Many of the hoses under the cockpit showed dry rot; cracks in the rubber, and a brittleness. Hose clamps were stainless steel, but not the adjusting screw/bolt. Many of the bolts were rusted beyond recognition.
It was important that the integrity of the hoses and hose clamps were evident; thus. hoses were replaced with PVC hoses -- the original hoses were made of rubber that had a wire embedded within the hose wall in order to provide strength, and hose clamps were replaced with all stainless steel to ensure that the adjusting screws didn't rust.
Working under the cockpit was an exercise in physical contortion. Having to lie upside down at inhuman angles gave me the opportunity to practice new yoga positions not yet documented in the yoga 1000+ history.
The month of March provided cold winds and conditions that were not conducive to the sailor who unknowingly practices yoga positions typically practiced by creatures absent of a skeleton structure.
In the picture provide above, one may note the old rubber hoses toward the left, while the new PVC hoses are located toward the right.
Now that the hoses are in place and secured with clamps -- two at each important connection, water will flow out from scuppers, from the bilge pump, and from the water tank as appropriate out the transom.
