Sealand Vacuflush - Change or?

[johang]

Hello
I am right now in a hotel i Turku (Finland) waiting for the seller of my new boat to fix the black water tank.... before my trip home to Sweden.

I am just now finalizing the deal on my new boat, Azimut 43 flybridge - 2006. The boat is equiped with 2 Sealand Vacuflush toilets. I can flush the water but the vaccum pumps dosent work. The tankmeter also shows 80% and there is difficult to find any stations to empty the tank (maybe we can find a truck that can empty the tanks today). The pump to empty the tank into water also dosent work.

I have been told by the seller that he recommend to change the toilet system to an electric system (Jabsco) becaus there are a lot of problem with the Sealand Vacuflush systems, they are prepared to drop the price accordingly.

What system is the best for a boat like this if I would change, not considering the cost?

The boat has been has not been in water for 2 years with full tank....

I would really need some help from you guys that have more experiance than me - Need to decide today...

Thanks!!

 

[Hurricane]

I've had electric flush and now vac flush toilets.
Personally, I prefer the vac units.
Use far less water so if you don't have a water maker on board this might influence decision.
Also longer before having to empty tanks

It seems that the previous owner hasn't maintained them.
If I were you, I would clean and replace where necessary rather than change the design.
Still needs significant financial compensation though

If your system is the same as ours, there should be a separate vac unit about the size of a large shoe box for each toilet.
These units create the vacuum to the toilets. The actual black tank isn't pressurised.

Hope this helps
Good luck

 

[johang]

I've had electric flush and now vac flush toilets.
Personally, I prefer the vac units.
Use far less water so if you don't have a water maker on board this might influence decision.
Also longer before having to empty tanks

It seems that the previous owner hasn't maintained them.
If I were you, I would clean and replace where necessary rather than change the design.
Still needs significant financial compensation though

If your system is the same as ours, there should be a separate vac unit about the size of a large shoe box for each toilet.
These units create the vacuum to the toilets. The actual black tank isn't pressurised.

Hope this helps
Good luck

It has not been maintained - that is absolutelly right and it sounds like a really messy thing to clean the tank... how is it done?

There are 2 vaccumpumps located on top of the blackwatertank and they are both not working. Is Sealand Vacuflush normally a good working system?

 

[scubaman]

If it's been on the hard for two years, you could expect the toilets to be blocked, especially with a full waste tank.

Could be a tricky affair clean everything up, but I would expect everything to work once done.

Many here swear on Tecma toilets, so they are probably the best you can get. I would definitely go for Tecma rather than Jabsco electric ones. More expensive so that's why the seller is suggesting Jabsco. I was told Tecma is around 1100€ per seat including the plumbing and vacuum pumps, etc. if my memory servers me right. Add some for the work and see what the story is with the waste tank. If it has an inspection hatch it helps cleaning but if not, I'd negotiate a price reduction to replace the tank, plumbing, macerator pump, the whole lot, actually. In two years things can get pretty solid.

If you need any further help contact Timo Yli-Heikkilä at Nautical.fi Phone: +358 400 524 218

He's in Turku, speaks swedish and is very experienced with boats. He took care of my Fairline when I brought her to Finland. I have no connection with him other than being a satisfied customer.

I've been ok with the Sealands for one summer now, following the advise received on this forum ie. using plenty of water when flushing.

 

[sap_2000]

There are 2 vaccumpumps located on top of the blackwatertank and they are both not working. Is Sealand Vacuflush normally a good working system?

Those are not the black water tanks, but vacuum generators.
The pumps creates vacuum in those tanks, and when you flush, the water and solids end up there. When the pump starts to create new vacuum, it at the same tim pumps the waste from the previous flushing from the vacuum generator tank and to the normal holding tank.

A few weeks ago I was looking at a AZ39 with problematic vacuum generators.
Should not be a harder fix than some seals and duckbill valves.

 

[jfm]

Those are not the black water tanks, but vacuum generators.
The pumps creates vacuum in those tanks, and when you flush, the water and solids end up there. When the pump starts to create new vacuum, it at the same tim pumps the waste from the previous flushing from the vacuum generator tank and to the normal holding tank.

A few weeks ago I was looking at a AZ39 with problematic vacuum generators.
Should not be a harder fix than some seals and duckbill valves.

+1 to the above regarding the mechanics of the system

You can fix these if you change all the seals in the WC bowl, and fix the vacuum generators. However, by far the easiest thing to do with the vacuum generators is throw them away and fit all new. About £750 each

The pump to empty the black tank to the sea is often the same Sealand T series pump as used on the vacuum generator. you can service this, but much better to throw it away and buy new. £250

If you change everything then fit Tecma WCs. These have no vacuum. They never block and are the best product available. I've had sealand Vacuflush for 6 years and Tecma for 4 years and would now always specify Tecma. About £800 per WC

Forget Jabsco imho unless you like really loud noises

 

[Bilgediver]

Hello
I am right now in a hotel i Turku (Finland) waiting for the seller of my new boat to fix the black water tank.... before my trip home to Sweden.

I am just now finalizing the deal on my new boat, Azimut 43 flybridge - 2006. The boat is equiped with 2 Sealand Vacuflush toilets. I can flush the water but the vaccum pumps dosent work. The tankmeter also shows 80% and there is difficult to find any stations to empty the tank (maybe we can find a truck that can empty the tanks today). The pump to empty the tank into water also dosent work.

I have been told by the seller that he recommend to change the toilet system to an electric system (Jabsco) becaus there are a lot of problem with the Sealand Vacuflush systems, they are prepared to drop the price accordingly.

What system is the best for a boat like this if I would change, not considering the cost?

The boat has been has not been in water for 2 years with full tank....

I would really need some help from you guys that have more experiance than me - Need to decide today...

Thanks!!

The Sealand Vacuuflush is an excellent system and favoured by many in the USA. It uses very little water to flush so many folk use fresh water.

The Guru on this equipement is Peggie Hall who used to pop in here from time to time however she now seems to restrict her activities to some USA forums.

I would suggest you repost your question here...

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/forumdisplay.php?f=31


If you post in the Sanitation section Peggie will soon be along and maybe you will get help from others.

I would certainly not consider removing the superior Vacuflush for a JAbasco or similar. Better you familiarise yourself with the system and then arrange to get the pumps and other items serviced so it can do what it is designed to do. There should be a manual in the document package coming with the boat.


Here is a manual for various models. Leesan in the UK could get your spares.

http://www.dometic.com/47dc839e-0c3a-476d-8b91-b83b27b06884.fodoc


These are excellent systems when correctly maintained.

 

[johang]

Thank you for all your wisdom!

Thank you for all your good advices!!

I am now on my way to Helsinki Airport there were also some other small problems that they have to correct so no trip to Sweden by boat today...

I am not shore that they will fix the problem with the tank, there is a risk that they just do a "quick fix" so i have decided that they just empty the tank and then I go back do Sweden to make the change of the whole system this winter. I think it is worth some extra "kronor" to be shore that the system works as smooth as possible.

I hink I will go for the Tecma system and just use the "old" tank. Do you think I shall change all tubes?. The system will be for 2 toilets is there someting in perticular to consider when we build the system?

I will negotiate a pricereduction considering these problems - how much do you think is resonable?

Hopefully I will be back next week to take the boat home....

 

[jfm]

Sealand Vacuuflush ...It uses very little water to flush

This is an often claimed benefit. But take advantage of it at your peril. Best way to keep a Sealand Vacuflush in full working order is use LOADS of flush water

Very good system as said on here many times, but not as good as Tecma

 

[jfm]

Do you think I shall change all tubes?.

If possible/within budget, yes. They need changing every few years to avoid smells. The white tube is ok but the grey butyl rubber is best (more expensive though)

€3k price reduction would be nice; perhaps €2k is more reasonable though

 

[johang]

New Boat

Thank you for all your help!

The deal i now finalized. The toilets started working after the seller had the tank emptied. All stations for emptying tanks i Turku area was closed but due to cold weather but they managed to get a truck to empty it. After that the toilets started working and I got a nice price reduction......

I left my old boat (Prestige 34S) in Hangö and drove my new Azimut 43 to Stockholm this Friday without any problem. Now the fun job with upgrading the boat starts..........

 

[rafiki_]

Great to hear you sealed the deal, and are now the proud owner of the Azi. Would be good to see some pictures please.

 

[johang]

I will post pictures next week and also the "long" list of improvements of the boat during winter. I would love to hear about what you think about these improvements and what products to choose.

Here is a short list of the winters improvements - I will post more details in the new thread next week.

New bow & stern thrusters
Bimini top
New trim tabs
Stern Anchor
New stereo
New battery bank
New inverter
New Charger
Underwater lightening
New toilet system
Yachtcontroller
New heating system
And a lot more....

 

[rafiki_]

I will post pictures next week and also the "long" list of improvements of the boat during winter. I would love to hear about what you think about these improvements and what products to choose.

Here is a short list of the winters improvements - I will post more details in the new thread next week.

New bow & stern thrusters
Bimini top
New trim tabs
Stern Anchor
New stereo
New battery bank
New inverter
New Charger
Underwater lightening
New toilet system
Yachtcontroller
New heating system
And a lot more....

Wow, this is quite a comprehensive list. Why the new thrusters? Are the current ones u/s? Is it worth preserving with the Vacu Flush, now that it is working?