Raw Water to Fresh Water conversion -- how hard?

D

dctobin

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I have a raw water electric head, and am ready to convert to fresh water for all the obvious reasons. Everything I read on this forum about the Raritan Elegance sounds great. My question is, how difficult is it to make the conversion? I read some of the threads about possible cross-contamination, so I am trying to understand whether I need a separate fresh water tank? I have 100 gallons of fresh water, so that is not a problem. BUt is it simply a question of attaching the new head to the fresh water system with the appropriate valve (or solenoid), or is it more complicated than that? I will probably have a pro do the hook up for me, but would like to know how much of a project I am getting into.

Thank you!
Dave
 
I converted to the Elegance fresh water flush head last year and there is nothing to it. Everything you need to know to do the installation is in the instructions that come with it. I am not very knowledgable in matters of plumbing. But, I did the job myself with very little difficulty.

The way the Elegance is designed I see virtually no possibility of cross contamination. The fresh water enters the bowl from up under the rim which is up and away from any contamination. There is no physical link between the fresh water system and the waste system. That along with the built in solenoids, IMHO, makes this a very safe head.

I strongly recommend getting the model with the electronic flush control. all of my manuels are in the boat so I don't have the exact model numbers. it's called a Multi-Flush Control or something like that.

Plus, this thing will flush darn near anything. The Elegance has a built in macerator that will flush almost anything that goes in.

Bob
 
Bob --

Thank you for your response. I also heard directly from Vic, who was kind enough to weigh in on my questions as well. The Elegance sounds like a great buy, and I think I am going to give it a shot. I should add that I am very impressed with the direct and helpful response from Vic, which speaks well for Raritan.
 
Dave and I have been privately e-mailing on this subject. It isn't difficult at all to connect a pressurized fresh water Marine Elegance head to your pressure water supply.

You simply tee into the pressure water supply, under the vanity sink or wherever convenient. You add a shutoff valve, then run a 1/2" I.D. hose to the rear of the toilet. All the required safety stuff is already built into the toilet. -- But you must get the pressurized water version, not the raw water version. There must be an "F" in the model number.

All too often, the boater gets the incorrect model toilet for the application he wants, then has to go through a good deal of aggravation and expense, trying to convert it over after buying it. This happens more often than you'd think, when speaking with an unknowing employee at a boating store. Chances are that you know more about it than the clerk does - even though he/she may talk like an expert. Don't let them steamroll you into buying something that won't meet your needs. If in doubt, call Raritan's Tech Support and get the correct info, before buying.

Always double-check the model number and if you want it to flush with pressurized fresh water, and you're considering a Raritan toilet, it must have the letter "F" in the model number.
 
quote:
Originally posted by dctobin

Bob --

Thank you for your response. I also heard directly from Vic, who was kind enough to weigh in on my questions as well. The Elegance sounds like a great buy, and I think I am going to give it a shot. I should add that I am very impressed with the direct and helpful response from Vic, which speaks well for Raritan.

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I purchased mine through BoatFix and anything I needed to know Vic was very quick with answers. Also, BillyIII installed the same head last year and can testify as to the quality and reliability of this product as well.

You will be very glad you selected the Marine Elegance.

Bob
 
How loud/noisy are they? I have the OEM Jabsco and it is pretty loud. Not so bad during the day but can be annoying when someone goes during the night.
 
I did this exact conversion with a Vacuflush. Very straightforward and all safety stuff to prevent contamination is built in.
 
Lucky dog, the pressurized fresh water version of the Marine Elegance head operates quieter than your toilet at home.

The raw water version is somewhat noisier, but all raw water versions of the Elegance use a remotely-mounted raw water pump, to supply rinse water to the toilet bowl. This pump is mounted below deck, close to the through-hull fitting. So it takes the associated noise of the pump below deck. And if it's still too loud, you can always pack some sound insulation around the pump to quiet it down. Because it runs less than 30 seconds at a time, there's no danger of causing it to overheat by insulating it.

cmagic99, did you replace a Vacu-Flush with an Elegance, or did you replace some other noisy head with a Vacu-Flush? I'm not sure I understand just exactly what you did.
 
Vic, I had a manual Jabsco that the Admiral insisted be replaced. I replaced it with a VacuFlush because she saw one at a boat show and really liked it (and I got a really good price on it). While it is a bit noisy, it doesn't seem to bother her, even at night, and I sleep like a rock so I don't ever know it's been flushed. My memory fails me at the moment, but isn't the Elegance a fairly new model? I don't think it was out a few years ago when I did my conversion. I almost replaced the VacuFlush with an Elegance last season when I experienced a very frustrating vacuum leak that required replacement of the bowl due to some twisting issues because the pedal was over-traveling, but ended up just staying with the VacuFlush.
 
I'm having a hard time finding the Marine Elegance in boatfix. All I can find are the crownheads and alantes models. What am I doing wrong?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Lucky Dog

I'm having a hard time finding the Marine Elegance in boatfix. All I can find are the crownheads and alantes models. What am I doing wrong?

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Hmmmm, I can't find it either. Maybe they stopped craaying them. I do know that as of May 14, 2009 thay carried them because I bought one.

Les? Vic?

Bob
 
Randy, yes the Marine Elegance is relatively new; it has only been out a little over a year. It didn't exist, other than in prototype, when you bought your Vacu-Flush. Too bad, the Elegance is a good deal less expensive than a Vacu-Flush

The rest of you, Les hasn't added the Marine Elegance to Boatfix's catalog as of yet. But I'm sure he'll be glad to quote one for you and order it if you wish, if you give him a call.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

Randy, yes the Marine Elegance is relatively new; it has only been out a little over a year. It didn't exist, other than in prototype, when you bought your Vacu-Flush. Too bad, the Elegance is a good deal less expensive than a Vacu-Flush

The rest of you, Les hasn't added the Marine Elegance to Boatfix's catalog as of yet. But I'm sure he'll be glad to quote one for you and order it if you wish, if you give him a call.

Click to expand...


Vic, they were on the BoatFix site last May because I bought one directly from off of it, never talked to anyone at BoatFix. It was the 220HF012, Order Number 108896, cost $581.94 plus $43.58 shipping. I think BillyIII ordered his directly from BoatFix as well.

Bob
 
Well, I don't know what happened then; I don't talk with Les very often, just maybe 2 or 3 times a year.
 
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