Jabsco Heads - Pure Crap

[Ducati]

Just finishing my annual Jabsco head repair soon to be followed by its total replacement.

I cannot believe more sailors have not spoken out about this poorly made product. If there is a better made more robust head available I would easily pay the price just to save me the aggravation of fixing/replacement of these stupid things.

 

[dparilla]

What issues

What problems have you had? We had a Jabsco on our previous boat, but since we only used it for a year, I am not all that versed in its issues. Our current boat has a Groco which has been great (rebuilt it this spring and had to replace a NO KIDDING Bad Joker Valve!) I have made tons of toilet repairs over the years, but this time was the only time I can remember getting a bum joker valve...it had a warped lip that would never seal.

 

[Snotter]

The secret to putting up with Jabscos is to buy the whole pump assembly (69$) when ever the head acts up. The plastic housing of the pump assembly is so friggen thin that there is a very high probability that you will crack it when re-assemblying the pump after servicing it. Replacing individual parts is labor intensive and saves you no money. Replacing the whole pump assembly goes very quickly and there is very little risk of screwing it up.

I am on year 2 on the current pump assembly (I live aboard) and do NO maintenance on the head. I would not even consider unscrewing the 6 screws at the top of the assembly. Jabscos are cheap but they are cheap to maintain and require little maintenance provided you never touch the 6 screws at the top of the pump.

I have two of these buggers on my boat and was very frustrated with them until I learned the sectet--NEVER TOUCH THE 6 SCREWS AT THE TOP OF THE PUMP.

 

[Ron20324]

It sounds like you never read Peggy's 'Head' forum.

 

[Maine Sail]

Two words..... Raritan PHII

 

[Bob 04 H260]

I listened to Peggy and replaced our Jabsco with the Raritan conversion kit available on this website, http://shop.hunterowners.com/detail.htm?group=1357&cat=3702

It is an easy swap and works great. It is a good idea to add the raw water strainer at the same time it will reduce the chance of a problem and probably extend the life of the pump.

Also I bought Peggy's book and it is well worth the money.

I bought melamine paint color matched at Home Depot to the area under the head. I filled the old holes and painted the floor under the head before installing the Raritan. It did a great job and blended in so well no one can tell it was touched up.

Bob

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

So now he's wondering "who the heck is Peggy?"

That would be me, Peggie Hall...moderator of the "Headmistress" forum, a forum devoted entirely to sanitation and odor issues, for the past 13 years. A link my signature below will take you to my book "Get Rid of Boat Odors"--a boat owner's Guide to marine sanitation systems and other sources of aggravation and odor.

Incredible that anyone could be here for two years without knowing that, or being aware of the zillions of discussions every year about Jabsco toilets and better alternatives that turn up all the time, not only in the Headmistress forum, but in just about every other forum too except maybe Don Guillett's Sail Trim forum. But you've finally "come in from the cold" and we welcome you! You already got good advice...nothing I can add to it.

Snotter, you and Rick Dinon need to get together...he's already spent more than $800 in replacement pumps to keep his $100 Jabsco toilet working flawlessly...how many pump assemblies have YOU bought so far? Sounds like more than enough to pay for a PH II or PHC conversion sbo.com PHII PHC LBA that you wouldn't have to replace for 20 years if you just keep it lubricated and rebuild it about every 5-6 years! The plastic won't crack if you remove and replace screws, and it'll "swallow" flushes that would choke a Jabsco to death!

But...it's your boat and your money to waste.:bang:

 

[Alex Dare]

marine toilets

Ditto on the Raritan PHII toilet recommendation. If you really want to upgrade, the Wilcox "Skipper" will flush anything short of an angry pit bull.

http://www.thetford.com/Home/Products/PermanentToilets/TecmaSkipper/tabid/104/Default.aspx(For sheer beauty the Baby Blake is hard to beat)

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Ditto on the Raritan PHII toilet recommendation. If you really want to upgrade, the Wilcox "Skipper" will flush anything short of an angry pit bull.

Unfortunately it was discontinued when Thetford Norcold bought Wilcox-Crittenden...replaced by weaker version called the Skipper II. Even it no longer exists though...T-N then discontinued the entire W-C line at the end of '08. They still offer rebuild kits for the original Skipper and the Skipper II, but only what few hardware parts are still inventory for any of 'em. So even if you find one for next to nothing on eBay, it's not a good buy any more unless you can machine your own parts.

(For sheer beauty the Baby Blake is hard to beat)

For $5500 USD at today's rate of exchange, it should be! Repair kits are $235 USD, btw.

If you're made of money, upgrade to the Blakes Victory for a mere $15k USD. That price does include VAT,so you can prob'ly get it for about $12k USD plus shipping.

People who own these toilets don't leave 'em on the boat when they sell it...they move 'em from boat to boat and pass 'em on in their wills (I'm serious!).

 

[Rick D]

Re: So now he's wondering "who the heck is Peggy?"

Yea, but that's only $80 / year <smile>. Flush, pump, $$$, Flush, pump, $$$, repeat as needed...

 

[zeehag]

geeez--if ye could dream abou ttoilets, the blakes are the dream..LOL..i was spoiled on one boat i was on many years ago--baby blake--lol--wow!!!! baby blue baby blake..LOL...what a toilet!!! LOL


so i gather my good fortune with my jabsco is going to quit without warning? wow--mebbe mine behaves because i have a spare assembly in my stash of boat parts..LOL--betweent myself and previous owner, th ejabsco has lasted without rebuild as yet for 6 yrs....and we are all liveaboard here.. sooo------mebbe the thing just needs constant use?....mebbe i am lucky and have a team of guardina angels watching over my head--(oops--and i thought it was my human head--i guess i was wrong!!)

(hay--its not my fault-it came with the boat--LOL)

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Ah but Rick...

Yea, but that's only $80 / year <smile>. Flush, pump, $$$, Flush, pump, $$$, repeat as needed...

If you had a PH II, it would only be $20/year...$25 if you include the $50 rebuild kit every 5-6 years.

Tear up dollar bills, flush, pump, clear clog...tear up dollar bills, flush, pump clear clog...repeat as needed... :dance:

 

[Ducati]

Thanks all

Nothing is more fun than working in a small hot, sticky head and swapping out the Jabsco pump unit. Did I forget to mention getting splashed with (you know) during the install?

Next time the Jabsco dies I will do the upgrade as per Peggys suggestions.

 

[zeehag]

i still have one rebuild left--but i havent had to rebuild once yet--so i am good to go until i get to somewhere that doesnt speak msd..LOL......

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

There IS away to avoid getting splashed with sewage during a rebuild...

Thanks all. Nothing is more fun than working in a small hot, sticky head and swapping out the Jabsco pump unit. Did I forget to mention getting splashed with (you know) during the install?
Next time the Jabsco dies I will do the upgrade as per Peggys suggestions.

And it's so obvious that I have -0- sympathy for anyone who does::naughty:

Remove the intake hose from the thru-hull (it would prob'ly be a good idea to close the seacock first)...stick it into a FULL bucket of clean fresh water liberally laced with distilled white vinegar. Flush the whole bucketful through the toilet.

Now you have a CLEAN toilet to rebuild.:dance: