Yes, I know it is a corny title of this ditty. An ultimate topic of conversation of boaties is often about the boat toilet, or heads as it is called.
And why is it called the head, or heads? I will reveal this at the end.
About 18 months ago between shifts loading logs and maintaining our Nelson residence, I installed a nice new Jabsco toilet in a revamped shower compartment. 18 months later, after a month off the boat celebrating seasonal family get togethers and another notable graduation, we returned to our boat and cranked up the systems for a Northland summer cruise. Uh oh. The Jabsco loo was leaking where the piston rod goes up and down. (The pump gland). After a period away the rubber surfaces often bind to the metal parts. This was a circular seal made of rubber and a critical bit of stainless steel ring which keeps the seal tight against the metal, thus preventing leaks. The problem was aesthetic only because the leaking salt water is clean and contains no jobbies or wee wee’s.
plunger rod with offending gland.
In our previous toilet, an old Brydon Boy which took us (I should say expelled our excretions) around the world was patched up regularly with fibreglass. The gland problem was solved by my manufacturing from brass garden hose bits a gland complete with little bits of gland packing. It shortened the stroke, but it was always dry.
I found this small o-ring and pushed it into the seal
Well, the upshot of this unnecessarily long winded loo story is that I could not find a replacement gland (sold out to desperate summer boaties), so I simply pushed in a suitably sized rubber o-ring where the old stainless spring ring was. This was sufficient to maintain pressure against the metal rod. By the way, the new Jabsco is so simple to repair this part. The whole bit is able to be unscrewed for replacement or repair. Of course I could purchase the gland and surrounding plastic unit for $32, but hey, where is the challenge of repairing the offending part? We are kiwis, and No 8 is still alive. I love technology, but Slocum was out there circumnavigating the world too.
All right, you have been patient. The heads area (over the bowsprit or bow area) on the old sailing ships was equipped with a wooden grating that sailors (and sailoresses) squatted over when the urge to purge was too great. A wave or two in rough water washed the area clean. I suppose modest people used bucket and chucket technology. Please help me. Who knows the technology used on the crowded pioneer sailing ships that spent months reaching New Zealand? This is of academic interest.
