Advantages/disadvantages of electric toilets?

[Srah 1953]

Hi All
What are the advantages/disadvantages of electric toilets, over manual toilets?
Thanks for any info

[sailorboy1]

advantages: convenience, guest understand it easier, and if it is a macerator less chance to clog lines

disadvantage: cost, more complex, uses power, less reliable

[rtbates]

electric toilets need electricity and the motors, etc to flush is THE disadvantage that no advantage could ever overcome for me...

[Srah 1953]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

advantages: convenience, guest understand it easier, and if it is a macerator less chance to clog lines

disadvantage: cost, more complex, uses power, less reliable

Thanks for both of these. How much less reliable are they?

[bloodhunter]

A manual head relies on a hand pump depending on arm or foot power, about as simple as it gets. They're also significantly cheaper than electric heads.
That being said, my vacuflush head, which is far over on the complicated side as far as electric heads go, has never caused me any problems in the six years I've had it. While it's obvious that the more complicated the machine, the more chance it has of going wrong, the vacuflush had one overwhelming advantage -- there was no way my wife would live on the boat without it .

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Srah 1953

Thanks for both of these. How much less reliable are they?

In 2 years of use my last boat's electric head only had 1 problem and that was because the motor got wet and it was alright after it dried out. In the past 2 years my current boat with manual heads has clogged twice (cleared up after waiting a while). Maintenance for both have been the same.

So far as I'm concerned they both the same degree of reliably really.


PS - the power draw of the electric is minor and if that is an issue you have bigger problems!

[barnakiel]

Advantage: some are less likely to get damaged by ignorant crews.

Disadvantage: they will not work if there is no electricity.

I find the electric ones more difficult to fix too.

b.

[foggysail]

Advantage (for me)---- Wifey loves it, so do I

Disadvantage---- Not having one! We pumped and pumped for over 25 years. Never ever go back to that routine again. I would select a bucket before I would install another manual toilet!

We have two Raritans, one is the superb Marine Elegance and the other is a Crown.

[Srah 1953]

Thank you all very much

[Palarran]

I have to third what has been just said. The only demand my wife made was she was not going to pump the head out everytime she used it. It's been a great investment for me.

As far as reliability, I have 4 on board and none have broke in nearly 3 years use. They are Raratan and I can't imagine a more simple design.

[bmm32005]

My Tartan 3800 1994 came with a electric head and I was very skeptical at first. I must say I love it. There is no stink, mine uses fresh water. It uses very little fresh water to flush, I never had a clog in the 4 years I had this boat.
It is a little noisy, and requires a little lube once in a while. I carry a spare motor just in case cause if it goes you will have to use a bucket.

[Bash]

We entertain extensively on our boat, and in six years running two macerating toilets we have not yet had one clog. An added benefit is that the macerating toilets require less water to flush, which means the holding tanks don't fill as fast.

[S/V Illusion]

If you are at all skeptical of electric heads, there is at least one which will operate manually in the event of a failure of the powered components. Forgot which one.

Regardless, we have two heads; one electric and one manual. The manual definitely requires more maintenance and is less popular among the crew. I think the skeptics derive their perspective from unfamiliarity or perception.

[jackdale]

The need for fresh water is my main concern. We developed a fresh water leak between Bermuda and St Barths. With no water maker, we had to conserve water, so we could not use the head to urinate. I do not like going overboard.

The only head that I have had plugged was electric. Something stopped up the first orifice. We did get it to flush eventually.

An electric head is noisier that a manual.