Name that head

davidpm · #1 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

A few weeks ago I was on a Nonesuch 33 and was surprised at how well the head worked. I didn't get the name of the head but it did have an unusual, at least to me, feature.
It was manual and had a handle that was about two feet long, mounted at the base coming straight up on the right side of the bowl, that you pushed back and forth. It may have had a little jog in the handle but it was rather long.

Is that enough information to ID the mfr and or model. It was not listed on the sales sheet and I believe it has been sold and has been moved so I can't see for myself.

Most heads I've used seemed to have a very indistinct pumping action. This one was very effective on both pumping in and out.

I found a picture of a sister ship (head).

davidpm · #2 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

Picture of sister ship (head)

davidpm · #3 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

I think I found it.
WC1550-C SKIPPER WILCOX CRITTENDEN HEAD
Seems to be out of production.
Anyone know of any other model that works this well?

tdw · #4 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidpm

I think I found it.
WC1550-C SKIPPER WILCOX CRITTENDEN HEAD
Seems to be out of production.
Anyone know of any other model that works this well?

David,
I've never used a Wilcox C but the best manual head going around that I know of, that is still in production is the Lavac. Dead simple to use, no levers and pulleys and almost impossible to clog up.

Lavac Marine Toilets - Popular

mitiempo · #5 (**permalink**) 10-17-2010

I'd second the Lavac as the best manual (or electric or even both at the same time) head made. Lavac Popular

WanderingStar · #6 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010

I have a WC Skipper 1550. 42 years old (I believe), works great.

QuickMick · #7 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010

Ive got a raritan with the same setup
remember what the door mouse said... NAME THAT HEAD!! NAME THAT HEAD!

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010

According to Peggie Hall, the best <$500 manual head for a sailboat is the RARITAN PHC or PHII head, which QuickMick has a photo of. If you're replacing an existing head, you can buy a RARITAN PHC/PHII LBA unit which is everything but the bowl for a considerable savings and recycle the bowl of your old head in most cases.

PalmettoSailor · #9 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010

Levac's certainly get good marks for reliablity and longevity, but it seems they have to be raw water flushed. I also think Groco makes a model similar to the Levac that uses a diaphram pump like the Levac.

I like the concept of the Levac but I really like having the option to just fill the bowl from the sink using fresh water to avoid foul odors from marine organisims. I currently have a Jabsco, but might upgrade to the Raritan eventually, since it gets pretty good reviews and will allow operation with fresh water like my Jabsco.

remetau · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2010

We just ripped out our PHII for a Jabsco Electric. Half of the decision was the discounted price from WM since the wife gets the associate discount, and the other half for her desire to have a push button head. I couldn't justify the amount of the Lavac electric for a darn toilet.

We got rid of the Raritan because of the cost of the rebuild kits and having to rebuild every 6 to 9 months. It seems to always spring a leak at the top of the pump. We mostly used fresh water to flush. The bowl got harder and harder to clean the stains out to the point where we were done with it.