Scale buildup in the head plumbing

[kalinowski]

I’ve just completed the wonderful task of rebuilding the head in Lady Leanne for the first time. My experience with this process is limited to the head in my Hunter, which has always been in fresh water.

I was amazed at the scale buildup I had to scrape out of LL’s head fittings. After research, I found that urine mixes with salt water and creates this accretion, similar to kidney stones. If not dealt with, it will choke the lines. I learn something new every day.

How do the rest of you deal with this problem? Is there some additive you use or do just put this chore on the continuing maintenance list?

Dan Kalinowski
Lady Leanne II (#135)
Honolulu

[john stevenson]

Dan,
Distilled vinegar is a good solvent for scale.  Flush it into the system and let it sit for a few days each year or more often.  I'm not sure scale is the result of urine mixing with salt water.  I have a composting head which collects the urine in a bottle with no fresh or salt water.  I still get scale on the walls of the bottles.  Not like on sewage hoses with salt water, but it still accumulates.

On Sat, Dec 19, 2009 at 3:57 PM, kalinowski < ([email][/email])> wrote:

I've just completed the wonderful task of rebuilding the head in Lady Leanne for the first time. My experience with this process is limited to the head in my Hunter, which has always been in fresh water.

I was amazed at the scale buildup I had to scrape out of LL's head fittings. After research, I found that urine mixes with salt water and creates this accretion, similar to kidney stones. If not dealt with, it will choke the lines. I learn something new every day.

How do the rest of you deal with this problem? Is there some additive you use or do just put this chore on the continuing maintenance list?

Dan Kalinowski
Lady Leanne II (#135)
Honolulu

—
Regards,
John Stevenson
http://www.svsarah.com

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[madsailor]

Urea crystallizes.  That's a part of urine.  But with salt water it's much worse as you get the salts out of the water as well (not just sodium chloride).  Anyway, regular soaks in oil and vinegar will both keep the head lubricated and also dissolve the salt build up in the hoses. 

If your lines are already plugged or nearly so, get a gallon of cheap vinegar and pump it in without the seawater (just put in head, pump dry) let sit for a couple of days, throw some toilet paper in and pump it through with fresh water.  Do that a couple of times and you'll be good to go, pun intended.

I do it twice a year as I live aboard.  A gallon of cheap vinegar is like $2.00

Bob

—
Bob Fine
s/v Pelican
Pearson 424 Hull #8
http://thesailinglife.blogspot.com
Follow me at: http://www.tinyurl.com/WhereIsBobFine

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[kalinowski]

Thanks for the tip! I’ll try the vinegar paper trick to see if I can give it a clean “wipe””.

Dan kalinowski
Lady LeanneII (#135)
Honolulu

[Adam Silverstein]

While you’re thinking about that, a little vegetable oil in the manual pooper keeps the parts lubed and the seals healthy. Vinegar and oil. I don’t add them at the same time because putting salad dressing in the wc subtly disturbs me.

Adam Silverstein, iPhone

On Dec 21, 2009, at 11:21 PM, “kalinowski” < ([email][/email])> wrote:

Thanks for the tip! I’ll try the vinegar paper trick to see if I can give it a clean “wipe””.

Dan kalinowski
Lady LeanneII (#135)
Honolulu

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[madsailor]

It shouldn't bother you unless you add oregano and garlic.  🙂

Bob

On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 6:49 AM, adam silverstein < ([email][/email])> wrote:

While you're thinking about that, a little vegetable oil in the manual pooper keeps the parts lubed and the seals healthy. Vinegar and oil. I don't add them at the same time because putting salad dressing in the wc subtly disturbs me.

Adam Silverstein, iPhone

—
Bob Fine
s/v Pelican
Pearson 424 Hull #8
http://thesailinglife.blogspot.com
Follow me at: http://www.tinyurl.com/WhereIsBobFine

Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum

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