July 2023 The Watermaker

 

Preparing to Install the Watermaker

In the Bahamas, you are surrounded by some of the world's most beautiful waters, but of course being saltwater means finding potable fresh water can be a challenge.  Most water in the islands is RO (Reverse Osmosis) commercially produced, and often you have to pay 25-75 cents per gallon to fill your water tanks!  The process of hauling jugs of water to the boat is an arduous task as well.  The alternative for independent minded cruisers is to install a de-salination system, or "watermaker".

We were going to make up our own watermaker from different sourced parts, but it was going to take a while to select parts from different companies and hope that they will be compatible.  Finally, we decided to purchase a kit of well engineered parts proven to work reliably.

SeaWater Pro

This is the 40 gallon per hour kit we selected.  To see how these systems work visit;  

https://seawaterpro.com/pages/products

The word "kit" makes it sound easy but there are a lot of parts, hoses that need to be in a particular place, this one with 2 40-inch membranes. We had a ready to use location on board where the original refridgerator compressor compartment had been located. Low and high pressure pumps, filters and valving fit nicely into the available space without taking up any precious available storage room. will reside nearby.

The system control panel hides very nicely in one of the hanging clothes closets.  The water intake and cooling water plumbing were already there from the refridgerator cooling system, greatly simplifying the installation process.

The membranes that separate the salt molecules from the water molecules need to be rinsed with fresh water once a week or so. This kit includes an automatic system that accomplishes this task. If you leave the boat for a few days unattended this process is automatically completed.  

You can watch videos on the SeaWater Pro website to learn more about watermakers.  They have a reputation for really good customer service; that was definitely our experience.

2023-2024 Cruising Plans

2023-2024 

Dave and Claire plan to sail north 

from Delaware to Maine departing the first week in August, returning to Delaware City at the end of September.

After spending a few days provisioning, completing a few tasks, and taking a deep breath, we will sail south from Delaware to Southern Florida via the Intercoastal Waterway then cross the Gulfstream to the Bahamas for the winter.  

 

We will make our way back to Delaware in the Spring- i.e. after it starts to warm up.

Follow us on marinetraffic.com with our MMSI #367492040

Thundercat will come along with us.

This serves as everyone's final warning.

Take cover as needed.

New Solar Panels on the stern rails- July 2023

Two Solar panels will be wired in through an existing deck hole already made for the GPS antenna, though we may need to make the hole a little bigger. We'll seal it well first of course.

We hung them on old bimini piping given us (that seemed brand new). Cut and fitted the front ends into existing stansion holders and the aft to a mid-pipe fitting "end".

They can slide forward or back on the rail if needed. We'll find or make adjustable support bars to angle them up and out. Seems every sailboat that has solar panels has likely had to fashion their own, as there are no standard support arms made. Hatch arms will work, but they most hatches are only made so big, so they are not long enough for our needs.

We want them to be adjusted in a hurry and it's my idea to add reflectors to the front and back edges to remind us and others they are there

Lotsa "stuff" back here now, and adding "windage" at that!  : ) We'll have to work as a team when visibility is needed. The panels will be up most of the time, when we are not at a dock anyway.

Dave already installed the controller and wiring over the winter.