I have been researching electric head found a good article in practical sailor but it is back in 2011. I would appreciate recommendations and comments re the idea of having electric head.
Lloyd Robbins
Isadora
NS 30 181
Chester Nova Scotia
Lloyd,
I can’t give you much more recent information, but I can give you comments on the idea based on having two Jabsco Quiet Flush Electric Toilets on the catamaran that I owned from 2003-2014.
They were convenient and reliable. They didn’t, however, come anywhere close to living up to their billing as “Quiet Flush”. Essentially, what they do is couple a water pump inlet and a macerator outlet, so their noise is what you should expect from those two types of devices. The noise was not at all unbearable, but enough that a late night use would likely wake any light sleepers on the boat. I wouldn’t recommend them for folks who’re embarrassed about other people knowing they were using the head.
They don’t have to be explained to novices the way a manual marine toilet does, if you’re taking a lot of first-timers out.
They didn’t need as much maintenance as a manual head because you didn’t need to disassemble and lubricate/overhaul the pump itself, which I liked. There were still joker valves that needed replacement now and then.
Mine were plumbed so that I had a Y-valve to either draw fresh water from my tanks or raw water via a thru-hull. This adds a lot of expense and complexity, but I very much liked the smell reduction from flushing with fresh and the security that I wasn’t dependent on it if I needed to ration my water supply. It didn’t work quite right until I added siphon breaks to the system, though – if you go this route, make sure you’ve got it plumbed right.
I came to realize on later boats that, now that I don’t cruise any more, what really mattered to me most was the fresh water flush. If that’s what matters most to you, then you might look at the Raritan Fresh Head Manual Toilet which I’ve been very pleased with as well. It basically is a standard manual head that connects to your pressure fresh water system instead of to a thru-hull. It lets you control how much water you want to put in the bowl beforehand, and how much you want to use to pump out after. This choice is less than half the base price of an electric, and the plumbing is simpler, which makes installation easier for the DIYer and cheaper if you’re paying someone else to do it.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch 26U #233
My plan wasto use the coean water I would not want to deplete my fresh water, am I missing something. I have never worried abour odour with manual head. Thanks for your response.
Lloyd Robbins
NS30 Isadora 181
I have to ask. Have you given any consideration to composting type heads? There are a few commercial models that people seem to like or if you are so inclined it is very easy to build your own. They offer freedom from odour, freedom from “the plumbing” and extra storage space where the holding tank used to be. Sorry if I sound like a reformed smoker but I was very pleasantly surprised when I installed mine (DIY type)
Paul M
NS30U #211, Sandpiper
Cowichan Bay, B.C.
Interesting, never would have thought of that and I am sure my wife wouldn’t have either . This adventure into electric important to my wife. I would like to see a compost head sometime difficult fir my brain to wrap around in terms of no odour and would I need to take it out of boat to empty.
How big are they? The head compartment on my boat seems roomy for the size of boat, but the head/toilet is bolted onto a fairly narrow platform on the edge. I’ve only ever seen one composting toilet on a boat and it was way too big for this little ledge.
Brian Godfrey
NS33, #77
San Diego
Lloyd Robbins
Ns 30 181
The commercial ones require some concessions but the DIY versions which work just as well can be built to fit almost anywhere. One issue with DIY may be USCG regulations although that is far from clear. This type of head obviously falls under the MSD Type 3 classification but the meaning of the “approved” part is not very clear.
This is how mine fits on my 30U. I have friends with 30C and 33 who have similar heads and are sold on them.
Is that approval, 159.53, Canada, US or both?
Of what document is it a part.
Ward Woodruff
Sorry, both USCG.
Thank you.
Ward Woodruff
I asked a polite question about electric heads do not understand how this became all about composting heads
Lloyd Robbins
Getting back to a question from Lloyd, “… am I missing something. I have never worried abour odour with manual head…”
Sea water in many areas contains small organisms. Since a sea-water flushing head never gets all of the water out of the system, sea water organisms in any standing water in the toilet system will die. When they do, they emit a sulphurous stink. That odor tends to permeate hoses, fabrics, etc., and is very hard to get out.
This is less of a problem on boats that use their head fairly continuously vs. those where the head only gets irregular use, because regular use constantly replaces the standing water before the die-off goes too far. However, if you leave the boat for a week or two, especially in warmer climates, I can guarantee that happiness will NOT result.
This is an illustration of the principle that what works or doesn’t for anyone very much depends on where they’re located, and how they use the boat. (Generally, when smart people disagree, they’re usually both right – but only in different situations.)
Someone who uses their boat continuously in a cooler climate is going to have less of an odor problem from a raw water system than someone who uses the boat irregularly in a warm climate. Especially if they thoroughly flush with antifreeze when they haul out.
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch 26U #233
I have a problem the first time I flush my manual head when I go cruising. After that we’re fine.
Joe Valinoti
S/V iL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
ALL:
This discussion has gotten a bit tangled. This is in part because it’s drifted off-topic and in part because Google is currently giving us some problems.
The latter issue is that Google has started marking perfectly innocuous posts as spam faster than the moderators can always respond, which leads to wrongly flagged messages popping up into threads in the wrong order after a moderator gets them unjammed. This may be why, for example, it looks like Lloyd just posted three messages within two minutes of each other.
Can I please ask people to use this thread for Electric Heads, and start a new thread if you want to talk more about Composting Heads?
Also, at least for the short term, please put something in your posts that makes clear which post you’re responding to. That way, it’ll be easier for people to understand the discussion if Google gets things out of order.
Thanks,
– Bob
Me Gusta
Nonsuch 26U #233 (but wearing my moderator hat for this message)
With all due respect Bob, the OP seemed to be interested in changing head types. I simply asked if he had considered composting heads. Many of our members use them and they are a viable alternatives to consider when making changes. Posting my comment in another thread would have served no purpose.
Sorry if I offended anyone.
Paul -
I was not offended.
Ernie A. in Toronto (where nothing offends anyone)
Regarding water use. When we were on the Great Lakes there was an ample supply of fresh water but zero tolerance for overboard discharge. So extend the service period of a 25 gallon holding tank we kept repurposed windshield washer jug with water in the head. We found using the jugs to provide flush water reduced the water usage to a point where the holding tank lasted 9- 10 days with 2 on board.
And on the subject of foot pumps, when cruising we never use the electric fresh water pump both sinks have foot pumps and that I know reduces water consumption by a least 1/3 .
We have a composting toilet and it’s the best addition we have made to the boat.
Thor,
What did you use the 25 gal. holding tank for, urine? Or was that before the composting toilet was installed?
Brian
Boat-less in New England