A driftwood shelter on the beach welcomes visitors with a machete for coconuts
On the white sand beach at Tahuata, Lauren came across a rustic driftwood hut with a carved crossbeam reading 'WELCOME TO PARADISE,' decorated with shells and a machete stuck into a post. The machete was left there for visitors to use for opening coconuts, though Lauren noted she could not spot many coconuts nearby.
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Sometimes replacing the whole toilet assembly is faster than chasing seal failures
Lauren's aft head had seals replaced a couple of times and still was not working properly. Rather than continuing to chase individual seal failures, she decided to replace the entire assembly. The result: two out of three heads on the boat
Heavy calcium buildup in hoses can defeat even a new toilet pump
On the master head, Lauren replaced the pump assembly but the toilet still was not working correctly. Her suspicion is that the hose itself has too much calcium buildup inside it, meaning the new pump is fighting against a restricted line.
Sail shops can be genuinely helpful when you are single-handed
When Lauren picked up her sail from the sail shop, the woman there and her assistant offered to help carry it back to the boat, recognizing that getting a sail aboard solo is not easy. That kind of assistance from a marina or sail loft can