December 21st:Holding tank Pumpout challenges and Linda's 6 wk checkup.

Our marine head system goes into holding tanks that are pumped out when they get full. Both the forward head and the stern head first get pumped into a 15 gallon holding tank. Fifteen gallons is not enough capacity when we're living on the boat so we added a 30 gallon holding tank. That way pumping out once a week is enough instead of every 2-3 days. When the small tank is full we have a pump that empties the small tank into the large tank.

The first problem occurred when the stern head pump started pumping poorly and then quit. Swapped the pump, not fun, and still had problems. Linda figured out that the toilet paper we were using would not dissolve as needed. It's pretty easy to check, just put some toilet paper in a glass of water and see if it dissolves. We had used the same brand previously but apparently the product changed. Irritating but we got the stern head working.

Next thing was the small tank wouldn't pump into the big tank. Guessed it was probably the same toilet paper issue. This tank and pump are more difficult to get to as they are under the deck in the bottom of the boat. I went in and eventually had all the hoses disconnected. Again, not a fun job. I was happy to find a major problem, the tube at the top of the holding tank was blocked. No wonder it wouldn't pump out. Cleaned it out, assured we were good to go. Put everything back together and it worked with a little water in a bucket but still wouldn't pump out the tank.

That pump was fairly old so Linda and I decided the pump must be worn out. I put in a new pump. Still didn't work! Hmmm. Seems like it must be an air leak. The slightest little leak will prevent the vacuum needed for the pump to work. Took all of the hoses off again, double checked all the clamps and even covered all the connections with electrical tape. Surely that would do it.

The next day I tried again. Still wouldn't pump. By dumping some water in the hose connected to the small tank, I did find a slight crack. Looked like a really good possibility. I covered the entire pump out tube with Water Weld to close the leak and let it harden over night. Next day, still wouldn't pump out.





Getting really tired of crawling into the bilge and disconnecting holding tank hoses! I had eliminated all the possibilities I could think of but started thinking about the impeller in the pump. Its a little rubber wheel, see pictures, that makes the pump work. Impellers are not designed to be run dry. I decided that with all the trying because of the leak I probably burned up the impeller. Took the pump apart and inspected it.


It was not nice and springy like its supposed to be. Put in another new pump and finally everything is working. Linda ordered a new impeller for the basically new pump which we carry for a spare. Hopefully, we won't need to use it for a very long time.



The weather has been too windy to go dinghy fishing, but Flint and I ended up using the dinghy in our marina. A trawler that came in the day before had caught some crab pot floats just outside the marina and dragged them into the marina. The floats were in the middle of the channel so Flint asked me if we could go out in the dinghy and remove them. I said "Sure, sounds like fun."  Turned out the first float was attached to a crab pot as we suspected. Pretty heavy but we were able tom get it up and into the dinghy.

We then realized the other float was tangled in the rope from this crab pot. Followed the rope back, got above the other trap and started pulling. It didn't want to come up. We both put a lot of effort into it and were able to pull it up. Turned out it was a lobster trap, much heavier and larger. We manhandled it into the dinghy and headed for the dock. Gary, who was watching and taking pictures from a dock yelled, "Wait there's another rope you are dragging". The entertainment value was wearing off. We followed the rope back about 50 feet and found yet another lobster trap. Flint was able to hold it at the water line and we finally made it to the dock.

2 Stone Crabs and one unidentified 

There were 3 small lobsters in one of the lobster pots. In the water they went. There were three crabs in the crab pot. Two of the crabs were Stone Crabs. The claws are delicious. To harvest them you break off the claws and throw the crab back in to grow new claws. The claws need to be a certain size to be legal and one of these had claws clearly large enough. The other Stone Crab had been harvested or lost his claws in a fight. Fooling around with two claws didn't make sense and I decided the crabs had been through enough. All three crabs quickly swam away when released.

Christmas Manatee in Key West

We made another trip to Key West for Linda's physical therapy. Rosie, her PT was very pleased with how well her shoulder was doing. Linda has been very happy with her new shoulder and has experienced almost no pain. She has been very compliant with the rules. She knew in four more days she'd be at the Cleveland Clinic for her six week check up. She was confident all was going well enough to end the restrictions on the use of her shoulder. I was certain she would be cleared for doing the dishes again. Its been six weeks, wonder if she'll remember how!

On the way out of Key West we spotted an unusual Christmas decoration. A City building has a large manatee sculpture out front. It was nicely decked out for Christmas.

On the way back into the marina we spotted a new resident. A large rooster that is apparently quite noisey. Fortunately, he stays up by the motel and not the marina. Several days later we noticed two hens had joined him.

Chickens running loose are very common in Key West but not so much in the Marathon. I suspect we'll be seeing more, its kind of a Keys thing.




Friday arrived and we headed to the Cleveland Clinic near Miami for Linda's 6 week check up. Everything was deemed fine and her shoulder movement restrictions were removed. She will now be doing more strenuous physical therapy to get all the muscles and tendons loosened up and working again.




The timing of our visit worked out great for seeing the New Star Wars movie. We again went to the Cinemark theater with the reclining seats that even vibrate during explosions etc.






We stayed once again the very nice Holiday Inn that is very convenient to everything, the Chinese Restaurant, the Clinic and the movie theater. We enjoyed the movie and the great bath tub after ward. The hotel was very nicely decorated for Christmas.




On the return back to Marathon we stopped to see our friend Pam at Treasure Harbor Marina. She is a wonderful person and has done a great job with the marina. We rented boats and stayed at Treasure Harbor many times and we usually stop to say "Hi" to Pam once during each season. We were surprised to find she has sold the marina. She still lives next to the marina and has several slips she rents to long term tenants. Unfortunately, Pam wasn't home, but I did take a picture of the marina. We had a lot of good times here over the last 30 years.

Treasure Harbor Marina