Head Recommendations?

[mestrezat]

My boat came with two heads--both Jabsco. We are planning on setting out on long distance cruising and would like peoples opinion on weither we should keep them or replace them. One is several years old and other was replaced last Spring. Previous owner recommended that no toilet paper be put down either. I've heard that before but don't want to travel the world with small plastic bags of waste material paper in each head.
If you think I should replace them, I'd appreciate any input on brands that will stand the test of time.

[irwinsailor]

I just replaced a low cost Jabsco with a Groco model K. The Groco is build of cast bronze, There is no comparison.

[Pelagic]

When I bought Stargazer it came with 2 Jabsco manual heads.

We don’t use the fwd one much but a few times with guest use there were problems with too much TP and I noticed that small leaks were becoming a common occurrence.

Generally they were uncomfortable, messy toilets.

Switched the aft head to an electric Tecma Silence Plus short using fresh water and have been very pleased with both it’s comfortable form and function.

http://www.tecma.net/nautica/silence/index.html

Will keep the forward one as is, because I now have rebuilt spares and anyway, it’s important that you don’t spoil your guests……. (they may never want to leave!)

[MidLandOne]

They all have their problems and the best take up too much room for a common sized sailboat.

I made some comments in your other thread, but if looking at replacing I would personally go for a manual one (for reliability) which, like the Jabsco and some others style, have all the valves on the clean water side of the pumping arrangement. Such toilets are very clean and easy to maintain as it is only the bottom of the piston and the joker valve which are exposed to the black water and those are pretty much self cleaning.

[AnchorageGuy]

Not a big fan of Jabsco. We have had a Raritan for 15 years, and yes it is the same head. We don't throw paper in the trash can, it goes in the head, but the amount and treatment of the holding tank must be considered. The secret is maintenance, and on a regular basis. On a weekly time frame we flush white vinegar through the system, followed by a half cup of light cooking oil. The exposed portion of the flush handle plunger is lubricated with superlube. We have rebuilt it once in those 15 years and have had no issues. Oh sh_t, I just really jinxed it didn't I, oh well. we do the maintenance religiously and I believe that is the key. We live aboard 365/24/7.

[Pelagic]

As a live aboard, I just don’t understand that with such a basic and frankly unpleasant component that one would compromise on quality and reliability with going for a cheap, sensitive and maintenance oriented toilet like the Jabsco or Raritan.

When you look at the technical specs of a toilet like the Tecma, you get what you pay for…reliability
http://www.tecma.net/nautica/silence/tech_specs.html

Another toilet I have used for years with never a problem is the headhunter http://www.headhunterinc.com/Products/Toilets/index.html

This is virtually un-pluggable but doesn’t lend itself to below water installation for a single application.

[Boracay]

I installed a Lavac on the understanding that they were pretty well unblockable.

I started with three ply toilet paper (the really nice stuff) and rapidly learnt that one needs to have a bucket under the pump before removing the cover plate...

Even the ultra expensive imported paper from a chandler gave the pump indigestion.

Now I use the cheapest single ply tissue paper from my local supermarket megastore and it only sometime causes the pump to hesitate.

[Sailabel]

Our boat only has one head, and we're full-time liveaboard cruisers. Having 'head problems' isn't really something I wanted to deal with. Power and water consumption is also a concern for us. I know that many swear behind the Lavacs, but we installed a 'Skipper' head about 9 years ago. Great head. As I recall, the ads at the time claimed that you 'could flush an overcoat' throught the thing. After 9 years, no clogs, no leaks. Even had a 'y' valve stuck halfway... no problem for the head.

Expensive, but for us, it is worth it. I agree with the others- don't scrimp... get a top quality head. If you have the power and water to spare, I understand that vacu-flush is also very good.

As a side note, cheap TP works fine. We use Scott. A vendor advised us of the test to use... put a sheet of paper in a bowl of water and let it sit overnight. If it has disolved by morning.... it's ok to use.

Steve

[Alan Wheeler]

From what is available here, the Jabsco have always been considered a good toilet.
On our boat we have two TMC toilets. Cheap nasties from Taiwan. One is electric and the other is manual. The electric blocked once when too much TP was flushed. I removed the very small rubber joker valve and have never had another problem scince. The manual has never failed and I have expected it too scince day one. The cheapies are far more inferior to the Jabsco Brydon toilets.

[Pelagic]

I think the answer to the dis-crap-encies of the toilets lies behind the flush in the plumbing to its destination.

In the old days “BHT” (before holding tanks) the plumbing was pretty straight forward…a gentle curve up and down to a waterline discharge.


Nowadays it is probably has to loop up to a 3-way valve, then heading back down again, reverse so as to loop up again to a vented loop before turning back down and another 90 degrees at the bilge for discharge.


All that extra plumbing makes for tighter turns in limited space with much greater resistance and places to accumulate.


When I installed my new Tecma, I took the opportunity to pull out all that plumbing to check it. Was amazed at the amount of build up inside the black water hoses, almost ¾” thick!

[Lancerbye]

We have a Sealand Vacuflush very easy on water since we have at least one full time liveaboard in a no dumping zone. Holding tank does not have to be emptied as often and is very hard to plug. The velocity at which stuff is moved through the pipes dertimine the build up. The vacuflush takes care of that also. I have had Pars and Jabscos on other boats. This is the best I have had so far.

[Pelagic]

Your right Lancerbyte, discharge velocity is the key to avoiding buildup which is why I like this Tecma. When I flush it is like I have a stern thruster.

I also liked the Sealand, had them on a boat but I do remember irritating problem with tiny leaks of the Flushing ball valve causing it to cycle. Hope they have fixed that problem.

[Lancerbye]

Pelagic
The only time the vacuum pump starts between flushes is when something like a piece of toilet paper gets caught between the ball valve and the seat. easy remedy, just flush again. There is a rebuild kit for the ball valve when a problem develops between the valve seat and the ball. The system I have is fairly old and I don't know when or if the P.O. ever rebuilt it. We have been using it for two years with no problems. I heard from someone that if your fresh water has a high calcium content like some areas have the calcium deposit can cause valve seat problems. Vinegar or lime away can fix that.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Sailabel

Our boat only has one head, and we're full-time liveaboard cruisers. Having 'head problems' isn't really something I wanted to deal with. Power and water consumption is also a concern for us. I know that many swear behind the Lavacs, but we installed a 'Skipper' head about 9 years ago. Great head. As I recall, the ads at the time claimed that you 'could flush an overcoat' throught the thing. After 9 years, no clogs, no leaks. Even had a 'y' valve stuck halfway... no problem for the head.

Expensive, but for us, it is worth it. I agree with the others- don't scrimp... get a top quality head. If you have the power and water to spare, I understand that vacu-flush is also very good.

As a side note, cheap TP works fine. We use Scott. A vendor advised us of the test to use... put a sheet of paper in a bowl of water and let it sit overnight. If it has disolved by morning.... it's ok to use.

Steve

I agree with the "Skipper" head. I also have on onboard. You don't know what a good head is until you have had this one on your boat for a few years. This head has no problems...period. It is big and expensive and made of cast bronze and porcelain. There are no electronics or pumps or motors to fail. You pump it with a big sturdy bronze lever arm that you know is not going to break. It certainly strengthens your deltoids on your right arm, but thats the only downside I see. There is not one plastic part on the entire head except for the toilet lid. Its been so reliable and clog free that I would not consider any other head. If you don't want to have to deal with other peoples poop then its worth spending a few extra hundred dollars.

[Southern Star]

Another vote here for Lavac - I upgraded to a Lavac Zenith on my last boat and had absolutely no problems with blockages (and yes I flush single ply down it). They have an added advantage in that the full size, 1 1/2" (bilge) pump that it uses can also be diverted for use as a real bilge pump in an emergency situation.

My current boat was built in England and equipped with Lavac Populars, and again, so far so good. The only difficulty now seems to be in getting reasonably priced spares in North America. Defender used to be an importer, but it seems they are no longer carrying them.

Brad