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Old 19-01-2021, 08:32   #1
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Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Hi All,

Looking for some opinions. I have 2 - 20 year old vacuflush heads on my boat and looking at the cost of getting some replacement parts, am thinking maybe I should just upgrade altogether and go with electric macerating heads. I am currently holed up in Spain, and am unfamiliar with the brands of electric heads available here. So, if anyone has any advice regarding the Jabsco or Force 4 or Sanimarine heads, I would appreciate any input. Or the pros or cons of the electric heads vs the vacuflush would be appreciated. Vacuflush parts get quite expensive here.
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Old 19-01-2021, 11:08   #2
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Of the toilets available to you in Europe, the Sanimarin would be your best choice. Much quieter than any of the others you named and also designed to use pressurized fresh water. Choose the "compact" 31 if will sit on a raised platform, the "4" if it will sit on a level head sole.

You will love the simplicity of a toilet that has all the working parts in its pedestal rarely if never requires replacing any of 'em.

You're welcome to contact me directly if you have questions that need more detailed answers than is practical in a forum.


--Peggie
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Old 19-01-2021, 11:27   #3
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Thank you, Peggy. Very helpful information.
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Old 19-01-2021, 16:38   #4
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

I don’t know much, but I have upgraded to a electric macerating and I love it! It’s simply awesome to press a button and see it work. Also the macerating part of the toilet is worth it’s weight.
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Old 19-01-2021, 16:44   #5
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

What sort of vacuum flush do you have?
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Old 19-01-2021, 20:02   #6
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

I don't think she'll mind if I answer for her... She has a Dometic (formerly SeaLand) VacuFlush system. It's an electric toilet designed to use onboard pressurized fresh water that consists of 3 components: bowl assembly, vacuum tank (not to be confused with a holding tank if there is one on the boat), and vacuum pump. It's an American toilet, was first introduced in 1978 and hasn't really changed much since. If you google SeaLand VacuFlush or Dometic (who now owns SeaLand Technology) VacuFlush, you can learn more about it than you prob'ly want to know.


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Old 20-01-2021, 03:18   #7
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Yes, that's my system. I am looking at the water requirements for the electric models. It does seem that they use maybe double the water of the vacuflush? I have resisted adding a watermaker to my boat, I have a 250 gallon water tank, but will be doing another Atlantic crossing in a year or two, and am thinking that with the space saved by doing away with the vacuum tanks for the Vacuflush, I perhaps should consider adding a watermaker.
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Old 20-01-2021, 08:01   #8
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Today's macerating electric toilets typically only use 1-2 liters water/flush...which is about the same amount that VF actually NEEDS to remain trouble-free despite Dometic/SeaLand's claims to the contrary. 90% of problems with VF are a result of of using too little. I've written a piece I call "VacuFlush 101" that explains how a VF works (an amazing number of owners think they know, but actually don't) and how much water it actually needs to remain trouble-free. I'll be glad to send it to you--and anyone else who wants it--if you'll send me a PM that includes your email address (no way to attach anything to a PM).


I'd add a watermaker, whether the toilet is an issue or not.


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Old 20-01-2021, 08:30   #9
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Peg- I would love to have your vacuflush 101 please - Cliffordlake@yahoo.com
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Old 20-01-2021, 09:09   #10
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

I have 30+ year old GalleyMaid electric toilets using freshwater to flush. I have not found them to be wasteful of water at all. We do not flush any longer than what it takes to clear the bowl and last week we generated 35 gallons of black water for two full timers (pumped out into a cart this morning). I know some folks try to pump any waste out of the lines and into the tank to avoid permeation odors, but in three years we have not had any issue.
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Old 20-01-2021, 10:07   #11
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailing_gal View Post
Hi All,

Looking for some opinions. I have 2 - 20 year old vacuflush heads on my boat and looking at the cost of getting some replacement parts, am thinking maybe I should just upgrade altogether and go with electric macerating heads. I am currently holed up in Spain, and am unfamiliar with the brands of electric heads available here. So, if anyone has any advice regarding the Jabsco or Force 4 or Sanimarine heads, I would appreciate any input. Or the pros or cons of the electric heads vs the vacuflush would be appreciated. Vacuflush parts get quite expensive here.
I had a very noisy , but very effective Jabsco macerating head for 14 years on the boat , The head was original from 1988. a seal kit every now and again , unbreakable ( two teenage daughters tried their best )

Could strip it and re-assemble it in 20 minutes ( The daughters again!! )
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Old 20-01-2021, 10:09   #12
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Price is a variable here , do you have a budget , or no issues then you would go with Peggy, the cheaper jabesco s are fine noisy but I haver never woken anyone in three years with 2 of them no macerator issues and simple to install and wire up.
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Old 20-01-2021, 12:28   #13
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

Peggy,
Thanks for your helpful advice. Please send me your article on toilets.
mporteratp@gmail.com

Thanks!
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Old 20-01-2021, 14:14   #14
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

I did the electric jabs o quite flush 2 years ago we love it..take in on further and run it on fresh water, no mysterious lasting smells ever!
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Old 20-01-2021, 18:29   #15
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Re: Considering upgrading to electric macerating toilet

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Peggy,
Thanks for your helpful advice. Please send me your article on toilets.
mporteratp@gmail.com

Thanks!
Hello, M Porter,

Peg Hall's book is a whole book, and if you google the title, I'm sure you can find somewhere to buy it.

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Author "The NEW Get Rid of Boat Odors"

At the present time, it is the Bible of marine sanitization.

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