The Kraken Revisited

Yes, we thought it was dead too.  But no!  After our last writing a couple of issues developed, perhaps because the beast was weakened by the fight, or maybe it was just laying low, waiting to pounce when we least expected.  We found two threats.  One was a slow leak at the joint in the flushing pump that houses the joker valve (nothing funny about it - picture Jack Nicholson in Batman).  We got that fixed a few days ago.  In fact we rebuilt the whole dang flushing pump.

Yes, this was the job that required the use of an offset screwdriver, short-shafted screwdriver and several wrenches and socket wrenches to remove one part.  

The other weak spot was the pump at the Y-valve that pumps "stuff" overboard if you're three+ miles off shore.  There was a leak in the pump housing.  And the thing stunk. We can't pump overboard in Puget Sound anyway, so it had to go. We've been waiting for a dry and temperate day for this project, this morning we decided we could wait no longer.

Simon could.  Once we got out of bed he settled smack in the middle and slept until 9:30.

So we got into our rain gear and we dragged the Radio Flyer

(see Monday...Argh) 

down to the boat to pump the holding tank as dry as possible (which by the way is NEVER dry enough). Our plan was to pull out the pump and splice the hoses.

Basically behead the Kraken.

Unfortunately we didn't get a good enough, confidence-inspiring seal at the splice.  Who wants to fret about a Kraken under their bed regenerating a head or two?  So we were off to the chandlery to buy more sanitation hose.  And since it was Memorial Day, that meant West Marine, who wouldn't think about closing on a holiday.  Back to the boat where we ran a single length of hose from the tank to the deck fitting.  No leaking there!  And so at last the Kraken has been slayed.  The head is up in the dumpster along with a couple of tentacles.  And the boat really does smell so much better.  And tomorrow I'm going to scrub out the bilge which will really be the icing on the cake.  

A couple of you have asked what a Kraken is. Well it's a mythical sea monster that is a giant octopus type thing.  Like this 

Surely you see the resemblance to the thing in our boat, no?

Tonight I wish us all a night of monster-free rest.