Snakes in the Head

[Tvcmluff]

Stay tuned for the story behind this photo...

[o_q]

I hope this doesn't become a movie : (

[SmartMove]

Eeew! And eek too!!!!!!!!

[Panope]

Originally Posted by o_q

I hope this doesn't become a movie : (

I have had it with these mother..........

Nevermind.

Steve

[Ocean Girl]

[deepblueln]

Worst we've ever gotten in the toilet was a frog! I hope that was dead when you found it!

[sy_gilana]

What ARE you eating? Are you in China?

[Tvcmluff]

Fortunately this is not the latest summer movie and unfortunately, it was a real situation that we dealt with last week. My husband and I are cruising the ICW and are currently in the Chesapeake in a quiet creek near St. Michaels, MD on our Gulfstar 53', "Western Star."

It all started with the head intake which stopped working (we have an electric model). We assumed it was clogged with jellyfish since we have had trouble with them getting sucked in to various intakes and it is mid July after all. My husband (the head mechanic) started by shutting off the intake valve at the base of the toilet. He was on his side on the floor on some cushions wedged in the small space as he began to disassemble the intake apparatus.

I heard a loud, "YO," which I have come to understand means, "hey honey, come here, I have something to show you." At the check valve, he found what he thought to be a small fish. Not what we were expecting but a lot easier to deal with than broken jellyfish parts and stinging tentacles. I felt bad for the poor fish and went back to what I was doing.

As my husband began to pull the fish out, he met some resistance. He wedged himself in a bit more (almost fully upside down now) and pulled a bit harder. As he did, the creature frees up and flips out (a lot longer than a fish) and lands on my husband's wrist at which point he realizes that it is a SNAKE!!!

I heard a series of bangs, bumps and expletives so I went to see what was going on. My poor husband hit just about every surface in the area with knees, elbows and his head as he struggled to get away from the snake. Thankfully, it was deceased and we both calmed down.

It was likely an eastern watersnake, although it was decomposed some so we dont have a positive ID. If anyone can ID it, please let us know.

What did we learn from this? Even though we installed heavy duty bronze screens on all of our continuous intakes (a/c, refrig, generator, etc), we clearly did not install one on the head intakes thinking that the low demand would render this unecessary. WRONG! We will be doing so ASAP.

Tiffany

[peghall]

As long as you've opened up this "can of worms (or rather, snakes)," this is a fun read:

The UnMuseum - Sea Serpents

[sailorboy1]

**** Snake, coming to the Sicfi Channel movie of the week!

[deepblueln]

aaaand "screen over ALL intakes" goes on the list....

[HopCar]

If it was me, I would have to change my pants. Groco makes scoop strainers with very small holes. I think I'll take another look at them.

[Cheechako]

the galley sink drain might be an easy access for a snake.....

[peghall]

Unlikely. 'Cuz snakes, shrimp, jelly fish and other sea critters don't swim up open thru-hulls out of curiosity, they get PULLED in with flush water or cooling water. Not much water being pulled in through a galley sink drain.

However, the HEAD sink drain could be vulnerable where the head intake is teed into it. Never heard of it happening though.

[Cheechako]

Yeah... I dont know, heard of snakes in cockpits from the cockpit drains.... I think snakes are a lot stronger swimmers than any water ingress fitting suction on a boat.... I've been chased by curious (i hope!) sea snakes while snorkeling.... had a heck of time getting away... trying to push them away with my swim fins.... I would imagine waterline level fittings would be the worst for it... most the time they seem to be surface swimmers...