New Sea Era or Repair Jabsco?

A

AustinPaul

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Hi All (Vic!)--

I have asked this before, but I don't think I asked in the right way. I have a mid-80's Jabsco 37000 series. For all intents and purposes, it appears to work 'ok'. It doesn't flush as efficiently as the same one I had on my '92 boat. I'm pretty sure it could use a new impeller as it has been at least a couple of years. I also think the joker valve isn't working correctly. Beyond all that, the seat and lid don't look great and I would like new ones.

I'm thinking that with a re-build kit and a new lid and seat, that I'm almost 1/3 toward the cost of a new Sea Era. I would like to have a nice new fresh start with all new parts. Do you think this is worth it, or would a replacing worn parts on the Jabsco take me to the same end result?

What advantage(s) could I expect with a new Sea Era as compared to a newly re-built Jabsco? Is there any reason that the Jabsco could not be returned to like-new condition, or do they simply "wear out" after a while?

I'm having a new port engine installed this week, and I really want to go stem-to-stern in getting this boat ready for summer. I don't want to keep chasing gremlins with putting band-aids on old parts.

Thoughts?

Thanks! Paul
 
Last season I replaced a manual Jabsco head on my 1986 Silverton with a SeaEra electric head that flushes with pressurized fresh water. I bought the toilet thru Boatfix and installed it myself. Worked great the entire season!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Planeguy

Last season I replaced a manual Jabsco head on my 1986 Silverton with a SeaEra electric head that flushes with pressurized fresh water. I bought the toilet thru Boatfix and installed it myself. Worked great the entire season!

Click to expand...
Thanks. We're on a freshwater lake, so I am going to stick with raw water flush. I know it will never be as quiet, but I'm used to the noise. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I'm usually headed for the 'aft' head anyway! ;-) (that would be the swim platform).

Paul
 
Last off season I installed a Sea Era with fresh water flush just like Planeguy did. Love it!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Type-A

Last off season I installed a Sea Era with fresh water flush just like Planeguy did. Love it!

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Thanks- however, again, I am seeking to make an apples-to-apples comparison of two very similar raw water heads.

Paul
 
The SeaEra comes in either a pressurized fresh water flush (uses your fresh water system on your boat for water) or a raw water model. The raw water model is a little cheaper than the fresh water system. It is the same toilet just a little different set up for the pressurized version.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Planeguy

The SeaEra comes in either a pressurized fresh water flush (uses your fresh water system on your boat for water) or a raw water model. The raw water model is a little cheaper than the fresh water system. It is the same toilet just a little different set up for the pressurized version.

Click to expand...
Thanks. Yes, I am familiar with the models. I am comparing the re-built Jabsco to its Raritan counterpart, the Sea Era--raw water flush.

Paul
 
FWIW,

I changed the head on my last boat to a Jabsco Quiet Flush model.

It was much quieter than the Jabsco that it replaced. It used an electric water pump below deck to pump water into the bowl instead of the motor in the base supplying the water.
 
I did the rebuild kit on my Jabsco a few years ago. Then I converted it to fresh water, kind of, by attaching it to a separate flush water tank. Then year before last, on the eve of a trip, the pump motor decided to seize and needed replacing. Another $100-120 I hadn't been counting on spending. At this point I wish I had all that money back to put toward a Sea Era which I may end up buying this year anyway.

If you are not planning to replace the motor, think about it in your cost comparison. It does not live in a pleasant environment so is subject to corrosion. Mine looked and worked fine, until it didn't. Then suddenly it looked like a rusty chunk off a shipwreck.
 
quote:
Originally posted by ronp

I did the rebuild kit on my Jabsco a few years ago. Then I converted it to fresh water, kind of, by attaching it to a separate flush water tank. Then year before last, on the eve of a trip, the pump motor decided to seize and needed replacing. Another $100-120 I hadn't been counting on spending. At this point I wish I had all that money back to put toward a Sea Era which I may end up buying this year anyway.

If you are not planning to replace the motor, think about it in your cost comparison. It does not live in a pleasant environment so is subject to corrosion. Mine looked and worked fine, until it didn't. Then suddenly it looked like a rusty chunk off a shipwreck.

Click to expand...
Great feedback--exactly what I was looking for. Thanks-- Paul
 
The Sea Era doesn't use a rubber-impeller pump, and should be a LOT quieter than a Jabsco. I have a newer Jabsco 37010 series and it was so noisy I removed the rubber impeller and installed an external diaphragm pump to provide the flush water (similar to the Quiet Flush). The difference was dramatic. If I'd known when I bought the head what I do now, I'd have bought the Sea Era in the first place and saved myself the aggravation.

If it is working and the repair is only a matter of an impeller and a joker valve I'd say repair it; but if it looks like it might get expensive then IMO you'd be better getting the Sea Era.
 
Is a manual unit in the mix. No noise and very easy to fix down the road. I like my vacuflush unit, My Jabsco manual was a no brainer.
 
quote:
Originally posted by stmbtwle

The Sea Era doesn't use a rubber-impeller pump, and should be a LOT quieter than a Jabsco. I have a newer Jabsco 37010 series and it was so noisy I removed the rubber impeller and installed an external diaphragm pump to provide the flush water (similar to the Quiet Flush). The difference was dramatic. If I'd known when I bought the head what I do now, I'd have bought the Sea Era in the first place and saved myself the aggravation.

If it is working and the repair is only a matter of an impeller and a joker valve I'd say repair it; but if it looks like it might get expensive then IMO you'd be better getting the Sea Era.

Click to expand...
Thanks-- Yes, I went back through all the old posts and read about your conversion. That sounds very cool.

It sounds like, all things considered, I should just go for a new Sea Era. I would be bummed if I replaced parts on the Jabsco, just to have the motor burn out, and then through bits and pieces, I could have bought myself the new Sea Era.

Paul
 
Agree with you. My toilet was only a year old so replacement wasn't really an option.
 
quote:
Originally posted by KiDa

Is a manual unit in the mix. No noise and very easy to fix down the road. I like my vacuflush unit, My Jabsco manual was a no brainer.

Click to expand...
Thanks--but no, I would not be interested in a manual. The Sea Eras, and the 37010s for that matter, are definitely quite reliable as we all know. I know that Jabscos aren't perfect, but they're pretty hassle-free.

I have decided on a new Sea Era.

Paul
 
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