Electric toilets

[Elessar]

Have used everything over the last 7 decades starting with a galvanised bucket, when every gentleman would usually discreetly do a No1 over the side even when moored and not so discreetly when under way.
The main difficulty underway being desperately hanging on with one hand and trying to ensure your efforts were all going over the side and not on your trousers.
A chemical toilet Elsan ? was the next upgrade , which, recall was made of tin and did rust somewhat and of course reeked despite how much "Jeyes" you poured in.
Next came a Victorian China and Brass contraption which evolved into a nasty plastic device, not quite so smelly but at some point the self tapping screws on the manual pump would strip and the resulting leaks did make you worry about what liquid was on your hand after use.

The ladies on my boat have the use of a quiet sanitary odourless device requiring no more effort than the push of button to complete the task.

A quick glace at the calender suggests its 2025 ( Honest take a look) and only on a sailing forum could anyone consider singing the praises of the marine version of a hut at the end of the garden featuring a plank with hole in it.
Can you still buy that dreadfull "IZAL" toilet paper
.

Well put. There are some on here that think that if you choose to use a sail as your method of propulsion you have to wear a hair shirt.

One bloke on another thread was bemoaning a decent hifi. Or any hifi. There are plenty of other examples.

I don’t understand it at all.

 

[oldgit]

Well put. There are some on here that think that if you choose to use a sail as your method of propulsion you have to wear a hair shirt.

One bloke on another thread was bemoaning a decent hifi. Or any hifi. There are plenty of other examples.

I don’t understand it at all.

Suspect some on here think Capt Bligh was a bit WOKE

 

[Dockhead]

A VERY good thing!

Let me count the ways.

First of all, macerates whatever goes through it, dramatically reducing the risks of clogging the downstream plumbing.

Second -- much easier to get the crew to agree to flush through enough to prevent calcification of the lines.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Jes1]

After replacement of 2 worn-out belts, complete pumping unit, complete toilet unit within 5 years we finally dumped the Jabsco Liteflush and replaced it by a simple manual operated one.
Looking inside the construction, it's a miracle that the Liteflush is capable to operate at all. Used materials are not suitable for a reliable operation.
So my advice to Liteflush owners: flush the unit off board as soon as possible. The first award is a full night of sleep whenever one of the crew members is testing the quality of this pile of scrap.

 

[vyv_cox]

After replacement of 2 worn-out belts, complete pumping unit, complete toilet unit within 5 years we finally dumped the Jabsco Liteflush and replaced it by a simple manual operated one.
Looking inside the construction, it's a miracle that the Liteflush is capable to operate at all. Used materials are not suitable for a reliable operation.
So my advice to Liteflush owners: flush the unit off board as soon as possible. The first award is a full night of sleep whenever one of the crew members is testing the quality of this pile of scrap.

I managed to struggle on with mine for more than 10 years but it was stripped innumerable times. Possibly the main contributor to its poor performance is the very low water throughput, lauded by the makers as a plus point but in reality contributing enormously to salt deposits.

 

[harvey38]

I managed to struggle on with mine for more than 10 years but it was stripped innumerable times. Possibly the main contributor to its poor performance is the very low water throughput, lauded by the makers as a plus point but in reality contributing enormously to salt deposits.

That's why when we had two new electric toilets installed, it was a complete refit, new toilets, new plumbing, had a 200l waste tank fitted and converted to fresh water to flush.

 

[Elessar]

After replacement of 2 worn-out belts, complete pumping unit, complete toilet unit within 5 years we finally dumped the Jabsco Liteflush and replaced it by a simple manual operated one.
Looking inside the construction, it's a miracle that the Liteflush is capable to operate at all. Used materials are not suitable for a reliable operation.
So my advice to Liteflush owners: flush the unit off board as soon as possible. The first award is a full night of sleep whenever one of the crew members is testing the quality of this pile of scrap.

Agree with your diagnosis but not your solution. Manual toilets are horrible to clean with all their nooks and crannies, and horrible to operate. You shouldn’t have to give guests instructions on how to use the loo.

The jabsco electric ones really are awful. They do one called quiet flush or something. It makes a heck of a din. I suspect the people who don’t like electric loos have been victims of jabsco.

 

[Dockhead]

After replacement of 2 worn-out belts, complete pumping unit, complete toilet unit within 5 years we finally dumped the Jabsco Liteflush and replaced it by a simple manual operated one.
Looking inside the construction, it's a miracle that the Liteflush is capable to operate at all. Used materials are not suitable for a reliable operation.
So my advice to Liteflush owners: flush the unit off board as soon as possible. The first award is a full night of sleep whenever one of the crew members is testing the quality of this pile of scrap.

That lines up with my experiences with cheap electric toilets. I had a Raritan Sea Era for a few years before binning it in disgust.

I replaced that one with a Planar Arctic which is a revelation. The cost is at least 3x and it's much harder to install, but worth every penny and every hour or labor.

The only cheaper electric toilet which is more or less OK in my experience is the old Jabsco toilet conversion, which is much heavier duty than the other cheap ones (downside to that is that it is incredibly noisy). It has other design flaws, like a tendency to leak, occasional failure to prime, frozen screws, but it's more or less acceptable if you install it and use it correctly. It bolts directly to a Jabsco manual toilet, and you can keep the manual pump in spares. Tips for that, in case anyone wants to try it:

1. Duralac all the internal screws before you install it. Otherwise you will have steel to alu corrosion freezing.
2. Be extremely careful to get the torque right on all the screws, particularly those going into the plastic base. Overtorque and you will have to replace the base; undertorque and it will leak. I would use a torque wrench.
3. Have spare gaskets on board.

 

[Elessar]

That lines up with my experiences with cheap electric toilets. I had a Raritan Sea Era for a few years before binning it in disgust.

I replaced that one with a Planar Arctic which is a revelation. The cost is at least 3x and it's much harder to install, but worth every penny and every hour or labor.

The only cheaper electric toilet which is more or less OK in my experience is the old Jabsco toilet conversion, which is much heavier duty than the other cheap ones (downside to that is that it is incredibly noisy). It has other design flaws, like a tendency to leak, occasional failure to prime, frozen screws, but it's more or less acceptable if you install it and use it correctly. It bolts directly to a Jabsco manual toilet, and you can keep the manual pump in spares. Tips for that, in case anyone wants to try it:

1. Duralac all the internal screws before you install it. Otherwise you will have steel to alu corrosion freezing.
2. Be extremely careful to get the torque right on all the screws, particularly those going into the plastic base. Overtorque and you will have to replace the base; undertorque and it will leak. I would use a torque wrench.
3. Have spare gaskets on board.

I think Planar are similar to Tecma. Have heard good things about them by a few people.

The conversion still leaves you with an ugly and hard to clean toilet.

 

[Dockhead]

I think Planar are similar to Tecma. Have heard good things about them by a few people.

The conversion still leaves you with an ugly and hard to clean toilet.

Yes, the Planar is similar to the Tecma, and to the Raritan Marine Elegance -- different configuration to the cheap ones. These all have much larger and slower running motors -- like engine starter motors, and all the mechanism is contained within the porcelain. Much larger diameter macerator. So much quieter and more powerful. No sea water pump -- so you need to either fresh water flush, or have a separate seawater pressure pump.

They are the very devil to install because you have to connect the sewage pipe to the bottom of the macerator manifold without any way to reach inside -- bleh. But worth it once done.

I agree with you about the conversion, but these drawbacks may be worth it for some -- installation is vastly easier, and cost is a fraction if you're starting from an existing Jabsco toilet. I have one of these in my guest heads. Upgrading to another Planar is on my list, but fairly far down.

 

[Elessar]

Yes, the Planar is similar to the Tecma, and to the Raritan Marine Elegance -- different configuration to the cheap ones. These all have much larger and slower running motors -- like engine starter motors, and all the mechanism is contained within the porcelain. Much larger diameter macerator. So much quieter and more powerful. No sea water pump -- so you need to either fresh water flush, or have a separate seawater pressure pump.

They are the very devil to install because you have to connect the sewage pipe to the bottom of the macerator manifold without any way to reach inside -- bleh. But worth it once done.

I agree with you about the conversion, but these drawbacks may be worth it for some -- installation is vastly easier, and cost is a fraction if you're starting from an existing Jabsco toilet. I have one of these in my guest heads. Upgrading to another Planar is on my list, but fairly far down.

All very interesting thank you. I just know they work.
I wouldn’t consider anything other than fresh water flush. Can’t stand the smell.

 

[Dockhead]

All very interesting thank you. I just know they work.
I wouldn’t consider anything other than fresh water flush. Can’t stand the smell.

I have been very pleased with fresh water flush. It doesn't not affect water consumption noticeably. And you won't have to worry about flushing through enough to prevent calcifying, although of course you should still flush through reasonably.

I never had problem with smells with seawater flushing. Other than that first flush after having been off the boat for a while. But you really need to flush and flush if you don't want to get arteriosclerosis in the lines. Not good when using a holding tank.

 

[Parabordi]

Noisy.

Especially Seaflow which would wake the dead