Toilet types

geem said:
We had two with full sized bowls. This doesn't make the Jabsco pumping system any more reliable. In fact I believe the pitiful flushing system on Jabsco toilets works even less well on the larger bowl. Flush water doesn't even reach the front of the bowl unless you pump like a madman
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You have to remember that your pattern of use is very different from most users who really don't have an issue with the standard Jabsco (which most are because boats are designed to take them). Even in my charter boat the original survived 7 years of that type of use and was still in use when I sold it after 14 years. The popularity of the marina or port hopping style of coastal cruising and the reluctance for many to discharge overboard encourages the use of shoreside facilities.You can almost always find better products but this is a good example of a product that is fit for purpose. If it was not then it would have been driven out of the market years ago!
 
Tranona said:
You have to remember that your pattern of use is very different from most users who really don't have an issue with the standard Jabsco (which most are because boats are designed to take them). Even in my charter boat the original survived 7 years of that type of use and was still in use when I sold it after 14 years. The popularity of the marina or port hopping style of coastal cruising and the reluctance for many to discharge overboard encourages the use of shoreside facilities.You can almost always find better products but this is a good example of a product that is fit for purpose. If it was not then it would have been driven out of the market years ago!
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Over here in the Caribbean all our friends with Jabsco loos complain about them. They are also liveaboards. I already described our use in post#4. Like lots of things in our throw away world, they are designed to be just about acceptable based on the average user. If you are not the average user, go for something better and more reliable
 
geem said:
Over here in the Caribbean all our friends with Jabsco loos complain about them. They are also liveaboards. I already described our use in post#4. Like lots of things in our throw away world, they are designed to be just about acceptable based on the average user. If you are not the average user, go for something better and more reliable
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Quite - but don't knock a product that is satisfactory for the majority of users. It is the level of use, not the location (same comments from liveaboards in the Med) that reveals the limitations of the product, but as I said if there really was was a demand for a better product in the mass market it would have been developed. However, all the "competitors" like Tramax do is make a cheaper version of the same basic design. All the development now is in electric toilets of varying quality.
 
Stemar said:
I was. The Jabsco was still doing fine when I sold the boat several years later.

One thing to note when refurbishing a Jabsco is that you need to grip the pump shaft to unscrew something - can't remember what. Grip it high up under the handle 'cos the stainless steel is quite soft and anything that's gripping hard enough to undo it when it's being stubborn will mark it and if those marks are pulled through the top seal, the seal won't last. Discovered that about one minute too late - I've filed it as smooth as I can, so I'll see how long it survives.
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It does say in the manual, which being British and I assume male you will not have read, grip the pump shaft with padding under the jaws of the pliers to avoid damage. 😏
 
I have a hierarchy of things that have given good service, there are very few items at the very top of that list and the Lavac toilet is one of them. It's simple, will digest most things and very reliable. I guess we all have our own experiences and pet likes but I would not ship anything else, even free of charge. I notice Tally Ho now has one fitted.

One proviso is that I don't think the newer Henderson Mk5 diaphragms are up to the traditional standard. I had one give way on a bilge pump after about 30 minutes, whereas the loo has been going 30 years.

There always seems to be something niffy and drippy about complex pump arrangements as well. Anybody else noticed this?

.
 
PabloPicasso said:
Yep. I phoned leesan and they do not do the flapper valve anyomore.
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I am guessing it’s part: 1228w that you cannot get.

Home fabrication might be possible:
Deta Rubber Gaskets 68mm 10 Pack - Screwfix

The add some brass discs and nut and washer, as weights and stiffening. However it might take some experiments if you do not have original to get weights and sizes from.

Have also dropped you a PM
 
As regards the Jabsco, half a million boat owners can’t be wrong, I think. Properly cared for, they are easy to operate and whatever people say, pretty reliable, and with spares easily obtained. They are not a high quality product, like the old Blake, but they serve their purpose. The larger bowl, which we also have, is definitely more comfortable but sometimes it’s the case of needs must. I never got on well with the Lavac on a friend’s boat, and the fact that the pump was installed laterally instead of up and down didn’t help, but clearly some people love them.
 
I smile .... I have a Blake.

The Gold Standard Toilet !

Have you seen the price of one now ... !

Even the service kit makes your eyes water !

When I changed registry to Latvian - the Inspector (pal of mine) looked at it and asked if he could have it ... Latvia does not allow pump to sea setups ... so it was install holding tank or replace with Chemi Loo. I bought Chemi Loo . showed receipt and that was it. He wanted to put it in local museum !!
 
Tranona said:
Quite - but don't knock a product that is satisfactory for the majority of users. It is the level of use, not the location (same comments from liveaboards in the Med) that reveals the limitations of the product, but as I said if there really was was a demand for a better product in the mass market it would have been developed. However, all the "competitors" like Tramax do is make a cheaper version of the same basic design. All the development now is in electric toilets of varying quality.
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It has been developed. Its called a Lavac. Plumb it in correctly and its an emergency bilge pump. The white sanitation pump is actually a Henderson mk5 bilge pump. One of the most reliable bilge pumps on the market. No moving parts on the loo and simple diaphragm pump doing the work. It's in a different league to the Jabsco. It can handle the abuse of liveaboards where the Jabsco can't
 
geem said:
It has been developed. Its called a Lavac. Plumb it in correctly and its an emergency bilge pump. The white sanitation pump is actually a Henderson mk5 bilge pump. One of the most reliable bilge pumps on the market. No moving parts on the loo and simple diaphragm pump doing the work. It's in a different league to the Jabsco. It can handle the abuse of liveaboards where the Jabsco can't
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Lavac is not only Loo that can be used as emergency pump ...... my Blake with a pipe and bung can use the bowl as a pump and very effective too. In fact any Loo that uses an OUT pump can do it via the bowl.
 
Refueler said:
Lavac is not only Loo that can be used as emergency pump ...... my Blake with a pipe and bung can use the bowl as a pump and very effective too. In fact any Loo that uses an OUT pump can do it via the bowl.
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Of course, but the point I was making is that the pitiful jabsco pump has about the same pumping capacity as a man with a coffee mug. The Henderson mk5 used on the Lavac is actually a bilge pump. Insert Y-valve in the inlet to the pump and run it to the bilge and you actually have a bilge pump. You don't have to wait for the water level to get up and over the toilet bowl
 
geem said:
Of course, but the point I was making is that the pitiful jabsco pump has about the same pumping capacity as a man with a coffee mug. The Henderson mk5 used on the Lavac is actually a bilge pump. Insert Y-valve in the inlet to the pump and run it to the bilge and you actually have a bilge pump. You don't have to wait for the water level to get up and over the toilet bowl
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I understood your post and was only adding to it.

As to waiting to get over the toilet bowl ?? Why ? If you have pipe and bung - it becomes a pump without filling bowl.
 
PabloPicasso said:
Seems I will have to replace a perfectly good sowester wateloo sea toilet because the flap vakves in the pump are no longer available. :(

If this really is the case, is there much difference between different makes other than the prices. For example, Jabasco €279, Talamax €152.

Any advice from the well informed on this topic?
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I don’t understand why boaters spend a fortune on devices they use once a year and skimp on something they use a couple of times a day.

I also don’t understand why something that needs to be kept clean is ever designed with hard to clean nooks and crannies, have pipes everywhere and look awful.

Finally I don’t understand why people accept a device as everyday as a toilet that requires instructions or an explanation before use.

Get your wallet out and buy a tecma. You won’t go back.
 
Boathook said:
Another for lavac. The only problem i have had over 20 years was the lavac branded pump. Swapped it for a Henderson and still going well after 15+ years.
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Another for Lavac.

I have a Henderson Mk III pump which is probably 30+ years old (in fact I have three onboard)… I make my own joker and flap valves using nitril rubber bought off eBay.
 
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