When Boats Rebel

[Rick D]

A few months ago I tore out all my aft head plumbing and replaced it. The stuff was so calcified at 20 years old, even the Y valve and other fittings, I had to replace everything. It took five days. Three of those days were spent cursing the old stuff out. It is located under the sink in the aft head and is accessed through a space about 1' X 1 1/2' and is probably three cubic feet in volume. Stuffed in there are through hulls for the head intake, sink outlet, macerator output, and head overboard discharge, Y valve, vacuum break and fresh water PEX piping and fittings.

Well, I made my list for off-season maintenance and improvements and was looking forward to starting. (Even though we are a year-round area, people still tend to do maintenance in the fall/winter.) Anyhow, I noticed the fresh water was cycling on at times. In the past, that has meant a leak, but has also signaled the water heater was failing. I tested the water heater and it seemed OK. I checked for leaks and found one of the T PEX fresh water fittings was cracked and leaking. Unfortunately, it was in the aft head in back of all the head plumbing.

I removed the T fitting with much difficulty given the restricted access, and with tugging and pulling. I had a spare and put it in. Re-installation was way harder than removing it. It took almost a day and I was super stiff but pleased when it was done. It was then I noticed a leak in one of the shut off valves next to the T. I took a deep breath and realized I would have to remove some of the head plumbing to get at it. I took a deep breath and went home. I ordered a couple of valves. I had a drink (or more) and took a hot bath.

When I went back to the boat and started to remove the head plumbing, I noticed the Y valve was leaking. I assumed the new hose needed tightening, but when I took it off, I saw the Y valve was cracked in the back. Fortunately, WM had one Whale in stock. Of course, they are in Ireland, so getting a warranty adjustment will be impossible.

I spent another day putting the new shut off valve in and replacing a couple of the PEX compression cones that looked suspect. Then the Y valve. Whew! It all worked. Just like it did a couple of months ago.

I suspect I damaged the fresh water fittings when I was wrestling the new head hose and fittings off. The Y valve probably broke when the new hose was bent into position (although it wasn't that much force).

Everyone on this board that has owned a boat for more than a few years can appreciate this example of one step forward and two back. I know it's happened to all of us. I'm sure you can tell some stories. I also can appreciate what guys like Maine Sail sometimes go through when working on a customer's boat. It also cements the notion that rum does indeed have a special place on a boat!

 

[philwsailz]

I had recently replaced the cast aluminum spreader castings with the newer stainless versions that are standard for Catalina boats these days. I was real pleased with the work, and carefully hung the mast in the rafters out of the way, (I thought) while working on other things in my seemingly never-ending quest to get my C-27 L.L.attitudes back on the water.

One day this last summer I was backing my father-in-law's boat into the shop. Disconnecting it from the truck, I was curious as to why it lunged forward towards my truck.

Scratching my head I looked up to the mast suspended next to the celiling to realize I had hooked the mast spreader that was hanging down; I hooked it on the bimini of the boat backing in... DOAH! I had slightly bent the bimini frame, but it easily straightened out. Cheap. However.....

I have the second new set of spreader brackets sitting in their plastic bag, waiting for me to drop the mast from the ceiling to replace the first set of new spreader brackets.... I am unwilling to simply bend them back based on what I kow about work-hardening stainless. I exceed the plastic limit and bending it back to the correct geometry will only forther weaken a compromised bracket.

I just hope the spreader poles are okay.... :cussing:

 

[Gunni]

Rick; Last weekend as I was winterizing our boat I once again had to wrestle the hoses loose in those cramped spaces in the heads. Looking at the maze of hoses, fittings, washdown pumps, shower pumps, valves, thru-hulls etc. a wave of dread came over me - at some point all of this stuff is going to have to come out and be replaced. I feel for you, the builders don't make it easy.

 

[WayneH]

My project this winter is replacing the holding tank with its cracked and leaking fittings. Because the new tank will have all its fittings on top of the tank, I have to re-do the piping to the tank. The tank is under the forward berth but most of the piping is under the head sink. Lovely.

Plus I need to rebed the genoa and staysail tracks this year. Which means pulling the cabinetry and headliners on both sides of the main salon. So this one is like 4 jobs to GET to the job I want to do.

And the Admiral wants me to finish installing the insulation boards between the deck and the headliner. Which involves removing the battens and crown moldings (the strips the cover the gap between the headliner and the bulkheads.)

And a couple of small projects that will probably consume a fifth of rum to finish. I wonder if I can declare the rum as a work tool?

 

[Roadking Larry]

If at first you DO succeed, go back and look again, you missed something.

 

[rgranger]

If at first you DO succeed, go back and look again, you missed something.

 

[WayneH]

If at first you DO succeed, go back and look again, you missed something.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

ROFL @ Wayne- Yep, we know huh?

 

[All U Get]

While purchasing our boat I was talking with the PO. He and his wife took the time to explain some of the systems on the boat and how they enjoyed 25 years aboard. When I had the opportunity I asked what would "Need attention" first? He smiled and said "She will let you know." A sound, a drip, an odor, and sometimes its just me thinking "Shouldn't that be a bit tighter?"

All U Get

 

[Sailor Sue]

In 2010 we were taking our Tartan 372 south from Lake Erie to the Bahamas. We had spent the two previous years completely re-doing the fresh water system, re-doing the fuel system, re-doing the bilge pump system so the boat didn't try to sink on starboard tack, and generally going through all the systems to prepare the boat for our year adventure.

Around Cocoa Beach, Florida we realized the water heater was leaking. Since Cocoa has one of the largest hardware stores on the east coast I decided this would be a good place to repair or replace the tank. Thanksgiving morning I decided I would have time to remove the tank before we went out to eat. How long could it take to remove 4 hoses and disconnect 3 wires? My wife was really looking forward to not cooking on the boat for a change, and suggested that I wait on the project. But I hate to sit around doing nothing when I can be working on a project, and besides, if the water heater was out I could go to the hardware store first thing Friday morning.

What I didn't realize, in their infinite wisdom Tartan thought it would be a good idea to install the water heater before doing the rest of the interior cabinet work. I first had to cut out trim work that held the panel that covered the heater. With the panel removed only half of the hold down screws were accessible. When those were finally pried out from behind the heater it became apparent that the heater was too long to come out without removing the hose fittings. Those were pretty much welded in place so I eventually resorted to cutting them off. Very long story/removal shortened - after all the fiddle-de-frogging around we ended up missing Thanksgiving dinner! (My wife is still a little miffed.)

Next morning we found out that not only did the marine hardware not have a replacement water heater, it didn't even look like one was available that would fit in the opening. They did let us throw the old one away.

On our way south we did some research and found that the smallest water heater we could get was 13 inches tall. The opening under our galley sink was only 12 inches! Later, while we were in Marathon, Florida waiting for a weather window to cross over to the Bahamas we found a 13 inch heater at West Marine. I called the manufacturer and asked them how tall the heater vessel was if I removed the cover. 12 inches. We carried the heater back to the boat, took off the cover and cut it in half so we could later install the cover in pieces. I'm pretty sure that voided the warranty. Even with cutting the cover in two it took a lot less time to install the new heater than it had to remove the original heater.

We did spend the next two months removing rust spots from the deck from all the metal filings from cutting the cover in half, even though we had vacuumed the cockpit and deck. Turns out the filings had gotten into the sail cover from the saber saw cut and kept raining down on deck.

We got the final revenge this summer when we sold the Tartan and replaced it with a very nice J/32 we found in Maine. And had a very nice time sailing it back to Lake Erie.

 

[noanker]

with all the work I have done to this boat I might as well have jacked my 1985 mast up and put a 2013 boat under it. but... I must admit I enjoyed every bit of it