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Sealand vacuflush seal

Discussion in 'Carver Yacht' started by Ross, Jun 2, 2015.

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  1. Ross

    Ross New Member

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    I'm not near my 2000 Carver 396 Motoryacht. I need to replace the toilet seal. Is there one common seal or do I need to go to the boat to find model? Hopefully someone can save me a trip. Thanks
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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  3. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Hum, Did I mess up or were my comments removed?

    I must have messed up.

    I thought I asked why do you think you have a bad seal?

    There are base seals, duck bill valves and other components that do require servicing.

    Can you offer your symptoms? Throwing money at a problem some times does not fix it.

    ,rc
  4. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    If I made a list of stuff that I see the typical small boat owner repeatedly throw a bunch of dough at, the Vacuflush head would be at the top of that list.

    Between duck bills and seals and switches and vacuum pumps and labor it's not uncommon to see repairs of $1,000 or more into one head as often as every couple of years if not sooner.

    I've been taking them out of every boat where I can convince the owner and replacing them with Dometic (same company) MasterFlush 8000 series macerator heads.

    It will cost a little more than what you would probably spend over 2 years to keep a VacuFlush in service. And you will be done with duck bills and vacuum pumps forever.
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2015
  5. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    You messed up. There has to be a serious reason for intervention.

    Appreciate all your contributions Ralph. Even the Crappy ones! ;)
  6. Ross

    Ross New Member

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    Thanks for replying. The water leaks from the bowl. I changed the duck bill valves about 6 months ago. I just started to noticed the bowl being dry. I though the bowl seal must be the problem.
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    If the water is disappearing from the bowl and the vacuum gen pump is cycling, then base gasket. If it's been a real long time since the whole base has been serviced, a whole base kit.
    Two base gaskets are listed, we stock only one part number and use it for both bowl models.
    Sealand # 385316140

    Sometimes the valve to base seal just does not close all the way (near micro gap towards the back). Raise the foot pedal up a nudge before the water valve wants to open and release may help (temp). Replace the base seal and make sure the seal is centered very well before tightening assembly the clamp. There is just enough room for error that the base seal and base valve may leek if not positioned correctly.
  8. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    There are a few diffent type of Vacuflush with different seals. If you don't want to wait till you get to the boat, maybe calling carver to find out the exact model they used on your boat woudl help

    As to the comment on Vacuflush being unreliable, I ve had them on my own boats for 15 or 20 years and find them as bulletproof as they get. Currently I have 3 on my boat (manual pedal type) and we have 4 electronic models on the 70 footer I run. Even in charter when they get heavy used, they give us almost no trouble, except for the occasional tampon...

    There is no part on a Vacuflush that cost anywhere near $1000... Don't know why you made that up. A set of duckbill cost about $20 every6 to 8 years... A bowl seal is cheap and last 5 years... A whole replacement motor and bellow (they last 10 to 15 years) is about $350

    I wish other boat systems especially air cons were so reliable
  9. HTMO9

    HTMO9 Senior Member

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    Pascal, you are absolutely right. Vacuflush systems are very reliable and long lasting, as long as crew and guests stick to one basic rule. And crews know that rule, as they are the poor fellows cleaning that mess.

    Only things having gone through a stomach previously, should enter a vacuflash bowl (not counting for some special paper obviously).

    Btw. did you know, that most MOB maneuvers initiated on smaller sailboats are caused by males (mainly older or half cut), relieving themselves over the ship's rail :).
  10. RER

    RER Senior Member

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    I didn't. I said that I see owners spend that on repairs including labor over a years time keeping them running. And I do. Often.
  11. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Also, every couple of months it's good to turn your freshwater supply off, drain the water pressure, then lubricate the bowl seal with superlube. I put a rubber glove on, lubricate the part in the bottom of the bowl, press the pedal down and then wipe it all around the bowl seal, and press the flush pedal up and down several times.
  12. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Ohhhh yeah there is, on some of the more modern ones. We have these Sealand toilets on a 2007 Sunseeker I manage and the circuit board for them is right under the toilet seat and it goes for over $850.
  13. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    There are Great vacuum systems for waste and grey water systems made by Evac that have been standard equipment on many Northern European mega yacht builders build sheets and maybe one other British manufacturer but Sealand systems belong on their intended target of campers and large R.V. - Caravan vehicles. Horrible to maintain $$$ and operate in my experience, just look at a exploded view of a Sealand's system parts schematic with the bowl, Vacuum accumulator & pressurized tank & discharge pump, I count over 34 O-rings , seals or gaskets to fail one way or another and at least Evac has isolation valves to trouble shoot the different sections of the system so you can narrow down where the vacuum leak is. Any vessel that I come across with a Sealand system or a Microphor going through a refit I always provide the owner a quote to change them out for a jet head or pressurized system.
  14. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I tend to disagree. Sealands are pretty solid durability wise and usually only about 4 parts go bad or wear on them, the bowl seal, the vaccuum pressure switch, duct bills, and the foot pedal o-ring. The otherThe only toilet I like better on a yacht 150< are headhunters.
  15. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Special paper for a vacuflush? Nope... Been using regular stuff incl charmin and never had a problem.

    Yeah I m sure the boards are expensive, but limited to the magnum version. And no, I am not going to jinx myself by staying that in 7 years i havent had replace one :)
  16. HTMO9

    HTMO9 Senior Member

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    With special paper, I did only mean regular TP but not the use of the Правда (Prawda) or the NYT (New York Times) or for the very rich, 100 $ bills :).

    Vacuflush systems just do not like foreign objects which do not dissolve. One other advantage is the much smaller amount of flush filling the black water tank. A big advantage for smaller boats.

    But the absolute most reliable ship toilets can still be seen on the famous British warship HMS Victory in Plymouth. First picture, one of the two famous "hole above the waves" for the senior NCO and second the "designated space" on the bowsprit for the ordinary seaman. And you guys are complaining about a few rubber seals. Aren't we spoiled today?

    head for senior NCO.jpg
    head for ordinary seaman.jpg
    And there was only one more enclosed place for the officers. Btw. the HMS Victory had a total crew of 821 men!! And no bathroom!

    And do not complain, boats were only invented to keep the maintenance and repair companies busy. Our old Master Shipwright always said, a boat is just a hole in water for throwing your money in :D.
  17. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    imagesh.jpeg
    I can not find a real picture, but the USS Constitution has a forward service with a view.
  18. jflongwell

    jflongwell Member

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  19. jflongwell

    jflongwell Member

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    I installed a vacuflush system in 2009 and had the boat for 5 season with no problems. As for the leaking toilet seal, I rubbed my finger in a rubber glove around the seal with the flapper open and it fixed the problem.
  20. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Sealand recommends putting Superlube on the seal every once in a while in the manner you just posted.