Head conversion to fresh water

[Beam Reach State of Mind]

Our "new" 419 has electric heads that are plumbed for seawater flush. We want to change this to fresh water, with the possible option of being able to switch from one to the other.

I believe Jeanneau always uses Jabsco heads; is this true? I wasn't able to find any branding or model # on the heads, and the owners manual makes no mention of them. I also think Jabsco offers a conversion kit, with a solenoid controlled valve that is installed in the fresh water line. I haven't yet found the model # or source for this kit.

Has anybody done this already? Any pointers, model #s, or other advice?

[moonshadow]

My 2014 SO469 is plumbed with both options on both heads. I have not had any problems with the system although I don’t like the solenoid idea. I don’t switch very often and I think a manual valve would be fine. The solenoid switches the water source and activates the electric seawater pump circuit. Since I rarely use the seawater flush I need to open the seacock anyway and it seems that a manual swap valve would tend to be more reliable than an electric solenoid. But, it does work. So far.

[rxc]

I did the conversion about 10 years ago, and have not looked back. It eliminated the smell and the only consideration was water usage, which is no longer a problem for me.

Not hard to do, but might require some contortions. I seem to remember having to deal with a bad connection on the solenoid last year.

I also have a connection to my salt water washdown header. Since I no longer needed the thru hull for the head, I re-purposed it for my anchor wash pump. I have a separate takeoff, with two manual isolation valves, to serve as a backup to the freshwater supply. I have verified that it works, but have never had to use it

[petros42]

When we purchased our boat, we had the marine head replaced with a Tecma EasyFit ECO electric head.  This head requires one of two additional kits:  One kit is for fresh water flush.  This assumes pressurized water so it has a solenoid valve to allow fresh water in.  The other kit includes a pump to pump raw water.  

This is my first boat to have a fresh water head.  We love it.  The Tecma uses very little water.  We keep a small bowl in the sink so we re-use our hand washing water to augment the toilet flush water.  This summer I spoke to another boater that has used fresh water heads for the past 30 years.  He said he has NEVER had to change a discharge hose due to bad odor.  This makes sense to me.  Salt water smell horrid once it dies.  Let a buck of salt water sit for 2-3 days and you will see what I mean. 

[sailingabe41ds]

I just did that.  I have a Jeanneau 41ds and it is a Jabsco electric head.  Sooo...get a whale T that connects to the fresh water cold inlet to the sink. Now you have a fresh water connector. Next step iis to get a connector to that T that also has a barb connector to a hose T that connects to the the whale I think it is 1/2 or 5/8 hose connector.  Then a one way valve for security and after that it connects to the solenoid valve that has a built in suction breaker.   To the valve you connect a switch that allows you to either use it or the saltwater pump of the positive side.  The negative wire connects to whatever negative ground cable you can find...the one already connected to the salt water pump is okay.  Now you can switch  fresh vs salt water.
Get another T that connects to the hose that goes into the head....cut that hose and put a T.  Now,  that T gets the water from either the salt water pump or from the outlet of the solenoid pump that delivers the fresh water.  You are done.
Keep the salt water inlet closed and switch to run the fresh water and that it is it.  Open that salt water inlet, and switch to the salt water pump and you use salt water instead of fresh water.

Abe