Jabsco Parmax 4HD Fresh Water Pumps

[Fire99]

Hi all,

Just a bit of info / curiosity. How are people getting on with the current generation of Jabsco Parmax HD fresh water pumps?
My Parmax4 HD was fitted in July to replace a 4 which lasted about 3 years (these are running through an accumulator and the pressures are checked regularly) and it lasted 5 months before it started pumping irregularly and then gave up all together.. A side note I have to say the Jabsco pumps are very noisy..

So not great for a £230 pump. Anyway, the chandlery have been good and sent a replacement without any issue..

So first question, how long are people's current generation Jabsco fresh water pumps lasting?

Second point is interesting. As a temporary measure I bought a SeaFlo Series 51 pump for just over £60 to use whilst the Jabsco issues were being sorted. Well, it flows more and operates at higher pressure, AND it's far quieter. Not to mention, they come with a 2 year warranty where Jabsco only offer 1. I'm gonna leave this Seaflo pump running for a while and see how it lasts. I know people say it's a poor cousin to a Shurflo but I've gotta say so far, it's a great little pump..

 

[Talulah]

Interesting reading your observations. I have a ParMax 4 HD waiting to be fitted the next time I'm onboard. I was hoping it would last many years!

 

[Fire99]

Interesting reading your observations. I have a ParMax 4 HD waiting to be fitted the next time I'm onboard. I was hoping it would last many years!

Hopefully my experience is a freak incident but the last Parmax 4 looks to have lasted 3 years with pretty frequent use (I live onboard most of the time). The HD was 5 1/2 months. They've always run through an accumulator so they're 'smooth' pumping and not working the pump to death..

I'll be interested to see how yours pans out. Do update this thread if you remember, if you have any issues..
(The cheap pump is the surprise of the whole thing.. It's possible if it lasts, Jabsco could learn a thing or two)

 

[Momac]

My boat has a Flojet water pump and no accumulator. I have owned the boat since 2014 and I suspect the pump is original from when the boat was new in 2003. I think Flojet is a Jabsco brand.

I have removed the pump and opened it up twice .
The first time the pump was playing up I fitted new O rings. There had been a leak which had corroded the electrical connection.
Last time the fault appeared primarily to be limescale in the inlet filter although there was a little limescale crud inside the pump. The pressure switch needed to be exercised a little to make it work more freely.

Anyhow my point is a bit of work sorted it at a lot less cost than a new pump.

 

[Fire99]

My boat has a Flojet water pump and no accumulator. I have owned the boat since 2014 and I suspect the pump is original from when the boat was new in 2003. I think Flojet is a Jabsco brand.

I have removed the pump and opened it up twice .
The first time the pump was playing up I fitted new O rings. There had been a leak which had corroded the electrical connection.
Last time the fault appeared primarily to be limescale in the inlet filter although there was a little limescale crud inside the pump. The pressure switch needed to be exercised a little to make it work more freely.

Anyhow my point is a bit of work sorted it at a lot less cost than a new pump.

Gotcha.. Thanks for that. I've strainers on the pumps to keep most of the crud out but I've a new replacement that's been sent which is handy and the cheap Seaflow is doing a great job at the mo so i'll wait till that gives trouble. I may take the 3 year old one apart though to see what's going on with that.. I like to know how these things work..

 

[Boater Sam]

I have heard that the current Jabsco Parmax are not as reliable as they should be, has the country of origin changed to China?

I have run the American belt driven Jabsco Par pumps for the last 23 years, never had a failure but I do periodically check the belt and the pressure switch diaphragm as this seams to be the only parts that deteriorate. They are noisy but utterly trustworthy.

 

[Fire99]

I have heard that the current Jabsco Parmax are not as reliable as they should be, has the country of origin changed to China?

I have run the American belt driven Jabsco Par pumps for the last 23 years, never had a failure but I do periodically check the belt and the pressure switch diaphragm as this seams to be the only parts that deteriorate. They are noisy but utterly trustworthy.

Interesting Sam.. Cheers. I've just checked the old Parmax 4 which had been on the boat for 3+ years. That one is made in Mexico. The New Parmax 4HD is made in..........China! I'm not a complete anti-China guy but when the Jabsco pump was still £230 for a Chinese made pump, and it only lasted 5 months before giving trouble, you wonder on the point of spending 3-4 times the money of a 'regular' Chinese brand. This cheapy Seaflo will be an interesting experiment (I got a spare for under £60!!)