Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
Can you not paint it? Epoxy paint, enamel, porcelain paint...

I doubt it Lloyd...in fact, I don't think I've ever seen a painted
porcelain sink or other device, only dinnerware, figurines etc....and
that's painted before it's glazed. I doubt that paint would adhere to
glazed porcelain...at least not for long.

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://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

Peggie;
You owe me .30 cents a mile, I'll take it out in free advice.

Well, there were a couple less of them this morning. No question, they
are Raritan Atlantes.

I printed out the parts sheet, and took it with me. It was like looking
at a map of the Bahamas and looking for Catalina Island. The water was
there, but the land looked wrong.

I'd bet the store guy was right, they weren't macerators. Maybe the
macerator was there and I couldn't find it. All parts connected like
they were made to be connected, finishing in proper sanitation hose. But
no wires, and no empty holes. The big stuff, and the details were as
shown on the parts sheet.

Nothing had been removed, all plumbing looked like it had just been
disconnected and the unit pulled out, but there was no trace of anything
electrical, nothing. It looked exactly like the drawing, and looked
nothing like it at the same time.

Confused? So am I.

Let's hear from someone else who saw these things.
Jim

Jim wrote:
Peggie;

I have been lusting after the "Sea era" head at your suggestion, when I
ran across 7 used heads. They appear to be Raritan Atlantes. The word
"Raritan" in stamped on the back of the bowl. One piece porcelain bowl,
just as it appears in the catalogue I have. The store employee said
they were fresh water flush, but he also said they weren't macerating
heads, the catalogue says they are. Maybe he didn't know.

They are "take outs" as someone didn't like the color, black (I don't
either).

I wasn't sure what I was looking at at the store, so I went home and
looked at the web site. Of course the exploded parts diagram isn't
available, neither is the brochure ("not available on this server").

Ok, the asking price is $135 each. They appear to be unused, spotless
everywhere. Seat included, hoses hanging out the back. No solenoid, no
manuals.

I will probably go down and get a better look tomorrow. I still don't
know what's missing, and what the worst case scenario is on getting them
installed and working.

Your opinion, please.

There was a rage some years ago, for painting discolored, damaged
baths and sinks with two part epoxy paint. I find nothing outrageous
about expecting epoxy to adhere quite well to a glass surface (which
defines the vitreous enamel surface)

Brian W

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 20:17:53 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
Can you not paint it? Epoxy paint, enamel, porcelain paint...

I doubt it Lloyd...in fact, I don't think I've ever seen a painted
porcelain sink or other device, only dinnerware, figurines etc....and
that's painted before it's glazed. I doubt that paint would adhere to
glazed porcelain...at least not for long.

Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall

Jim wrote:
Peggie;
You owe me .30 cents a mile, I'll take it out in free advice.

You have a deal.


Well, there were a couple less of them this morning. No question, they
are Raritan Atlantes.

I printed out the parts sheet, and took it with me. It was like looking
at a map of the Bahamas and looking for Catalina Island. The water was
there, but the land looked wrong.

I'd bet the store guy was right, they weren't macerators.

They've obviously been cannibalized...'cuz the Atlantes IS a macerating
toilet. If you look at the drawing you'll see that part # 13 is the
macerator housing, 17 is the macerator, 18 is the gasket under the
housing cover...and 22 is the cover. The housing is clear plastic,
btw...either it wasn't there or you didn't recognize it.

It looked exactly like the drawing, and looked
nothing like it at the same time.

Confused? So am I.

Nope, not confused...just wondering if they're really worth any more
that they're asking for 'em. I definitely wouldn't advise anyone to buy
one of 'em...at least not without comparing every single part, down to
the last gasket and screw, with the parts list, and then talking to
Raritan about what it will cost to replace what's missing...and it's
obvious that at least a few things--the macerator and either the
solenoid or the intake pump (who knows which was really there?)vare.

And btw...the same goes for any marine santitation equipment on eBay. A
LOT of it is either missing major parts, or is so old--even if still
"new in box"--that it's obsolete...which means that if nothing is else
is wrong, all the rubber parts are long since shot, and may not be
replaceable. That doesn't apply to ALL marine sanitation
equipment/toilets...a few worth buying do show up on eBay. But before
you bid on anything, please ask me to look at it. I'll be glad to tell
you what it's likely to need--if it's even worth bidding on at
all--whether the parts are still available, and the max amount it's
really worth, if anything.

Let's hear from someone else who saw these things.

By all means...'cuz I'd like to know too.

Thanks for making the trip!

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/detai...=400&group=327

http://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 04:19:50 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:


And btw...the same goes for any marine santitation equipment on eBay.

You know, Peggie, while there's a lot of things I would consider
buying on eBay, I think I speak for a lot of sailors when I say a
marine head isn't one of them.

Getting free advice from helpful people online like yourself is one
thing...but the phrase "wow, a cheap old toilet!" ranks up there with
"wow, a paper mache hammer!" in terms of utility.

Others may think differently.

R.

rhys wrote:
You know, Peggie, while there's a lot of things I would consider
buying on eBay, I think I speak for a lot of sailors when I say a
marine head isn't one of them.

Getting free advice from helpful people online like yourself is one
thing...but the phrase "wow, a cheap old toilet!" ranks up there with
"wow, a paper mache hammer!" in terms of utility.

Not necessarily....I do occasionally see something worth bidding on. For
instance, if you can get a PH II, used or not, for about $150 that only
needs a $35 rebuild kit, that MIGHT be a good buy. A Wilcox Skipper or
Imperial would be an excellent buy for $200-$300, even if you had to put
$100-$200 into it, 'cuz those are $1000 toilets built to last at least
100 years. A company called Fore & Aft Marine has sold a couple of brand
new Lectra/San MC's on eBay...they went for about $100 less than in the
catalogs, making 'em a good buy.

Otoh, somebody else had anothr Lectra/San on eBay recently..." appears
to be new, never been installed." And from the photo, I'd agree. It sold
for about $400, which sounds like a great deal. Except the controller
was the original dial that's been obsolete for at least 15 years--you
can't even get parts for it any more, which means this unit has been
sitting on somebody's shelf for at least that long, maybe even longer.
It's gonna cost the "lucky" bidder more to put it into working condition
than he'd have to pay for a brand new one. When he finds that out, he'll
prob'ly put it back up on eBay to get his money back from another
unsuspecting soul.

I've seen "new" Mansfield (that brand went out of existance when SeaLand
bought Mansfield in 1984) VacuFlush toilets and TDX Type I MSDs (SeaLand
redesigned it and changed the name to SanX around 1990) on
Ebay...SeaLand manual toilets--SeaLand hasn't made manual toilets since
1986...toilets that are missing the pumps--just the bowl on the base is
left...toilets so obsolete I don't even have a clue what they were or if
all the parts are still there. The only value any of it has would be to
someone who has one of these systems and needs hardware parts that
aren't available any more...but unsuspecting bidders drive the prices
too high to even make that worthwhile.

So it's not just cheap old toilets, but allegedly brand new equipment
that you have be wary of buying on eBay. Occasionally, there ARE good
buys, but not often...so ask me to take a look before you bid.

--
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://www.seaworthy.com/html/get_ri...oat_odors.html

On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 17:44:35 GMT, Peggie Hall
wrote:
snip

So it's not just cheap old toilets, but allegedly brand new equipment
that you have be wary of buying on eBay. Occasionally, there ARE good
buys, but not often...so ask me to take a look before you bid.

I think by stating the hazards of getting outmoded "new" heads, plus
the impossibility of confirming the real state of same, you confirmed
my point. I would buy a used diesel because I can see it in action,
see the logs, see the general condition and get an oil analysis done.

No pun intended, but a used or "new" (read outmoded, or outcommoded)
head seems a bit of a crap shoot.

Better I should buy a W/C and will it to my kids G because in a
hundred years I think I'll be reduced to Sharks and a bucket...G

R.