Those electric conversion toilets are not worth it

[DangerousPirate]

This boat came with one of these



Absolutely useless. In November the macerator blade broke (big, stinky and outright disgusting job). So in May I decided that a working toilet aboard might be nice to have after all, and bought a replacement. Brand new. That was 3 months ago!

After changing everything out (more disgusting work), it worked fine. I didn't use it much because I am mostly in the marina. Now after very light use and maybe a 10 second flush, the motor just blew out! It wasn't even straining!!!!! Just stopped with a click that's that.

And once the motor is gone, it's gone. That thing is NOT moving at all. I am looking at another disgusting changing job once the replacement comes. IF it comes! You never know how much you have to fight with merchants sometimes...

I'll probably just sell the brand new one or exchange it for a manual pump. Seriously can't be bothered with these. They're loud and unreliable and needlessly use electricity. Guess the only REAL upside to them are that you don't have to explain guests how to use the toilet.

Seriously pissed off now.

1 / 10 Don't recommend this.

Imagine you're on a world cruise and have to replace your toilet every 2-4 months. Yuck. That's not something you want on your regular maintenance list.

 

[Bobc]

Yup. Can't beat the manual Jabsco.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Yup. Can't beat the manual Jabsco.

I need to find or make some sort of manual that I can laminate and hang up inside the toilet because I really also dislike having to show everyone how the damn toilet works.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Yup. Can't beat the manual Jabsco.

Of course you can, but good electric WCs aren’t cheap. Tecma or Planus, with freshwater flush. Game changer.

 

[GEM43]

Of course you can, but good electric WCs aren’t cheap. Tecma or Planus, with freshwater flush. Game changer.

In what sense is an electric powered toilet a “game changer”?

 

[Elessar]

Yup. Can't beat the manual Jabsco.

Oh yes you can.

Macerator Toilets | Thetford Marine - Tecma macerator toilets

Better in every way.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

In what sense is an electric powered toilet a “game changer”?

If you or your other half have never experienced the extraordinary difference between a hand pump Jabsco boat WC with salt water flush, and an electric boat WC with freshwater flush, then you would not know. If you have, then you would. That’s all. Move on.

Also.. what Elessar’s said.

 

[Elessar]

In what sense is an electric powered toilet a “game changer”?

They are easy to clean. No nooks and crannies.
They need no explanation for guests.
They just work. No hassle.

I agree with the OP 100% however.

 

[GEM43]

Oh yes you can.

Macerator Toilets | Thetford Marine - Tecma macerator toilets

Better in every way.

I’m intrigued, I have no experience of powered toilets. However they’re not better “in every way” because they’re noisy and consume power and seemingly, see OP, fail frequently. So how are they better?

 

[PetiteFleur]

I agree with you - I believe in the KISS principle...

 

[Elessar]

I’m intrigued, I have no experience of powered toilets. However they’re not better “in every way” because they’re noisy and consume power and seemingly, see OP, fail frequently. So how are they better?

You are absolutely right if thinking about the OP style electric loo. He is bang on.

But that is not the same as a tecma (or I’m told the planus).

I have 4. I had 3 on the previous boat and 2 on the one before that. Never had a failure.

They are quiet - quieter than a manual jabasco.

They use power for a short period only. Trivial in the scheme of things.

 

[Elessar]

Yup. Can't beat the manual Jabsco.

I’d agree with you by the way if you said “under £500”. They beat all the cheaper electric loos even the quite expensive ones. How they have the cheek to call the Jabsco quietflush “quiet” beats me!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I’m intrigued, I have no experience of powered toilets. However they’re not better “in every way” because they’re noisy and consume power and seemingly, see OP, fail frequently. So how are they better?

Intrigued, good
Noisy, no.
Power, microscopic amounts, yes they do.
Fail frequently, no if you buy Tecma or Planus

 

[DangerousPirate]

Tecma

Hmmm. They even make ones with bidets, which probably eliminates the TP anyway. But 1300 eggs for that? Damn. I am already saving for my ultra marine anchor.

 

[rotrax]

This boat came with one of these

View attachment 199117

Absolutely useless. In November the macerator blade broke (big, stinky and outright disgusting job). So in May I decided that a working toilet aboard might be nice to have after all, and bought a replacement. Brand new. That was 3 months ago!

After changing everything out (more disgusting work), it worked fine. I didn't use it much because I am mostly in the marina. Now after very light use and maybe a 10 second flush, the motor just blew out! It wasn't even straining!!!!! Just stopped with a click that's that.

And once the motor is gone, it's gone. That thing is NOT moving at all. I am looking at another disgusting changing job once the replacement comes. IF it comes! You never know how much you have to fight with merchants sometimes...

I'll probably just sell the brand new one or exchange it for a manual pump. Seriously can't be bothered with these. They're loud and unreliable and needlessly use electricity. Guess the only REAL upside to them are that you don't have to explain guests how to use the toilet.

Seriously pissed off now.

1 / 10 Don't recommend this.

Imagine you're on a world cruise and have to replace your toilet every 2-4 months. Yuck. That's not something you want on your regular maintenance list.

If you want a manual toilet that is as reliable as a sledgehammer, PM me.

 

[dunedin]

If you want a manual toilet that is as reliable as a sledgehammer, PM me.

Getting rid of a tin bucket are you?

 

[Momac]

Changing the Jabsco electric conversion to the manual pump was an upgrade. The chief officer never liked the very noisy electric pump.
Being able to flush the loo at night with hardly any greater physical effort compared to the electric pump , without inflicting noise on people on neighbouring boats and the lack of electrical demand on the batteries are the main benefits of the manual pump. The manual pump seems more longer lived between need for servicing, The manual pump has been fitted just over 5 years and still seems fine, I will simply buy a new pump assembly if and when required although service kits are available.
If I recall correctly the manual pump assembly was only a little greater cost compared to the service kit for the electric conversion pump.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Maybe. But a proper electric WC doesn’t need servicing, it just works. We can agree to differ. I’d never ever ever have a manual bog on a boat.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I’m intrigued, I have no experience of powered toilets. However they’re not better “in every way” because they’re noisy and consume power and seemingly, see OP, fail frequently. So how are they better?

That only applies to cheap and nasty Chinese copy conversion kits. A proper electric toilet, such as the afore mentioned Tecm or Planus are a totally different beast.

 

[PaulRainbow]

My last but one boat had a manual Jabsco, not impressed. Fitted a genuine Jabsco electric conversion, worked OK in the 4 years we kept the boat, still going when we sold it, but horrifically noisy.

Last boat had a manual Lavac, worked well. I replaced the manual pump with an electric diaphragm pump, made a timer for it, so just press a button and walk away. Very quiet, worked well, no issues in the several years i used it.

Current boat came with 2 x Jabsco "quiet" flush electric toilets. One is an early model, works fine but is very noisy. The other is the latest version pump, again, works fine but is noisy, but nowhere as noisy as the other one. I recently replaced the one in the day heads with a Planus, works very well and is almost silent, probably quieter that a typical house toilet. Instructions for guest are very difficult though, "have pee, press right button, walk away"