R.I.P. Splendide 7100XC (AKA Captain Grey Skull)
Washer/Dryer
October 24, 2018-February 14, 2021
2 years, 4 months, less 10 days
We Tried.
There was no fixing it. The troubles began when I heard a thumping sound. It sounded like the drum had a flat spot. Fearing a return to my handwashing days, I contacted Westland Sales, which is the parent company of Splendide.
We Were Our Own Service Tech on a Doomed Mission
Westland Sales wanted to send a service technician, but they were in Oregon, and I was in Grenada. So, like most fixes, we asked for the assembly schematic and learned about the washing machine in enormous detail in an attempt to fix it ourselves.
Check the Bearings. Check the Pulley.
“We’ve put a flashlight and tiny camera on a cord (endoscope) into the drum, and we can’t see anything amiss. Are there rollers in the drum? Bearings?”
The National Service Director suggested a couple of possible culprits behind the thumping sound:
“Bearing on an axle in the hub at rear. Check the pulley on the back of the drum.”
Our Splendide 7100XC could not be Saved
The nail in the coffin for our washer/dryer was this note from Westland Sales:
“The drum cannot be separated. It is sealed permanently.”
Beyond replacing a gasket seal, or a glass door (which we did because the door mechanism failed from wear), the Splendide 7100XC is not designed for servicing. It is built with a future in mind.
Cracking open our Splendide 7100XC Washer/Dryer
Resigned to the knowledge that there was no fixing it, Rick used a Fein saw to crack open the outer, plastic drum. I filmed as we discovered what was causing the thumping sound.
Finding Cheap Pot Metal
The inner drum was unseated because the spindle had completely disintegrated. It was made of cheap pot metal — a low-grade alloy with no place on a sailboat. Exposed to sea air, the spindle never stood a chance against corrosion.
I sent the video to the National Service Director at Splendide, noting that there were no issues found with the bearings or the pulley. I have not heard back from him.
Like the Phoenix Rising from the Ashes, the Inner Drum Becomes a Fire Pit
Our machine was thoughtfully dismantled as follows:
The outer walls, plastic drum and corroded spinner went to the landfill
The stainless-steel drum was salvaged by someone in Woburn, Grenada, where it is being used as a backyard fire pit
The rest of the machine was dismantled for spare parts, which we offered to other cruisers
Seeking Washing Machine Replacement
The loss of our washing machine is deeply felt. Not content with returning to a lifestyle of handwashing, we are now looking for a replacement washing machine to fit into the custom hutch in our saloon.
Next blog post in the Laundry Afloat Series: A New Washing Machine for SV Aphrodite
Becoming a Sailor 