Coincidentally, I just replaced the 5 year old conversion kit in our aft head a
couple months ago on my 1998 Beneteau 411. It was not just a gasket that was
failing, it was deterioration of the plastic. Not a repair kit for *that*
problem. Probably should have gone back to the manual pump, but I spent nearly
$400 for the identical replacement at West Marine...ouch...! Well...at least it
was an easy replacement, and didn't have to pay anyone to do the job for
me.... :/
Yes, they do draw a LOT of current plus they're noisy, but my wife brings too
many guests aboard that don't have a clue about how to use the manual pump Our
forward head is still manual...and I personally would advise against having an
electric head unless the boat has 2 heads so that at least 1 would remain
manual.
Howard.

On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 19:14:57 GMT, Peggie Hall wrote:

; Steve wrote:
; I recently bought a boat with the following head setup: Groco toilet with
; Jabsco electric conversion model 29200-0120. I have to take it apart to
; replace a leaky base gasket, but was wondering if putting a manual pump back
; on would give more reliable service. Other than the leak, the electric unit
; seems to work fine. Does anyone have observations/experience as to the
; quality and effectiveness of this particular piece of equipment?
;
;
; The only thing left of the previous Groco toilet is the bowl...it's been
; converted to the Jabsco. It's not the best electric toilet for the
; money...for one thing, it draws a whopping 26 amps a flush, compared to
; 16 used by most other raw water macerating electric toilets...for
; another it costs the same or more as much higher quality conversions,
; but has half or less the average lifespan. But you have it, and it's
; working now. So if all it needs is a gasket, I'd keep it till it needs
; more serious repair. However, as long as you have to take it apart to
; the replace the gasket, I wouldn't just stop there, I'd put a complete
; rebuild kit in it.
;
; Also, as the unit contains a macerator, which I assume manual pumps do not,
;
; No...they don't.
;
; I was wondering if this would have any benefit with regard to reducing the
; likelihood of the holding tank pump-out tube becoming blocked with solids
; when trying to pump the tank.
;
; Large quantities of macerated solids and TP are less likely to clog the
; toilet discharge hose..otoh, they can clog a macerator. However, I've
; never heard of solids ever preventing a tank from being pumped out. A
; wad of the wrong toilet paper can (and will also clog up a
; macerator)...a tampon, condom, paper towel or anything else that
; shouldn't have been flushed down ANY marine toilet can...an accumulation
; of sludge can...but solid waste is 75% water to begin with...and it's
; broken up and "mooshed" as it goes through the head TO the tank..so
; solids are about 90% dissolved by the time they get into the tank. They
; don't give any pumpout capable of emptying a tank at all any problem
; whatever in pumping out the tank, whether the waste in the tank has been
; macerated or not.
;
; Peggie
; ----------
; Peggie Hall
; Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
; Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
; Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
; http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Howard wrote:
Coincidentally, I just replaced the 5 year old conversion kit in our aft head a
couple months ago on my 1998 Beneteau 411. It was not just a gasket that was
failing, it was deterioration of the plastic. Not a repair kit for *that*
problem. Probably should have gone back to the manual pump, but I spent nearly
$400 for the identical replacement at West Marine...ouch...! Well...at least it
was an easy replacement, and didn't have to pay anyone to do the job for
me.... :/

I do wish you'd asked a few questions here before buying another
one...'cuz there are others that cost less and are much higher quality.
The Raritan SeaEra
http://www.raritaneng.com/products/t...c/sea_era.html) is
one...the Wilcox Newport
(http://wilcox-crittenden.com/sanitat...wport.asp?bid=) is
another. Both are much quieter, use less flush water, consume less
power, and can be found for the same price or less than the Jabsco.

Yes, they do draw a LOT of current plus they're noisy, but my wife brings too
many guests aboard that don't have a clue about how to use the manual pump Our
forward head is still manual...and I personally would advise against having an
electric head unless the boat has 2 heads so that at least 1 would remain
manual.

I'd feel the same way if the electric were a Jabsco or the Raritan PHE II.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Howard wrote:
Coincidentally, I just replaced the 5 year old conversion kit in our aft head a
couple months ago on my 1998 Beneteau 411. It was not just a gasket that was
failing, it was deterioration of the plastic. Not a repair kit for *that*
problem. Probably should have gone back to the manual pump, but I spent nearly
$400 for the identical replacement at West Marine...ouch...! Well...at least it
was an easy replacement, and didn't have to pay anyone to do the job for
me.... :/

I do wish you'd asked a few questions here before buying another
one...'cuz there are others that cost less and are much higher quality.
The Raritan SeaEra
http://www.raritaneng.com/products/t...c/sea_era.html) is
one...the Wilcox Newport
(http://wilcox-crittenden.com/sanitat...wport.asp?bid=) is
another. Both are much quieter, use less flush water, consume less
power, and can be found for the same price or less than the Jabsco.

Yes, they do draw a LOT of current plus they're noisy, but my wife brings too
many guests aboard that don't have a clue about how to use the manual pump Our
forward head is still manual...and I personally would advise against having an
electric head unless the boat has 2 heads so that at least 1 would remain
manual.

I'd feel the same way if the electric were a Jabsco or the Raritan PHE II.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Hi, Peggie:
Question: Are you saying that it would have been cheaper to buy the Raritan or
Wilcox (i.e., the entire toilet)? I just replaced the conversion kit, not the
entire toilet...although the kit was too close to $400 at WM....
Thanks, Howard.
P.S. I just bought your book, but haven't had a chance to look at it.

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 18:54:45 GMT, Peggie Hall wrote:

; Howard wrote:
; Coincidentally, I just replaced the 5 year old conversion kit in our aft head a
; couple months ago on my 1998 Beneteau 411. It was not just a gasket that was
; failing, it was deterioration of the plastic. Not a repair kit for *that*
; problem. Probably should have gone back to the manual pump, but I spent nearly
; $400 for the identical replacement at West Marine...ouch...! Well...at least it
; was an easy replacement, and didn't have to pay anyone to do the job for
; me.... :/
;
; I do wish you'd asked a few questions here before buying another
; one...'cuz there are others that cost less and are much higher quality.
; The Raritan SeaEra
; http://www.raritaneng.com/products/t...c/sea_era.html) is
; one...the Wilcox Newport
; (http://wilcox-crittenden.com/sanitat...wport.asp?bid=) is
; another. Both are much quieter, use less flush water, consume less
; power, and can be found for the same price or less than the Jabsco.
;
; Yes, they do draw a LOT of current plus they're noisy, but my wife brings too
; many guests aboard that don't have a clue about how to use the manual pump Our
; forward head is still manual...and I personally would advise against having an
; electric head unless the boat has 2 heads so that at least 1 would remain
; manual.
;
; I'd feel the same way if the electric were a Jabsco or the Raritan PHE II.
;
; Peggie
; ----------
; Peggie Hall
; Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
; Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
; Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
; http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Hi, Peggie:
Question: Are you saying that it would have been cheaper to buy the Raritan or
Wilcox (i.e., the entire toilet)? I just replaced the conversion kit, not the
entire toilet...although the kit was too close to $400 at WM....
Thanks, Howard.
P.S. I just bought your book, but haven't had a chance to look at it.

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 18:54:45 GMT, Peggie Hall wrote:

; Howard wrote:
; Coincidentally, I just replaced the 5 year old conversion kit in our aft head a
; couple months ago on my 1998 Beneteau 411. It was not just a gasket that was
; failing, it was deterioration of the plastic. Not a repair kit for *that*
; problem. Probably should have gone back to the manual pump, but I spent nearly
; $400 for the identical replacement at West Marine...ouch...! Well...at least it
; was an easy replacement, and didn't have to pay anyone to do the job for
; me.... :/
;
; I do wish you'd asked a few questions here before buying another
; one...'cuz there are others that cost less and are much higher quality.
; The Raritan SeaEra
; http://www.raritaneng.com/products/t...c/sea_era.html) is
; one...the Wilcox Newport
; (http://wilcox-crittenden.com/sanitat...wport.asp?bid=) is
; another. Both are much quieter, use less flush water, consume less
; power, and can be found for the same price or less than the Jabsco.
;
; Yes, they do draw a LOT of current plus they're noisy, but my wife brings too
; many guests aboard that don't have a clue about how to use the manual pump Our
; forward head is still manual...and I personally would advise against having an
; electric head unless the boat has 2 heads so that at least 1 would remain
; manual.
;
; I'd feel the same way if the electric were a Jabsco or the Raritan PHE II.
;
; Peggie
; ----------
; Peggie Hall
; Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
; Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
; Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
; http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Howard wrote:
Hi, Peggie:
Question: Are you saying that it would have been cheaper to buy the Raritan or
Wilcox (i.e., the entire toilet)?

Cheaper..or at least no more. The Wilcox doesn't appear to be available
as a conversion...the SeaEra is...and is available in both raw water and
pressurized flush water models. But neither entire toilet has to cost
more than the Jabsco 29200...or even their 37010 (also available as
either a conversion or a complete toilet.).

Not much you can do about it now (or maybe there is, if you just bought
it and still have the packaging)...just keep all this in mind the next
time you--or anyone else--wants an electric toilet or needs to replace one.

P.S. I just bought your book, but haven't had a chance to look at it.

I thank you ... and my publisher thanks you!

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Howard wrote:
Hi, Peggie:
Question: Are you saying that it would have been cheaper to buy the Raritan or
Wilcox (i.e., the entire toilet)?

Cheaper..or at least no more. The Wilcox doesn't appear to be available
as a conversion...the SeaEra is...and is available in both raw water and
pressurized flush water models. But neither entire toilet has to cost
more than the Jabsco 29200...or even their 37010 (also available as
either a conversion or a complete toilet.).

Not much you can do about it now (or maybe there is, if you just bought
it and still have the packaging)...just keep all this in mind the next
time you--or anyone else--wants an electric toilet or needs to replace one.

P.S. I just bought your book, but haven't had a chance to look at it.

I thank you ... and my publisher thanks you!

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detai...=400&group=327

http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html