Replacing VacuFlush

[Perth]

Just bought a 46 ft yacht with VacuFlush which is too unreliable so I'd like to replace it with manual or electric system with I can fix if it goes down. I'd also like gravity emptying option when at sea. Anyone have any experience with this kind of swap over?

[daletournier]

Are they unreliable? What goes wrong with them? Serious question.

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[Perth]

Too many things to go wrong and if used incorrectly you need a specialist and they are expensive to fix. Plus they use fresh water.

In my case probably too much paper and not enough water followed by a second flush before vacuum was restored fully (by my son) resulted in a blockage somewhere. Impossible to fix myself and hard to find a specialist. $2,000 later on during our Xmas break it failed again. The boat has 2 completely independent vacuflushes so I had peace of mind until the second one started not turning off when up to correct vacuum. Nursed it home by manually managing the vacuum switch so we didn't have to cut the break short but lot's of shore visits.

So better to have a simple system that can be fixed easily if you are remote or everyone is on holidays. Not to mention the fresh
water usage and the cost repairs.

[svHyLyte]

You might want to consider a Levac.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by Perth

Just bought a 46 ft yacht with VacuFlush which is too unreliable so I'd like to replace it with manual or electric system with I can fix if it goes down. I'd also like gravity emptying option when at sea. Anyone have any experience with this kind of swap over?

I have 2 VacuFlush systems, one on my 35 ft Bertram (10 years) and one on my 37 ft yawl (20) years. They are nearly bullet proof. I replaced the pumb on the yawl 3 years ago. They use very little water and are great systems. No, I have no connection with the company. But I am into systems that really work as advertised over the long haul.

[LakeSuperior]

Take some time to understand how the system works. Try to make friends with your VacuFlush before replacing. Every system comes along with it's own can of worms.

[Tingum]

If you need a "specialist" to fix a vacu flush me thinks you should take up gardening!

[Typhoon]

I looked at a Vacuflush system as well when I was replacing my Jabsco pumpers. It was to complicated and i felt to many failure points. Didn't like the basic Jabsco electric flush , they are noisy and you may end up with stuff in your face. I studied all the designs for a long time and ended up building my own heads . All it took was a custom built base to fit on the bottom of a Jabsco bowl, a macerator pump and a load of relay's and fuse boxes . We are on the boat 60 percent of the time , even in winter and the heads have been working just fine for two plus years , zero break downs. I must add that are both freshwater heads I mean they are feed from ships water system. I could build you a base and show you the relay system, it is very simple .


Regards John Tully

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjK_eqwbbNk

[Raven Odyssey]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

You might want to consider a Levac.

We have Lavacs in both of our heads. They are, by far, the most reliable marine toilet ever made. They'll flush anything!

[Steve Bean]

Another vote for Lavac. I lived with one and liked it. I'm not living aboard now, but experimenting with a homebuilt sawdust desiccating head.

[Raven Odyssey]

Originally Posted by Steve Bean

Another vote for Lavac. I lived with one and liked it. I'm not living aboard now, but experimenting with a homebuilt sawdust desiccating head.

We have lived aboard (3 adults, one with kidney problems that uses the head ALOT!) and have never had a major issue with either one. Ours are the older model with the porcelain bowls made by Royal Doulton.

[Perth]

Thanks John (ColEh) I might take you up on that and get in touch. And thanks Tingum for the encouragement.