PetiteFleur
Well-Known Member
Get a Lavac and put the Blake on ebay and it should pay for the Lavac!
Heads - Blakes v New
- Thread starter UseMyName
- Start date
UseMyName
New Member
adamstjohn
Well-Known Member
We have a baby blakes and refurbished it, re-chromed the fittings , new seals etc, whilst its lovely and you feel as though you are astride something very secure, I agree with what others have said, it does let water through and valves and taps have to be operated in exactly the order (on ours anyway) or water will come back and come over the top. My wife hates it. Sure francis Chichester loved his though.
BabaYaga
Well-Known Member
Plenty of criticism towards the Blake toilet in this thread, a bit unfair in my view.
If all the seals have been changed and it still leaks...that suggests to me perhaps the job has not been properly done?
I have had one for about 20 years and in most aspects it has been fine. Yes, spares are expensive, but they are still available many years later. Unlike most other products.
To the OP (if you have not already made up your mind to sell it): It's a bit unclear which model you have. Blake Baby or Blake Minor (smaller, round bowl). For the latter i think that you cannot get a new bowl any longer, so this may be a deciding factor for whether to refurbish or sell.
Also you do not say much about whether it works or not. Some corrosion of the chromed parts is not necessarily a big problem. If there are leaks (weeping) on the pump rods you would have to address these. Toilets made after 1992 have "double seals", for older toilets these can be bought as spares, effectively an upgrade.
It might not be necessary to buy the entire spares kit. Individual spare parts are available from Spares Marine.
http://www.sparesmarine.co.uk/webshop/toilets/?brandFilter=Blakes
If all the seals have been changed and it still leaks...that suggests to me perhaps the job has not been properly done?
I have had one for about 20 years and in most aspects it has been fine. Yes, spares are expensive, but they are still available many years later. Unlike most other products.
To the OP (if you have not already made up your mind to sell it): It's a bit unclear which model you have. Blake Baby or Blake Minor (smaller, round bowl). For the latter i think that you cannot get a new bowl any longer, so this may be a deciding factor for whether to refurbish or sell.
Also you do not say much about whether it works or not. Some corrosion of the chromed parts is not necessarily a big problem. If there are leaks (weeping) on the pump rods you would have to address these. Toilets made after 1992 have "double seals", for older toilets these can be bought as spares, effectively an upgrade.
It might not be necessary to buy the entire spares kit. Individual spare parts are available from Spares Marine.
http://www.sparesmarine.co.uk/webshop/toilets/?brandFilter=Blakes
pvb
Well-Known Member
I've had both Lavac and Jabsco toilets, and prefer the Jabsco. It's perfectly functional for many years if treated sensibly.
Wino
Well-Known Member
Do you need a holding tank on French canals? - A new law came in recently (In French/EU so I do not know when) that ALL boats on the canal system MUST be fitted with holding tanks and that ALL Ports must have emptying facilities by some time - I believe last year?
On a recent trip from Central France to the South ( Saone-Rhone) I can not recall seeing more than a couple of these emptying pumps, and one of these was impossible to use because a peniche was moored across it, which did not look like a new arrangement either.
Also has anyone tried to do the calculations of the number of boats-v-the quantity in their tanks -v- how often they need to be emptied? Looking at the huge number of boats throughout France - many of which would be impossible to move on a regular basis - The whole exercise must be a total fail. BUT Its the law???
As you say you are only 'passing through' France I don't think you will be bothered if you do not have a tank.
However, where are you going- from what I read Greece and Turkey are a completely different problem, but I will expect others to comment on that.
On a recent trip from Central France to the South ( Saone-Rhone) I can not recall seeing more than a couple of these emptying pumps, and one of these was impossible to use because a peniche was moored across it, which did not look like a new arrangement either.
Also has anyone tried to do the calculations of the number of boats-v-the quantity in their tanks -v- how often they need to be emptied? Looking at the huge number of boats throughout France - many of which would be impossible to move on a regular basis - The whole exercise must be a total fail. BUT Its the law???
As you say you are only 'passing through' France I don't think you will be bothered if you do not have a tank.
However, where are you going- from what I read Greece and Turkey are a completely different problem, but I will expect others to comment on that.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
Turkey yes, Greece no. Turkey has the Blue Card system that is supposed to regulate black water discharge. Doesn't seem to be perfect but it is an attempt to control a problem with (mostly) local tripper boats. No regulations whatsoever regarding discharges in Greece, indeed many harbours are distinctly pongy thanks to the whole town discharging into them.
danielefua
Well-Known Member
I fully agree. I have had a Baby Blake for 14 years and never had a problem besides the high price of spares which is irrefutable and somehow puzzling. Any ill kept or not-well-installed toilet is able to sink a boat, I am afraid; it is not a prerogative of the Baby Blakes! Well studied loops and vents are the only sensible way to avoid severe accidents.
Until I keep my boat I will keep the BB and cherish its old style elegance which matches perfectly the boat!
Just a small something to muse about: maybe there is a reason why it is so easy to sell on ebay old battered Baby Blakes made in UK and get enough money to buy a new shiny plastic toilet probably made in some remote country.
Daniel
Last edited:
mudkipper
Well-Known Member
Katie
If you sail a Twister, have you tried the owners site www.twister.org.uk . I think you will need to join up to ask questions although you could access to view past question the last time I looked.
John
If you sail a Twister, have you tried the owners site www.twister.org.uk . I think you will need to join up to ask questions although you could access to view past question the last time I looked.
John
adamstjohn
Well-Known Member
I think we did do the job properly but a little water always comes back, fortunately its not a great deal and once you know to turn off both seacocks after use its fine, I assume its the same with all loo's and that if water is left in the bowl it will fall out if you heel, or when in our case, whilst irritating you just have to pump out as much as poss. to begin with. I do agree with the other comments that when we needed to do something about its condition, refurb. was the only answer and luckily my boat is getting on a bit so its style is in keeping.
UseMyName
New Member
Hi John,
I have asked on the forum but there seems to be more people on here than there, although it is a really good resource for Twister specific questions.
Thanks,
Katie
I have asked on the forum but there seems to be more people on here than there, although it is a really good resource for Twister specific questions.
Thanks,
Katie
UseMyName
New Member
It is a Baby Blakes Minor, when it was onboard we couldn't get it to work, so thats why we decided to take it out and do the job properly. I have no doubts that it is a great, well made loo. But we will be cruising on a shoestring so have to keep the cost of spares/repairs/replacements in mind. Thank you for the link to the spares marine website, I will see if we only buy the parts we need it becomes better to keep the Blakes.