Replacing an 80's era Jabsco Head

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AustinPaul

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I am in the process of acquiring an '87 Wellcraft that has a Jabsco electric head. There's nothing apparently wrong with it, or the macerator, but I'm thinking that it's going to be due for replacement soon.

What do you recommend? I really like the performance, looks, and reliabilty of vacu-flushes, but would not go that route if it were impractical to switch over.

Choosing the middle ground of investment, what would you recommend for have a nice and dependable head? I should add that I have a Jabsco electric head on my '92 Wellcraft and it works perfectly; BUT we have never tested it for #2. We only use it for #1. We're on an inland lake and can usually plan for #2 anyplace but on the boat.

We want a reasonably priced and VERY reliable updated head that will accomodate all bodily functions without worry.

Thanks-- Paul
 
I recently switched from a sea water plumbed 1987 vintage Crown Head to a Fresh Water plumbed Tecma "Easy Fit". We are pretty pleased with it. I went with the Tecma mostly because size restrictions. I would have preferred a larger bowl Tecma or a Crown Atlantes. Cost of the entire project was about $825.00. The most difficult part about the installation was running the fresh water line, which wasn't really that hard. The Tecma has a programmed "press the button and walk away" flush as well as a holding tank monitor. Most newer heads have the programmed flush feature.

A Vac-U-Flush conversion will be significantly more expensive and require installing the Vacuum generator between the head and the holding tank. I here that Vac-U-Flush highly recommends an experienced installer.

Take some measurements so you can judge what will fit and what won't when you begin to shop.
 
That Tecma head is awesome...I've seen them on several of our stock boats by Marquis and Cruisers. We've never had any service calls on them, while VacuFlush toilets (usually) need serviced within the first month.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Tenna-Sea-N

I recently switched from a sea water plumbed 1987 vintage Crown Head to a Fresh Water plumbed Tecma "Easy Fit". We are pretty pleased with it. I went with the Tecma mostly because size restrictions. I would have preferred a larger bowl Tecma or a Crown Atlantes. Cost of the entire project was about $825.00. The most difficult part about the installation was running the fresh water line, which wasn't really that hard. The Tecma has a programmed "press the button and walk away" flush as well as a holding tank monitor. Most newer heads have the programmed flush feature.

A Vac-U-Flush conversion will be significantly more expensive and require installing the Vacuum generator between the head and the holding tank. I here that Vac-U-Flush highly recommends an experienced installer.

Take some measurements so you can judge what will fit and what won't when you begin to shop.

Click to expand...
Paul-- that's just the info I was looking for. I have a good amount of space in there, but I really want simplicity and reliability too.

Thanks RamSport too!

Thanks-- Paul
 
I replaced mine with a VacuFlush and I love it. I had a minor installation related issue but for the most part I installed the system with the help of my mechanic. Doesn't use much in the way of water. The Tecma head looks good as well I chose VacuFlush because I got the system and head brand new on E-Bay for a song. Regards Bill
 
The vacuflush seems to be the gold standard but its expensive.. I put a ver affordable raritan model that Vic recomended. Its a simple macerating electic until available in raw and fresh water varieties. Chagned it out in 10 minutes.
 
David's probably referring to the Raritan SeaEra head, which is about 1/3 of the cost of a SeaLand Vacu-Flush. Plus, if you have the 37000 series Jabsco electric toilet (motor extends out the rear, with a hose looping around to the back of the toilet bowl), the SeaEra's mounting bolt pattern is exactly the same. It's one of the few (it might be the ONLY one) that has the same mounting bolt pattern as that of another manufacturer's head. You can order them to flush with raw water or with pressurized fresh water (but not both), and with the small marine size bowl and seat, or the larger household size bowl and seat.

http://www.raritaneng.com/pdf_files/sea_era/L1039seaerav0203.pdf

BoatFix has some super pricing for them:

http://www.boatfix.com/elec/rarseaera.asp
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

David's probably referring to the Raritan SeaEra head, which is about 1/3 of the cost of a SeaLand Vacu-Flush. Plus, if you have the 37000 series Jabsco electric toilet (motor extends out the rear, with a hose looping around to the back of the toilet bowl), the SeaEra's mounting bolt pattern is exactly the same. It's one of the few (it might be the ONLY one) that has the same mounting bolt pattern as that of another manufacturer's head. You can order them to flush with raw water or with pressurized fresh water (but not both), and with the small marine size bowl and seat, or the larger household size bowl and seat.

http://www.raritaneng.com/pdf_files/sea_era/L1039seaerav0203.pdf

BoatFix has some super pricing for them:

http://www.boatfix.com/elec/rarseaera.asp

Click to expand...
Many thanks Vic.

What are your thoughts about converting a raw water flush to freshwater? Do you think it's worth the trouble? FWIW, we're on an inland lake with fairly clean water. We use the same Jabsco head on our current boat for #1 only, so we don't have too many complications. We expect to use the head on the next boat (same tyoe head) more extensively--as in, for both #1 and #2. Does that increase the advantage for a freshwater flush?

Thanks,
Paul
 
Austin, there are (3) potential advantages to converting from a raw water flushing toilet to one that flushes with pressurized fresh water:

1) Lower sound level, due to not having an intake pump.
2) Lower power requirement, again due to not having an intake pump.
3) Reduced odor from any microorganisms, vegetation, minnows, shrimp, et al, that can also be drawn into the toilet from outside via the intake pump.

Being on a fresh water lake that is reasonably clean will reduce #3 to probably a non-factor. But the reduced power requirement and reduced sound level can be a worthwhile advantage, particularly if you spend a fair amount of time on the hook. When calculating the amount of water drawn from your tank(s) per flush, figure 1/2 gallon per flush - or possibly slightly more. A pressurized fresh water head is a more complicated installation, but can usually be done in a single day if you have average mechanical ability.

The SeaEra head, in my opinion, is the "best bang for the buck" made by Raritan - if not by the entire marine sanitation industry. It has proven to be extremely reliable and is rapidly becoming our most popular marine head, even surpassing the legendary the PHII manual toilet. Whether it is used for #1 only or both #1 and #2 is of no real consequence, other than when pumping out your holding tank.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Vic Willman

Austin, there are (3) potential advantages to converting from a raw water flushing toilet to one that flushes with pressurized fresh water:

1) Lower sound level, due to not having an intake pump.
2) Lower power requirement, again due to not having an intake pump.
3) Reduced odor from any microorganisms, vegetation, minnows, shrimp, et al, that can also be drawn into the toilet from outside via the intake pump.

Being on a fresh water lake that is reasonably clean will reduce #3 to probably a non-factor. But the reduced power requirement and reduced sound level can be a worthwhile advantage, particularly if you spend a fair amount of time on the hook. When calculating the amount of water drawn from your tank(s) per flush, figure 1/2 gallon per flush - or possibly slightly more. A pressurized fresh water head is a more complicated installation, but can usually be done in a single day if you have average mechanical ability.

The SeaEra head, in my opinion, is the "best bang for the buck" made by Raritan - if not by the entire marine sanitation industry. It has proven to be extremely reliable and is rapidly becoming our most popular marine head, even surpassing the legendary the PHII manual toilet. Whether it is used for #1 only or both #1 and #2 is of no real consequence, other than when pumping out your holding tank.

Click to expand...
Terrific. Thanks again Vic.

Paul
 
I converted from raw water to fresh water. The first thing to do is to identify your fresh water source, where you are going to tap into or split off of to get the fresh water to the toilet. In my situation, the easiest water pipe to get to and actually run a line to the toilet, was in the galley, not the sink in the head or the shower. I used a "T" fitting, and a combination of rigid and flexible water hose to run under the floor to the head. I got all the parts at the hardware store, rather than a marine store. Most of the fittings and pipe were in the lawn sprinkler department.

As they said, it's quieter, cleaner, and you don't get that first flush stink that comes with a raw water head.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Tenna-Sea-N

I converted from raw water to fresh water. The first thing to do is to identify your fresh water source, where you are going to tap into or split off of to get the fresh water to the toilet. In my situation, the easiest water pipe to get to and actually run a line to the toilet, was in the galley, not the sink in the head or the shower. I used a "T" fitting, and a combination of rigid and flexible water hose to run under the floor to the head. I got all the parts at the hardware store, rather than a marine store. Most of the fittings and pipe were in the lawn sprinkler department.

As they said, it's quieter, cleaner, and you don't get that first flush stink that comes with a raw water head.

Click to expand...
That's good to hear Tenna. That helps to convince me that I want to go the freshwater route.

Paul
 
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