HATE Jabsco Manual Toilet - should we Convert to Electric ?

[Fuss]

Originally Posted by Tayana42

Vacuflush!


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Pull apart a vacuflush pump and you will see why it's good for 10+ years. Minimal maintenance.

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by The Rookie

Try other brands, like vacusys from Sealand they also carry manual toilets.

Anyone have any experience w. Raritan manual flush toilets? Pros, Cons?

Also, I have a repair kit, but no instructions. Anyone know where I can find such instructions published?

Thanks folks,

G2L

[HopCar]

The Raritan PH series of manual toilets have a pretty good reputation.
You can find the owners manual here: http://raritaneng.com/pdf_files/ph_II/L04v0505.pdf



Link: Raritan PHII Marine Toilet

[Dockhead]

Funny how many people seem to be pleased with their marine toilets, whatever the brand. I guess that's good.

I have a Raritan Sea Era in the aft heads (bought from HopCar; thanks HopCar!) which has been working flawlessly for three years. It replaced a Jabsco electric conversion.

The Raritan is much more lightly built and seems almost toy-like, but it is better designed with a diaphragm pump instead of impeller, and has no priming problems unlike the previous Jabsco.

The old Jabsco migrated to the forward heads, and after a certain amount of fiddling, it also started working correctly.

So I have been blessed for the last three years with an absence of toilet problems.

Electric toilets rule. At least, where you can discharge directly overboard. That's because you can pump plenty of water through with no effort, and that's key to avoiding arteriosclerosis in the lines and keeping everything clean. What causes so many problems is not getting the lines flushed all the way through -- pee standing in salt water causes calcium to precipitate out and coat the insides of the lines. Lots and lots of water pumped through is key.

Also, electric toilets are far less intimidating to non-sailors, and are far less likely to clog.

[Gone2long]

Originally Posted by HopCar

The Raritan PH series of manual toilets have a pretty good reputation.
You can find the owners manual here: http://raritaneng.com/pdf_files/ph_II/L04v0505.pdf



Link: Raritan PHII Marine Toilet

Thank you. Sincerely appreciate the lnk.

Regards,

G2L

[zeehag]

i finally had to rebuild my head... so i used an entire pump assembly, which is less pricey than is a rebuild kit.
i am still using my manual jabsco head with no problems at all. it had a temp leak for a bit, but that is done. we have perfect toilet, except w eneed a seat..lol... but that is due to the lifespan of said toilet, which has so far, been over 14 years.
i can see how it could be a problem for someone without any boating experience, but i have had zero problems with jabsco manual toilets.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by zeehag

i finally had to rebuild my head... so i used an entire pump assembly, which is less pricey than is a rebuild kit.
i am still using my manual jabsco head with no problems at all. it had a temp leak for a bit, but that is done. we have perfect toilet, except w eneed a seat..lol... but that is due to the lifespan of said toilet, which has so far, been over 14 years.
i can see how it could be a problem for someone without any boating experience, but i have had zero problems with jabsco manual toilets.

^^ What she said. Install a new pump assembly (dead easy), grease annually, and get many years of trouble-free service. My only clogs have been from wads of seaweed (installed inlet strainer).

As for lubbers, I've never had a problem or a guest that was "intimidated." Depends on the guests, I guess.

[rwidman]

I can't get concerned enough about a toilet to "hate" it.

I have the cheap Jabsco manual toilet and it works fine. As far as rebuilding it, if you search hard enough you can buy the entire pump assembly for not a lot more than the rebuild kit. Four screws and a couple hoses and you're back in business with an essentially new toilet. I have one in my "spare parts" bin. Looking at it, I estimate fifteen minutes to change it out.

If I were going to replace it with something "better" it would be the Raritan Marine Elegance Toilet, mostly because it uses less water (and a controlled amount) to flush and I have a small holding tank.

[Emerald Sea]

We have Jabsco Quiet Flush toilets onboard and have had good success with them. When we flush, we follow with a flush of a FULL empty bowl down the lines. We don't use excessive paper as I have installed a fresh water butt sprayer in each toilet (keeps your ass clean too). We have a large bore check valve installed on the drain line before entry into the holding tank which prevents back flow. I keep parts; in the form of a complete Jabsco pump/mercator and a few rebuild kits, but haven't had to use them yet.

Im not going back to manual despite all the opinions here!

[Boatyarddog]

2 words cherry pits, caution.
They will destroy your macerator, and if you've never cleared one out that got stuck.
Be thankful.


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[blakeney]

Suggest you consider converting to a Natures head composting toilet.We would never go back to a marine head


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[sneuman]

A big issue that I've discovered (belatedly) is lime buildup. It is the No. 1 marine head killed. If you catch the problem soon enough, you can fix it without the need for a rebuild by scraping all the crap out. But, really, it's much better to use some CLR on a monthly basis and then dribble a little mineral oil in to keep things lubricated.

I've been around the block on this subject, so ignore me at your own peril!

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by Gone2long

Thank you. Sincerely appreciate the lnk.

Regards,

G2L

A very good unit. I have had mine for six years. Other than having to clean out lime on occasion -- which happens to all units -- it's worked flawlessly.

[Cheechako]

Electric toilets aren't bad, but it just seems there's even more to go wrong with them. I wonder if they freeze up from non use? seems like every boat I look at that has one ...it's not working! Unless someone is currently living aboard....

[gonesail]

i also recommend the raritan PHII (non electric) easy to work on and easy to use. yeh the intake water smells funny but that's not the fault of the head.