Advice on marine toilet system

[SailingHarmonie]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

That's fine, but is it really worth it just to eliminate the macerator pump? The macerator pump not only pumps overboard from a below waterline tank, but also processes the waste so it breaks down much faster. You can also use a manual pump if you are a fanatic about simplifying the electrical system.

There are a number of disadvantages to having the tank above the level of the toilet. One is reduced efficiency of the toilet. I prefer my black water times as low as possible.

On no boat I know of are the electric toilets a significant piece of the overall energy budget. They do not run long enough in a day to have a significant drain on any reasonably sized battery bank.

Some of us stick to manual toilets because they are far simpler and more reliable. Just as an example, I know of a boat where one of the kids (because they get blamed...) swallowed a cherry pit. You know what happens when an undigested cherry pit meets a macerator? Just one example.

Another reason for disliking electric toilets is the noise. The marketing genius who christened one popular brand of electric toilet the "QuietFlush" took one of the big downsides of this system and tried to make it a plus. In any event they are still incredibly loud.

I have lived on boats full time for 25 years. Every one has had a holding tank elevated above the water line. NEVER have they backed up in to a toilet, manual or electric.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by SailingHarmonie

On no boat I know of are the electric toilets a significant piece of the overall energy budget. They do not run long enough in a day to have a significant drain on any reasonably sized battery bank.

Some of us stick to manual toilets because they are far simpler and more reliable. Just as an example, I know of a boat where one of the kids (because they get blamed...) swallowed a cherry pit. You know what happens when an undigested cherry pit meets a macerator? Just one example.

Another reason for disliking electric toilets is the noise. The marketing genius who christened one popular brand of electric toilet the "QuietFlush" took one of the big downsides of this system and tried to make it a plus. In any event they are still incredibly loud.

I have lived on boats full time for 25 years. Every one has had a holding tank elevated above the water line. NEVER have they backed up in to a toilet, manual or electric.

To each his own!


I would never have another manual toilet, myself. Electric toilets have huge advantages, which I would not want to do without. Maceration is one -- and maceration at the toilet is not only better for the sea, it almost completely eliminates clogs downstream, which are one of the most horrible things to happen on a cruise. And reduces other problems downstream.


Another advantage is that it becomes feasible to flush enough -- if you're using salt water -- to flush the pipes all the way through to reduce calcification of the lines, which occurs because of the chemical interaction between pee and sea water. I struggled for years to get crew and guests to flush through the number of times I had calculated (through experimentation on the hard) was necessary to achieve this. I never succeeded. With electric toilets, it's a snap.


Yes, the noise is a drawback, but normally the more you pay, the quieter they are. The premium type like Raritan Sea Elegance has a much larger and slower running pump which is housed inside the porcelain part, suspended by rubber, and is really almost silent, quieter than a manual I think. I changed one of mine to a Planus Arctic (after the extremely loud Jabsco Conversion from the original build, and the Raritan Sea Era which followed that) and it's brilliant.



At the same time I switched to fresh water, which is a bit of a different conversation, but that has also turned out to be brilliant. The water consumption is not noticeable at all, no more dead sea life smells flushing the first time after a break, no worries about calcification, no smells at all. I'm very pleased.


To each his own!

[Bowdrie]

I've a Raritan Crown and a Groco K, both sitting in the shop waiting to be rebuilt, the Crown's at the top of the decibel chart.
But it has a bronze macerator and a motor the size of a starter motor, whilst the typical electric toilet has a plastic macerator and a motor that looks like it was a windshield wiper motor in its first life.
If the old Skipper gives-out, I'd have to decide on either the Crown or the Groco K, (life should be so complex, first world decision).

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Bowdrie

I've a Raritan Crown and a Groco K, both sitting in the shop waiting to be rebuilt, the Crown's at the top of the decibel chart.
But it has a bronze macerator and a motor the size of a starter motor, whilst the typical electric toilet has a plastic macerator and a motor that looks like it was a windshield wiper motor in its first life.
If the old Skipper gives-out, I'd have to decide on either the Crown or the Groco K, (life should be so complex, first world decision).

Cheap electric toilets have small, fast running motors driving small macerators. This is not good from several points of view -- easier to break, easier to clog, noisier, shorter useful life.


The premium ones -- like your old Crown, but even more so, the modern ones -- are really, really worth the money -- I discovered about 10 years too late.

[newhaul]

Go composting toilet and eliminate all of the normal head issues . No more stinking hoses no more sloshing holding tank of poo . Never clogs trust me that's a big plus in heavy seas ( as that is exactly when the standard flushing head manual or electric will fail just when the crew is needing it most .

[gonesail]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

There are a number of disadvantages to having the tank above the level of the toilet. One is reduced efficiency of the toilet. I prefer my black water times as low as possible.

mine is in the keel. Brilliant.

[peghall]

Hopefully only clean water, not your gray water too...'cuz soap scum, body oils, toothpaste etc can "gum up" toilet pumps--manual or electric. Or if you do flush gray water, follow it immediately with plenty of clean water.


--Peggie