Head selection

PascalG

PascalG

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i'm looking at heads for the 26' sloop i'm building, i want electric fresh water flush.

haven't priced VF yet, but probably an overkill for this boat. Because of the limited space, I'm considering the Raritan Marine Elegance which would fit, just. It's not easy fitting an enclosed head on a day sailor as i'm trying to keep the cabin profile as low as possible! Every inch counts!

anything i should be aware of with the Marine Elegance or any other head i should be considering? again, electric and fresh water! i may be building a sailboat but will not live like a sailor :) boat will have 50gal fresh water tankage and one, possibly two, 9 gal holding tanks.
 
I've got the FW ME and love it. There are no negatives I can think of. Raritan has a few different model options on that unit, one of which might be height. Vic recommended the "smart" controller for the unit when I purchased it and now I would recommend it too. It's nice to have the options it give you.
 
I am planning to put a ME in once my Galley Maid bites the dust. Problem is, the head just keeps on keepin on......

Looks like a great head. Raritan gear is top notch.
 
If you go VF you can sometimes buy scratch and dent units from them at good prices.

As to other heads, I would look at the Techma Silence Plus or the Easy Fit depending on your space issues.
 
The easy fit would fit, being the same size as the ME. Any idea which one would be easy to maintain?
 
I would think Raritan parts are easier to come by and since they are US and Vic is here for advice how can you go wrong?
 
The Techmas are pretty trouble free from what I've seen. I have not used a ME yet. Perhaps the most trouble free heads I've used are the HeadHunter's. But they need very good water pressure to work correctly.

Interestingly enough there is a new head around that is made by the guy in Italy that founded Techma. They are called Planus. Practical sailor seemed to like them. http://www.planus.biz/press.htm
 
Bill, you've got to try a ME. Water pressure isn't an issue at all (if it's weak, just fill the bowl more). They've been known to survive some feminine products that would cause problems with other heads (not me, but another member of this forum).

Pascal, all I've had to do in 3 years with the ME is change the joker valves (2). That takes all of about half an hour. Other than that, I do not believe there is any other scheduled maintenance.
 
Pascal, allow me to add that the ME uses very little water to flush (about a quart I believe). Thus, while you're carrying plenty of fresh water, the holding tank will fill up much slower than with a head that uses more water.

FYI: #2 in the tank is what feeds the "good" bacteria. All #1 isn't all that good of a thing.
 
The ME is simply awesome. It is by far the best marine head I've personally seen out there. Makes vacuflush look like a primitive joke. We put a ME in our aft head of our Monk and it is great. I have vacuflush on the 45....debating whether to swap them out for 2 new ME's! Definitely go with the smart flush option.
Only negative I know of with the ME is that you won't want to have another type of head.
 
If you want to keep it simple how about The Sealand Traveler. They are 9 gallon, fresh water feed and are simple.

Marine Traveler Head
Complete sanitation system in one self-contained package. China bowl provides the comforts of home. Freshwater operation and Teflon seal reduce odors. Efficient unit uses less than one quart of water per flush. Water level and flushing action controlled by a single foot pedal.

One-piece holding tank has 9.5-gallon capacity
Includes connections for 1 1/2" discharge hose and 5/8" vent hose
Entire unit with tank is only 20"H x 19"W x 21 3/4"D

Niles
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

I've got the FW ME and love it. There are no negatives I can think of. Raritan has a few different model options on that unit, one of which might be height. Vic recommended the "smart" controller for the unit when I purchased it and now I would recommend it too. It's nice to have the options it give you.

Click to expand...


+1 I've had mine for nearly three years. No negatives at all.

Bob
 
quote:
Originally posted by mixman

Pascal, allow me to add that the ME uses very little water to flush (about a quart I believe). Thus, while you're carrying plenty of fresh water, the holding tank will fill up much slower than with a head that uses more water.

FYI: #2 in the tank is what feeds the "good" bacteria. All #1 isn't all that good of a thing.

Click to expand...


The way I have mine. Programmed it uses about a pint to flush.

Last summer my 18 year old niece flushed a feminine product. It went through without hesitation. I don't recommend it as a common practice but it didn't clog.

So far, in the three years I've had mine it hasn't had so much as a screwdriver put to it. Still has the original joker valve. Admittedly, I probably don't use mine as much as Mixman does. But mine, so faw, has been flawless.

Bob
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

i'm looking at heads for the 26' sloop i'm building, i want electric fresh water flush.

Click to expand...


I don't have experience with most of the other systems mentioned here, but I can say we have a Jabsco Quiet Flush that works like a champ. And it really is pretty quiet.

We had a Traveler system on a previous boat. It is indeed simple. OTOH, flushing also temporarily exposes the attached holding tank... with all the odiferous implications you can imagine. Manageable, but there you have it.

-Chris
 
I can't imagine using that traveler head with all the stuff right under the ball valve when you "flush".... And it won't fit anyway because of the hull shape, the base would be too big.
 
I had a chance to buy a slightly used Marine Elegance head (the top of the line computerized model) but I didn't and I'm still kicking myself.

My concern was that it wouldn't fit properly in my boat and at the time I didn't feel like taking my existing head out, taking the ME out of the other boat, and setting it in place.
 
I got one of the 1st top of the line computerized Marine Elegance heads off the line. It has operated without a single problem for years.
Bill
 
"Head selection"

Blond, 20 year or so old, slim body, nice lips. :)
 
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