Head Ache - input please

[Wingnut247]

I have a 35 year old broken head in a Catalina 27... I don't know it's history.

I have decided to purchase a new head. I would like input on reliability, durability and support of various companies and models. Before I purchase one.

Consider that I am a 6 foot tall linebacker... and don't mind a bigger bowl.

-Wingnut

[GraemeInCanada]

Jabsco. Popular, all over the place too for purchase. I would suggest manual pump, not electric. But to each his own really.

This one I think: 29120-3000 Manual 'Twist n' Lock' toilet, regular bowl > Manual Toilets > JabscoShop - Jabsco & Rule Pumps and more - from the experts

[treilley]

Raritan PHII is a great toilet that will last a long time and you can easily rebuild the pump mechanism. You can also buy it with a household size bowl.

Raritan Engineering | PH II and PHE II Manual Toilet

[MARC2012]

I have a ph II DO NOT LIKE IT,would go with jabsco.marc

[TQA]

I have had both the Jabsco and the Raritan heads not much to choose although the Raritan is a tad better made IMHO.

I would get a full size Jabsco PLUS a spare pump unit because if I do I will have money left over as the Raritan costs nearly twice as much.

[dhays]

Originally Posted by MARC2012

I have a ph II DO NOT LIKE IT,would go with jabsco.marc

Why don't you like the PH II?

[Minnewaska]

If you really want to do it right, get Vacuflush. Least amount of fluid required to clear line to holding tank, therefore, greater capacity in the tank. Most users, especially guests, don't put enough water through either manual or electric heads to properly clear the lines to the holding tank, which then causes them to smell.

Get the larger bowl, but its usually the room itself that's the problem.

[jrd22]

We've had Raritan PHII's in our boats for a long time. They work well, are inexpensive and easy to replace the whole pump unit when necessary (we keep a spare onboard all the time, but have rarely had to replace).

[Faster]

We've also had the Raritans in our last two boats, going back nearly 20 years. Reliable and straightforward to fix, but we found the parts a bit expensive (over $200 for spare pump - that was about 7-8 yrs ago when the CDN buck was seriously hurting) That said, we've not had to do much to it and it just keeps on flushing.

The other approach is to get the Jabsco economy models and treat them as 'throwaways'..

[olson34]

Originally Posted by Faster

We've also had the Raritans in our last two boats, going back nearly 20 years. Reliable and straightforward to fix, but we found the parts a bit expensive (over $200 for spare pump - that was about 7-8 yrs ago when the CDN buck was seriously hurting) That said, we've not had to do much to it and it just keeps on flushing.

The other approach is to get the Jabsco economy models and treat them as 'throwaways'..

I concur. For a decade on our prior boat I had to rebuild the cheapie Par-Jabsco head every other year... First time owning a large boat with a marine head, and presumed that this was normal maintenance. They are cheap to buy, and worth even less.

Then fifteen years ago got the present boat with the Raritan PH2. Replaced it after about 13 years or so when I reformatted the whole waste management layout for the boat. And that was only because a new pump was expensive and I could get a whole toilet wholesale. (and besides, the Admiral wanted a shiny new one since everything else was new... and captains follow orders...)
Raritan makes a good product.

L