I have a .... 'Head-y' question. First, hello again all you Hunter-heads. Your help in the past has been great. Since I last darkened these pages, I've been undertaking one of the largest projects of my life. One word.....Blisters. Yep, I got 'em (well, not me personally). When I purchaed my 1983 h27, I knew it had some. Sure enough, it had "some". At this stage, I've got the hull sanded down (about a dozen full days of the most dirty and grueling work :{ ) to the gel coat, and all blisters sanded out, and dried. She's starting to heal. Come Spring, I'll begin the filling and barrier coat process. Oh, and the cockpit floor has also been excavated. Apparently years of leaking around the pedestal had rotted out the cockpit floor. So, here's to eppoxy! *5 But, the reason for writing today is that I want to replace my 'Head' (no jokes, please). The head and hoses in my Hunter are original, are malfunctioning (pump leaks), and also smell. *grr I'm in the market to replace both the head and the hoses, and am looking for reccomendations on what to purchase and where. I'm not looking to break the bank, but am willing to put in a few hundred. I seem to remember Peggy Hall once offering suggestions on what to buy, but I can't seem to find the thread in the archives. We actually have a local West Marine here in the Burlington area, and wonder if any of the models they offer are worth a hoot. Help! Anyone? *o Thanks! Kevin on 'Pure and Easy' in Charlotte, Vermont. 3 more months to Launch Day! ;D
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I know I'm going to hear it...
but, I like the good ole basic Jabsco. I am sure Peggy has a differing opinion. But, like you, I had a Hunter 27 with an old leaky Mansfield. I spent less than $100 on a Jabsco on sale at West Marine, and was very satisfied. If you read the archives though, it would seem that the Jabsco has a lot of issues. I also have the same unit on my Hunter 29.5, and have had no issues whatsoever. Peggy knows her stuff though, so, this is just an opinion. As far as the hoses, go to West, or Boat US stores and they can steer you to the right type of hoses to choose. Good luck...
but, I like the good ole basic Jabsco. I am sure Peggy has a differing opinion. But, like you, I had a Hunter 27 with an old leaky Mansfield. I spent less than $100 on a Jabsco on sale at West Marine, and was very satisfied. If you read the archives though, it would seem that the Jabsco has a lot of issues. I also have the same unit on my Hunter 29.5, and have had no issues whatsoever. Peggy knows her stuff though, so, this is just an opinion. As far as the hoses, go to West, or Boat US stores and they can steer you to the right type of hoses to choose. Good luck...
Obviously, you intend to keep this boat a while
Or you wouldn't be putting all the effort and money into it that you are. So IMO, you're better off spending about $200 for a Raritan PH II that will last trouble-free 20-25 years with just minimal maintenance (keep it lubricated, rebuild it about every 5 years)--plus, it can "swallow" flushes that compact toilets can't--than you'd be spending $100 every few years for a new toilet. Otoh, if you expect to move up to a larger boat within 5 years, buy the $100 toilet and let any problems be the next owner's problem. Tim, the toilets Jabsco built 15-20 years ago lasted a LOT longer, and had fewer issues than those made in the last 5-7 years. I run into quie a few people who've had one on their boat for 10+ years with no problems...it's the newer ones that even more people are giving up on after as little as year...rarely more than 5 years...the product of today's big corporation attitude...they sell more toilets and spend less on materials and mfr'g if they build 'em cheap and disposable. Hoses: The only hose I recommend is SeaLand OdorSafe. Expensive, but you should only have to do it once. Tank: Ronco Plastics...they make top quality tanks for a very reasonable price and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, including over 100 that are non-rectangular. And, they install fittings in the sizes and locations spec'd by the customer when the tank is made, so you don't have deal with trying to plumb to fittings that aren't where you really need 'em. And...before you start this project, you might want check out the link below.
Or you wouldn't be putting all the effort and money into it that you are. So IMO, you're better off spending about $200 for a Raritan PH II that will last trouble-free 20-25 years with just minimal maintenance (keep it lubricated, rebuild it about every 5 years)--plus, it can "swallow" flushes that compact toilets can't--than you'd be spending $100 every few years for a new toilet. Otoh, if you expect to move up to a larger boat within 5 years, buy the $100 toilet and let any problems be the next owner's problem. Tim, the toilets Jabsco built 15-20 years ago lasted a LOT longer, and had fewer issues than those made in the last 5-7 years. I run into quie a few people who've had one on their boat for 10+ years with no problems...it's the newer ones that even more people are giving up on after as little as year...rarely more than 5 years...the product of today's big corporation attitude...they sell more toilets and spend less on materials and mfr'g if they build 'em cheap and disposable. Hoses: The only hose I recommend is SeaLand OdorSafe. Expensive, but you should only have to do it once. Tank: Ronco Plastics...they make top quality tanks for a very reasonable price and have more than 400 shapes and sizes, including over 100 that are non-rectangular. And, they install fittings in the sizes and locations spec'd by the customer when the tank is made, so you don't have deal with trying to plumb to fittings that aren't where you really need 'em. And...before you start this project, you might want check out the link below.
Head Help
I'm not the expert Peggy is, but I am in the process of replacing all the sanitation hose. I'll certainly endores her choice of Raritan KO for the holding tank. Since we have used that and flushed with fresh water, even the old permeated system was less smelly. First, the good hose is either the Trident or Shields rubber hose. I found excellent online prices at boatfix.com, marineshoponline.com and shipstore.com. A friend convinced me that PVC was also an excellent option, since it is impermeable. So, what we did was run PVC through the chase from the head to the holding tank and make connections between the fixtures and the PVC with sanitation hose. These are all the horizontal runs. I'll use sanitation hose for most of the verticle work, since waste does not sit in them. I put in a new Y valve (Jabsco) and a Guzzler pump (both from Defender). The Guzzler will be the overboard pump to replace the old electric macerator, since I so infrequently used it, in favor of sanitary pump-out. I hope to finish the project next Tuesday and will write a diatribe on it in a future posting.
I'm not the expert Peggy is, but I am in the process of replacing all the sanitation hose. I'll certainly endores her choice of Raritan KO for the holding tank. Since we have used that and flushed with fresh water, even the old permeated system was less smelly. First, the good hose is either the Trident or Shields rubber hose. I found excellent online prices at boatfix.com, marineshoponline.com and shipstore.com. A friend convinced me that PVC was also an excellent option, since it is impermeable. So, what we did was run PVC through the chase from the head to the holding tank and make connections between the fixtures and the PVC with sanitation hose. These are all the horizontal runs. I'll use sanitation hose for most of the verticle work, since waste does not sit in them. I put in a new Y valve (Jabsco) and a Guzzler pump (both from Defender). The Guzzler will be the overboard pump to replace the old electric macerator, since I so infrequently used it, in favor of sanitary pump-out. I hope to finish the project next Tuesday and will write a diatribe on it in a future posting.
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