August 8, 2020-Dr. Anthony Faucet

wingssail images-Judy jensen
Dr. Anthony Faucet

Big crisis in Wings’ galley on Wednesday: our faucet broke, suddenly and finally. Well, we could still use the manual foot pump (cold water only) but no water in the head or shower.

Not something we wanted to endure for long.

On the other hand, going under the galley sink to undo the broken faucet and pipes was not a job I relished tackling. Nor the unlikely chance that we’d find a replacement we liked in the Vallarta area.

But, no choice really. So off we headed in the car to find a new faucet. Every plumbing store or fancy kitchen shop was on the list, Home Depot included.

Ah Ha! A ferreteria (hardware store) at the Light House Plaza strip mall had quite a few, and one which we sort-of liked. I asked the clerk if they had them in stock?

“Yes”, he said, and went into the back room. When he came out it was not with that model which was on display at all, but a totally different one which was very much more acceptable to us. And cheap. It was cute. We named it Dr. Anthony Faucet.

But not being positive, and having many more shops to visit, we said we might be back and went on our route.

Well, we found nothing we liked as well, and most that we thought might work were four times as much money.

Back to the Light House Plaza where we dished out the required pesos and adopted Dr Faucet.

Now, back at the boat, we had to install the bugger. Oops! Too late in the day. We put it off to the next day.

Good thing too, because it took all day to do it, and almost every tool I had. Cutting was involved. Metal cutting. Wood cutting. Lots of working on my back under the sink, stretching my arms up at full length into a tiny space which I could not see into. UGH!

I took hourly breaks to shake the stiffness out of my arms.

Final tightening was the hardest. I could only get about 1/8 of a turn at a time and knuckles were skinned frequently. Judy stood at the sink.

I asked, “Is it tight yet?”

“Nope, still wiggles.”

“Oh God, When will this be over?”

It makes toilet pipe jobs seem easy.

Finally Dr Faucet was standing proudly over the sink, which now looks slightly small but, never mind, he’s staying.

I never want to do this again. The last one lasted for 10 years. I am moving off this boat before 10 years rather than do that again.

Click here for another photo.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, La Cruz

Oh! During a break we replaced the oil pressure sending unit on the engine. It’s been a busy three days.