Vacuflush issue

A

Arctica

Member
exMember
Joined
Sep 10, 2001
RO Number
6135
Messages
67
System has worked well for us.
Today, at end of heavy weekend use, the pump won't stop running and the toilets, both of them, aren't flushing. We just get a gurgle when an attempt at flushing is made.
Are we clogged? Is it a duckbill problem?
Our holding tank was pumped out before weekend, and only a third full.
Our system consists of two toilets, two vacuum tanks, one pump.
Suggestions?
 
Sounds like you clogged the pump/duckbills, since both toilets are acting the same.
 
I'd say George is correct. You are about to earn the title of "Head Mechanic".
 
if neither head is flushing it seems like you can eliminate the single DB between each vac tank and Y near the pump inlet.

someone must have flushed a tampon or something... likely stuck at the pump inlet DB. unclamp the hose on the inlet, put a container under it, pull it and lift it to minimize spillage. unscrew the fitting on the inlet and clear whatever is in there... that should do it, it's likely to be on the inlet side although if you you' dont see anything in there, do the same on the outlet side.

when reassembling, put some liquide soap on the DB flange so they dont' catch and get deformed and dont' overtighten the fittings or you can deform the DB
 
If you haven't replaced your duckbills now is a good time to do so. I just did mine due to a clog and it was not pleasant. The folks here are right on with experience. Thanks to all of you who helped me with my head problem. I now have the badge of "head mechanic."
 
Just call me the "head mechanic".
The clog was right where you said it would be. It was in the second duckbill, right before the pump.
You guys also called the clog....tampon!
Easy fix, but stinky!
Thanks for all your help and advice.
 
Hey Bill, how many toilet clogs have you had since you got rid of the VacuFlush? :D
 
-0- including a "accidental" Tampon flush which only resulted in noisy operation for 3 flush cycles.
Bill
 
I feel like adding a famous line from the movie Red October, From a conversation between the Russian Ambassador to the US Ambassador "Yuri, don't tell me you have another problem"?
Bill
 
Billy, just curious... what type of toiled did you install instead of a VacuFlush?
 
Bill switched over to the Raritan Marine "Elegance" nearly 2 years ago. He bought one of the very first of them to come off the production line; in fact, if memory serves correctly, it may actually have been a pre-production unit. At the same time, he installed a Purasan-based Hold 'N Treat system. I'll let him give you all the dirty details, but he seems to be quite happy with the the system.
 
Vic has it correct. I had a new SeaLand Vacu Flush certified installation. I had no problems using the unit even liked it but my wife has a medical condition that constantly clogged the VacuFlush. It got so bad she didn't want to use the boat's head. I happened to get my ABYC magazine and noticed a write up about the Elegance. I checked everywhere and I was told they would be released soon. Soon wasn't good enough for me so I called Vic. I had to wait 2 weeks but got a pre production unit from Raritan with the help of Vic. The installation was simple, I got the smart control head which allows evacuation of all water in the bowl, a controlled filling of the bowl, normal flush and water saver mode. I found the unit in saver mode used the same amount of freshwater as the VacuFlush. In addition I have never had a single backup or clog in 2 years of heavy use. We have also had 2 seperate occasions where visitors flushed tampons. The unit handled them well no disassembly was required and other than a strange noise the unit performed as if toilet paper was flushed. The unit can't be beat and because the bowl is Porcelain it stays clean and looks as fresh as the day I installed it. It is also very quiet. The PuraSan and Hold-N-Treat was ordered to replace a LectraSan I never installed due to what I thought was too high a current draw for extended cruising between battery charges. The PuraSan draws about 1/6th the current of the LectraSan and could be used in any type water. Overall I feel we have the perfect sanitation system. When I did the upgrades I replaced all the sanitation hoses and had replaced my holding tank with a larger 36 gallon Poly tank. I really have to say I might not have been able to enjoy and spend the amount of time we do on the boat had I not found a head my wife was comfortable using, she worries about everything. We have -0- worries with the Elegance and the Hold-N-Treat and PuraSan. I have no direct discharge because I want to do my part in keeping my sanitation discharge below what municipal sewage plants are required to do. Vic has also been helpful when I have helped other boaters in this marina and on the board make the choice to switch over to the Elegance. To me on a rating scale of 1-10 the Elegance gets a 10. If you want a trouble free unit you probably couldn't clog if you tried this is the unit for you and your family.
Bill
 
Bill,

Just reading your previous post. I am having a dog of a time with my Vacuflush system. I have replaced my duck bills, some tubing and now just replaced the pump itself... main problem with this entire setup is the location of everything. Big pain to get at things...

So your post intrigues me. Is the elegance and all in one thing (except the holding tank)? Does it need a pump or is that in the toilet itself? It almost seems too simple. My current setup uses pressurized fresh water only. It goes, toilet to vacuum tank, then to pump, then to holding tank. Does the Elegance mean that I would go from toilet to holding tank?

What was the cost on yours?

Thanks in advance!
 
Craig, if you get the pressurized fresh water model of the marine "Elegance" from Raritan, it's all in one. If you get the raw water model, an extra pump is required (included with the head) and it must be mounted remotely from the actual toilet pedestal, usually closer to the inlet seacock. So the installation is a bit more complicated with the raw water model, but it's nothing really complicated if you follow the directions that come with it. The key is to order the correct toilet for what you want to do, right off the bat. If you get the wrong one and want to convert it at a later date, it becomes complicated and sometimes fairly expensive. It would be best to contact Raritan Customer Support (me) and discuss what you're trying to achieve, before ordering. (800) 352-5630, ext. 244, 8-5, Mon-Fri, Eastern time.

As far as prices go, there are several variations and switch types available. The lowest price I've seen advertised is around $400.00. But that is a strictly "bare-bones" model, with no extras at all. With the Smart Switch programmable control (which is the one I recommend), they start at about $650.00. But when compared to a VacuFlush, which starts at around $2500, and goes up from there, it isn't too bad of a price; particularly when you consider that in order for VacuFlush to offer warranty on their systems, the installation must be checked out and certified, by one of their technicians (not free). With the Marine "Elegance," the average backyard mechanic can install it in about half a day, and Raritan will warrant it as long as you send in the warranty regristration card that comes with the head.

BoatFix carries 'em at pretty good pricing:

http://www.boatfix.com/shop3/store/listItems.asp?strSearch=Marine+Elegance
 
I converted from a one year old VacuFlush to the Elegance freshwater model. Since you are already set up for fresh water the plumbing is easy you are correct self contained Elegance to the holding tank. It's a very easy installation. The head is trouble free. I seriously doubt I would still be boating with my wife had I not changed out the head. I have the 4 button control panel well worth it in my opinion.
I can't think of a single problem or negative with the freshwater Elegance.
Bill
 
Bill and Vic,

I would need the pressurized fresh water version. Based on what Bill is saying, this should be fairly easy. My only issue will be to reroute the tube from the toilet to the holding tank. The path it takes right now I can't even get to. I would actually prefer to reroute it anyhow to make it easier for future maintenance. I wish I would have seen this sooner before I soaked money into a pump for the vacuflush... Either way, this will be a spring project now. Vic, I will give you a buzz in spring when I can start this project once again.

Couple of questions for you though.

1) What is the sound like when its flushed? Says on the site is quiet. Bill, seeing you have had both the Vacuflush and now the Elegance, sound wise, is it louder or quieter or same really?

2) To reroute the tubing, I am thinking I may need to drill a hole through the stringer that runs on the starboard side. The head is on one side of it and the holding tank is on the other side and no room over the top. This is on an 86 Carver Mariner. Is it safe to drill a hole through that or should I look for alternative route (which I am not seeing readily without some serious pipe length being laid out)? Would anything get laid within those that I would be concerned drilling through, like wiring?

I also need to figure out how to get the wiring up to the head for the pump from where things are right now, that should be a a fun hunt for where those run... :(
 
I can only answer question number 1 in my opinion using the saver mode for liquids it's quieter. Howver my wife has a medical condition and lets just say what she flushes is louder but it gets flushed where the VacuFlush would clog almost everytime. I could do either and the noise was in my opinion the same or less than that of the VF's noise. However both are entirely different types of sound. I had an old Jabsco head before the VF and that noise was objectional the Elegance sounds nothing like your average conventional macerator electric head.
As far as cutting a hole with a hole saw through a stringer I can't say on a Carver 36 Mariner if this is a good idea or not.
I can't imagine running the power and control wires being a big deal but I used to run cabling for a living and again I have never worked on a Carver Mariner.
Bill.
 
When you flush a VacuFlush, you hear a loud "pop" when you step on the pedal and the ball valve opens; and then you hear a "k'chunk, k'chunk, k'chunk" while the vacuum pump is pumping out the vacuum tank and re-evacuating the line between the vacuum pump and the toilet in preparation for the next flush. The vacuum pump can run anywhere from a few seconds to nearly a minute, depending on the particular installation. When it achieves the necessary level of vacuum required by the system, it shuts off. The newer series vacuum pumps are reasonably quiet, but the older ones did make quite a racket.

When you flush the pressurized fresh water "Elegance", you simply hear a "click" when the solenoid valve opens - oftentimes you don't even hear it. Then, water comes into the toilet bowl to rinse it, simply the sound of the water running in. After 2 or 3 seconds, the discharge motor comes on and generates a vacuum in the bowl, drawing the bowl's contents into the spinning cutter blade which shreds it. The vacuum further draws the the "matter" (after it's been shredded by the macerator) into the discharge pump, which pumps it off to your holding tank, treatment system, or other ultimate destination. The motor that's doing all this is a special Raritan-designed "pancake" motor that really revs up when it runs, but it makes very little noise - the sound level is less than your toilet at home when it flushes.

The raw water verson of the "Elegance" is a good deal noisier when it runs, because it has a separate pump to send the outside water to the toilet bowl, to rinse it. This supply water pump makes a fair amount of noise when it is running. But the other motor that actually flushes the toilet, has the same sound level as the pressurized fresh water model - it's very quiet.

So in summary, the Marine "Elegance" runs at about the same sound level, or less than, the VacuFlush - but it does not have the loud "pop" when you first flush it.

At a recent Boat Show, the VacuFlush booth was very close to the Raritan booth with the pressurized fresh water version of the Marine "Elegance" on display. During a lull period, I was watching them in the VacuFlush booth demonstrate their toilet to a young couple with a little boy, about 3 years old. When the salesman stepped on the pedal and the little boy heard the loud "pop," it startled him and he let out a blood-curdling scream and went running down the aisle terrified, crying and screaming all the way. (Wish I could have videotaped it). :D
 
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