Convert Head from Raw Water to Fresh?

M

max

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Mar 10, 2001
RO Number
3713
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I just purchased an older boat with a manual Jabsco head. I was looking at the Jabsco website and it didn't mention anything about an option for a freshwater source...only shows a seacock.

Anyone know if it can be replumbed to use freshwater?
 
I used to just fill the bowl from the faucet / shower on my Regal. Worked really well. Completely eliminated any odors. Used raw water to fill and flush at anchorage, then put some water in the bowl from the faucet. No smells there either.

I have heard of folks "T"ing int the cold water side of the head sink and creating a PVC swing out assembly that did the same thing. You could "T" into the existing suction hose and close the seacock. I would not recommend this as you may run the risk of contaminating your drinking supply.
 
Manual toilets cannot be safely converted to operate on pressurized fresh water. They are designed and built to draw in outside water that is not under pressure. If you apply pressure water to them, you'll blow out the seals and have a weird-looking fountain in the head. And no, you can't draw off the nonpressurized fresh water tank, that feeds your pressure sytem either - simply too much chance for contaminating the tank.

The only safe way to do it is to have a separate, dedicated tank installed, that is used for the head only, refilling it as necessary.
 
Thanks Vic....nothing like getting good advice from an expert.
 
Lets look further at this... Would not an antisiphon valve in a raised loop do the trick on the non pressurized side?
 
Vic, my flush is from the pressurized water system, same one I wash dishes with. There is a check valve and the loop goes up higher than any other water source. To flush, the boat must have pressurized water either from the tank (and pump) or dockside hose hooked up.

It's a very simple system with an inline electric plunger valve which allows water to flow when you push a button near the head.
 
By the time you add a dedicated tank to draw water from, wouldn't it just be easier/cheaper to buy a fresh water flushing head like a SeaEra?

That's what I'm planning on doing!
 
Some electric toilets (only electrics) are designed to be connected to onboard pressurized fresh water. Instead of a raw water pump, they have an electrically-activated solenoid valve, that opens and closes to allow pressure water to come into the toilet bowl for rinsing purposes. In addition to the electric valve, an atmospheric vacuum breaker is also supplied with these toilets (installed in a raised loop, higher than the top of the toilet). This is intended to protect your potable water from contamination from any sort of backflow from the toilet.

The SeaEra, and many other electric toilets can be ordered for use with pressurized fresh water - but they have to be originally ordered for that application - its neither easy, nor cheap, to convert a seawater-flushing toilet to one that will flush with pressurized fresh water. Not all SeaEra toilets can handle pressuized water; they must be built for that purpose. Note: all toilets that use outside water for bowl rinsing purposes are considered to be seawater toilets, regardless of whether the water is salt water, brackish water or fresh water from a river or lake. "Fresh water" toilets flush with pressurized fresh water only.

I don't know of ANY manual toilet currently on the market, that can be connected to pressure water, be it fresh water, brackish water or salt water.
 
David - non-pressurized side? Please explain, you've lost me. I thought we were discussing pressurized incoming water...
 
I replaced my Jabsco manual head with a SeaEra electric flush for my pressurized water system. I did this last season and to date have only good things to say about it! Bought the unit from BoatFix.com and installed in one afternoon.
 
I bought as sea era ( seawater flush ) last year. I was on a very clean lake. I now am on the river with the flush water looking like mud.

I was thinking of tapping into the non-pressurized side of my water line running a raised loop with some sort of valve.. like you mentioned.. Should work ?
 
I replaced both my Jabsco manual heads with a SeaEra electric flush for my pressurized water system. I have only good things to say about them, took me a littler longer than an afternoon to install each and they are not cheap but well worth it.
 
David, yes it'll probably work but the issue is that there's a possibility of contaminating your fresh water tank via backflow from the toilet. The chances are remote, but still possible. I don't like the idea and I can't recommend it.

The best thing to do would be to add a small, dedicated fresh water tank that is used only for the head, and refill it as necessary.
 
Thank you Max & Vic, Max for your post and Vic for the information. I am in the process of having a new Rosborough rigged. It has a mechanical head, getting water supply from sea( or in my case-lake) water. I was going to have it plumbed to use fresh water to avoid picking up weeds etc when used. Of course I rethought that idea in a hurry. Thanks again--Boatered strikes again.

Ron
 
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