Jere Lull wrote:
If only the wet/dry switch weren't in such an inconvenient location.

Raritan offers an "extension pole" that allows it to be operated without
sticking your head in the bowl.

--
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

On Tue, 30 Mar 2004 14:47:23 GMT,
Peggie Hall wrote:
Jere Lull wrote:
I am in a process of refitting my head/shower area on my sailboat. I
want to change head for something reliable,manual,not terribly
expensive.I'm thinking of Raritan's Cricket...

We got one a few years back and like it, but it is a bit different
than the Compact it replaced and the Pars we've used on other boats.

Yep...instead of the piston/cylinder pump sitting beside the bowl, the
Cricket has a diaphragm pump located directly below the bowl...no
moving parts.

If we had a lot of guests, I think I'd prefer the PH or Compact, but
for the two of us, the Cricket has definite advantages. Check the
cost of a rebuild kit.

It's not really a rebuild kit, it's a whole new pump except for the
housing. Unlike piston/cylinder pumps, the Cricket doesn't have any
seals, o-rings, gaskets etc--the parts in the usual "rebuild kit"...so
it doesn't require "rebuilding" in the usual sense. In fact, it
doesn't even need lubrication. A kit is needed only as often as any
other toilet would need a whole new pump assembly. So the price for it
should really be compared to the prices of a new pump assemblies for
other toilets, not rebuild kits.


What is your opinion of the cricket? we are looking at replacing the
head in Windwalker when we add a holding tank, and want something
sturdy, reliable, and not too expensive (I know, pick two of the
three...)


--
Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock
Good judgement comes with experience. Unfortunately, the experience
usually comes from bad judgement.

Jim Richardson wrote:
What is your opinion of the cricket? we are looking at replacing the
head in Windwalker when we add a holding tank, and want something
sturdy, reliable, and not too expensive (I know, pick two of the
three...)

The Cricket is a nice toilet...but not without quirks. For about the
same price, the PH II will give you 3 for 3.

I have a plane to catch and don't know if I'll have NG access for next
week. So if you have more questions, hold 'em...I'll answer 'em when I
get home.

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

I bought a cricket head, based largely on advice from this ng. My
experience with it is mixed. It is slightly better then the
piston-pump W-C it replaced. I think after having owned it, I can
make some observations.

The first problem I had was that the first generation (which I bought)
came without a piece that they have now. This little ring keeps the
poo from blowing back in your face when too much pressure builds up
pumping a big load out. This went on for about two years and really
soured me on the cricket. I found out from this ng that raritan would
send me this blow back stopper part for free, and since then, I
haven't had poo blow back into my face. Good thing I check ng's once
in a while.

At about the same time it started to leak so when I got the part I
also ordered a rebuild kit. Turns out nothing was wrong with any of
the rubber bits - but the pump base itself had cracked. Which brings
me to the next problem I have with crickets - they are all plastic
construction. I'm sure this is what keeps the cost down compared to
say groccos or skippers or other diaphragm pump based toilets made of
bronze. Anyway, I fixed it with some west system, rebuilt it, and the
thing finally gave me about 3 years of pretty maintenance free
operation, no leaks, no poo blow back, rarely clogging. Those three
years of good live-aboard use make it worth the low price in my mind
and have softened the hard feelings I had about it during the years of
poo blow back and leaking.

Now I just recently moved ashore. My toilet sat dry for about a
month. Last week I went to go sail out to the islands here and the
head wouldn't flush. I couldn't figure out what was wrong and instead
of going sailing I spent the whole morning thurs. taking it apart, and
handling feces. While I took it apart a stainless bolt that rests in
a bronze thread molded into the plastic had siezed and while I torqued
on it the plastic broke. Well that was it. I went sailing with a
bucket and when I got back, I went to defender's website and ordered a
lavac.

I'm not saying the cricket's a bad head. You get what you pay for,
its pretty good for its price (with the blow back stopper that now
comes standard). I actually chose it because I have a small space and
it is very compact compared to other heads that aren't the piston
types. I won't even consider the piston types - what an absurd
design. If raritan came out with a bronze version or the grocco was
smaller I'd go with those. Meanwhile, I know the lavac will fit and
the rebuild kit for its pump can double as the rebuild kit for my
cockpit manual bilge pump.