Electric Macerating Heads

[Dave Emery]

I’m currently considering replacing my failing manual Jabsco head on my Catalina 34. I’ve been looking at Electric Macerating Heads IE: Jabsco Quiet Flush, Wilcox Crittenden Newport and Raritan Sea Era. My number one consideration is finding one that will fit on the preformed platform in the Catalina 34 head. I’ve measured the Newport and it appears that it will fit. I’m assuming if I can mount the motor on the Jabsco and Raritan to the right versus the back they will fit. I’m considering using raw water for flushing in order to conserve my onboard fresh water. I’m also considering ordering the remote pump option in order to make the head a little quieter. It appears the flush options are different on all three heads, Jabsco – wet, dry, or both, Newport – wet or dry only, and Sea Era wet dry combined only. Is this a consideration? Is my 27 gal holding tank sufficient for these heads? Does the remote pump option (using raw water) make a difference in the noise level or should I save the extra money and use the integral pump provided? Should I sacrifice fresh water for flushing (I currently don’t have head orders using sea water)? Any information regarding these heads or general information regarding this topic would be greatly appreciated.Thanks, Dave

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

For quality, durability and service, I'd go with

the Raritan SeaEra. Both the Jabsco and the SeaEra are available as "conversion kits," which would allow you to salvage your existing bowl, seat and lid, saving you money, and both can be mount with the pump on either side or at the rear. But that's where the similarities end...Raritan quality has been rated the best in the industry for decades. Whether to go with the remote sea water pump or the pressurized water model, depends upon how critical it is that you conserve your fresh water...if you're a coastal sailor, it's not THAT critical. The advantages to pressurized water are more than just sea water odor elimination...half the amperage draw, half the flush water consumption--which extends the capacity of your holding tank. Plus the toilet is less expensive without an intake pump.Btw, boatfix.com has the best price on the planet. $371 for the pressurized water version of the SeaEra last time I checked. If it's gone up, so has everyone else.

 

[Vic Willman]

Toilet Controls

The Raritan SeaEra head, if using the remotely-mounted intake pump option - or the pressurized fresh water flushing option, CAN be controlled separately (incoming water only, outgoing water only, or both at the same time). It requires a special wall-mounted switch #SWF100, $87.76, that enables each motor to be separately controlled. It isn't on the website yet, as the webmaster has been out on extended sick leave and no one's updated the site in some time.The same switch unit can be used with the Raritan Crown Head II, and the Atlantes A4 series with remote intake pump or fresh water solenoid. The regular SeaEra or the good ol' Crown Head cannot offer this option as both pumps are mounted on the same motor shaft and both always run at the same time.