New head suggestions.

[dagreenberg68]

Hello.
I am rebuilding a boat from scratch and was looking at a groco hf manual.
I like that it has a porcelain bowl and sits just around 12 inches from where it mounts. the down side I could see is that it bolts on the pipe before elbo'ing to the bowl.
anybody have some experience with these?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Hello.
I am rebuilding a boat from scratch and was looking at a groco hf manual.
I like that it has a porcelain bowl and sits just around 12 inches from where it mounts. the down side I could see is that it bolts on the pipe before elbo'ing to the bowl.
anybody have some experience with these?

That's pretty much NOT the issue, since almost all manual head pumps have an outlet elbow that can be turned in any way you need it to rotate.

The real ISSUE is the quality of the pump assembly and the SIZE of the pump diameter: the bigger it is the more water gets pumped on every stroke.

That's Head Manual Pump 101.

After 40 years of "modern" plastic pumps:

1. Bigger is better

2. Head quality: Groco, Jabsco, W/M Headmate [since discontinued 2009 or so], RARITAN PHII, c) then other electric or pressure (i.e., Lavac).

Raritan PHII or PHB sure can't be beat given those criteria, or the "other types" -- your boat, your choice.

 

[dagreenberg68]

I know that the joker valve is biggest part of the ISSUE. as you can read from the post I wanted to see if any one has had any experience with this brand/ model.
though I was not aware it can be turned to a different mounting angle, nice.

 

[jibes138]

I have a Groco and re[laced it at about year number 11 or so. As Stu noted, or maybe someone else, the rebuild kits are almost the cost of a whole new head. The Groco has worked OK without failures for the last say 14 years. I also use a gallon jug of fresh water to flush. I have used the Raritan on other boats and no question the pump is an engineering marvel. People here that are experts in their field recommend them for a reason and I would listen to their advice. I went with a direct replacement early on for ease of installation. If I have to do it again I'll try the Raritan.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Well it's starting to sound like the Raritan is winning the vote. Not only the price, but the Johnson, and Jabsco seemed like a decent deal, as I've their name is fairly popular, but so is Ford I guess. That, and the Raritan that is in there now has held up for nearly 40 years, (it strikes me as the original head).

Jibes, that's a neat little town up there, I've been there once and the missus and I enjoyed it very much. We've considered moving up there, or New Bern maybe. I hope this miserable rain is not an issue up there as it seems to be here of late. It's like living in the northwest here. Or Cambodia..

 

[jibes138]

The rain this entire year was crazy. Seems like it rained all summer at least every third day. Beaufort is a great town and the barrier islands are spectacular. Only issue is the place seems to have a target painted on it for tropical storms. Luckily we seem to be on the west side of most of them so the winds tend to be either northerlies or from the northeast or northwest as the storm moves up the coast. The storm surges seems to be worse in the Pamlico and Neuse where the water piles up. Beafort is a pretty old town and has survived a lot of years so it will likely be around for a while.

 

[dagreenberg68]

Thank you for the clear and intelligent information, so nice to get it from some one that can communicate in a unemotional manner. I am rebuilding a fixer uper with some unusual but colorful pedigree. Happy newyear, even you stu.