HeadMistress wrote:Conrad wrote:
After a number of back and forths, it looks like we are going to stay with our current configuration. The Raritans simply would not fit (this is a 32 footer) and the yard convinced me to stay with the low end Jabsco electric rather than manual as it fills the holding tank at a slower rate. The rational for this is that the macerator on an electric toilet mashes up the "stuff' better than a manual flush so you don't have to get all of the "stuff into the tank rather than plug the line.
Their view also is that the raw water pump supplying the head is shot, causing low water levels in the toilet which amplifies the sound. I hope they're right.
-- Edited by Conrad on Wednesday 16th of November 2011 08:44:02 PM
*They aren't...about anything.
Apparently you didn't notice that there's a compact version of the PH II--the PHC.***
Raritan PHC * It's a PH II pump on a compact base and with a shorter handle to fit in the same space as a Jabsco manual and other compact manuals...so if you have any manual toilet in there now, the PHC WILL fit.* Like the PH II, the pump can be mounted on either side of the bowl.
A "low end" electric toilet will actually fill up the holding tank FASTER than a manual...'cuz, unlike a manual it has no "dry" flush mode...so flush water flows for as long as you keep your finger on the flush button.
The rational for this is that the macerator on an electric toilet mashes up the "stuff' better than a manual flush so you don't have to get all of the "stuff into the tank rather than plug the line.
That's not really true either...solid waste is 75% water, so it dissolves very quickly IN water...and going through the pump breaks it up...so clogs from anything other than something that shouldn't have been flushed and wouldn't make it through an electric toilet either are VERY rare. And you DO have make sure every flush goes ALL the way into the tank if you don't want stinking hoses...'cuz waste left to sit in hoses permeates them, resulting in the stinking hoses.
Their view also is that the raw water pump supplying the head is shot, causing low water levels in the toilet which amplifies the sound
That doesn't even make sense!* ALL raw water electric toilets are noisy...some noisier than others. That's because, contrary to what most people (including your yard, apparently) falsely assume, it's not the discharge impeller and macerator that makes most of* the noise, it's the INTAKE impeller....and if the intake impeller were "shot," it simply wouldn't bring in any flush water...it would make LESS noise. If your toilet has a single flush button that simultaneously brings in flush water and discharges bowl contents, the same motor powers both the intake pump and the discharge pump and macerator...so it's gonna make the same amount of noise with or without flush water.* Toilets designed to use onboard pressurized fresh water are much quieter because they don't have an intake pump...a solenoid valve opens and closes to supply flush water.
So I'm afraid your yard doesn't really know much about marine toilets and sanitation systems.
However, If you want to go with a basic electric, the Raritan SeaEra**
Raritan Sea Era is your best choice...rated "best budget buy" by Practical Sailor in their February issue this year.* It's available in both raw water and* fresh water versions, as a complete toilet or as a "conversion" (everything but the bowl, seat and lid), *
Raritan Sea Era Conversion which reduces both the price and the shipping cost considerably...'cuz toilet bowls are HEAVY.* Note that it can be installed to discharge out either side or the back, which makes it easy to fit on any boat.
*Darn. I was hoping you'd respond Peggie, but I was also hoping that we were on the right track!
I had specifically requested that they look at the smaller Raritan but was told that it was too big - the handle was the problem. And since I wasn't there at the time (some of this is being done long distance) I had no reason to doubt them.
More discussions to be had. Thanks again for your wise counsel Peggie.*
The saga continues, but definitely best to do it right.