This is the bilge on our boat. It's usually covered up by a floorboard because it's scary inside. Wires, hoses, bilge pumps, keel bolts and the thing you don't want to see. . .water. Water belongs on the outside of your boat, not the inside.
We're in the rainy season and there's been a lot of thunderstorms. So much rain. So much water. So much water that isn't content to drip off of the decks, but instead likes to worm its way inside and drain into the bilge. Where exactly it's coming from is anyone's guess.
Every day, I've been monitoring the bilge and draining water out of it. When it gets too high, the automatic bilge pump takes over. But because our manual bilge pump is acting up, I do my part too, by emptying it out myself with a tiny cup and my trusty turkey baster. Yes, a turkey baster. I told you life on a sailboat is weird.
Turkey basters aren't just for Thanksgiving anymore, they can get liquid out of hard to reach spots, including the marine toilet when you need to change the joker valve. Don't worry, I made sure to label my baster with a warning >>Do Not Use On Turkeys<<.
It's amazing how much more relaxed I am these days about water in the bilge. I remember back a few years ago when we had an issue and I thought out boat was going to sink. Nowadays, I just sigh and get out my turkey baster and reflect on the weirdness of life.
{You can read more about how Nancy Drew's investigation of The Case of the Slowly Sinking Ship here.}
What's weird about your life? Do you have to label your turkey baster?
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Fortunately, I'm sure you don't cook turkeys often on the boat.
ReplyDeleteYeah, probably couldn't fit one in my tiny oven :-)
DeleteOkay. You cracked me up and so did Alex.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Darla - glad you got a bit of a giggle from it :-)
DeleteI always wondered what a bilge was.
ReplyDeleteSailors have their own vocabulary, that's for sure. I now know way more than I ever wanted to about bilges.
DeleteUmm I've managed to get through life thus far without a turkey baster. Hopefully as I'm never likely to have to worry about bilge pumps it will continue that way lol
ReplyDeleteI don't know, maybe you need to get a turkey baster. You don't know what you're missing out on :-)
DeleteNo need to suck any water out of a bilge pump here, so I'm all good. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're a lucky woman :-)
DeleteI always have trouble with the what's weird about your life question, because I forget what's weird once it becomes normal. This question came up on one of my groups the other day - I said, well of course pooping in a bucket is weird, but perhaps what is weirder is that on my expenses spread sheet I under utilities i list the normal water and propane, and then the unusual, wood shavings (to cover the poop in the bucket with).
ReplyDeleteSince I don't eat turkey - my turkey baster is free to do all kind of awful and gross things label free.
Pooping in a bucket is very weird :-) I love that you have your wood shavings listed under utilities.
DeleteWe have a weird life, and it sometimes involves water that gets into the house where it shouldn't. We've had to label our strainers -- they keep the rocks out of the fountain pumps that drain the hole in the foundation. Told you our house is weird.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't sound like a good kind of weird with foundation issues :-(
DeleteWhat's not weird in my life? Ha!
ReplyDeleteNever knew a turkey baster could be so useful.
Who know turkey basters could me a multi-functional tool :-)
DeleteIf you want weird look up turkey baster in Google, that's weird
ReplyDeleteI just did and found some real weirdness :-)
DeleteLOLOL!! "it's just not for Thanksgiving anymore".
ReplyDeleteLove it!!
I don't even own one. How have I made it through life this far, I'll never know ;)
- Lisa
Wow - how did you make it through life without a turkey baster? They're the best :-)
DeletePlease tell me where you get your turkey basters? I have water in my bilges tooo...I dream about the barge sinking!
ReplyDeleteI have nightmares like that too about our boat sinking :-( I just got our turkey baster at Walmart in the kitchen section.
DeleteAh, no Walmart here in NL and turkey is not big here, but I shall prevail! I really need one, I think :)
DeleteThey really are a great thing to have on board. Hope you can source one.
DeleteI'm excited for you and the new pathways that are opening up. Life does throw some curve balls at times. I'm glad they're good curve balls heading your way, albeit a bit terrifying.
ReplyDeleteTurkey basters are great for getting motor oil out of the transmission fluid reservoir in a truck (don't ask how I know that.) But I've never used one for a bilge. Great tip! Lol.
ReplyDeleteGreat use for a turkey baster!
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