Two Heads Are Better Than One, or Are They?

February 27, 2015

I indicated earlier that both of our marine heads have their own unique personalities. In my post of February 9^th, I introduced you to the forward head.  It’s time to reveal the idiosyncrasies of our aft head.

The aft head is electric and is connected to a Lectrasan.  The theory is that the Lectrasan is a mini treatment plant, which utilizes a macerator, salt water, and electrodes and an electrolytic process which manufactures hypochlorous acid which kills the bacteria before the now “clean” stuff is pumped overboard.  (Thank you Nigel Calder, Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual for that explanation)  When ours is activated, it makes all of the proper noises and appears to do what it is supposed to do, but a light comes on that indicates low salt.  Sadly, this can mean all sorts of things and not necessarily low salt.  Who knew?  Our boat is on the Manatee River and the water is brackish so low salt did not seem an impossibility.  We have added salt, varying the amounts per flush based on the recommendations of various web sites, cruisers forums and the experts on our dock, but we still have the low salt indicator and we are no closer to figuring out just what it means. We can only hope that there is no grand disaster just waiting to happen.  To look at the bright side:  there is no leaky holding tank associated with it, nor is there a bilge into which Jim can lose another pair of glasses. (The first pair has not yet been found)  But, mulling over what to do next, we have wondered whether two heads are really better than one?