Peggy, I've read most of the forum history regarding LectraSan installations and note the maximum six foot head discharge hose length. Unfortunately, on my boat there is no logical place for a LectraSan within the six foot area unless I replace my holding tank. Also, I have two heads that discharge to the holding tank. The holding tank can be emptied by macerating to a through hull or using a pumpout station through a deck riser. Here's my question: Can I connect the holding tank macerator output (regulated by flush time for the correct LectraSan loading) to the LectraSan. If so, can I locate the LectraSan farther away than six feet from the holding tank? If feasible, this would solve a lot of problems for two-head, one-tank boats. I thought to ask you first before checking with the Raritan folks because you seem to really understand these systems and the inherent limitations. I got the idea from other type I MSD products. Appreciate your advice. Chris Behre S/V Jorum III
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Best solution may be to replace/move the tank
Two toilets at opposite ends of the boat shouldn't be on one tank in the first place...'cuz any time the total hose length from one of the toilets is much longer than 6-8', there's no way to avoid leaving waste sitting in the head discharge hose to permeate it. Although two toilets can be connected to a single Lectra/San, both toilets must be within 6' of the unit. The 6' CAN be stretched to 7', but any further and you have the same problem that you have when the tank is too far from the toilet. "Can I connect the holding tank macerator output (regulated by flush time for the correct LectraSan loading) to the LectraSan." In THEORY, yes...but from a practical standpoint, no. The most you could meter into the Lectra/San at a time is a gallon...the unit has to run through a 2.5 minute treatment cycle before you can put another gallon into it. After about 3 treatment cycles, you'd have wait 15-30 minutes for the motors to cool or you risk burning one out. It would take ALL DAY to put the contents of even a 20 gallon tank through the Lectra/San. If it were my boat, I'd put a Lectra/San on the most-used toilet (most likely the aft toilet)...you won't need a tank on that toilet, so you can install a much smaller tank on the forward head--closer to it--that will rarely be used...only if you ever visit a "no discharge" harbor...and there are VERY few, if any, in your waters. If both toilets are used equally, you'll need two Lectra/Sans, but still only a tank on one toilet...with a y-valve in the head discharge hose that lets you switch to the tank if/when you ever have to use it. That would mean everyone will have to use that toilet, but you still wouldn't need more than 10-15 gallons 'cuz it's likely to be just overnight...and any place you'd stay longer usually has mobile pumpout service. Btw...most of the Bay is brackish because it's fed by so many rivers. So you sail north very much, you'll also need a salt feed tank for the Lectra/San. You'll learn quite a bit about the Lectra/San--how it works, how to install it, how the salt feed system works etc--if you spend some time on the Lectra/San pages of the Raritan website (link below).
Two toilets at opposite ends of the boat shouldn't be on one tank in the first place...'cuz any time the total hose length from one of the toilets is much longer than 6-8', there's no way to avoid leaving waste sitting in the head discharge hose to permeate it. Although two toilets can be connected to a single Lectra/San, both toilets must be within 6' of the unit. The 6' CAN be stretched to 7', but any further and you have the same problem that you have when the tank is too far from the toilet. "Can I connect the holding tank macerator output (regulated by flush time for the correct LectraSan loading) to the LectraSan." In THEORY, yes...but from a practical standpoint, no. The most you could meter into the Lectra/San at a time is a gallon...the unit has to run through a 2.5 minute treatment cycle before you can put another gallon into it. After about 3 treatment cycles, you'd have wait 15-30 minutes for the motors to cool or you risk burning one out. It would take ALL DAY to put the contents of even a 20 gallon tank through the Lectra/San. If it were my boat, I'd put a Lectra/San on the most-used toilet (most likely the aft toilet)...you won't need a tank on that toilet, so you can install a much smaller tank on the forward head--closer to it--that will rarely be used...only if you ever visit a "no discharge" harbor...and there are VERY few, if any, in your waters. If both toilets are used equally, you'll need two Lectra/Sans, but still only a tank on one toilet...with a y-valve in the head discharge hose that lets you switch to the tank if/when you ever have to use it. That would mean everyone will have to use that toilet, but you still wouldn't need more than 10-15 gallons 'cuz it's likely to be just overnight...and any place you'd stay longer usually has mobile pumpout service. Btw...most of the Bay is brackish because it's fed by so many rivers. So you sail north very much, you'll also need a salt feed tank for the Lectra/San. You'll learn quite a bit about the Lectra/San--how it works, how to install it, how the salt feed system works etc--if you spend some time on the Lectra/San pages of the Raritan website (link below).
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george kornreich
Do we really want to remove the tank?
I think you talked me into at least one, maybe two LectraSans. but I wonder if it's really wise to eliminate the holding tank. What if the LectraSan (please excuse the term) craps out? Would it be wiser to keep the tank for such emergencies. Or are they really close to fool proof? Thanks, Peggie
I think you talked me into at least one, maybe two LectraSans. but I wonder if it's really wise to eliminate the holding tank. What if the LectraSan (please excuse the term) craps out? Would it be wiser to keep the tank for such emergencies. Or are they really close to fool proof? Thanks, Peggie
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Keep the tank...but
Keep only the forward head connected to it. If/when you ever happen to visit any "no discharge" ports, you'll have to use it...in which case, you'll have to endure the inconvenience of using the forward head. The rest of the time, yes...the L/S is that reliable. As long as you let someone who actually knows what their doing (obviously not your dealer) install it, I promise you'll love it.
Keep only the forward head connected to it. If/when you ever happen to visit any "no discharge" ports, you'll have to use it...in which case, you'll have to endure the inconvenience of using the forward head. The rest of the time, yes...the L/S is that reliable. As long as you let someone who actually knows what their doing (obviously not your dealer) install it, I promise you'll love it.
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George Kornreich
Thanks, Peggie. Now about the head...
The aft head is installed sideways against the hull liner (curving sharply) so that there is a very tight fit, and that is probably why they selected a Jabsco PAR compact manual head with side discharge. I'd love to buy an Atlantes, but I think I would have to saw it off to get it to fit. Can the "skirt" be trimmed that way? If not, do you have any suggestions for a better potty with a full size bowl (so that the "target" would be a bit bigger) that would fit in a tight area?
The aft head is installed sideways against the hull liner (curving sharply) so that there is a very tight fit, and that is probably why they selected a Jabsco PAR compact manual head with side discharge. I'd love to buy an Atlantes, but I think I would have to saw it off to get it to fit. Can the "skirt" be trimmed that way? If not, do you have any suggestions for a better potty with a full size bowl (so that the "target" would be a bit bigger) that would fit in a tight area?
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
No way to trim Atlantes
It's all one piece molded china "like the one at home." They may have picked a compact toilet because of the size, but they chose Jabsco because it's the cheapest. Unfortunately, the main drawback to compact toilets is, you're stuck with the small "standard" size bowl...the larger bowl is too wide to fit next to the pump. But you MAY not be stuck with a compact. Measure the PH II (manual only, not the electric PHE II), the Cricket (also manual) and also the SeaEra. The PH II pump can be located on either side of the bowl...the Cricket's pump is below the bowl...and the SeaEra "works" can be on the side or behind the bowl. Also, Hunter may have decided that the place for the toilet is port/starboard against the hull liner...but does that mean it CAN'T go against a bulkhead fore/aft? You might have to install some kind of platform to get a level mounting surface, but that's not hard to do. Go the Raritan website for the PH II, Cricket and SeaEra measurements...then spend a little time with a tape measure and some "outside the box" thinking. Let me know what you come up with and we'll take it from there.
It's all one piece molded china "like the one at home." They may have picked a compact toilet because of the size, but they chose Jabsco because it's the cheapest. Unfortunately, the main drawback to compact toilets is, you're stuck with the small "standard" size bowl...the larger bowl is too wide to fit next to the pump. But you MAY not be stuck with a compact. Measure the PH II (manual only, not the electric PHE II), the Cricket (also manual) and also the SeaEra. The PH II pump can be located on either side of the bowl...the Cricket's pump is below the bowl...and the SeaEra "works" can be on the side or behind the bowl. Also, Hunter may have decided that the place for the toilet is port/starboard against the hull liner...but does that mean it CAN'T go against a bulkhead fore/aft? You might have to install some kind of platform to get a level mounting surface, but that's not hard to do. Go the Raritan website for the PH II, Cricket and SeaEra measurements...then spend a little time with a tape measure and some "outside the box" thinking. Let me know what you come up with and we'll take it from there.
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