I Took Apart My First Head Today

[SmartMove]

Were is the GoPro camera when you need it? I swear I could be a YouTube millionaire if I had video of all the ridiculously stupid things I have done while doing boat projects! Today had a little different twist though.

We have recently changed the cats to ceramic litter pellets. The new litter pan is designed to have the urine run through into the drain below and the poop is scooped and disposed of in the toilet then the pellets are rinsed off once a day. Well when I scooped today's deposits I didn't realize some of the pellets were stuck to the underside, until I heard them clanking around in the bowels of my new electric head.

I can't leave the pellets inside and I am pretty sure the pellets made it through the first joker valve but think they are trapped in the tube before the second joker valve at the waste tubing that goes to the holding tank. So I start dismantling the head. I do in fact find two pellets there and am really proud of myself.

I show hubby what I have accomplished and he too is very proud of me (probably relieved he didn't have to do it. As I start to put everything back together, my husband points to the joker valve on the waste tube and suggests (since I had everything apart) I should pull it out and inspect it. OK.

I can't decide if what happens next qualifies as a Kodak Moment or a Master Card Priceless Moment ... However, the picture is definitely 'worth a thousand words'.

I was sitting on Homer (my new bucket) in the shower stall when I pulled this bonehead move. Hubby was shocked, appalled and pretty much speechless -- well except for "oh, oh, ohhhhh!" Six to seven feet of waste tubing can hold a lot of disgusting stuff. Add some gravity and let the fun begin! I also found another five pellets in the aftermath!

[Sand crab]

Shitty day.

[Saqqara]

Never a bucket handy when you need one.

[Therapy]

oh, oh, ohhhhh!

The hard way to learn physics.

I feel for ya.

[DumnMad]

If I was him I'd clean it up without a word.

[SmartMove]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

Shitty day.

That would sum it up pretty well!

[SmartMove]

Originally Posted by Saqqara

Never a bucket handy when you need one.

Unfortunately I was sitting on it at the time! But, really everything came out so quickly (whoosh) I don't think the bucket would have helped.

[SmartMove]

Originally Posted by Therapy

oh, oh, ohhhhh!

The hard way to learn physics.

I feel for ya.

The crazy thing is that we had talked the night before about how the waste piping will always being full because everything has to go up to get into the holding tank. You can be sure I won't forget and do that again!

[HappyMdRSailor]

The stick picture is FAR BETTER than GoPro video could have EVER been!

Thanks for sharing!

[SmartMove]

Originally Posted by DumnMad

If I was him I'd clean it up without a word.

He felt really, really bad. He didn't offer to clean it up though. He did offer to turn on the water so I could clean it up, but since that was disconnect too, I politely declined the offer. 95% ended up on the shower which helped a lot. I don't think (even when the boat was brand new) the bathroom has ever been so clean as it is now -- and disinfected!

[zeehag]

this is how to learn to clamp hoses before removal..could be a truly shitty day to have to clean all that up..ouch..i am glad my holding tank is lower than head....whew...


i am gad i learned the fine art of clamping hoses in a setting in which i had the utensils and capability to clamp off nasty body fluids before changing systems attached to humans...smaller hose, but same effect...eeps....you get an award, smartmove....gag....


i use clumping litter for my cat---they actually have that in mexico, so bubba doesnt have to undergo any changes in lifestyle

[knottybuoyz]

I'm not sure we'll ever take our cats with us on the boat but if we do then they'll all have to learn to use the head like the rest of us!

[zeehag]

that red fluff ball looks like a red bubba..lol..awesome smart cats---he can learn...lol..even tho i haven t tried to train bubba to toilet--i would love it if he would learn the toilet trick...would save millions on litter....

[SmartMove]

Originally Posted by zeehag

i use clumping litter for my cat---they actually have that in mexico, so bubba doesnt have to undergo any changes in lifestyle

Fortunately, Lilly and Chloe are taking to the change in litter really well. We were using crystals previously. The up side to this system is we do not need to carry a bunch of heavy litter.

[zeehag]

smartmove--i like to use the clumping stuff as ballast in my already too much lightened boat...but i cannot carry over 1000 pounds of it to make the difference in this barge...i have to make up the difference with zincs and stuff....and mebbe larger fuel tankage..lol
have you tried to grow lawn grass for kitties yet--if so--dont let it get sea water wet--it dies.....lol