Jabsco toilet rant

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

Yup, avoiding the unpleasant task of removing the “tail pipe” outlet in order to change the joker valve.  What a terrible design.  I estimate there’ll be maybe almost a gallon of water that’ll come gushing out of the maybe 4 ft high vertical column of hose from toilet outlet up to vented loop (up and to right in pic)...and Jabsco never developed their product to make it easier to catch this water...crazy. Heavy plastic garbage bag laid out as best as possible in the very tight space behind/under toilet  to try to catch the coming gusher.  How long can I delay this task 

A Lavac is on my next year upgrade list!  

Since I already installed vented loop plumbing on inlet and outlet, I assume (bad) changing out the toilet to a Lavac should be fairly straightforward...

 

[SloopJonB]

Before starting, close the seacock, fill the bowl with fresh water and pump out.

Repeat.

Repeat again.

 

[IStream]

Yeah, but it's cheap.

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

Before starting, close the seacock, fill the bowl with fresh water and pump out.

Repeat.

Repeat again.

The crazy thing is I cannot close my outlet valve!  Never have been able to.  Through hull valve handle has no travel b/c of low height of “shelf” platform above on which toilet is mounted!  (So, a friend recently 3D printed me a piece shaped like that part of valve that accepts the valve handle, its outside is hexagonal, 3/4”, to fit into a socket wrench socket, so you can close the through hull incrementally, ratcheting it, by means of this custom tool...I’m too afraid to try it with boat in water, for fear of forcing and breaking something..............). Will when boat is on the hard.  Valve has never been closed!  

I know, conceptually, water can’t flow uphill (unless there’s siphon action, which there won’t be) from the 1 1/2” outlet, up through vented loop, and out of hose I’ll remove from back of toilet, but it plays with my mind, since I can’t shut that outlet through hull....

Almost time to plunge in, show the plumber’s crack, and remove hose from back of toilet  

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

Just saw the bit about fresh water - damn good idea.  I’m on a mooring, no freshwater on board.  I’m going to get some milk gallon jugs of water.  Great idea to fill my sink with freshwater, pump it through, and keep saltwater from spilling into head.

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

Yeah, but it's cheap.

You calling me cheap?

 

[IStream]

Someone was!

Seriously, Jon's suggestion is a good one. I had a Jabsco on my old boat and would always flush with fresh water before leaving it to keep the smells down. It also seemed to greatly prolong the maintenance intervals.

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

Totally agree.  (I am cheap, and Jon’s suggestion was a good one.)

Well, I removed the toilet hose tail pipe - maybe a few handfuls of water came out - was expecting a while lot more.  Not quite enough drama for a guest episode live stream on the S/V Delos sailing YouTube channel... . “Next up, maintenance miracle...or maintenance mayhem!? Stay tuned for the next chapter!”

I still covet a Lavac..

 

[Not My Real Name]

Yeah, but it's cheap.

More important than cheap...you can get parts for it easily, and anywhere.

Maybe if I had more expensive toilets I wouldn't NEED so many spares. But those damned, cheap-ass Jabsco toilets are everywhere, and almost every chandlery in the world we've been too has had some parts.

 

[Not My Real Name]

Just saw the bit about fresh water - damn good idea.  I’m on a mooring, no freshwater on board.  I’m going to get some milk gallon jugs of water.  Great idea to fill my sink with freshwater, pump it through, and keep saltwater from spilling into head.

Put some white vinegar in there too, while you are freshwater flushing it. Kills some smells more than just water.

 

[SloopJonB]

More important than cheap...you can get parts for it easily, and anywhere.

Maybe if I had more expensive toilets I wouldn't NEED so many spares. But those damned, cheap-ass Jabsco toilets are everywhere, and almost every chandlery in the world we've been too has had some parts.

The only problem I have with Jabsco's is those fuckin' compact models. They might work great for children but my man-size ass doesn't fit them and they shove my knees 1/2 way to my chest.

I get unused full size models from a local boat dealer who upgrades every new boat over 40' to electrics and sells the new, unused Jabsco's for cheap.

I've personally never had a problem with one but I've heard some horror stories.

 

[Cisco]

I'd get shot of that seacock and fit a proper one i.e. a Blake  https://www.asap-supplies.com/blakes-seacock-402207

 

[Windward]

Yes... do I see a below level seacock with no way to close it off at the hull?

 

[socalrider]

Yes... do I see a below level seacock with no way to close it off at the hull?

That would give me nightmares.  

http://c-head.com

I now have two below level seacocks total (galley sink drain, raw water intake).  Life is good.  No stink either. 

 

[Recidivist]

I still covet a Lavac..

Don't do it!  I only have experience with 2 Lavacs, but it's 100% bad experience, separated by quite a few years.

I finally got sick of the perpetual drip/leak from the pump in the Jabsco, and swapped it out for a TMC electric.  A bit of work getting heavy enough cables to the motor, but we never looked back.  The missus liked the push button operation, I liked the no-leaks, and the macerator means NO BLOCKAGES! 

As SloopJonB says, the charter yachts are all fitted with electric heads - there's a reason for that.

 

[Mr. Ed]

I am bald.

My wife is hirsute.

Yet, to whom falls the task of dismantling the Jabsco electric toilet pump when it gets bound with hair? 

 

[IStream]

I am bald.

My wife is hirsute.

Yet, to whom falls the task of dismantling the Jabsco electric toilet pump when it gets bound with hair? 

And you've been married for how long?

 

[SloopJonB]

I am bald.

My wife is hirsute.

Yet, to whom falls the task of dismantling the Jabsco electric toilet pump when it gets bound with hair? 

The head clogged with hair?

Does she clean her hair brush and dump it in the head?

Or is she doing something we don't want to know about?

Tell her the fundamental rule for boat toilets - nothing that hasn't been eaten and digested - except TP - goes in them - ever.

 

[Jud - s/v Sputnik]

Don't do it!  I only have experience with 2 Lavacs, but it's 100% bad experience, separated by quite a few years.

Interesting- I’ve heard that the Lavac has a really good reputation- the whole point being that the pump is completely separate from the toilet, and with few parts, so very easy to service and very robust.  That’s the reputation I’ve always heard about.

The only long distance ocean trip I’ve been on was a really well outfitted race boat delivery, a boat that had been singlehanded many thousands of miles over decades...knowledgeable owner had upgraded/custom re-engineered/installed everything very intelligently over decades of ownership and plenty of offshore races. Including installing a Lavac, which I understood was sort of the “state of the art” in robust, reliable marine toilets...