We are getting a new holding tank for our 1980 NS30C and also want to get a new toilet. Fresh-water boat (Lake Ontario). Any recommendations for good toilets? Electric versus manual, compact versus standard?
Craig - for my 26C I got a manual compact Raritan II.
Our boat had a big recirculating head in it; took it out last fall, and the boatyard is putting in a new holding tank + the Raritan.
Manual, because of the noise of the old one; compact so that we don’t need a step-stool or acrobatics lessons to use it. 
Raritan, because (from what I’ve read) it’s the most trouble-free manual toilet.
Not used it yet; cross fingers it’ll be good.
Some on here use a composting head; it sounds like a good solution, too. When I did some research, they were also quite large, but maybe I did not research enough.
Anyway, an opinion for what it’s worth…
John NS26C 046, boat headless on the hard at Bath, ON.
Thought we could help you out Craig as we are getting rid of a one year old holding tank on our 30U but the design is different that the 30C. We are going to a compostable toilet. We only used the holding tank for 9 weeks this past summer in the North Channel, Lake Huron.
Marilyn & Bill Dahms, Prelude 30U, #282
Craig: If you’ve not noticed already, this is how we sign off on the discussion list. It facilitates answers as we then know what you have and where you are.
Welcome to the list,
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
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I put in a LAVAC over ten years ago and could not be more pleased. Only thing simpler is a bucket. 
Thanks for this info! We’re deciding between the Raritan 2 and the LAVAC.
Craig NS30C 083 Toronto
Ciraig,
La Reina came witIh a Raritan PH11. I found that it is easier to pump than a Jabsco because of the leverage given by the handle design. I believe Peggy Hall rates the PH11 as the best manual marine head. I have not found that the basic parts such as the joker valves last any longer than on the Jabsco.
When we got La Reina the head ran fore and aft with the pump handle on the centre line side of the boat. It stuck out a bit and caused a minor annoyance when using the head. I took the bowl off and spun the base around that the pump and handle were now toward the outside of the boat. This solved the problem. The handle is low enough that so that it does no interfere with the door to the wet locker. The head in the 30C is essentially the same as in the 26C so the same solution should work for you. I have attached a photo of the head after I turned the base around.
Greenline products are available in Ontario. They sell a sanitation hose that is very flexible and is easy to install and remove from barb fittings. Raritan sells what looks to be the same hose except that the stripe and writing are in blue rather than green and the Raritan price is much higher.You will want the Greenline white rubber hose because it has greater resistance to permeation. Here is a link to their site. 51911 The picture is of the black hose. Here is a link to Defender’s listing for the Raritan hose product.jsp The ease of installation is worth the price of admission.
My experience with the Lavac is limited to 3 weeks during a charter. The toilet worked fine however the time for the vacuum to bleed off from the prior use when your need is urgent can be very long but is necessary so you can lift the lid. Practical Sailor did a review of the Lavac. Here is a link to their review vacuum-flush-toilets-for-sailboats-reduce-water-use-onboard There are a few things that you have to get right when you install the toilet (listed in the article) but otherwise it is very simple. A few people have had issues with cracks forming in the base f the Lavac. There is an article in Good Old Boat about a solution to that problem.
Good luck with which ever you decide on, either will be good.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.
If you are replacing the rest you might consider switching to rigid pvc pipe. With a little forethought it’s not that hard to route and is the only piping that will remain odour free for ever. Even the best sanitary hose has a lifetime.
This is an good opportunity.
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
Just followed Mark’s links.
Greenline quotes $12.08 / ft for G380-150 1-1/2" PREMIUM WHITE RUBBER SANITATION HOSE at https://www.greenlinehose.com/buy/product/g380-150/4918?ID=/Hoses-by-Application/Marine-Hose-Assemblies/Marine-Sanitation-Hose/dept-1A24&lsi=true
Defender quotes $9.59 (Def1st Price: $8.65, if you’re a member) for Raritan Sani / Flex Sanitation Hose, 1.5" ID, Butyl Rubber Reinforced with Double Steel Helix
– Bob
Solar Wind
Nonsuch 26C #143
I believe the $12.08 is in Canadian dollars which is about $9.01 U.S. with brokerage and duty it will be more than the Greenline. At the time I was buying the Raritan was about $5 per foot more in B.C. Than what I could buy the Greemline. Defender has a very good price.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.
Makes sense, Mark. I failed to pick up on that.
It also looks like the Raritan has embedded helix wire, and I have the impression that the Greenline doesn’t. That would make the Greenline easier to work with. The wire reinforcement’s nice if you have to worry about kinking or crushing after installation, but makes for a lot more fighting to get the hose in place during the process.
– Bob
Solar Wind
Nonsuch 26C #143
Bob,
I could not find any 1 1/2” hose in the crawl space but did find some 1”. It did not have wire reinforcement. I could bend the hose into a circle with a 1” radius without it kinking.
Raritan lists the 1 1/2” hose at $16.50 a foot. Defender has a really good price.
Mark Powers
La Reina 26C
Vancouver, B.C.