Water, Water Everywhere (except where it is supposed to be...)

Given that is the middle of May, it is well past time to flush the freshwater system and civilize the time aboard with running water finally.

Filling the tanks is fairly easy and the flush began deceivingly well. Getting a little worried that the water tank level meter was not rising with the ontake of water, I searched and discovered water leaking around the collar of the water filter located on the back wall of the engine compartment.

Progress now stopped, I realized it was time to see if I could fold myself into the engine compartment and confirm an ability to maintain Litha going forward having hired all the big league engine work done recently. With a little discomfort, I reached the filter and determined it was not going to budge.

In searching for a filter collar wrench, I remembered seeing a replacement filter assembly and chuckled to myself as I figured the previous owner knew full well that it needed replacing. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get it done before his health nessitated a sale. I do give him credit though as his spares included all the adapter couplings to make the swap.

With the freshwater fill back in motion, it was time to take a deep breath and see if I could squeeze around to the front left side of the engine compartment and swap out the hand bilge pump given its collar had split and rendered the pump a messy nightmare when I tried to use it. I give Hallberg-Rassy credit for their large access door beneath the companionway steps as it enabled me to reach the front two bilge pump screws easily and the changeout was accomplished fairly easily.

With a freshly pumped bilge and a watertight freshwater system, it was time to reconnect the water heater located at the rear of the cockpit compartment. The previous owner did a nice job of customizing the woodwork within the compartment and installing a not so "quick disconnect" bypass system for use during winterization to keep the antifreeze out of the hot water heater. After a similar uncomfortable experience last fall, I had hoped to modify the tubing this spring with a bit longer runs so that one does not need to fold themselves down and into the back of the compartment to make the connections. Maybe someday, as I decided I just wanted hot water and I wanted it now. A couple more winters and I hope to be south and without a need for winterization anyway, right?

To end on a positive note, the air conditioning appears to work fine as summer arrived early today!