Head (toilet) Warning

[Ray Perry]

Whitworths (Australia) advertise in their catalog a Jabsco 12v marine toilet as being the "best quality marine toilet on the market". I purchased one and installed it. I am very disappointed with this retailer.

The problems are:-
(a) inlet 3/4" The motor is actually 5/8" with a bit of plastic hose over the inlet to make it the 3/4". This is on both the inlet and outlet.
(b) when switched on it is VERY noisy.
(c) There are only three mounting holes (previous head had four). 100kg using the head in a seaway could be a bit suspect.

My previous head (a different brand) purchased from this same company was $229.90 and this one was $449.90 AUD. The quality of the old one is just as good as this new one but I have no experience of how long the Jabsco will last.
The Jabsco was manufactured in Mexico.

[Scott Berg]

Our Jabsco experience hasn't been good. Check out the Raritan Marine Elegance. They are a shade more money but much better tech and quality


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Ray Perry

Whitworths (Australia) advertise in their catalog a Jabsco 12v marine toilet as being the "best quality marine toilet on the market". I purchased one and installed it. I am very disappointed with this retailer.

<snip>

And you believed them. Sorry about your troubles but this site is a great resource to ask around before the purchase...

I also don't know how you can blame the "retailer?" They just sell them, they don't make them.

Originally Posted by Ray Perry

The Jabsco was manufactured in Mexico.

Not sure what that has to do with anything. Is there a manufacturing defect?

I am guessing it's not designed there?

BTW - I have a Jabsco manual toilet - bottom of the line. 7 years and still processing poop. Not defending Jabsco just my experience. Of course I didn't spend over $400 either...

[Stu Jackson]

I bought a Raritan PHII a few years ago to replace the old Wilcox Crittendon ones I used to swap out.

The old ones were $130 USD in 2006, the Raritan on sale was $260 in 2010. The Raritan is soooo far superior.

Peggie Hall was right. She usually is.

[macbeth]

Originally Posted by Scott Berg

Check out the Raritan Marine Elegance. They are a shade more money but much better tech and quality

Have to agree the Raritan is good. We've had no trouble with our manual system over the last 14 years. To fit in with our Head layout, I was also able to convert it from a RHS pump handle to a LHS pump handle just by disassembling it and reassembling it in a different way. Good design I thought that !

I also installed an inlet water treatment system:

MarineStore.com - Tankette Marine Head Treatment System

although I am sure you can get it from other places.

I am not associated with this firm. However, I am a firm believer in their product. When we use it, we can not detect an ordour from the toilet, when we don't, we can ! I mounted mine with short tubes to keep it away from the wall at the back, as the lid tightens down very hard in use (due to the suction it experiences I guess) and you need to get your whole hand around the lid to open it to install a new "bullet" ! After 10 years of use, my lid cracked. I got a new lid from HMP in Toronto, who will send parts to anywhere in the world. I know that from experience !

Another tip: When you leave the boat for any period of time, for example if you are just weekend sailors, leave the seat lid UP. Otherwise mildew will collect on the underneath of the seat cover.

My 2 cents ! Hope it helps.

[macbeth]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

I bought a Raritan PHII a few years ago to replace the old Wilcox Crittendon ones I used to swap out.

The old ones were $130 USD in 2006, the Raritan on sale was $260 in 2010. The Raritan is soooo far superior.

Peggie Hall was right. She usually is.

What happened to Peggy ? She was a member of the "CSBB", I think it was called, but I can't find the forum any more. Know what happened to it ?

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by macbeth

What happened to Peggy ? She was a member of the "CSBB", I think it was called, but I can't find the forum any more. Know what happened to it ?

She "retired" a while ago, sometimes answers at www.sailboatowners.com, and her Head topics are in the shared forums there.

[DeepFrz]

Peggy shows up now and then. She has decided to retire and take it eas(y)(ier).

[Ray Perry]

Thanks for the reply. I checked out the supplier in Australia and they retail for approx $2000.00 AUD.

[Ray Perry]

"They might only sell" them BUT if they recommend the product who is to blame? The mug like me who believes their good name or the seller for not checking their products before they recommend !!!!!!!!

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Ray Perry

Thanks for the reply. I checked out the supplier in Australia and they retail for approx $2000.00 AUD.

Wowa!
I'll have to bring one in the suitcase the next time I fly off in that direction. That would about pay for the flight.

BTW I've had a Raritan for 12 years w/o a problem, which I rebuilt just after I bought the boat.

[Boracay]

Defender sells the Raritan marine Elegance for a range of prices. I'm not sure what the difference is between them.

Some may be under $A1,000

I've found their service to be excellent.

[Coops]

As somebody who worked at Whitworths for 14 years, on a part time basis, I can tell you that the toilet that you bought last time would have been a TMC. TMC is a pure copy of the Jabsco but made in China. We would have sold 99 out of a hundred TMC because of the price difference between the two. Not many problems with either to be honest.

We always assumed and in fact believed that the Jabsco was a superior product to the TMC but wow, the spares were just so expensive. In Australia anyway.

Coops.

[botanybay]

Originally Posted by Scott Berg

Our Jabsco experience hasn't been good. Check out the Raritan Marine Elegance. They are a shade more money but much better tech and quality

Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

I have been mixed fresh/salt marine elegance (almost always run fresh)

2+ years of live aboard service and still going strong.

Opted for 1" outlet hose for more water action in the line. Has really worked great. Almost throws the water into the tank!

The smart flush programmable flush control is great. Can program amount of water and duration of pump run

Delighted customer!

[Prairie Chicken]

We had Jabsco manual for two decades & never had a problem so when we decided to put an electric in the new boat we went Jabsco. We installed the Jabsco electric last fall & HATE how noisy it is! It is louder than the bow thruster! We have learned ours (using raw water) is much louder than the same model using fresh water.

Anyhow, if anyone around Mallorca is looking for a very lightly used (6 weeks) Jabsco electric--get in touch with me. It may be just fine on some grungy fishing boat, but not a yacht. We shall be replacing it asap--at considerable cost I have no doubt.