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UseMyName

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Hello!

We have taken out our Baby Blakes Minor loo to refurbish it and I've just seen the price of the maintenance kit and the spares... As it is in a bad way (its corroded and there are hairline cracks in the bowl) I am thinking it might be a better option to replace it and incorporate a holding tank.

Should I keep going and refurb the blakes or change it for one of these:
www.force4.co.uk/department/chandle...kes-lavac-taylors-lavac-popular-toilet-m.html

or one of these:
http://www.force4.co.uk/department/...ies/toilets/jabsco-manual-toilet-compact.html

Has anyone had any experience refurbishing a Blakes or installing the above heads?

Holding Tank - Now here's a nice discussion... Has anyone installed a holding tank on a twister that can tell me where, how and did it have to be custom made?

Thanks,

Katie
 
For holding tanks tou can try the aptly named CAK tanks (couldn't resist!) or TEK tanks I know do custom made ones. Vetus tanks also are good quality. Personally I think the inexpensive Jabsco loos are fine & I'd only have a holding tank if required by law, personal thing just don't like the idea. I carry a Thetford loo on the boat in Greece in case I need to not pump overboard...

http://caktanks.co.uk/CAK_Water_Tanks.htm
http://www.tektanks.com/
 
We are planning to go to the med through the French canals hence the need for a holding tank... I really don't like the idea of a holding tank, but I hadn't thought about taking a portable loo with me.

Thank you for the links on holding tanks, I'll take a look.

V1701 said:
For holding tanks tou can try the aptly named CAK tanks (couldn't resist!) or TEK tanks I know do custom made ones. Vetus tanks also are good quality. Personally I think the inexpensive Jabsco loos are fine & I'd only have a holding tank if required by law, personal thing just don't like the idea. I carry a Thetford loo on the boat in Greece in case I need to not pump overboard...

http://caktanks.co.uk/CAK_Water_Tanks.htm
http://www.tektanks.com/
Click to expand...
 
UseMyName, to answer your other question I'd unhesitatingly recommend the Lavac Popular: simple, reliable, and won't cost you a fortune in service parts (which the other one will). In my view, one of the great bits of marine engineering, if perhaps less heralded than, say, Brunel's better ships. Also very easy to integrate with a holding tank.

And on the subjects of holding tanks and simplicity (is that an oxymoron?): if you can arrange to have the tank above sea level, you can plumb it so that everything goes through the holding tank. Whether it goes immediately into the sea or not is determined solely by the outlet seacock: on or off. No Y-valves, nothing complicated at all.
 
I have installed several toilets in different boats, the only problem you are likely to face is that the base bolting may well be different, requiring some ingenuity. The Jabsco compact is pretty good and mostly reliable. We quite fancied a Lavac but could not fit both a holding tank and the pump into our heads.

Although off-the-shelf holding tanks are available they are mostly rectangular and do not fit a small yacht very easily. I did have a wrap-around tank for a while but its reliability was poor for more than occasional use. I bought a custom one from Tek-tanks, not a cheap option. I recommend that you don't go for what may be the simplest option of putting the tank a long way from the toilet, in another compartment for example. This is a recipe for salts deposition in the hoses and smells in the boat.
 
The Lavac would be my choice although more expensive than say a Jabsco. It is however important that the Lavac is installed and plumbed in as described in the instructions. See the Blakes Lavac Taylors website for the installation and operation manual.
 
Hi Macd,

I want to keep everything simple on the boat, so I really like the idea of having the holding tank as you suggest with everything going through it - less things to go wrong!

Thanks,

Katie

macd said:
UseMyName, to answer your other question I'd unhesitatingly recommend the Lavac Popular: simple, reliable, and won't cost you a fortune in service parts (which the other one will). In my view, one of the great bits of marine engineering, if perhaps less heralded than, say, Brunel's better ships. Also very easy to integrate with a holding tank.

And on the subjects of holding tanks and simplicity (is that an oxymoron?): if you can arrange to have the tank above sea level, you can plumb it so that everything goes through the holding tank. Whether it goes immediately into the sea or not is determined solely by the outlet seacock: on or off. No Y-valves, nothing complicated at all.
Click to expand...
 
UseMyName said:
I really like the idea of having the holding tank as you suggest with everything going through it - less things to go wrong!
Click to expand...

If I remember correctly, there's a schematic of such an arrangement somewhere on the Lavac website, although the arrangement is really so simple there's barely need for one.
Incidentally, wherever you source your tank, make sure it has a good-sized breather fitting, not some stupid 12mm thing. The biggest reason for holding tank pongs is anaerobic decay, so a generous breather size is good.
 
For the last 3 years I've had a boat with a Lavac. For the previous 10 years I had Jabsco. Both have done the job perfectly.

I suggest that whichever fits best is the one to have.
 
I have refurbished a Baby Blake - not a great success and quite hard work. But it did work ok after refurb'ed. I have also fitted a Lavac Popular on TG - a great loo. It has been installed for 21 years now and has needed no attention. And I have just ordered a bespoke holding tank from Tek Tanks. With the Lavac you can use the pump to do all the pumping for the holding tank. All you need is a couple of diverter valves so the pump either sucks from the toilet or the holding tank and pumps either overboard or into the holding tank. With the Jabesco you will need another pump. And yes as Macd says there is a diagram in the Lavac manual for a holding tank.
 
The Lavac seems to be the way to go.

Is this the set up you have on TG? I ask as I live in West Mersea and wondered if I could take a look at how it works if it isn't too much of an inconvenience?

tillergirl said:
I have refurbished a Baby Blake - not a great success and quite hard work. But it did work ok after refurb'ed. I have also fitted a Lavac Popular on TG - a great loo. It has been installed for 21 years now and has needed no attention. And I have just ordered a bespoke holding tank from Tek Tanks. With the Lavac you can use the pump to do all the pumping for the holding tank. All you need is a couple of diverter valves so the pump either sucks from the toilet or the holding tank and pumps either overboard or into the holding tank. With the Jabesco you will need another pump. And yes as Macd says there is a diagram in the Lavac manual for a holding tank.
Click to expand...
 
tillergirl said:
With the Lavac you can use the pump to do all the pumping for the holding tank. All you need is a couple of diverter valves so the pump either sucks from the toilet or the holding tank and pumps either overboard or into the holding tank.
Click to expand...

As said, no need at all for a diverter valve if the holding tank is above sea level: just pump everything through it, whether you intend to hold it there or not.
 
I had a baby Blake for a couple of years. Nothing but trouble. I bought another one second hand and 'found' a full service kit. Used the best bits from each and changed all the seals. Leaked constantly and tried to sink the boat when we went away for the weekend (shut off valve didn't do its job and overflowed leaving water about a foot above the sole). Went in the skip shortly after. Now we have a lavac which is Excellent.

Btw If you flush vinegar through periodically it will not silt up.
 
wklein;5197065 Btw If you flush vinegar through periodically it will not silt up.[/QUOTE said:
Adequate flushing will help tremendously too. Bacterial action on any urine not flushed away produces ammonia. Ammonia raises the pH, which causes calcium carbonate scale to be formed from dissolved calcium bicarbonate.
Click to expand...
 
UseMyName said:
The Lavac seems to be the way to go.

Is this the set up you have on TG? I ask as I live in West Mersea and wondered if I could take a look at how it works if it isn't too much of an inconvenience?
Click to expand...

TG is laid up at Heybridge at the moment. Right now I just have the Lavac fitted (as its been for 21 years). The drawings for the holding tank have arrived this evening for checking so things are stripped out ready but I have yet to start fitting in earnest. Of course you can have a look. If you pm me with an email address I can send you an image of the heads at the moment (looking v scruffy as I am starting to prepare the heads for painting before I start constructing.
 
VicS said:
Adequate flushing will help tremendously too. Bacterial action on any urine not flushed away produces ammonia. Ammonia raises the pH, which causes calcium carbonate scale to be formed from dissolved calcium bicarbonate.
Click to expand...

+1
In other words, push the 'slug' of urine out of the seacock with extra flushing water. It won't do anything to your plumbing if it's in the oggin.

re wklein's vinegar tip, hydrochloric acid is much cheaper, more effective and much less bulky. It can be diluted before tipping in the loo, if desired. It tastes awful on chips, though.
 
My new old gaffer has a baby Blake, should I just ebay it and put in a modern one during the fitting up period? Reading the above posts it's probly a no-brainer...
 
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