Tuesday, 9 September 2008

Oh My Aching Head

Well we are still at anchor in Pangai but will leave this morning for Uoleva. The idea was to leave yesterday but after my morning "constitutional", the waste pump for head decided to stop working. Not my favourite job at the best of times but this was at the worst of times. There was nothing for it but to take it apart, clean it and put it back together, simple really, hah. Taking it apart relieved all the built up pressure in the lines and I now know what it would look like if the shite really did hit the fan. Got everything cleaned up, put in one of the new kits hat Rob and Nancy had brought down when they came to Mexico (THANKS MUCH!!!) and put it all back together, carefully. Unfortunately, it leaked. Why oh why does this happen just about every time I take it apart. So, strip it again (MUCH cleaner this time) and I find that the pivot arm that is essential to the operation and seal of the pump has cracked. No spare, but we have two manual bilge pumps that are identical to the waste pump so I strip one of those, cannibalize the pivot arm and put the head back together. Of course one of the self taping screws that join the two halves of the plastic pump body strips. No problem, each rebuild kit comes with machine screws and nuts to replace the self taping screws. They didn't fit! After futzing around with it for awhile, I dig out the spare bits bin and found a longer screw, problem solved. Finally after nearly 4 hours the toilet was working properly again, yeah. I glued and clamped the broken pivot arm and will re-enforce it with epoxy today and repair the bilge pump so we will still have two manual pumps. Not the best way to spend the day. We did however go to shore (after I had a swim and a wash) and managed to track down a telephone so I could call my parents. I haven't spoken to them for nearly 2 months. The phone system here is somewhat lacking, the delay on the call was incredible, at least a couple of seconds so using the phone was like making a radio call, each person speaks in turn, still nice to be able to talk to them. Today, we sail!

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