Flush Away Your Toilet Questions

A Guide to Selecting the Right Toilet Technology for your Boat

Published: Monday, August 8, 2011 7:00 am
By: Dometic Marine

For boat owners feeling bogged down by questions of which marine toilet is best, let Dometic’s expertise in both vacuum-flush and macerating technology provide a beginning to your selection of a marine toilet.

As boaters continue to make improvements to their yachts to ensure a comfortable on-board environment, boat manufacturers are also developing systems that give owners the chance to create a home away from home – even when it comes to the toilet system. The result is an array of toilet technologies that can make choosing the best system a daunting experience.

While most everyone is aware of portable potties and manual-pump marine toilets, the most popular types of marine heads today are electric macerating and vacuum-flush systems. Which one is better? The answer depends on your boat and your boating lifestyle.

Currently, Dometic’s SeaLand VacuFlush® series is the only vacuum toilet range available in the pleasure craft market, and the industry-leading MasterFlush™ is ‘heads’ above its electric macerating competitors where reliable performance, low power consumption, and overall comfort are concerned. While both SeaLand toilet systems are great, they serve different purposes in different boating environments.

When considering water conservation, a vacuum-flush toilet is the best choice. It uses as little as 0.5 litres of water per flush, maximizes holding tank capacity, and therefore extends cruise times between pump-outs. Compared to vacuum-flush toilets, electric macerator toilets generally require more water to help keep drain lines clear, and this can sometimes cause blockages with competitive macerator toilets that do not use enough water. MasterFlush toilets are programmed for optimal flow to keep the entire system running efficiently. Because macerator toilets fill the holding tank faster, they are more suited to boats that have large holding tanks or are used regularly for offshore activities where overboard discharge is permitted.

Ever notice how some pleasure boats have an underlying fishy smell? It could all be ‘in your head’ – especially if raw seawater is used for flushing. If head compartment odor reduction is important to you, VacuFlush’s low volume water consumption is designed for freshwater use. The fresh water that effectively cleans and rinses the bowl does not contain the decaying microorganisms of seawater (a pervasive cause of head odors), and the vacuum action helps keep lines clear of residual sewage, a potential source of hose odor permeation.

Regarding ambient noise, both the VacuFlush and MasterFlush systems provide the quietest operation of marine toilets. Due to the location of the motor in the base of a macerating toilet, more ambient noise is heard with MasterFlush, but it is rated several decibels below a standard household toilet. With a VacuFlush toilet and its remote vacuum generator, you hear virtually nothing after the initial bowl-clearing “whoosh.”

When comparing power consumption, a MasterFlush macerator motor, for which a 20-amp circuit breaker is recommended, is still 33% more efficient than competitive macerator models. For premium power efficiency, a pedal-operated VacuFlush toilet with standard vacuum generator operates on as little as 6 amps.

While fitting in the same or smaller footprint as many other marine toilets, SeaLand VacuFlush and MasterFlush toilets offer larger, more comfortable seats and bowls for more home-like comfort. And whether using a foot-pedal flush or electronic touchpad, all SeaLand toilets are much easier to operate than competitive brands due to labels or panels containing easily understood operating symbols.

If you are planning to install a toilet system yourself, macerating heads are the easiest to install as the system usually consists of just a toilet and control unit - making it extremely easy to connect to electrical and plumbing systems. With VacuFlush toilet systems, installation can take more time as there are more requirements to consider. Expert installation advice and final inspection by a certified VacuFlush dealer should be arranged if you are going to install a VacuFlush system yourself.

For further information about selecting the right toilet, contact your local SeaLand® dealer. A list can be found at www.dometic.com/marinedealers.