Jabsco Toilet Rebuild

[Hermit Scott]

It's possibly that the bulk of us are not nearly as in to heads as you are. We prefer the sailing bit. Yes, my winches are spotless, pefectly greased and hum like BMW's. Running rigging looks like it's from an Oracle racing yacht. Gel coat gleams, brightwork is bright, engine just serviced. My head? Yeah, it works. If it works, and it's safe and kept clean, well there you go. If it aint broke.....

I am glad there are people like Peggy that is way into heads. I am glad there are people like Ross that are way into saving money. I am glad there are people like MaineSail that are way into butyl tape. When I want to know about one of these subjects, I know I can rely on what they say. However they are not encyclopedias or machines, they are humans that have their own opinions, which you may agree with or not.

 

[sailingdog]

The strainer should go between the intake seacock and the head pump, in a location where it is easily accessible and visible for inspection. The plastic ones for bilge pumps, similar to the one shown, can be bought for as little as $11.

And btw..

"I think debris bits such as kelp pieces or sea grass get in the valve and keep it open. I opened the top one day and found these types of things hanging out in there."

If this happens often, the solution is a strainer in the intake line.

Good tip. Maybe this should be expanded on? How\where to install,etc, -Or- if it has been discussed already, a link.[/quote]

 

[Skipper]

Beauty, thanks Dog.

 

[Skipper]

I am glad there are people like Peggy that is way into heads. I am glad there are people like Ross that are way into saving money. I am glad there are people like MaineSail that are way into butyl tape. When I want to know about one of these subjects, I know I can rely on what they say. However they are not encyclopedias or machines, they are humans that have their own opinions, which you may agree with or not.

Aaand then there are people with easy remedies for poorly designed heads in lieu of a rebuild or $300\laborious upgrade, who are then blasted by niche experts for trying to be of assistance and are theeen further berated for defending the lack of enthusiasm for replacing a head that works well enough and is reliable enough to not jiggle the spending\work cells.

Jesus is of course rolling his eyes at me right now, after what he went through. Happy Easter

 

[Neil McDonald]

Cheap and Cheerful

I'm always puzzled by the number of people...who are perfectly happy with a toilet that, for 2-5 years, has "worked flawlessly EXCEPT for..." this problem, that problem, this little leak, that little crack...

If it were their 2-5 yr old engine that's "worked flawlessly EXCEPT" for various problems, even minor ones...or 2-5 yr old winches that work flawlessly EXCEPT for...," they'd telling everyone who'd listen about what a flimsy piece of junk it is...so why are they so happy to settle for a 2-5 yr old toilet that actually works anything BUT flawlessly, when for very little more money they could have a toilet that actually does work flawlessly WITHOUT any exceptions for 15-20 years if it's just kept lubricated and rebuilt every 5-6 years.

I don't want to start a toilet war but I really don't think that the Jabsco is as bad as Peggy and Sailing Dog would have us all believe. Their advise is that we would all be much better off installing something like a Raritan PH II. I accept that this is probably a better product... but shouldn't we pause to consider value for money before condemning Jabsco? I just checked WM's website and this Raritan unit costs 268% more than the basic Jabsco..... so we are not comparing like with like. Using cars as an analogy, this would be like comparing a small Ford with a mid range BMW!

Besides, Peggy says that a quality toilet needs to be rebuilt every 5-6 years. Based on my experience, this closely matches the performance of my Jabsco! I also suspect that parts for Jabsco are more readily available. So with the greatest of respect to all, I don't think the Jabsco units are junk, more like cheap and cheerful

 

[Hermit Scott]

I agree with you Neil. I have a Wilcox Crittenden Head Mate that I am going to rebuild. Actually I am going to take it apart and see if I can get away with replacing only the needed parts, which may very well be a full service kit ($60)
Peggys advice was to throw it out and get a Raritan, but I am not going to spend that much on one yet. I'm sure the raritan beats the pants off of what I have. But I have a feeling that if I put a filter on the intake and keep up the maintenance that it will serve me just fine.
People said the same type of things about the M-16. I kept it clean and never had a problem.

 

[Neil McDonald]

Thanks Hermit.

My point is that if I was setting out to cruise the world, or if money was no object, then my boat would be fitted out with 100% high end equipment. But I use it for relatively short trips up and down the West Coast, I have Scots blood so my genes tell me to watch the budget, and I thoroughly enjoy working on boat projects (I wear gloves when appropriate!).

I suspect that this boating philosophy is typical of the vast majority of forum participants and we should not feel bad if we do not always install Cadillac standard equipment.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Good tip. Maybe this should be expanded on? How\where to install,etc, -Or- if it has been discussed already, a link.

You just put a strainer on the intake seacock to the head, just like your freshwater intake to your engine.

WOW, who woulda thunk that heads are becoming like anchors!

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

You're shopping the wrong stores, Neil

The sbo.com chandlery has the complete PH II $369--$100 less than WM, ...granted, considerably more than a jabsco for $179. However, if you'd been paying attention you'd have seen quite a bit of conversation recently about PH II and PHC "conversions" (everything but the bowl seat and lid, and any bowl that has a 4-bolt mounting pattern--99% of bowls--will fit) that are now available from the sbo.com chandlery for as little as $269....only $90 more than a new jabsco.

I'm done here.

 

[sailingdog]

And will recycle the Jabsco's bowl...

The sbo.com chandlery has the complete PH II $369--$100 less than WM, ...granted, considerably more than a jabsco for $179. However, if you'd been paying attention you'd have seen quite a bit of conversation recently about PH II and PHC "conversions" (everything but the bowl seat and lid, and any bowl that has a 4-bolt mounting pattern--99% of bowls--will fit) that are now available from the sbo.com chandlery for as little as $269....only $90 more than a new jabsco.

I'm done here.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

PHII pump conversion

"been paying attention you'd have seen quite a bit of conversation recently about PH II and PHC "conversions" (everything but the bowl seat and lid, and any bowl that has a 4-bolt mounting pattern--99% of bowls--will fit) that are now available from the sbo.com chandlery for as little as $269....only $90 more than a new jabsco."

Peggy,

I looked in the chandlery but I can't seem to find the conversion kit you mentioned for $269. I did a little comparison between the Jabsco and the PHII parts drawings, and it appears that the PHII pump may bolt up to the Jabsco pump base - the PHII pump sells for $179. Just wondering if the pump was what you mentioned.

I agree with some of the posts that the Jabsco is not a bad toilet, but after you use a PHII you'll never want another head..never have to worry about whether the head will flush (unless somebody does something really stupid).

 

[sailingdog]

Ken—

You'll probably have to call them, as the item is pretty recent, as in the last two weeks, and I doubt it's on the website yet... either this one or Raritan's.

Peggy,

I looked in the chandlery but I can't seem to find the conversion kit you mentioned for $269. I did a little comparison between the Jabsco and the PHII parts drawings, and it appears that the PHII pump may bolt up to the Jabsco pump base - the PHII pump sells for $179. Just wondering if the pump was what you mentioned.

I agree with some of the posts that the Jabsco is not a bad toilet, but after you use a PHII you'll never want another head..never have to worry about whether the head will flush (unless somebody does something really stupid).

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Thanks Dog..I'll keep my eye out for when it shows up. Not in any hurry at this point (got a lot of other to does before launch).

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Good question Ken...I don't know the answer

I called Raritan, and Vic doesn't know whether it will either...he doesn't think so, but he's checking. We do know that Jabsco's own electric conversion (which costs more than a complete SeaEra, btw) requires an adapter to fit the base...we're also checking to find out if that will work.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I have the answer: Won't work

The bolt holes on the PH II pump don't line up with the bolt holes in the Jabsco base.

Great idea, though...I wonder if Raritan would consider making an adapter...???

 

[sailingdog]

Peggie—

Do they line up with the holes on the WC-Headmate 90 base???

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I'm gonna let YOU ask Raritan this time!

Same goes for any Groco HC, HE or HF owners. Give Vic Willman a call at 800-352-5630 x 6.

 

[Ken Honeycutt]

Thanks for checking Peggie!

Maybe someone will come up with an aftermarket adaptor.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Shouldn't be that hard to make one

A piece of 1/4"--or maybe 3/8"--ABS, the right kind of saw, and a power drill with the right bits. Cut the ABS to the right shape, then drill 8 holes in it...4 that match the holes in the existing base...4 to match the mounting holes on the PH II pump. You'd have to also put the 4 holes that line up with the PH II pump in the existing mounting plate so the mounting bolts can go all the way through.

I haven't actually looked to see if this would work, but the only kicker I can think of is if any of the new and old holes in the existing base overlap, creating a large odd shaped hole that won't work. But I bet somebody with a talent for this kind of thing could figure out how to do it and then tell everyone else here.

 

[Ron20324]

Like the adaptors you use to be able to get to put a 4-barrel carb on a 2-barrel manifold.