Dear Peggie,
I am located in Brazil and in the process of contracting the building a 46ft semi-custom power catamaran, our "ultimate dream boat". It will have two heads, located in the hulls. I am reading your book, but would like to ask a more specific question: What head/system to buy. The builder normally installs 2 VacuFlush, and 2 holding tanks with Y valves allowing direct discharge, but can install anything we specify. This is a high end builder that will likely install anything competently. Maintenance afterwards, though, will be something else... Brazil currently does not enforce any restrictions on direct discharge, but we plan to keep this boat for over 25 years and these things evolve. There are no pumpout stations in Brazil, boats with holding tanks just discharge them once away from harbors. In addition, we plan to also use the boat to cruise in the Mediterranean once we retire in a few years. I was tempted to replace the holding tank with Electro Scans to avoid having to carry waste around, but am wondering whether this would be the most trouble-free solution. Between cruising in remote parts of Brazil and cruising in the Med, I have to assume that there will be no qualified support (or that there might be qualified support, but with potential language barriers, in the case of the Med) for whatever solution we adopt. Parts would probably have to be ordered from the US (or England, in the case of a Lavac head) through Fedex, assuming that we are in a place where Fedex delivers. So, with this background, what would you do if you were us?
- Holding Tank or Electro Scan?
- What electric (or vaccum) head? Trouble free service with minimum maintenance is the primary requirement here, but the Admiral would like an elegant unit if possible, as well...
Thank you very much for your advice!
I am located in Brazil and in the process of contracting the building a 46ft semi-custom power catamaran, our "ultimate dream boat". It will have two heads, located in the hulls. I am reading your book, but would like to ask a more specific question: What head/system to buy. The builder normally installs 2 VacuFlush, and 2 holding tanks with Y valves allowing direct discharge, but can install anything we specify. This is a high end builder that will likely install anything competently. Maintenance afterwards, though, will be something else... Brazil currently does not enforce any restrictions on direct discharge, but we plan to keep this boat for over 25 years and these things evolve. There are no pumpout stations in Brazil, boats with holding tanks just discharge them once away from harbors. In addition, we plan to also use the boat to cruise in the Mediterranean once we retire in a few years. I was tempted to replace the holding tank with Electro Scans to avoid having to carry waste around, but am wondering whether this would be the most trouble-free solution. Between cruising in remote parts of Brazil and cruising in the Med, I have to assume that there will be no qualified support (or that there might be qualified support, but with potential language barriers, in the case of the Med) for whatever solution we adopt. Parts would probably have to be ordered from the US (or England, in the case of a Lavac head) through Fedex, assuming that we are in a place where Fedex delivers. So, with this background, what would you do if you were us?
- Holding Tank or Electro Scan?
- What electric (or vaccum) head? Trouble free service with minimum maintenance is the primary requirement here, but the Admiral would like an elegant unit if possible, as well...
Thank you very much for your advice!
