So… water on a boat. Most of the time you don’t want it but in one case you do: the water-tap in the galley. It had been dripping since mid-November and it was one of those jobs that should be easy but in the end are one of those never-ending stories.

When I noticed that the water pump would make a funny noise from time to time, it turned out that the drip caused the pressure to drop and the pump would kick in slightly. Given the history of these pumps, I’d rather not do funny things to them. So should be easy, get a washer, take tap apart, replace washer. It was very corroded and I couldn’t open it with a vice. Nope.

So, let’s find some time to go to Homebase and find a tap I like there. It’s a pretty long bicycle ride but it’s essential as far as I’m concerned. I find a nice tap but when I come back to the boat it has a 26mm hose opening and not 21mm. I would need to enlarge the hole near the sink and get a adaptor from the existing hose. Nope.

OK, so maybe I should get a caravan water tap in that case. I don’t like them, they look flimsy but given the COVID circumstances better a flimsy water tap than a dripping water tap. But when I got it by mail order 2 weeks later it was also not a good idea it turned out. I couldn’t connect my existing hose on it without an adaptor. Nope.

Right at that point it was a beautiful Sunday morning and I was fed up. I took the fancy taps I bought (oh yes they come in pairs and I only need one) to Homebase and take my existing tap and see what can be done.

I found a friendly kitchen salesperson, explained my predicament and he found (almost) exactly the drippy water tap I had brought with me. In pairs. I could go to the surplus area out back to find one but it may have missing bits. I’ll get the pair and fitted it in. Cleaned the old hose and washer inside. Connected it, turn on the tap. Water everywhere. Now that washer is leaking. Fortunately the washers I bought earlier worked even though the opening was a bit too small but now the pump needs to build more pressure and it can handle it. Case closed. Cross fingers.