Hi Peggie, and all sailors. I'm installing a new head in my Cal 34. I was going to install a Raritan, but the flush handle sticks out too far. It hits the door when its closed. The door swings two directions, it closes off the cabin when the heads occupied, and swings the other way to close off the head when not in use. The one that has a bicycle style straight up and down pump, is called a Grocco Headmate. It looks like the original head, and looks like the Jabsco, but doesn't look as cheaply made. It is about a $100 more than the Jabsco, but cheaper than the Raritan. Have u ever heard of it? What head do u recommend that has a straight up and down pump? Also the boat apparently came with copper plumbing. The installer wants to remove the copper and replace it with hose. what is your opinion on that? Thanks Jim
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Raritan PH II is the best choice by far
There are a couple of solutions to your pump handle/head door problem: 1. Leave the pump handle in the up position to keep it out of the way of the door. 2. Put the pump on the other side of the bowl...it can be mounted on either side of the bowl. 3. Go with the Raritan PHC, which is a smaller version of the PH II. It uses the same pump, but mounted on a compact base to fit in a a tighter space. Pump can also be on either side of the bowl...and it costs a little less than the PH II. The Headmate is made by Wilcox-Crittenden, not Groco. It's a better choice than Jabsco...the Groco HF is somewhat better than the Headmate, but neither are anywhere near the durability and reliability of the PH II/PHC. What makes the PH II/PHC so much better than other manual toilets in its price range? Vic Willman at Raritan explained it to me: The diameter of the piston of the PHII is 2 1/2 inches. The diameter of the piston of most other manual toilets is 1 3/4". Now this doesn't sound like much of a difference, but given the same length of stroke up and down, for demonstration purposes we'll say 2 1/2 inches for each head that we're considering. When you calculate the cubic inch capacity (displacement) of the PHII with a 2 1/2" diameter piston, it comes out to a little over 12 cubic inches. If you do the same calculation for a pump with a 1 3/4" diameter piston, with the same 2 1/2" stroke, the cubic inch capacity is only 6 cubic inches. So, to put that all into English, the PHII will pump twice as much per stroke, as it's competitors will. Adding the lever-type handle, there isn't as much actual effort required. So, in a nutshell, you only have to pump half as many times to flush it, and your arm doesn't get as tired. Plus, with the lever handle, you don't have to bend over as far, with your nose practically in the bowl, while you're pumping it.
There are a couple of solutions to your pump handle/head door problem: 1. Leave the pump handle in the up position to keep it out of the way of the door. 2. Put the pump on the other side of the bowl...it can be mounted on either side of the bowl. 3. Go with the Raritan PHC, which is a smaller version of the PH II. It uses the same pump, but mounted on a compact base to fit in a a tighter space. Pump can also be on either side of the bowl...and it costs a little less than the PH II. The Headmate is made by Wilcox-Crittenden, not Groco. It's a better choice than Jabsco...the Groco HF is somewhat better than the Headmate, but neither are anywhere near the durability and reliability of the PH II/PHC. What makes the PH II/PHC so much better than other manual toilets in its price range? Vic Willman at Raritan explained it to me: The diameter of the piston of the PHII is 2 1/2 inches. The diameter of the piston of most other manual toilets is 1 3/4". Now this doesn't sound like much of a difference, but given the same length of stroke up and down, for demonstration purposes we'll say 2 1/2 inches for each head that we're considering. When you calculate the cubic inch capacity (displacement) of the PHII with a 2 1/2" diameter piston, it comes out to a little over 12 cubic inches. If you do the same calculation for a pump with a 1 3/4" diameter piston, with the same 2 1/2" stroke, the cubic inch capacity is only 6 cubic inches. So, to put that all into English, the PHII will pump twice as much per stroke, as it's competitors will. Adding the lever-type handle, there isn't as much actual effort required. So, in a nutshell, you only have to pump half as many times to flush it, and your arm doesn't get as tired. Plus, with the lever handle, you don't have to bend over as far, with your nose practically in the bowl, while you're pumping it.
All sailors, plumbing.. copper or hose???
Thanks Peggy, I'm going to see if I can mount the pump on the other side. I hope I can. What about taking out the existing copper plumbing? It just occured to me. the copper is for the water in the boat not the head..oops! Any sailors out there have an opinion on whether I should replace the old copper plumbing in a Cal 34 with hose, or leave the copper!
Thanks Peggy, I'm going to see if I can mount the pump on the other side. I hope I can. What about taking out the existing copper plumbing? It just occured to me. the copper is for the water in the boat not the head..oops! Any sailors out there have an opinion on whether I should replace the old copper plumbing in a Cal 34 with hose, or leave the copper!
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