I've decided to replace the head on my newly acquired Grand Soleil 35. It has a Jabsco electric head with ancient plumbing and a stainless steel holding tank. It all works, but it's all going away.
I've ordered Peggy's book. Looking forward to reading it when it arrives. In the meantime, I've decided that no one makes the perfect head. I believe that I'll end up building one from various parts of different systems. There's very little information on the 'net about interchangeability between models, and that's the beginning of what I need help with.
My first constrain is a physical size limitation. I have a 6.25 inch deep X 8.5 inch wide platform on which to install a new head. I might be able to kluge that by a few inches with a nice board or something, so maybe a maximum of 8.25 deep X 9.5 wide in a pinch. This platform is about 10-11 inches off the floor already, so I need something kinda short, else I'll have to build a step or something.
Second constraint is that the wife says it must be electric, and must not smell. So just in case it helps, I'll be using fresh water rather than seawater. I have a 100 gallon freshwater tank and a pressurized water system, but I wouldn't mind installing a separate water tank just for flushing, if that works out to be a better idea.
I like the "output" process of the Lavac, but I don't like the vacuum intake of the flush water. Wet seat, leaking seals, can't see what's going on, 2 minute waiting period, yuk. I'm planning on one switch for a waste pump, like the Lavac uses, and a separate switch for flush water. I'm thinking you'd be able to run the flush water pump and the waste pump separately and independently just long enough to "get the job done". I don't anticipate any "potty training" issues with children or landlubbers, so nevermind that.
Make sense so far?
Equipment questions:
Bowl, seat/lid...
Will any other bowl fit on a Lavac base?
and/or
Will any other seat/lid fit on a Lavac bowl?
Is the Thetford ComfortMate just as simple as the Lavac? It might just fit, without the pump on the side.
Are there any other really simple seat/lid, bowl, base combinations that I'm missing that might work?
Pumps...
I'm looking at the Whale Gulper Toilet Pump. There's a Jabsco one that might work too, I think the Lavac ships with the Jabsco one.
For the flush water, I have no idea.
Hose...
Any reason not to just go with Trident? Seems to have a decent reputation.
Holding tank, etc.
still working on this...
Thanks for reading this! I'm really looking forward to figuring this out, and I really appreciate any help!
Cheers.
I've ordered Peggy's book. Looking forward to reading it when it arrives. In the meantime, I've decided that no one makes the perfect head. I believe that I'll end up building one from various parts of different systems. There's very little information on the 'net about interchangeability between models, and that's the beginning of what I need help with.
My first constrain is a physical size limitation. I have a 6.25 inch deep X 8.5 inch wide platform on which to install a new head. I might be able to kluge that by a few inches with a nice board or something, so maybe a maximum of 8.25 deep X 9.5 wide in a pinch. This platform is about 10-11 inches off the floor already, so I need something kinda short, else I'll have to build a step or something.
Second constraint is that the wife says it must be electric, and must not smell. So just in case it helps, I'll be using fresh water rather than seawater. I have a 100 gallon freshwater tank and a pressurized water system, but I wouldn't mind installing a separate water tank just for flushing, if that works out to be a better idea.
I like the "output" process of the Lavac, but I don't like the vacuum intake of the flush water. Wet seat, leaking seals, can't see what's going on, 2 minute waiting period, yuk. I'm planning on one switch for a waste pump, like the Lavac uses, and a separate switch for flush water. I'm thinking you'd be able to run the flush water pump and the waste pump separately and independently just long enough to "get the job done". I don't anticipate any "potty training" issues with children or landlubbers, so nevermind that.
Make sense so far?
Equipment questions:
Bowl, seat/lid...
Will any other bowl fit on a Lavac base?
and/or
Will any other seat/lid fit on a Lavac bowl?
Is the Thetford ComfortMate just as simple as the Lavac? It might just fit, without the pump on the side.
Are there any other really simple seat/lid, bowl, base combinations that I'm missing that might work?
Pumps...
I'm looking at the Whale Gulper Toilet Pump. There's a Jabsco one that might work too, I think the Lavac ships with the Jabsco one.
For the flush water, I have no idea.
Hose...
Any reason not to just go with Trident? Seems to have a decent reputation.
Holding tank, etc.
still working on this...
Thanks for reading this! I'm really looking forward to figuring this out, and I really appreciate any help!
Cheers.
