Macerators

[lehighsail]

My 3 year old Jabsco 18590-2092 which got very little use stopped working at the end of last season, probably my fault for not being able to exercise it frequently. I am now wondering what the current thought is on a good quality replacement. I did try to take it apart to rebuild it but I think a new one would be best. Price points seem to be all over the place. Thanks for suggestions.

 

[Terry Cox]

My 3 year old Jabsco 18590-2092 which got very little use stopped working at the end of last season, probably my fault for not being able to exercise it frequently.

Electric? Our original 1991 electric Jabsco macerator toilets still work and sort of get regular use.

 

[jssailem]

@lehighsail , I am assuming you have a manual pump toiles, a storage tank, a Y valve that directs the flow, and the Jabsco chews up the black water then pumps it overboard when you are more than 3 miles off shore.

It that is the case, I like the Whale Gulper Toilet Pump ( Whale Marine - Products )

 

[Rich Stidger]

A 3 year old pump with little use ought to be in great condition. What is it's condition that cause you to consider replacement? Does it run? Leak? I think I have replaced mine once in over 25 years.

 

[lehighsail]

This is the pump that draws from a holding tank and outputs to the thru-hull. It did not leak but only stopped running. When the macerator momentary switch was hit, the breaker would pop off. I did start to take it apart so I could use the Jabsco Service Kit but by the time I bought the kit, new screws, the time, etc. I figured a new pump would be a good idea and keep the old parts for the future.
I have seen the new Jabsco and Shuflo online and was wondering which of them, or other, would be better.

I thought that the reason if failed was that I only used it maybe 2-3 times a year when well off-shore. Otherwise I was pumped out by the local Pump-out boat. That being said, the toilet is for No.1's only and rarely by women so virtually no solids.

 

[JoeWhite]

On the back side of the macerator pump shaft there is a slot cut on the shaft so you can use a standard large screw driver and rotate the shaft in case it is frozen either due to not being used or something in the impeller housing is preventing the shaft from turning. The fact that it trips the circuit breaker it is good news, it is worth saving. Before replacing it or taking it apart try to break free the shaft. Then if it works, feed some soapy water and lubricate the impeller. It may save you $$$ and a day's of work.

 

[NYSail]

That being said, the toilet is for No.1's only and rarely by women so virtually no solids.

What... do women have solid #1's?? I'm so naive.......

 

[jssailem]

Stew... Look at the Whale pump. It is a better design than the Jabsco.

Gulper Toilet Pump - the black waste holding tank pump out (discharge). Whale Gulper valve technology means no-clogging, no filters to clean out, just reliablity that allows you to fit and forget.​

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

if you'd rather have an electric pump instead of a a manual pump, I'd go with the Dometic T-Series pump...a diaphragm pump, not a macerator, so it takes a bit longer to empty a tank than a macerator pump would. It's considerably more expensive than a macerator pump but will last at least a decade...the one on my own boat was 11 years old and still working just fine when I sold the boat, even without any maintenance.

--Peggie

 

[LakeOntario270]

Check the long bolts that holds the macerator together. Mine rusted out because they were plain steel.

 

[RoyS]

When you attempt to free the pump rotation with a large flat blade screw driver, you should use an angled screw driver tool for greatly increased leverage. This should solve your present problem. In the future when you operate the pump be sure to flush the tank and pump with seawater pumped through your toilet before you shut it off.

 

[lehighsail]

What... do women have solid #1's?? I'm so naive.......

Reference was to the use of paper by some.

Head Mistress & JSSailem: Does this mean I don't need a macerator and just pump out the tank contents?

 

[Terry Cox]

Our original 1991 electric macerator pump still does the job and have never touched it. Do not remember the brand, but I do flush it with fresh water at the end of each cruise. It maybe gets used once or twice a year depending upon our cruising season, sometimes not at all.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Head Mistress & JSSailem:
Does this mean I don't need a macerator and just pump out the tank contents?

It really isn't necessary to macerate holding tank contents because solids an quick-dissolve TP actually dissolve pretty quickly in water and even a manual toilet pump breaks 'em up, giving 'em a head start on dissolving in the tank. That happens fairly quickly, but not instantly, so I'd wait at least 30 minutes after a solids deposit before dumping the tank. As an increasing number of boat owners are opting for the "push button convenience" of a macerating electric toilet, tank discharge macerator pumps become even more unnecessary.

--Peggie

 

[Hayden Watson]

One word of caution on the Jobsco macerators. They have #12 mild steel threaded rods that hold the pump head to the motor. When that rod rusts away to non-existence, the pump head will fall off and the contents of the holding tank will go into the bilge. Do not ask how I know this because it will start the night-terrors all over again.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Our original 1991 electric macerator pump still does the job and have never touched it. Do not remember the brand, but I do flush it with fresh water at the end of each cruise.

That's why it's lasted so long. Waste is sticky...causing impellers to stick to the inside of the housing as the pump sits unused even for a week. That results in cracked impeller vanes--sometimes even when using a screw driver to UNstick them-- and even motor shut down due over heating when an impeller insists on remaining stuck. Rinsing out the macerator after every cruise is good(even better with fresh water 'cuz sea water can be sticky too)...a couple of quarts of fresh water after every use is best..just pour it down the deck pumpout fitting while the macerator is running...that cleans out the line from the tank too.

--Peggie

 

[lehighsail]

Thanks to all for the useful input and I do have a question. Some have suggested "rinsing out the macerator after every cruise" which does seem like a good idea. I sail mostly in a bay and I assume that many who go out for a day sail may not got out over 3 miles. How then is the macerator to be rinsed each time without discharging illegally?

 

[Terry Cox]

Regardless of where/when I discharge, I always rinse the macerator pump with fresh water after each cruise, if used while out. So, if I go out and remain within the three mile limit, upon return, I pump out and rinse the macerator with fresh water.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Because waste is sticky, it's important to rinse it out the macerator after use, if not immediately after use, definitely before the boat will sit. But thered be no reason to rinse out the macerator pump unless it has been used 'cuz there'd be nothing in it TO rinse out.

--Peggie

 

[Hayden Watson]

...But thered be no reason to rinse out the macerator pump unless it has been used 'cuz there'd be nothing in it TO rinse out.

--Peggie

In the factory setup on my Catalina, the macerator is screwed into a PVC "T" fitting at the tank outlet. Then the 3/4"ø outlet hose goes to the seacock thru-hull. In this setup, doesn't the pump get filled with sewage anytime the head is used given that the only value is beyond the macerator? I have not seen a setup where there is a valve between the macerator and the pumpout hose.