Maintaining Vacume Bog

[rubberduck]

Had a read through the owners manual on the boat today regarding the two Sealand vacume flush toilets on our Absolute 41, not very helpful, tells you what to do if they break but not how to minimise the chances of this happening. Any Tips greatly appreciated.

 

[stelican]

Had a read through the owners manual on the boat today regarding the two Sealand vacume flush toilets on our Absolute 41, not very helpful, tells you what to do if they break but not how to minimise the chances of this happening. Any Tips greatly appreciated.

Same as std sea toilets nothing down it unless digested
Dont let the kids block it with too much toilet tissue common problem
make sure the bowl is cetralised on the rubber seal to prevent loss of vacuum
seals benefit from lubrication/removal of calcium
It is an awful job to strip down the valves in the vacuum pump to remove objects that prevent the (duckbill) valves from sealing
Access to duckbill valves is via spigots that are opposite threads to open,Learnt that the hard way!

 

[jfm]

I had these for 5 yrs and found them pretty reliable. Stripping down and fixing is pretty unpleasant, and as stelican says remember the access to the duckbill vlaves is via nuts that have left handed threads, helpfully with no markings. Thanks Sealand. Mark them with big felt pen!

Imho best way to keep them working well is to use them a lot. Even when the boat is standing still get the person who looks after the boat to flush them every fortnight or so. Also, tell your guests to use loads of water when flushing them. After pressing the pedal to flush, keep it pressed for a while, so as to chuck plenty of water through the system. Now and again take a look at the translucent vacuum tanks (probably under the floor, near the loos) and check they are reasonably empty - if they have too much loo paper lodged in them you need to use more water when flushing

But frankly the best advice with these, as for all other loos, is rip them out and fit Tecmas, which are the best loos bar none and they will never let you down

 

[rubberduck]

Thanks JFM, I will do that, but maybe in five years time, or thereabouts.

 

[DougH]

But frankly the best advice with these, as for all other loos, is rip them out and fit Tecmas, which are the best loos bar none and they will never let you down

John, I do wish you hadn't said that.

You know what will happen now.