Lavac Popular vs Zenith - Help

[Liz_I]

Junica is fitted with 2 Lavacs. The seat has been replaced on one toilet and the 'new' lid was not the same quality as the original. It developed a split, repaired with reinforced epoxy. Sadly there are now more fine splits in the lid.
We have contacted a couple of suppliers who advise that our Lavacs are Zenith which are no longer made. We can obtain a lid and seat assembly at a cost of £ 175.00
Now we are to decide if it would be better to replace the whole unit BUT the Lavac Popular is described as 'light duty' The hinges are plastic as opposed to s/s.
Question, does anyone know what 'light duty' means. We liveaboard so loos in constant use. Has anyone recently fitted the Popular as a replacement? What is the quality like in comparison?

 

[VO5]

I don't know what "light duty" implies.
But I do know that overpumping and / or sitting on them is the death of them.

 

[alahol2]

I fitted a popular a few years back and, for us, it has been fine. I would say, though, that it is not suitable for 'heavy' duty. The seat always feels as though it could slide sideways. The plastic hinges don't seem to locate the seat very positively.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

Shop Around For Zenith Parts - Big Variance In Price

Zigmundovandog - I have two Zeniths and the lids and seats got binned by accident when we bought the boat and gave her a scrub from top to bottom. I was gob-smacked at the price.

However, get online and start shopping around. I reduced my £400 estimate down to £150 for the lid, hinges, seat and seal kits per toilet. I bought all the parts from different on line chandlers. I am at work abroad so dont have access to my boat file.

The point is get looking on line as it is possible. I like the Zeniths as they are a bit higher off the cabin sole than the popular as well as slightly larger.

 

[macd]

BUT the Lavac Popular is described as 'light duty' The hinges are plastic as opposed to s/s.
Question, does anyone know what 'light duty' means. We liveaboard so loos in constant use. Has anyone recently fitted the Popular as a replacement? What is the quality like in comparison?

I've lived aboard for over three years with a Popular. The hinges, as mentioned elsewhere, are plastic and not especially convincing, but I've had no problems in that time.

I replaced the hinges are exhorbitant cost about five years ago. Lavac seem to have this policy of supplying parts only through dealers, but then ludicrously insist on a minimum purchase order, which inflates the effective cost of small consignments. Ostensibly this is to protect the dealers interest, but the effect was that both he and I winced at the cost.

That said, it's a brilliant loo.