Safari 30 bunkhouse owners club!

[Minnie's Mate]

Any body know if plumber's putty or silicone tape would work?

[AZstreamin]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

Any body know if plumber's putty or silicone tape would work?

most plumber's putty should not be used on plastic. the oil in the putty breaks down the plastic over time.

I had the same leak problems when I first purchased my BH. must have been a sleepy line worker.. the nylon compression fitting ring was just stuffed in the pipe sideways and the pipes under the sink were screwed together loose.. it was an easy fix and haven't had a problem since...

[rluhr]

Our experience has been like Rick's: once a small leak, and since being tightened it has never happened again. We've towed close to 60k miles at this point.

Krista, don't get paranoid about what the dealer said. Crumbs of food down the drain are not a problem. You can do your dishes without fear. Just don't dump large quantities of food down the drain like you might with a household "Insinkerator" disposal unit.

In any case, a little enzyme-type ("green" or "formaldehyde free") black tank chemical down the sinks once in a while is a good idea -- it helps digest any food particles that get into the gray tank.

[Minnie's Mate]

Digest-it was recommended to us by a fellow camper. It is difficult to find, though. But I was told we should put it in the black tank and in the gray as well to break down grease.

Also, I was told that if you hook up to sewer and leave gray valve open, the grease will coat the bottom of the tank and create problems. Not sure about that piece of advise, though. Seems the grease would either coat the bottom or coat the sides a la bath tub ring. If you put the enzyme type treatment in there with a little gray water and travel with it for a while, the enzyme will get stirred around evenly, or at least will swim around to all parts of the tank submerged in the water and eat away at whatever is in there. I generally try to leave a few gallons in the gray tank for this purpose and to keep the seals from drying out.

[rluhr]

Our experience has supported that theory about problems resulting when the gray valve is left open. For two years we closed the gray valve and only used it for dumping. This left the pipe pretty clean after dumping.

Then we stopped for three months and lived in the Airstream with the gray valve mostly left open. A disgusting slime mat built up in the dump pipe and hose. (The slime mat is a layer of bacteria that is feeding on organic material.)

We have been using enzyme-based tank chemicals to encourage the breakdown of this mat, and have resumed our practice of closing the gray valve except to dump, but progress has been slow. After a month of use, the pipe is just now coming clean again.

There's no question in my mind that prevention is far better than cure in this case. I agree with the advice to leave the gray valve closed rather than letting it run for long periods of time, and to keep some chemical/water mix in the tanks to help organic material break down inside them when the trailer is stored.

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by FORTSTANLEY

Hey Minnies Mate-
Got some Georgia questions for you, if you don't mind. Or anyone else whose been down this way. We are heading to Orlando shortly from Charleston, and there are a couple of places about 1/2 way- Jekyll Island or St. Marys. Both sound very interesting and wondered if you had any personal experience at either place. Thanks!
Krista

Jekyll Island is a beautiful and quaint little island full of rich, and I do mean rich, history. It is one of Georgia's five Golden Isles.

The island was purchased in the late 19th century as a private retreat for America's wealthiest upper crust to escape the New England winters. While most of the members of the exclusive Jekyll Island Club stayed in the main lodge during their stay, several members built beautiful "cottages" on the mainland side of the island in what is called "millionaire's village". Such cottage owners were the Macy's, the original owners of the dept. stores, the Van der Bilts, the Astors, the Pullitzers, the Firestones, and the Cranes (of Crane bathroom fixtures), and others. These Victorian jewels are open to the public for a small tour fee for self-guided tours. The main lodge is now a luxury hotel in the Westin chain, I believe.

Most of the cottages (mansions by today's standards) have been fully restored. One of the most spectacular restorations is the chapel with its dark stained Victorian/Gothic revival interior and stunning stained glass window. Try to visit it in the morning as the window deliberately faces east and is simply gorgeous with the sunlight streaming through. The very first transatlantic telephone call was made from Jekyll Island in the early 1900's.

The state recently completed a wonderful suspension bridge to Jekyll Island that is work of art in itself. The design has one awards and has been featured in many commercials and movies because of its design.

The island was purchased by the State of Georgia shortly after WWII. There were German U-boat sightings and more than one ship torpedoed off the shore of the island during the War and the members no longer felt safe so participation dwindled so the club closed and sold the island to the State with certain provisos. While there are a number of homes on the island, none are built on private property; they are all built on leased land. There are only a few lodging options and one campground as I recall on the island but a number of restaurants and two or three golf courses. Because of the State's tight building regulations (at least until now) nearly all of the beaches are pristine and undeveloped. They are as they always have been. Unfortunately, the State is planning to open the entire island up for redevelopment that will end its current state of natural appeal.

I am less familiar with St. Mary's. I know that St. Mary's is experiencing quite a renaissance recently with wonderful salt-marsh developments and new golf courses and is becoming not only a tourist destination for the golf and access to both the inter-coastal waterway and direct access to the Atlantic, but as a vacation home resort as well. There is a Naval Base with one of America's main submarine bases on-site and there are lots of deep-sea fishing opportunities as well.

Of the two, I would highly recommend Jekyll Island for the history, natural beauty, and tranquility. The only caveat I can add is that there can be tons of mosquito's at certain times of the year (other times not) and 30 years ago, the shrimp boats often came too close to shore and would stir up the bottom of the ocean floor and cause the water to be murky on the windward side of the island. Not a place for snorkeling, but a nice beach for sun bathing.