Rebuild the Head or Buy new one

[Cruisin30MKIII]

I have a 1995 Catalina 30 Mk III with an original Jabsco manual head. we keep getting waste flowing back into the bowl after each use. I was thinking about a rebuild kit or even getting a new head altogether. My hoses are permeated, and i am hoping to find the Trident hoses recommended on this site, so I thought i would do the entire project at once. Any suggestions?Thanks to all in advanceHal

 

[Bill Roosa]

Re-hose and rebuild

Unless you "need" a new head for other reasons the rebuild will take about 45 minutes the first time you do it (and 10 the second) and save you $$$$

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

how often do you want to repeat this?

Economics aside, these Jabsco heads are generally considered throw-away junk. Although I'm sure there is someone who has never had a problem with his, the consensus is these are the bottom of the food chain when it comes to quality so get used to repeatedly repairing it which, as Bill implied, is pretty simple.You might also consider converting to a fresh water flush while re-plumbing if the boat is capable of accommodating it.

 

[Tom S]

What does Backflowing into the head have to do with quality of head?

Does the head Pump ok ?You could have a great head but if you have the holding tank higher than the bowl then sooner or later (even with the best head) you are going to get backflow into the head. Even best "duckbill" inline on a head wears out sometime. If its gone 13 years thats pretty darn good.If the holding tank is higher than the bottom of thye head (not an ideal design at all) and there is no hump in the hose from the output to the head to the holding tank. Then I would suggest putting one in. That will keep the backflow problems to a minimum no matter what head you have.

 

[Steve Dion]

I agree with Don.

We all have a mutual friend that has spent $50, $100, $200 or more on rebuilding these junk Jabsco heads. My first choice would be a PH II. These heads are used on comercial fishing boats too. Easier to pump and only minor mods to remount. The new Jabsco is supposed to have a valve that prevents the jokes from flowing when the valve is closed. This all remains to be seen.

 

[Jadedcrew]

Joker Valve

The Joker Valve isn't really meant to keep liquid out. If you have waste flowing back in, then you are not completely flushing the head. All that aside I would replace the head with the Raratan PH II, because the kits for the Jabsco cost almost as much as the entire new head. What does flushing with fresh water buy you? Nothing! If you use the head properly, and pump the holding tank at the end of your trips (don't leave a load in there for a week or more)you won't have to go through that stinky period. Some of you people are way too anal about it.

 

[Cruisin30MKIII]

Head troubles

Tom - thanks for your input. To answer your questions, the head is higher than the tank and appears to be plumbed properly. I might try the duckbill replacement to buy some time. But i think a new head is gonna be the way to go. Mick mentioned that we may not be pumping enough. I don't think thats it. We have pumped 40-60 times. The bowl is dry, then come back a bit later and "surprise!" more stuff in the bowl. Thanks to all with your help!Anyone know where to get the Trident hoses?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

the great head debate

too bad we don't spend more time debating sailing...The are reasons for waste backflowing other than a joker value, one being a blocked vent. Regarding Mike's comment "What does flushing with fresh water buy you? Nothing!"is quite wrong. Although unrelated to Hal's backflushing issue, the use of fresh water precludes one of the most common sources of smell, that being stagnant salt water in the inlet line especially if left there for days/weeks. There are scores of folks who have battled offensive head odors for yearts only to find it totally eliminated by simply changing to the appropriate head and a fresh water supply isolated from the potable water tanks. On a 30 ft boat, it may not be practical but worth considering nevertheless.

 

[Tom S]

Hal, I have a question for you

Please don't think this is an insult either, but... Is your Holding Tank full ?On my C36 the bottom of my head is above the holding tank and the only way I get water flowing back (up hill) into the bowl is when my holding tank is full.The first few times I owned the boat I didn't know what was happening at first. Just like you, I would pump and pump and pump and dry out the bowl completely. Then if I came back 1/2 hour later I would notice water backflowed into the bowl. Then I realized. Oops. The Holding tank was full *sry

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Check your holding tank vent for a blockage

If the toilet brings in flush water ok and pushes bowl contents out ok, there's nothing wrong with the toilet ..the problem HAS to be DOWNSTREAM of the toilet (so WHY are all of you telling him to replace it???). And the FIRST thing to check is the tank vent (Bill, Don, Tom, Steve et al...as many years as you've been reading my advice, WHY didn't this occur to any or you??? Don finally did while I typing this, but then drifted to another issue that has nothing whatever to do with THIS problem). Tank vents have two main functions: 1. to provide an escape for air in the tank displaced by incoming contents...and 2. to provide a source of air to replace contents as they're drawn/sucked out. When the vent is blocked, continuimg to pump the toilet begins to pressurize the system, creating back pressure that sends waste back to the toilet...which is the problem you've described. The most common places for a vent line blockage are the vent thru-hull and the connection to the tank--both the fitting and that end of the vent line.Or, it may be as simple as, you're just not pumping long enough IN THE *DRY* MODE to move bowl contents all the way to the tank. Pumping 40, 50, even 100 x in the wet mode will not push everything to the tank, at best that'll only leave you with cleaner water to run back to the toiletJabsco toilets built in the last 10 years can best be described as "disposable"...but Jabsco 20 years ago were actually decent quality for the money...aso as long as yours continues to bring in flush water in the wet mode, push waste out in both the wet and dry modes, and doesn't leak, there's no need to replace it. Keep it lubricated and keep on keepin' on till it does leak or breake. When that finally happens, it will be time to replace it, but not with another Jabsco. We'll cross that bridge when you get there.

 

[Rick D]

Gee, Steve D.... ONLY $200????

nm Rick D.

 

[CalebD]

Check the air vent for the tank

as per Peggy's instructions. If it is badly clogged you may need to replace it. Without the air vent working properly you cannot easily drain or fill your holding tank as pressure will build up there. Use an ice pick or a piano wire to get rid of an obstructions.