Anyway, in order for us to remove the tank I had to get into said locker with said holding tank in such a way that would have made a Cirque du Soleil performer blush. Seriously, any one that has ANY issue with claustrophobia has no business working on a boat. This is not the first time I have had to crawl into a compartment the size of a car trunk to do "work". This was, however, the first time I had to crawl into a space that held, for lack of a better word, our "shitter". Toxic level? We'll give it a "3". Disgust level? Off the charts.
Don't let my smile fool you folks. This is not fun.
Luckily, we'd had the tank pumped out before winter, so *most* of the contents had been removed. In order to get the tank out, I had to unhook two hoses (poop in, poop out). Remember, I am in a teeny tiny locker, it's about 105 degrees in there, and it smells. Bad. I unhook hose #1, and it comes off clean. Phew. I adjust myself ever so slightly, wipe the sweat out of my eyes with my arm (not using my ecoli infested hands!), and go for #2. It comes off. Not clean. Out pours a couple cups of the most disgusting yellowy-brown lumpy liquid EVER. I scream. I bang around in the locker. Pound the tank with my screw driver. Scream more expletives. Basically, I throw a temper tantrum as best I can while contorted into a pretzel. This is NOT fun. In fact, it is downright disgusting.
Look at all the room we created! Note the taped off hoses. Yep. Those held poop.
You're welcome.
Love,
Brittany & Scott
Yuck! Have you guys ever considered getting a composting head? We love ours and it does not stink at all if everything is working correctly.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this post for more info: http://www.pacificsailors.com/2010/04/more-about-our-head.html
By the way, love the new look of your blog!
Sounded like a great Tuesday! Just curious, how big was the old tank of the Rasmus, and what's the tank size you guys are planning to put?
ReplyDeleteWhat a nasty job! Pat on the back for staying in there 40 minutes. We have a friend that uses a bag for the "non-liquid stuff". Hmmm. I've actually been thinking about that alternative when at a marina.
ReplyDeletePhillipe - the old tank was 32 gallons - it was a huge aluminum cylinder...took up SO much room. I think we're putting in an 8- 10 gallon...square in shape.
ReplyDeleteWhere the poop goes is just one of those things that I would rather not have to think about. I have a feeling that was some old poop draining out of that pipe. OK, now I have to go puke into our "head," which is luckily connected to the sewer (again, don't really care how, just know it is).
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite posts to date. I can literally hear your voice as you're describing this revolting task. I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteI've crawled into our refrigerator (in order to clean it) but I will never set foot into the holding tank!! OMG!
ReplyDeleteI laughed so hard at this that my sides hurt and my face turned red. My wife walked in and asked what was the matter. I showed her your post and she nearly wet herself with laughter. Thank you for sharing your story of adventure time in the potty locker. :)
ReplyDeleteMy wife says in her best pirate voice "Not me matie, that there be man's work." :)
This post is absolutely hilarious! And, I have to say - you ARE a tough cookie - for doing these dirty jobs and for sharing them with us! Respect. :)
ReplyDeletePaula
OMG...I may be smaller than Capt'n...I may deal with hospital setting human "stuff"...but to do what you did...you get a major gold star!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Sailing...enjoy your blog.
Doll (& Capt'n too)
I'm of the opinion that we Westerners are what Freud termed anal compulsive. We react with absolute horror at the thought of letting even one ounce of our biological bi-product enter the ocean. Yet we pump the animals we eat full of toxins and hormones that alter the genetic and molecular character of our bodies and send signals that confuse them into cancerous behavior. And that same genetically active pollution eventually becomes part of our drinking water supply.
ReplyDeleteI lived aboard for five years in a marina with 1500 boats in it, at least 100 of them livaboards. Fortunately it was subject to a substantial tidal range which helped keep it clean. Assuming that every liveaboard pumped directly overboard, what do you think was the major cause of bio-active pollution? 1500 boat bottoms coated with toxic leaching paint designed to poison marine life? The 1000 car parking lot with leaked oil, asphalt, and asbestos brake dust flushed into the marina with every rain? Or the turds from 100 humans that were avidly consumed by fish and crabs?