So, my 30 yr old Grocco toilet and lines are being replaced next spring (our next sailing season here in Michigan) with new products. The toilet is DONE....it's joker is cooked, the pump handle leaks, it won't keep it's prime and worse of all.....it smells like a men's urinal. I was very interested in replacing the old Grocco with a new Grocco, especially if I did not have to drill new holes. However, no such luck so I am going with a new product. While talking to a very nice guy at Grocco, he told me that they have had the BEST luck for many years with a product called "Sew Clean" by Trac in efforts to clean returned products for repair, smell, etc. The responses on this forum call for "KO". Has anyone used Sew Clean? Not to discount other people's suggestions but.....it seems as if someone who is in the potty business might actually know what they are talking about. I want to start my new toilet on the proper path right from the get-go. I have no opinion on the matter b/c my present toilet smelled so bad anything has to be better, so what works will be the one I purchase.
Sew Clean Product
- Thread starter vmaks
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Vmaks,
Go with a Lavac!!! Simply the BEST head we have ever used over the years!!!! And MANY other agree. NO SMELL, even if left with effluent left in it for a bit of time! And NO temperamental valving. AND, the normal pump used in it doubles as an emergency backup bilge pump. SO MUCH GOOD!
Greg
Go with a Lavac!!! Simply the BEST head we have ever used over the years!!!! And MANY other agree. NO SMELL, even if left with effluent left in it for a bit of time! And NO temperamental valving. AND, the normal pump used in it doubles as an emergency backup bilge pump. SO MUCH GOOD!
Greg
Best luck to do what???
Toilets rarely stink,...plumbing stinks...holding tanks stink...toilets only stink when when sea water is left to sit and stagnate in 'em. Some minor plumbing modifications can solve that problem. Shower sumps stink, but because the odor escapes through the shower drain the head, owners mistakenly think it's the toilet that that stinks.
Apparently you need a new toilet...so what exactly does this product "Sew Clean" have to do with which toilet you choose??? Or...what do you expect to do for a new toilet? If your answer is, "relieve me of the need to do ANY work to maintain it," a product that can do that hasn't been invented yet.
To clarify:
1. Michigan boats are "fresh water", therefore, the intake is fresh not salt water. I believe fresh water may not degrade as quickly.????
2. Intent of a new toilet is NOT b/c I want to be lazy...the cost of repairing a 30 yr old toilet vs purchasing a new one make the choice cost effective and...I can not reverse any damage that the previous owner did to the head system.
3. Intent on asking about "products" i.e. KO vs Sew Clean- once the new system is in (no matter which brand I decide upon), I want to take care of the product properly, right from the beginning so I don't end up with a smelly system as I have now. I want to make sure I don't put products into my system which would cause harm and yet be productive in the intent to keep the system clean. So....as I ponder on which product does the trick I am confused by the responses on the forum which pertain to this subject (vinegar vs KO vs Sew Clean vs etc).
4. We do not live on our boat full time, we are "weekend warriors" with the hope to spend extended weekend time or vacation time on some short trips.
1. Michigan boats are "fresh water", therefore, the intake is fresh not salt water. I believe fresh water may not degrade as quickly.????
2. Intent of a new toilet is NOT b/c I want to be lazy...the cost of repairing a 30 yr old toilet vs purchasing a new one make the choice cost effective and...I can not reverse any damage that the previous owner did to the head system.
3. Intent on asking about "products" i.e. KO vs Sew Clean- once the new system is in (no matter which brand I decide upon), I want to take care of the product properly, right from the beginning so I don't end up with a smelly system as I have now. I want to make sure I don't put products into my system which would cause harm and yet be productive in the intent to keep the system clean. So....as I ponder on which product does the trick I am confused by the responses on the forum which pertain to this subject (vinegar vs KO vs Sew Clean vs etc).
4. We do not live on our boat full time, we are "weekend warriors" with the hope to spend extended weekend time or vacation time on some short trips.
K.O. and Sew Clean are two entirely different products
Raritan K.O. is a product that prevents holding tank odors--odors out the vent from the tank, NOT odors inside the boat. Clean eliminates/prevents sea water mineral buildup in the plumbing...distilled white vinegar prevents it. Raritan private labels Sew Clean under their brand name C.H. You can read a description of each of their products here: Raritan maintenance products
Household toilet have no moving parts, so they don't require any maintenance and can easily last 20-30 years. Manual marine toilets have working pumps that require regular maintenance and especially lubrication. So the previous owner(s) of your boat didn't damage the toilet on your boat... When your 30 year old toilet was made, the average lifespan of a top quality compact manual toilet--a description that would apply to your Groco--was 7-10 years...so yours wore out 20 years ago, but the previous owners somehow managed to keep it working, if only marginally. Joker valves and other rubber parts are included in "service" (aka "repair" or "rebuild") kits. Joker valves should be replaced annually...the whole kit about every 5 years. Unfortunately, though, very few made today are made to last more than couple of years...they've become "disposable" like everything else. In the US only Groco and Raritan still make durable manual toilets. My choice for you would be the Raritan PHC.
Your comments and questions indicate that you've got a pretty good learning curve ahead of you...it's not rocket science, but worth climb because prevention is ALWAYS cheaper and easier than cure. So I suggest you start by spending some time reading the archives of this forum...more than 15 years of advice and experience there, most of it good...and you MIGHT also consider checking out the link in my signature...I think you'll find the info there useful too. And ask LOTS of questions instead of jumping to any conclusions! I'm not here much any more, but you're welcome to email (EMAIL pls, not PM) me.
Raritan K.O. is a product that prevents holding tank odors--odors out the vent from the tank, NOT odors inside the boat. Clean eliminates/prevents sea water mineral buildup in the plumbing...distilled white vinegar prevents it. Raritan private labels Sew Clean under their brand name C.H. You can read a description of each of their products here: Raritan maintenance products
Household toilet have no moving parts, so they don't require any maintenance and can easily last 20-30 years. Manual marine toilets have working pumps that require regular maintenance and especially lubrication. So the previous owner(s) of your boat didn't damage the toilet on your boat... When your 30 year old toilet was made, the average lifespan of a top quality compact manual toilet--a description that would apply to your Groco--was 7-10 years...so yours wore out 20 years ago, but the previous owners somehow managed to keep it working, if only marginally. Joker valves and other rubber parts are included in "service" (aka "repair" or "rebuild") kits. Joker valves should be replaced annually...the whole kit about every 5 years. Unfortunately, though, very few made today are made to last more than couple of years...they've become "disposable" like everything else. In the US only Groco and Raritan still make durable manual toilets. My choice for you would be the Raritan PHC.
Your comments and questions indicate that you've got a pretty good learning curve ahead of you...it's not rocket science, but worth climb because prevention is ALWAYS cheaper and easier than cure. So I suggest you start by spending some time reading the archives of this forum...more than 15 years of advice and experience there, most of it good...and you MIGHT also consider checking out the link in my signature...I think you'll find the info there useful too. And ask LOTS of questions instead of jumping to any conclusions! I'm not here much any more, but you're welcome to email (EMAIL pls, not PM) me.
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