The Bog

[suse]

and no, I'm not going to glorify the horrible little s****y place by calling it the heads. It's one of those beastly vacuum bowls, except that, in addition to the pump failing to pump out, now the seat lid is cracked (like it's owner, after this weekend). I dont mind a bucket, but guests like the appearance of land-based loos. What sort should I change it to?

Recommendations, please, and thanks in advance.

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[bigmart]

Jabsco's are reasonably prices & in at least one organisation that I know of, get some real punishment, yet remain reliable. I would buy one the next time I need to replace mine.

Martin

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[jimi]

Pickled eggs

You could issue the crew with a couple of pickled eggs each at the onset of the voyage, that'll stop 'em!

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[suse]

Re: Pickled eggs

I dont suppose you'll tell me where I tell them to put them?

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[Twister_Ken]

Beware that changing bogs doesn't require a ton of new plumbing, glassing, woodwork, etc.

Otherwise spending a penny is going to end up costing an arm and a leg.

BTW - Lavacs are generally thought to be pretty reliable as long as you follow the "nothing down it wot ain't been ate" rule. So a good service and a new lid might be the best answer.

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[AndrewB]

Keeping a spare seat in stock is pretty well essential with a Lavac. Treat your VIP guests to a bit of real suction, unlike the tatty old one that has to be stood on to get the vacuum effect.

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[suse]

Yes, it's a Lavac - and a spare seat, or a new one in this case, will cost about £40, and broke because I was 'helping' to achieve the vacuum. Actually, I think most of the problem is the pump, secretively concealed behind a piece of formica, with just the handle sticking out, to prod one painfully, esp when backing up to use it. Of course, this pump is no longer made, and a new one of these is jolly expensive.

Tell me, do new loos come with pumps built in, or are they classed as extra, but of course are essential.

Oh bring back the bucket.

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[Oldhand]

I would recommend a Raritan PH II. It has a much better pump than the Jabsco offering. Used one for over 10 years in our last boat and nearly 2 years in our current boat. Maintenance required is minimal. Lee Sanitation, Wharf Road, Fenny Compton, Warwick, CV47 2FE, 'phone 01295-770000 are the UK suppliers.

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[Grehan]

Blake Lavacs

Mine has yer basic [bog standard . . ] Henderson 5 as its pumper, so I guess the pump type is fairly open. I really must overhaul it, but it's worked ok without attention for the last couple of years.

Hmm, I thought I was unique in feeling the need to place a - gentle - knee on the lid whilst pumping. Sounds like a new gasket's in order [no need to buy the whole lid, surely?]

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[peterb]

The usual problem with Lavacs is that the seat hinge pin is too good a fit. It needs to have a reasonable amount of slack, so that the seat seal can lay flat on to the bowl. It looks and feels sloppy, but without the slack you'll get problems in obtaining a good vacuum seal.

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[Violetta]

Holding tank?

Hi, Suse! If I were thinking of fitting a new bog I would consider one with a holding tank. Firstly, because I think the days of pumping out raw sewage into the sea are numbered and secondly because it's sometimes nice to be able to use the bog when in port, rather than trog off to the ones on shore at 3 a.m. in the pouring rain or use a bucket under the same circumstances. And think of those French and Dutch canals...... Ours has a tank. We can never find anywhere in this country to pump out (although I sure that will come, gradually) but it's still a benefit. We use eco friendly liquid and pump out as far from land as possible. No problems.

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[suse]

Re: Holding tank?

Hello V - how are you these days? Yes, holding tanks - I have thought about it, for the usual reasons, but it's the small size that worries me - 6 gall, I saw yesterday. Maybe it's the amount of coffee I drink. And having a large holding tank - well, I tried one of those on a narrow boat, and frankly, over 4 days and no pumping out station available, 7 on board, we were just an overflowing sewer. I presume it is essential to have a system whereby you can switch between the tank and the open sea, for use, as well as for emptying the tank at sea. I have even wondered about a portapotti ...

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[snowleopard]

Re: Holding tank?

canal boats get away with little holding tanks because they have a low volume flush. a normal marine toilet will fill out 50-gal tank in a week with 2 on board.

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[AndrewB]

Re: Holding tank with a Lavac?

I had one fitted about seven years ago, cost £800. The connections are astonishingly complicated to ensure that the same pump will do all of (i) pump from bog to tank; (ii) pump from bog through seacock; (iii) pump from tank to seacock. (Theres another connection from tank to pump-out point, for those few marinas that do pump-outs).

The result was that the pipe had to be MUCH longer with Y-valves in places. The Henderson MkV pump simply couldn't cope, it squeaked, it leaked, and it didn't create sufficient pressure to make the Lavac draw in enough water (at least that solved the problem of filling up the tank quickly). After 4 years I was sick of servicing the thing on a weekly basis and pulled it all out. The pump works fine again.

My experience suggests that you need to be careful fitting a holding tank to a Lavac. I have assumed that this why Lavac's are not much seen in the USA, where a holding tank is more of an essential.

 

[vyv_cox]

Low complexity holding tank

There's an article in the current Sadler owners' magazine about a system for the 34. There is a space behind the toilet above the waterline that is basically redundant and a tank can be fitted there in the style of a cistern for a low-level flush. The great advantage of having one there is that it doesn't need to be pumped out, gravity will do the job for you.

The toilet discharge pipe goes "up and over" as normal but then into the top of the tank. Discharge from the tank goes to the seacock. There is a vent out of the top of the tank. That's basically it, except that the author has added a T-piece on its side above the tank taken to a closeable deck pump-out fitting. The entry to the tank is taken down low inside the tank to enable most of the contents to be removed from above. In this event the toilet bowl is closed by holding a fender inside it!

The tank was custom made by Tek-tanks, apparently at quite reasonable cost.

When the tank is used to retain the contents, close the seacock. At sea, just open the seacock and the contents not only run out but the tank is flushed on starboard tack. A neat and effective system, in my view.

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[roger]

I did buy a Jabsco compact in place of a very old Lavac. It was pretty easy to fit and has worked well for one season.

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[RichardPerou]

Portapotti

I have a Portapotti in addition to the normal pumping job. Warning. Don't run out of fluid. I did last year and found that with water only, the solids coagulate. The crew were very amused as I tried to get it out.

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[dickh]

I can also recommend the Jabsco - have fitted two over the past few years with no problems. Also consider the R&M ones - these can have a small holding tank fitted around the base - see their website - <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rm69.com>http://www.rm69.com</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
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[vyv_cox]

RM69

Consider a RM69 very carefully indeed. See my posting at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=ym&Number=334712&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&part=3&vc=1>http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=ym&Number=334712&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=31&part=3&vc=1</A>

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[dickh]

Re: RM69

Vyv, sorry to hear about your problems with your R&M; I don't have any personal experience of the R&M toilets, I just knew they did a 'wrap around' small holding tank which I heard will also fit the Jabsco - which I have and have been pleased with.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif