J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment two questions:

1. any suggestions for replacing the 30+ year old wilcox crittenden head?
2. spec for 6' length of anchor chain?

thank you

The head is now manufactured by Thetford and called the Head-Mate.

is this an approved replacement? the Jabsco equivalent at 29.79lbs appears to be cheaper: http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|51|806|315133|823306&id=1055779&cartId=1956351
I have not been able to find the weight of the headmate

I recently bought the Head-Mate for replacing my older one.

Cannot say I was happy with it.

1) Lots of improperly tensioned screws in the brand new unit right out of the box. Ended up re-torquing every fastener on the thing.

2) Old head was very hard to pump and brand new unit is not that much better (hoses replaced at install time). I've done plenty of cooking oil treatments but its the same.

3) Getting water leaks around pump assembly seams already (~1 year old)

4) The seat isnt nearly as sturdy as the previous unit. Its like the hinge material is a very soft plastic. Twice now I've had female crew twist the seat right off the hinges while sailing in big waves.

Female crew dont like that kinda thing, I've learned.

I use Jabsco when on sale at WM. have to redrill mounting holes in floor ... no big deal ... and it seems better to angle it a bit out from the knee bumping mast.

I seem to change them out every 5-7 years ... by the time you change the seat and the repair kit ... it just seems easier to replace the entire unit.

Was on a Beneteau 380 10 years ago ... a big new Beneteau then ... and it came with the Jabscos as the standard head ... good enough for me.

Re spec on chain ... the "rules" seem to leave the choice of anchor and weight of chain up to the owner. Don't think many owners race with the standard "storm" anchor or the related chain that came with the boat. Question is the definition how small a "lunch hook" you can get away with ... which seems to be the racing mentality.

no point replacing an old leaking head with a new leaking head, will give it one last try, problem seems to be stripped threads in the pump casing, can be drilled out, epoxy filled and re-tapped, good winter project. I am surprised that the rule is so loosely defining the anchor and chain. For cruising a longer length of chain is needed for safer anchoring.

The rules (under para 6.5) require a minimum of 6 feet anchor chain. No problem having more than six feet.

I replaced the head on Rhapsody two years ago and have had no problems with the Thetford Head-mate.

Have you adjusted the seal nut that is just under the pump handle? If this is too tight it will be very hard to pump. Loosen it until water seeps out when you pump then tighten it just enough to stop the leak.

DB

Wildcat is vintage 1986. My original head was a Gorco model Hf. I replaced it last year with a new Groco HF. The new one is considerably better than the original in that it has a bronze base vs the old plastic base. The pump handle is now a pistol grip rather than the knob on the old one. It works great and has no leaks.

As for an anchor I have been using 6' of plastic coated steel anchor chain (reduces scratches) hooked up to a Fortress FX-11 Danforth anchor. Last weekend it held the boat down perfectly in a 35 knot Northerly for 6 hours. It is a nice lightweight anchor that seems to work well on the J/30.

As for a head mine came with a Jabsco that works great.