Things that seem to continually need fixing

[ishmael]

After having been full time live aboard since Feb I have noticed that there are some things that I seem to be continually troubleshooting / fixing / work arounding / or re engineering.  Currently the beef is the shower and head sink sump.  This thing ( basically a bilge pump in a box ) has found every possible way to fail at one time or another.  Bad wire, then bad float switch, then failed one way flow valve.  Always something different.  Always an adventure in discovery.  So, there must be others with a particularly fussy item.  Here is your opportunity to get it off your chest and share with the rest of us so amybe we can get ahead of the game with the next system.  What's your current problem child?

Ron
SV Matchmaker
Saint Marks, FL

[Booda]

The forward drain hose on the Port Side, goes down next to the kitchen storage area then along side the the storage locker, then to the Thur Hull just above the Water Tank. It is old and started leaking, I can't get this this hose out, I'm thinking of cutting a hole in the side of the storage locker to access the hose. Then I should be able to cut it in half and pull the top down and the bottom up, then I will need to figure out how to get a new one in there.

Pat   

[ishmael]

Hi Booda,
I changed out my old and rotten scupper hoses last year.  The forward ones are a pain but you can get to them with come creative yoga and a little blood loss.  The top of that scupper hose can be accessed by pulling out the wooden board that makes up the back of the galley storage cabinet.  There are a number of black screws holding it in but pretty easy to remove.  You can then see and reach the top of that scupper with hose clamp and hose.  The bottom is more problematic but doable.  You will need to remove the port pull out berth completely but, if you are lucky you will not have to remove the framing top for the the water tank.  I didn't.  Lying on your back you can see the bottom of the scupper and hose.  I had to cut mine off and since it was reinforced with wire had to use a dremel tool to do it.  After that replacing the hose was pretty easy.  I used some leftover sanitary hose that was much easier to work than the wire reinforced heater hose.

Good luck,
Ron
SV Matchmaker
Saint Marks. FL

[Booda]

Thanks for the info, on how you attacked those hoses, that's this weekends project, next is the starboard water tank, the tank is dirty and the baffles inside are broken, not sure what I'm going to do about them, thinking of cutting the tank open and putting one of those flexible water bags in there. Any one done this or is there a better way to fix the tank.

Thanks

Pat

[ishmael]

Try doing a search on the site.  It seems to me that there was someone who used bladders as a solution.  I think that they cut off the top and just laid the bladder in the remaining box.

Ron

[Higgins]

As far as the bladders, I've actually been meaning to add those as a "continually need fixing" item on this thread.

I've lived aboard for a few years now and have grown to HATE those things.  I've just order my third pair (meaning number 5 and 6) and at $170 a pop (pun intended), the routine is getting old.  They aren't vented like a tank so if you over-fill them they're extremely easy to rupture.

The other problem I have is that my fill hose on one side has a slight low spot which acts kinda like a check valve.  Every time you fill the bladder from the deck, you push in a little more air so after several fills the bladder will be half-full of air with nowhere for it to go (no vent).  You're then required to pull apart the settee and remove the fill hose to get the air out.

I had the same problems mentioned (broken baffles, blisters, grime, etc).  I gave up on the tank rebuild as I couldn't find an epoxy suitable for use with drinking water (if you read the fine print, all the potable water epoxies are for tanks 1000 gallons minimum).

Anyway, bladders are a quick and easy fix but I'd definitely recommend that one look at it as a temporary solution and I don't think they'd be a good idea for someone heading out cruising.  Something to keep in mind as it may affect the way you choose to cut the tops of your tanks off.

[Sta-Sea-Dawn]

1978..#193...365....New slant...to topic....I am replacing and rerouting my head sink and shower pump sump system.  I do not know what is supposed to be there, but.....

My sink and shower are tee-d together then enter a 18" long 4" PVC pipe that maybe be a type of sump/gathering place...this runs to a diaphragm pump.  This runs 20 or so feet aft to a above the water line thru hull.  I am thinking of replacing the pump with a 4GPH Jabsco diaphragm pump but route to a nearer thru hull.  Any ideas on what I have and other purpose of the PVC pipe.  It just seems to be inline between the sink/shower and the intake on the pump.

[Sta-Sea-Dawn]

Sea dragon had pictures under winterizing...I am going to use the Johnson 57151 sump pump system....the attwood was getting bad reviews