Marine Head

[snider]

I bought a boat!
I got a good deal on a fixer upper Pacific Seacraft 25. It needs a lot of work and I'm sure I'll be here a lot.

It has through hulls for a marine head but no head. It was set up to pump overboard. The owner bought a holding tank but never installed it.

I'm planning on living aboard so I must have a head, but I'm trying to find my best option.

If you could start from scratch what system would you choose and why? Nothing electric. I hate the holding tank smell! Thanks Brandon

[T37Chef]

If you hate the holding tank smell these are hard to beat, but not a lot of holding tank space for a live aboard My Uncle has one and you don't smell sh&t, but then they're weekends only.



West Marine: Head-Marine Traveler-Bone Product Display

[Faster]

Give this:

West Marine: West Advisor

a bit of a read... it lays out the various ways of plumbing up this equipment. It's pretty nice to have the option of overboard discharge or holding tank pumpout in the appropriate open waters, and some of these layouts allow both.

If the laws are more restrictive in your area perhaps there's no point in even building an overboard discharge, but even then as an emergency measure it may be worthwhile.

Good luck, at least you're starting from scratch, not fixing someone elses botched job.

[sailingdog]

On inland waters, not having an overboard discharge is probably sensible, since overboard discharge is illegal. In coastal waters, it would probably make sense to at least have the option.

[oceansailing]

Greatest marinehead I have had is a Lavac....flawless for 5 years of full time use.

[oceansailing]

Also, the new bilge pumps that Lavac uses are much better - the old Henderson did not work that well in continuous usage for over a year.

[oceansailing]

P.S. the Source for Lavac heads is the St. Brendan's Isle people, and they are a great source of technical info.

[sailingdog]

Lavacs are probably the least troublesome of all the marine heads.

[CapnRon47]

SD
Thats great to hear.

I just bought a boat and I was looking at the head and said that looks different. How does this one work, the pump handle looks and moves all wrong.

Turns out it is a Lavac


I assume I can learn all I need to know here,
Lavac Marine Toilets
but I am always eager to hear any real life experiences

[Freesail99]

Originally Posted by CapnRon47

SD
Thats great to hear.

I just bought a boat and I was looking at the head and said that looks different. How does this one work, the pump handle looks and moves all wrong.

Turns out it is a Lavac


I assume I can learn all I need to know here,
Lavac Marine Toilets
but I am always eager to hear any real life experiences

Dam if you close the door, where do you put your legs? I have the same head, with a lot more room.