Pierless Adventures - March 24 - Getting A Head

We started working on the head today.  For the landlubbers out there, the "head" is the toilet in boat-talk...

Sanitary plumbing on a boat is a whole new world of terms, practices, regulations and contortion challenges.  The problem with our current head is two-fold:

First, the pump that removes water from the sink or shower is not working, so needs replacement.  This is a simple sump pump that is installed in a void below the toilet.  Unfortunately, though the void is generous in size, access to the void is not...  What might take 15 minutes were good access available has now extended into day two of our plumbing adventure...

 Second is the  Y-valve.  Let me explain.  Most marine heads have two options for directing effluent when the toilet is flushed.  Either it discharges directly overboard (legal if 3 miles offshore), or it discharges into a holding tank in the boat for later disposal either overboard when offshore or pumped out at a marina.  Our Y-valve is broken and the head currently discharges directly overboard with no option to direct things to the tank (note: we are not using the head).  We have a new Y-valve ready to assume duty, but again we are faced with small spaces and limited access.

 

Without a functional Y-valve, we cannot use the head when near shore or in marinas.  This is an issue the USCG monitors closely as well, so we want this system working correctly when we enter the  U.S.A.

While we have better access to this area through a more generous locker door, the hoses are larger, stiffer and more difficult to maneuver into the required arrangement for proper connections to be made.

Tomorrow (Friday) we will take a trip out to Home Depot for PVC fittings and see what we can so with it.  

Otherwise, we continue to make progress sorting and tossing.  I got rid of a large bag of electrical connectors (made a neighbor happy).  I also have the bow steaming light wired up and ready for installation.  The wind instrument is ready to plug in as well.  It looks like it should just connect right onto the old base, but won't know until I get back up there.  We are  still waiting on the boatyard for the epoxy we need for  the rudder repairs.  Perhaps Friday?...

The weather continues to be fairly comfortable.  Lows in the  50s, highs in the  70s or low 80s.

From Scott:

I think I have the boatyard shower figured out now; it doesn't take 10-minutes for warm water to arrive from somewhere far off in the pipes, it takes 10-minutes for the water to warm through friction alone. Friction is how things seem to move here. Parts we have ordered slowly grind their way to us, stalling at minor obstacles and creating heat and pressure, at least on us. Easy repairs become marathon projects with the realities of local availability and available solutions often entailing much more work than what would be needed had we the proper tools and materials.

On the plus side, Mexico makes one young. I have returned the age I was when I couldn't read or speak and, given the constant kneeling and ladder climbing I've been doing, can barely walk.  

On another note, Brian informs me that I am listed as First Mate on the boat's paperwork. I have concieved this puts me in charge of discipline