T&T: re Back to heads for a moment, or not

[Peggie Hall]

> I have a manual commode in the forward head (double belt and suspenders
> approach to the electric/manual in the aft head). This manual head is,
> appropriately, a POS.  Need a recommendation for a good, readily available,
> on the market, manual.

The Groco Model K is a fine toilet (although it has a nasty tendency to 
recirculate bowl contents when it needs rebuilding), but I don't think 
you need to pay that much to have a durable reliable toilet that'll work 
flawlessly for at least 20 years with minimal maintenance. The Raritan 
PH II would be my choice. 
http://www.raritaneng.com/products/toilets/manual/ph_2.html

Keep it lubricated, rebuild it every 5-6 years...it'll take a lickin' 
and keep on tickin' for a couple of decades.  You can now buy the PH II 
as a "conversion," which allows you to save quite a bit by recycling 
your existing bowl, seat and lid.  Any bowl that has the standard 4-bolt 
mounting pattern will fit it. The part # PHIILBA.

If it were my boat, I'd replace both toilets...'cuz putting an electric 
motor on any manual toilet doesn't turn it into an electric toilet, it's 
just an electrically operated manual toilet...the motor does nothing 
more than replace the pump handle...in most cases turning a perfectly 
good manual toilet into something that uses more current, makes more 
noise, requires 3x the maintenance, and actually costs more than a basic 
macerating electric toilet.  Take a good look at the Raritan SeaEra 
http://www.raritaneng.com/products/toilets/electric/sea_era.html Two of 
'em.

'Cuz the whole idea of a "backup manual toilet in case of power failure" 
makes no sense to me.  If you don't have enough power to flush a toilet 
that only draws 10-15a, whether you CAN flush it is the LEAST of your 
worries...'cuz you also have no communications equipment, no nav 
equipment, no lights...but you DO still have a BUCKET and a line to toss 
it overboard "flush" it...which will also prevent filling up your 
holding tank when you also don't have a working macerator pump to empty 
it. ;)

So treat yourself to a couple of nice basic macerating electric 
toilets...you'll love 'em.

-- 
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and 
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://shop.sailboatowners.com/boat_odors/