Heads UP!!!

"A ship is always referred to as 'she' because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder." Chester W. Nimitz

It was Thursday; we were exhasuted; we had come through 20+ bridges, in some cases, waiting for 45 minutes for one to open.  Our lovely 6NM/hour had been shaved to 4NM/hour.  We would not make it to Ft. Lauderdale.  It was already 1700 and the staff at Lighthouse Point Marina was set to go home.  We barely made it.  Just after we tied UP, John visited the head.  I heard a deep groan.  He stepped out of the head with the toilet seat in his hand.  The plastic that had once attached it to the lid looked rotted.  Can that happen?  Looks like it did.  With a land based shower and bath only steps away, we decided to set aside the challenge of replacing the toilet seat until Friday.  After all, I had found the original owner's manual in our boat documentation and was armed with the Bemis part number: 1238A.  (Or so I thought.)

Friday morning, we explored the internet looking for the seat, using the part number, to no avail.  We found nothing even somewhat similar.  We were tied up near Vero Beach so we called the local West Marine which looked UP 1238A and, lo and behold, found one--and only one--in all of Florida at the Ft. Lauderdale store.  As luck would have it, a delivery from said store was expected over the lunch hour.  Yippee!!!  As we gathered our things to go ashore and get a taxi, we noticed that the skies had opened UP and a downpour was underway.  The universe must have a rule, we figure:  if the O'Neals need to go ashore, let it pour.  With slickers on, we were driven to the West Marine--not close.  Total cab fare for outbound and return was $45.  Nonetheless, we had our seat.  We were thrilled.  Back to boat.  Within minutes, we could see that the new seat:  1238A was about three inches shorter than our broken seat.  It would not even be possible to "make it work."  Sad, and out the cost of the seat, since in Florida, there is a state law that prohibits the return of such items.  The Captain did the only thing possible:  he duct taped the seat to the hinges and restored it to the bowl, so we could depart the next day, which we did.

On Saturday, it was only six bridges to get to Ft. Lauderdale where we entered the Atlantic for a lovely--and uneventful--sail to Miami.  We settled on Dinner Key Marina in Biscayne Bay.  Again we did some internet research on Sunday (found a Bemis seat that was a bit shorter each way but might work) and arranged for an early Monday rental car.  We got the phone numbers for Bemis customer service; for the local Home Depot, which was clearly a Bemis vendor; and for several plumbing stores in the Coconut Grove area.

Early Monday, with the heavens dropping rain in sheets, we set off to the local Enterprise.  Along the way, we contacted the local Home Depot which only sold two Bemis seats:  one too short and one too long.  We also left a message at Gratitude Yachting Center in Maryland where we originally purchased Llyrical hoping for some direction.  At Enterprise, we learned of a local chandlery which might, just might, sell toilet seats for Marine heads.  That chandlery did not but referred us to another that did.  They had a Bemis seat which sounded like it might work.  While driving there, we heard from Gratitude that they had a seat they could overnight to us.  We also heard back from the kitchen and bath sales rep at Home Depot.  He had decided to contact the manufacturer's rep for the head, with offices in Coconut Beach, and, lo and behold, they had a seat too. 

By then, we had arrived at Hopkins and Carter Marine Supplies and, indeed, their seat was in all respects identical except for the fitting that attaches the seat to the bowl.  We purchased it with a wish and a promise, returned to the boat, and were quite pleased to see it fit perfectly.  We let Gratitude and Home Depot know we did not need their seats.

I am sure if I were the Captain, I would have some clever pun that would sum up my lesson learned.  We got our seat and with good weather can depart.  UP, UP and away!  sandra