For those of you sitting on the edge of your seats with your print out of The Master Project List – 2008 Version with a pen looking to scratch off those timely finished projects..stand by! Because it’s a boat work list, every time you cross off one thing you need to add two more.
Case in point, the Pottie Projects. Note that this is now plural.
Recall that the valves in the forward head needed replacement, so I ordered identical valves from Sweden. They arrived, I busted everything up…and couldn’t get the new valves to go in right. After much research, whining & kvetching and communications with the fine folks in Sweden I’d pretty much worked out why I couldn’t get the exact same replacement valves to go back together in a way that would 1) line up so the handles could be operated and 2) screw together tight enough keep the ick inside the plumbing and out of the bilge. I finally brought the valves to my Grandfather, who prior to his retirement had been dispatched to places like the Alaska Pipeline and the Zimmer (not-quite) Nuclear Power Plant to un-bugger the things the people there had done to the valves his employer manufactured for them. If a guy that unbuggered Nuke Plants couldn’t unbugger my head it wasn’t happening. He figured it out – the judicious addition of some hand made gaskets and we were off and running.
However, fast forward to two days before we were to leave on a week’s vacation -I was working on the boat trying to get the forward head done after solving the valve reconstruction problems. While clipping gaskets out of gasket paper I went to the aft head to answer a call of nature and notice…that IT was leaking when flushing too. Cheap Jabsco heads are…cheap. And easier to fix than rebuild and the rebuild kit costs almost as much as a new head. So – almost scratch “Replace Forward Head Valves” from the list, and ADD “Replace Aft Head Toilet” for sure instead of Maybe. 48 hours before leaving for ten days.
The aft head replacement was shocking, because it actually only took about 20 minutes and nothing revolting or aggravating happened. It was like I almost actually learned something in the courses. It was strange, I planned it…and it went according to plan. I sat there scratching my head for a few minutes afterwords because I didn’t know quite what to do with myself.
But I digress terribly and I know you are dying for the other updates. So…in short order…if it ain’t listed here, it still ain’t done:
- Sprit; damaged sprit is installed and safe for use, in theory. Replacement sprit expected some time in the off season.
- New alternator is in and actually working. A few false starts, but we got it. Of course, now I am wondering if there is a way to up the ratio on it. And the 12V alternator belts are squealing.
- Bimini and cushions are lovely. They look good and are comfortable. A few more tweaks are needed, such as through botling some of the bases.
- Solar Panels are on order
- Both heads replaced, forward head valves replaced
- Gelcoat has been comounded and buffed; not perfect but better.
