Hi, I just purchased a shiny new Lectra San unit for my Vision 32 to replace the nasty flexible holding tank that currently resides in the aft most compartment. Given our recent move from WA to the Carolinas, and the drastic difference in the temperatures, we decided that a LectraSan was a must have. Now the question is how to install it? I'm thinking I'd like to try to shoehorn the unit into the empty space under the shower seat and install a new thru-hull for the overboard discharge. The question is, will it fit? I'm also thinking of using all rigid PVC pipe instead of the flexible hosing. If I can keep the unit in the head and plumb a new thru-hull for discharge, the pipe runs would be extremely short - unlike the nearly 8 feet of flexible hosing that currently leads to the holding tank in the aft compartment. Anyone added a Lectra San to the vision 32 that can comment on their installation? thanks, matt
Lectra San on Vision 32
- Thread starter matt3879
- Start date
- Status
Only one way to find out, Matt...
You're gonna have to open up that compartment and measure. If it will fit, you'll also have to secure the top using a method that will allow access to the L/S to do things like replace fuses etc. I would not recommend going with hard pipe. Since your toilet is below the waterline, you'll have to have two vented loops in the system--one immediately after the toilet going into the L/S and one in the line between the L/S and thru-hull. Both have to be above waterline at any angle of heel. Since it's necessary to "soft couple" hard pipe to anything fixed with enough hose to cushion shock and protect from flexing, hard pipe in runs that short don't make any sense. If the locker where your tank is now is 8' from the toilet, that's not a good place for the L/S either...it should be within 6' of both the toilet and the thru-hull. You can fudge that a foot, provided you train yourself to flush longer to make sure bowl contents make it all the way into the L/S...but 2 extra feet is too far. The most the L/S can accept at one time without discharging untreated waste is about a gallon...the furthest a manual toilet can push waste in the dry mode is also about 6'...so the additional flush water needed to push it 8' is likely to send untreated waste overboard. It can be done, but will turn flushing into more of a PITA than it's worth. However, it can go anywhere else that's within about 6' of the toilet, as long as it can sit at or below the level of the toilet discharge. Read the instruction manual carefully...wiring it is VERY important. And I suspect you'll want to have a chat or two with Vic Willman at Raritan about your installation...he's at 800-352-5630 x 6. Congratulations a great decision! Once you overcome the hurtles of installing it, you're gonna love it!
You're gonna have to open up that compartment and measure. If it will fit, you'll also have to secure the top using a method that will allow access to the L/S to do things like replace fuses etc. I would not recommend going with hard pipe. Since your toilet is below the waterline, you'll have to have two vented loops in the system--one immediately after the toilet going into the L/S and one in the line between the L/S and thru-hull. Both have to be above waterline at any angle of heel. Since it's necessary to "soft couple" hard pipe to anything fixed with enough hose to cushion shock and protect from flexing, hard pipe in runs that short don't make any sense. If the locker where your tank is now is 8' from the toilet, that's not a good place for the L/S either...it should be within 6' of both the toilet and the thru-hull. You can fudge that a foot, provided you train yourself to flush longer to make sure bowl contents make it all the way into the L/S...but 2 extra feet is too far. The most the L/S can accept at one time without discharging untreated waste is about a gallon...the furthest a manual toilet can push waste in the dry mode is also about 6'...so the additional flush water needed to push it 8' is likely to send untreated waste overboard. It can be done, but will turn flushing into more of a PITA than it's worth. However, it can go anywhere else that's within about 6' of the toilet, as long as it can sit at or below the level of the toilet discharge. Read the instruction manual carefully...wiring it is VERY important. And I suspect you'll want to have a chat or two with Vic Willman at Raritan about your installation...he's at 800-352-5630 x 6. Congratulations a great decision! Once you overcome the hurtles of installing it, you're gonna love it!
- Status