Winter Project Marine Elegance?

S

sunshinedaydream

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2007
RO Number
27152
Messages
117
This winter I would like to install a new ME toilet on my 34 Tolly. Question is, can I do this myself or should I call in the man. I can swing a hammer and know my way around an engine but marine electronics have always scared me. I would like to convert to fresh water flush as well. Any on ever tackle this? Any input is much appreciated.
 
I think the conversion can be done by yourself. There are many of us on the board that have installed this excellent "head". I can definately help you with any issues or questions. I bought one of the 1st production units a few years ago replaced a 1 year old Vacu-Flush.
Bill
 
I wouldn't say installing a toilet is 'marine electronics'.

It's just some plumbing (hoses) and a bit of simple 12 volt electric work.

Not rocket science IMHO.
 
I helped a buddy install on this summer. The wiring did take us a bit to figure out, but if you follow the instructions and if you have the schematic for your current toilet, it isn't difficult. My buddy had a raw water feed and wanted to switch to fresh water as well and finally opted for the ME with both fresh and raw water. All said and done, took us about 4 hours to complete, much of is was the planning. The electrical was pretty easy as long as you match up the right colored wires etc. The change over to the fresh water is even easier, we just put a tee on the cold water feed to the bathroom sink to the toilet.

I would agree with Bill, best head out there. Works well, quiet, and very well made. For the money, you can't beat the ME.
 
Easy conversion. I went from a raw water manual flush to ME with the mid level controller. No problems at all. The "electronics" consisted of a 12 volt feed (2 wires), hooking up the valve and motor from the head to the control box (four push on terminals), and plugging in the controller (looks like a phone line)
 
I started with a Jabsco RW electric head, went to VacuFlush my wife had issues with clogging the VF. Then installed the ME head, smart controller, a PuraSan, and a Hold-N-Treat. At the time the RW option wasn't available or I would have installed it. I haven't checked to see if there is a kit to upgrade the fresh water ME to a dual RW & FW unit. My boat is currently for sale so if it doesn't sell I will look into seeing if it can be converted to raw water or fresh water flush over the winter layup. For now we are getting ready to enjoy the storm coming this weekend. Been on the boat since last night and plan on returning home late Monday.
Bill
 
I hope to perform this upgrade this winter as well. Ironically, I was in to my marine supply Monday to enquire about the Jabsco electric Lite, and they quickly suggested the Elegance for performance and quietness of operation. I currently have what I think is a manual Jabsco model that seems to have had an electric motor added to perform the pumping action, operated by a push button wall switch. It operates ok, sometimes struggles to evacuate the bowl, and can be fairly noisy, most noticeable with company aboard during the night...
My understanding of this Elegance model is that for my purposes with raw water intake, I will have to install the toilet, new control panel/switch, plus wire and plumb a new water pump in line for water supply to toilet. My only uncertainty is powering the new pump. I do have 12v in the shower drain sump in bilge where the new water pump would go, can I tap into this line?
 
The ME uses very little current compared to the Jabsco electric. You can probably use the sump power what size wire runs to the sump box? How long is the run you need to know the distance of the negative wire and positive wire to calculate the proper size wire needed and the correct fuse size. Since I rewired my boat I installed a BlueSea ATC type fuse panel in the sink vanity back to a main head breaker and ground buss bar. My boat came wired with the sump and head on the same circuit breaker.
I can tell you from experience the ME head will eat golfballs hard "turds" where other heads would clog. It is also very quiet compared to my old Jabsco electric. The VacuFlush could not break up my wife's stools (a medical condition) that is why I purchased the Marine Elegance. 3 seasons later and not a single clog or problem. It also uses considerably less fresh water than the Jabsco. Two pluses are gained by this your fresh water lasts longer and the holding tank last longer between pump outs or treatments when not in a NDZ with the Hold-N-Treat with Purasan type 1 waste system.
Bill
 
sunshinedaydream,
Is that the name of your boat, Sunshine Daydream? If so, that is the same name as our previous 2 boats so you too must be a Grateful Dead fan! :)

Hooking up the ME is super simple...so simple even I could do it. I converted our raw water flush electric jabsco to freshwater flush ME not too long ago. The ME has got to be the best head out there...way better than vacuflush and super quiet. We got ours with the smart flush controls and have been very, very pleased.
 
Strong recommendations indeed! We boat in Georgian Bay, Ont., and use raw water exclusively for our head, as well as sending everything black to the holding tank. I will check on shower sump wire gauge for possible powering of toilet intake pump. The actual power feed to the existing head pump motor is on its own breaker. I was thinking of tapping into the shower sump feed for convenience, but really, the panel is very close. I haven't looked at possible routing, but it can't be that bad.
 
Like everyone has said so far it is on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most difficult in my opinion this project is a 4-5 on the scale. Also just plan on running a new sanitation hose from the ME to the holding tank. Depending on age and the last time it was changed it probably needs to be changed. It should depending on the distance between the two be easier than trying to get the old hose off your exisring head. Just cut a slit in the old hose at both locations and it will pull right off with no effort once the clamps are removed.
Bill
 
Bill, I SO wanted to replace the entire sanitation line from the new ME to holding tank but to get at it I would have had to disassemble the main engine's entire exhaust assembly! And of course RO member flywright emailed me the extremely intelligent idea of taping the new line to the old line so that it would pull the new line through as I pulled the old line out but or course I was not smart enough to think of that clever solution until after i was done with the install and then it was more or less too late. :) But- it sure was a clever solution- just wish I had been clever enough to think of it on my own before it was too late haha.

And yes- install is a 4 or 5 out of 10. Quality of the ME definitely a 10 out of 10! If I was a new boat manufacturer I'd be using these heads in my boat and scrap those noise old vacuflush units everyone likes. The ME is way better.
 
I agree with you on quality and durability. As I had previously mentioned in other threads I have had the ME for 3 seasons and we depend on it being 100% reliable. The boat only has one head. Not a single issue we were even lucky enough that a visitor flushed a Tampon it actually did eat it and flushed without a clog. It did make some strange noises. Also it's a good idea to boil a gallon of water once or twice a month and empty it into the head and flush it really keeps the internal parts clean (what you can't see).
Bill
 
Thanks for all comments. I'm sold. Will wait for the Toronto boat show here in January, as supplier has suggested, for their show pricing. Noticed that there's a holding tank-'full' light option on controls...we're pumped out each Thursday during the week by the marina moblie pump out 'boat'. I don't know if this something worth trying to incorporate in our system, we've never had an issue. I assume it's some sort of level indicator 'retro-fitted' to the existing tank?
 
One other feature I like is the empty bowl feature on the ME controller. I guess if I ran out or was low on fresh water I could always drop a bucket over the side of the boat and bring it to the head for an alternative source of flushing water.
I have a water maker and hold about 80 gallons of fresh water in 2 new tanks so this has never been an issue. Also the ME uses as much or in my opinion less water to flush than a VacuFlush.
When you do the project as mentioned by myself and others we should be able to help you.
Bill
 
Ok so I am def, going to give it a shot. Just got on the dry this weekend. Winterizing next weekend and will start the project soon there after. I will take a bunch of Pics and post for the next guy. rb2@gr5t woodsong. Sunshinedaydream was the name of our last boat and Dead influenced for sure!. My new to me 1989 34 Tolly is called Lady Day, after Billy Holiday.
Thanks for all the feedback. Where is the best place to purchase the ME?
 
Dennis, either here on Boatfix or through Defender, in Connecticut aare probably the best places to purchase an "Elegance."
 
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