type heads discharging into two treatment plants, which were emptied overboard by Whale Gusher hand pumps, one on each side. We sailed with 20-30 people twice each weekend from the RHKYC (sales promo, you know) and the heads drew a lot of comment. What I didn''t notice is that someone posted neatly lettered signs on each side near the pump ports saying, "Stay clear - high pressure waste discharge without forewarning!", until they caught the attention of the Harbor Police, who required a complete demonstration, then sealed the gushers.

[davmarwood]

Just returned from 5 days on a Hunter 410 with 5 guys and two vacuflush heads. They worked as advertised every time, and we ate well and gave them a good "challenge" each morning. No smell, and the holding tanks lasted for the full days.
Bad point - noisy when flushed. If someone gets up in the middle of the night to use the head, everyone in the boat will know. First person to use it in the morining wakes everyone else up with the noise of the vacuum pump and the gurgling of the waste being sucked around several 90 degree elbows.
Overall, I wish I had the $ to put one in my 35 footer this year, but that will have to wait.