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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Weeelll..It's what I chose for my own boat
The VacuFlush is an excellent system, albeit overpriced IMHO. List is about $1100...and it's never available at discount, only from "authorized V/Flush service centers" who sell at list or list +...some of which won't sell it all unless they also install it--which runs up the price another $1000. But if the budget will stand it, I don't think you can go wrong with it. However, if your boat has the power resources to stand the 40 amp/flush draw, an outstanding alternative is the Raritan Atlantes. It has a list price comparable to V/Flush, but IS available at discount for between $700-$800and can be owner-installed. Has a full size one-piece china bowl and pedestal...can use sea water or onboard fresh (there's a new kit coming out that will even allow you to choose between the two at any time) and is the only macerating toilet that can use as little as a quart of flush water. Its only drawback compared the V/Flush is its whopping power consumption. But if you can handle it, check it out on the Raritan website at www.raritaneng.com
The VacuFlush is an excellent system, albeit overpriced IMHO. List is about $1100...and it's never available at discount, only from "authorized V/Flush service centers" who sell at list or list +...some of which won't sell it all unless they also install it--which runs up the price another $1000. But if the budget will stand it, I don't think you can go wrong with it. However, if your boat has the power resources to stand the 40 amp/flush draw, an outstanding alternative is the Raritan Atlantes. It has a list price comparable to V/Flush, but IS available at discount for between $700-$800and can be owner-installed. Has a full size one-piece china bowl and pedestal...can use sea water or onboard fresh (there's a new kit coming out that will even allow you to choose between the two at any time) and is the only macerating toilet that can use as little as a quart of flush water. Its only drawback compared the V/Flush is its whopping power consumption. But if you can handle it, check it out on the Raritan website at www.raritaneng.com
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Mark Johnson
I got two
My boat came equiped with two of them. I have only used them for about 6 weeks, but they seem to work well, and because they use fresh water to flush you don't get that "rotten egg" smell after the boat sits for a while. One needed to be rebuilt (under warranty) there was something wrong with the seal and the base. Only had one clog, and after a couple of days it freed itself. I was the last one to use the head so I know it wasn't used improperly. MPJ
My boat came equiped with two of them. I have only used them for about 6 weeks, but they seem to work well, and because they use fresh water to flush you don't get that "rotten egg" smell after the boat sits for a while. One needed to be rebuilt (under warranty) there was something wrong with the seal and the base. Only had one clog, and after a couple of days it freed itself. I was the last one to use the head so I know it wasn't used improperly. MPJ
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
V/Flush can only clog if not flushed correctly
And 99% of users don't flush them correctly--they make 2 mistakes: they just "pop" the pedal, releasing it as soon as the bowl is empty, and they ease the pedal back up. The flush pedel not only opens the dome in the bottom of the bowl, releasing the vacuum, it's also the "faucet" that starts the flush water needed to rinse out the bits of solids and paper in the hoses and especially around the bellows in the vacuum pump that can build up and create a clog. The V/Flush can be used with as little as a pint of water...not none at all...so the pedal MUST be left down for 3-5 seconds to put enough water through the system. And if any paper is used, about a cup of water should be brought into the bowl before use (stick your toe under the pedal to do this). Then the pedal should be allowed to snap back up...don't ease it up--let it go!...it's spring-loaded for a reason: to allow the dome to fully re-seat in place. And do not use premium brand toilet paper in it! Use only "marine/rv"...or save money by buying the cheapest, made-from-recycled, institutional grade toilet paper at your local supermarket...it's the same thing as "marine/rv" toilet paper for half the price. If you're in any doubt about whether a toilet paper is suitable for use aboard, tear off a sheet and put it in a glass of water overnight...if it's still a whole sheet, or mostly a whole sheet, in the morning, it'll choke a marine toilet....but if you stir or shake the glass and all the paper has turned to "snow," it's just fine for use aboard.
And 99% of users don't flush them correctly--they make 2 mistakes: they just "pop" the pedal, releasing it as soon as the bowl is empty, and they ease the pedal back up. The flush pedel not only opens the dome in the bottom of the bowl, releasing the vacuum, it's also the "faucet" that starts the flush water needed to rinse out the bits of solids and paper in the hoses and especially around the bellows in the vacuum pump that can build up and create a clog. The V/Flush can be used with as little as a pint of water...not none at all...so the pedal MUST be left down for 3-5 seconds to put enough water through the system. And if any paper is used, about a cup of water should be brought into the bowl before use (stick your toe under the pedal to do this). Then the pedal should be allowed to snap back up...don't ease it up--let it go!...it's spring-loaded for a reason: to allow the dome to fully re-seat in place. And do not use premium brand toilet paper in it! Use only "marine/rv"...or save money by buying the cheapest, made-from-recycled, institutional grade toilet paper at your local supermarket...it's the same thing as "marine/rv" toilet paper for half the price. If you're in any doubt about whether a toilet paper is suitable for use aboard, tear off a sheet and put it in a glass of water overnight...if it's still a whole sheet, or mostly a whole sheet, in the morning, it'll choke a marine toilet....but if you stir or shake the glass and all the paper has turned to "snow," it's just fine for use aboard.
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Mark Johnson
That's what I did
That's exactly how I flush the heads, and give that instruction to everyone who comes aboard. Perhaps it wasn't a clog, but there was something that was preventing the duck valve from closing completely, and the vaccum pump would not stop running. After a couple of days I turned it back on and It ran for about 30 seconds and stopped. It's been fine every since. MPJ
That's exactly how I flush the heads, and give that instruction to everyone who comes aboard. Perhaps it wasn't a clog, but there was something that was preventing the duck valve from closing completely, and the vaccum pump would not stop running. After a couple of days I turned it back on and It ran for about 30 seconds and stopped. It's been fine every since. MPJ
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Probly just a little bit of solids caught in it
It just had to dissolve. There are only 3 reasons why the pump either won't shut off, runs on too long, or comes on for no reason. First, put a little water in the bowl...if it's still there 2 hours later, you know it isn't the bowl seal or the dome...it's most likely the duckbills...time to replace 'em. If THAT doesn't cure it, it's the vacuum pump switch. You won't have wasted any effort replacing the duckbills...by the time a switch fails, it's usually long past time they should have been replaced anyway.
It just had to dissolve. There are only 3 reasons why the pump either won't shut off, runs on too long, or comes on for no reason. First, put a little water in the bowl...if it's still there 2 hours later, you know it isn't the bowl seal or the dome...it's most likely the duckbills...time to replace 'em. If THAT doesn't cure it, it's the vacuum pump switch. You won't have wasted any effort replacing the duckbills...by the time a switch fails, it's usually long past time they should have been replaced anyway.
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