One more major repair before Spring! Having been unsuccessful in repairing the head on our 1978 28CD, I have decided to go ahead and purchase a new one. I have seen them advertised between $175 and $800! Is this the sort of thing that "you get what you paid for" or is a $200 head just as reliable? I would appreciate any feed-back from others that have faced this dilemma. Thanks!
Bill
Zingara
bkerkam@yahoo.com
Head Replacement
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Jon
Re: Head Replacement
Bill,
I put a Groco HF with a bronze base in my 25. I don't know much about the high end heads, but the HF works fine.
Jon
s/v Sovereign
CD25 #625
I put a Groco HF with a bronze base in my 25. I don't know much about the high end heads, but the HF works fine.
Jon
s/v Sovereign
CD25 #625
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Scott
Re: Head Replacement
Practical Sailor rated marine heads in the Sept 1, 2000 edition. They rated the Raritan PH II a best buy. They did not like the bottom of the line models. This checks with my experience with two heads (PH II and a WC) in two different boats, although I have not actually replaced one.
ritcheyvs@aol.com
Bill wrote: One more major repair before Spring! Having been unsuccessful in repairing the head on our 1978 28CD, I have decided to go ahead and purchase a new one. I have seen them advertised between $175 and $800! Is this the sort of thing that "you get what you paid for" or is a $200 head just as reliable? I would appreciate any feed-back from others that have faced this dilemma. Thanks!
Bill
Zingara
ritcheyvs@aol.com
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Groco HF-B....
Bill,
I beleive the Groco "HE" head was pretty much standard in the Cape Dory Line. Groco now offers the "HF-B" model as a replacement for $179.00. This may be "low end", but think about it, how long did the original last, and were you happy with it while it did work? I put one on Hanalei two years ago, and it is just what the doctor ordered! I don't think I would pay $800 for any head, unless it came with all the bells and whistles(I can't imagine what they would be!).
Another thing, when you get to actually replacing it, think about using the standard sanitary hose. The new poly stuff is great, but it is VERY stiff and difficult to work with. Again, the original stuff lasted for years, is easy to work with, and can be replaced cheaply and with less work than with stuff like the OdorSafe hose.
FWIW...
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
I beleive the Groco "HE" head was pretty much standard in the Cape Dory Line. Groco now offers the "HF-B" model as a replacement for $179.00. This may be "low end", but think about it, how long did the original last, and were you happy with it while it did work? I put one on Hanalei two years ago, and it is just what the doctor ordered! I don't think I would pay $800 for any head, unless it came with all the bells and whistles(I can't imagine what they would be!).
Another thing, when you get to actually replacing it, think about using the standard sanitary hose. The new poly stuff is great, but it is VERY stiff and difficult to work with. Again, the original stuff lasted for years, is easy to work with, and can be replaced cheaply and with less work than with stuff like the OdorSafe hose.
FWIW...
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Groco HF-B....
Bill,
I beleive the Groco "HE" head was pretty much standard in the Cape Dory Line. Groco now offers the "HF-B" model as a replacement for $179.00. This may be "low end", but think about it, how long did the original last, and were you happy with it while it did work? I put one on Hanalei two years ago, and it is just what the doctor ordered! I don't think I would pay $800 for any head, unless it came with all the bells and whistles(I can't imagine what they would be!).
Another thing, when you get to actually replacing it, think about using the standard sanitary hose. The new poly stuff is great, but it is VERY stiff and difficult to work with. Again, the original stuff lasted for years, is easy to work with, and can be replaced cheaply and with less work than with stuff like the OdorSafe hose.
FWIW...
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
I beleive the Groco "HE" head was pretty much standard in the Cape Dory Line. Groco now offers the "HF-B" model as a replacement for $179.00. This may be "low end", but think about it, how long did the original last, and were you happy with it while it did work? I put one on Hanalei two years ago, and it is just what the doctor ordered! I don't think I would pay $800 for any head, unless it came with all the bells and whistles(I can't imagine what they would be!).
Another thing, when you get to actually replacing it, think about using the standard sanitary hose. The new poly stuff is great, but it is VERY stiff and difficult to work with. Again, the original stuff lasted for years, is easy to work with, and can be replaced cheaply and with less work than with stuff like the OdorSafe hose.
FWIW...
Dave Stump
Captain Commanding
s/v Hanalei CD-30
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David Brownlee
Re: Head Replacement
We had Groco heads in our CD25 and CD27, and they gave us no problems. I managed to crack the plastic base of the Groco head in our "new" CD31 (by leaning very hard against the toilet while worming my way under the head sink), so I replaced it with a Groco HFB, with its rugged bronze base. Haven't used it yet, but it looks just fine. I had to drill new holes for the mounting lag screws, since the fastener locations on the plastic and bronze bases are not the same.
David Brownlee
CD31 #1 Windrush
Havre de Grace, MD
dbrownle@sas.upenn.edu
David Brownlee
CD31 #1 Windrush
Havre de Grace, MD
dbrownle@sas.upenn.edu
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D. Stump, Hanalei
Re: Yes, the bases are different...
David,
You are correct, the bases are different between the brass base and the plastic base. When I replaced the head on Hanalei, I installed the plastic one! Didn't know they were different until after the installation, but I did have to make two new holes for the plastic base. That's why I suggested the HF-B, it is a direct replacement. There is a small difference in price I believe, if I had to do it again, I'd use the brass base.
FWIW..
Dave Stump
You are correct, the bases are different between the brass base and the plastic base. When I replaced the head on Hanalei, I installed the plastic one! Didn't know they were different until after the installation, but I did have to make two new holes for the plastic base. That's why I suggested the HF-B, it is a direct replacement. There is a small difference in price I believe, if I had to do it again, I'd use the brass base.
FWIW..
Dave Stump
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Lyn Heiges
Re: Head Replacement
Bill,
We replaced the head on CD28 MOON CHILD with the Blake LAVAC Zenith and it is wonderful! It is very simple, straight forward and tough to stop up. The Zenith model has a Royal Daulton china bowl which raises the price a bit, but there is a less expensive model which, I believe works in similar fashion.
I never had problems with the Groco, but this one is simple and easy to work on when necessary.
The working conditions are the worst part of the job on any of the smaller boats, but it is worth while.
Good Luck!
Lyn Heiges
CD28 MOON CHILD
LynHeiges@cs.com
We replaced the head on CD28 MOON CHILD with the Blake LAVAC Zenith and it is wonderful! It is very simple, straight forward and tough to stop up. The Zenith model has a Royal Daulton china bowl which raises the price a bit, but there is a less expensive model which, I believe works in similar fashion.
I never had problems with the Groco, but this one is simple and easy to work on when necessary.
The working conditions are the worst part of the job on any of the smaller boats, but it is worth while.
Good Luck!
Lyn Heiges
CD28 MOON CHILD
Bill wrote: One more major repair before Spring! Having been unsuccessful in repairing the head on our 1978 28CD, I have decided to go ahead and purchase a new one. I have seen them advertised between $175 and $800! Is this the sort of thing that "you get what you paid for" or is a $200 head just as reliable? I would appreciate any feed-back from others that have faced this dilemma. Thanks!
Bill
Zingara
LynHeiges@cs.com
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Patrick Turner
Re: Head Replacement
As mentioned below, the Practical Sailor article did not favor the "low end" heads. I think, however, this was coming more from a perspective of liveabord or at least frequent use. If you are just using it on weekends then the Groco is probably just fine. Having said that, I do think you get what you pay for and so I usually buy the highest quality I think I can comfortably afford. I would purchase the odor safe sanitation hose. If you use a heat gun to soften the hose a little when trying to make sharper turns it really is very easy. Pracitical Sailor did like the "Cricket" which only sells for a little over $200 I think. It is the head I went for in the process of refitting my CD36. It is a very simple head mechanism.....a large 3" diaphram pump (similar to manual bilge pump) directly under the toilet and a single 90d. turn as it exits the toilet. Large chamber to pass stuff through and very few turns are the key to trouble free.
Pat
patrick.t@home.com
Pat
patrick.t@home.com