I have a 1987 Catalina 30. If I'm going to get my wife back on the boat, I need to replace the head with something that looks and works a little better. The current head looks corroded at the fittings, leaks a little and smells. Being the prissy girl my wife is, she wants it replaced. It doesn't look like a complicated job, except I want to make sure that the replacement I buy fits without a great deal of work. Any suggestions as to what model of head will be the easiest to reattach to the current plumbing with redesigning the entire system?
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Done a couple head replacements.
EJ: I have done a couple of head replacements. Other than drilling some new holes (if you change mfg/models) about the only thing I have had to do is replace the raw water intake hose (not a bad idea every few years anyway). I started with whatever Hunter installed when the boat was new. Then I got a Groco, Par and now I have a Raritan PHII. These are by far the better quality of the ones that I have used. It all depends on the space that you have available. All of them seem to work equally well when new but that is when the equality ends. The Par Jabsco was by far the biggest piece of junk. Tried to take the pump assy apart to lube and the screws stripped out of the housing. New pump housing $90+ new Jabsco $120.
EJ: I have done a couple of head replacements. Other than drilling some new holes (if you change mfg/models) about the only thing I have had to do is replace the raw water intake hose (not a bad idea every few years anyway). I started with whatever Hunter installed when the boat was new. Then I got a Groco, Par and now I have a Raritan PHII. These are by far the better quality of the ones that I have used. It all depends on the space that you have available. All of them seem to work equally well when new but that is when the equality ends. The Par Jabsco was by far the biggest piece of junk. Tried to take the pump assy apart to lube and the screws stripped out of the housing. New pump housing $90+ new Jabsco $120.
Gee, I can't imagine why anyone would object
to a toilet that leaks and stinks...she must REALLY be finicky!
A toilet in that bad condition is almost certainly still original...making the Jabsco manual the identical replacemnt. If you plan to keep the boat a while, the Raritan PH II is much better quality, should fit, and installation is about the same for both. If you really want to make the Admiral happy, consider upgrading to the push-button convenience of an electric toilet. The Raritan SeaEra is an excellent choice, and--if your bowl and seat are still in decent shape--available as a conversion kit. Plumbing is no more complicated than installing a manual toilet. The wiring isn't difficult, though...a lot of people here have done it. You'll find full descriptions and even installation manuals for both the PH II and the SeaEra at the link below. As long as you're replumbing...you can't flush the toilet directly overboard...does the boat have a holding tank?
to a toilet that leaks and stinks...she must REALLY be finicky!
A toilet in that bad condition is almost certainly still original...making the Jabsco manual the identical replacemnt. If you plan to keep the boat a while, the Raritan PH II is much better quality, should fit, and installation is about the same for both. If you really want to make the Admiral happy, consider upgrading to the push-button convenience of an electric toilet. The Raritan SeaEra is an excellent choice, and--if your bowl and seat are still in decent shape--available as a conversion kit. Plumbing is no more complicated than installing a manual toilet. The wiring isn't difficult, though...a lot of people here have done it. You'll find full descriptions and even installation manuals for both the PH II and the SeaEra at the link below. As long as you're replumbing...you can't flush the toilet directly overboard...does the boat have a holding tank?Don't Forget the Hoses
As long as you are replacing things, don't forget to replace the hoses... these usually smell...
As long as you are replacing things, don't forget to replace the hoses... these usually smell...
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