Steve wrote:
I realize, under normal harbor conditions, it is not recommended to run your
watermaker inport. Due, I assume, to the probability of contaminated sea
(harbor) water..
However, I have been planning on living aboard my boat at a marina dock over
this winter.. I just realized that they turn off the fresh water to the dock
and all outside faucets in mid Oct/early Nov. until about May. I hate to
consider filling water cans in the head and hauling water all winter..
Yet, I have abundant shore power (pay a flat rate) and a 8 gph watermaker
that needs to be operated periodically. I may be upgrading to 24 gph. Also,
I have a UV sterilizer in the product water line, FWIW.
I'm not a squimish guy and have confidence that there aren't any other boats
dumping sewage at the marina (I will be the only liveaboard). All the other
boats have potta potties.
The marina is located in the pristine waters of Hood Canal, where there are
extreme tidal flows daily. Only during the spring floods of the Skokomish
river, is the water ever cloudy to the point I can't see my prop.
From my cruising of the Puget Sound, this summer, I find I average about 2
gal of water per day. That includes several (boat) showers a week, onboard.
Laundry was done onshore. The marina has no showers and no hot water in the
shore heads.
Thoughts, comments, experiences??
Move South! :-)
Seriously, the problem is not the quality of the product water but the
possibility of sucking oil and other contaminants into the membranes and
damaging them. If your intake is deep in the hull and the marina has
good circulation you may get away with minimum damage but it is not
going to do them any good. YOu might want to add an oil separator
upstream of the prefilters and be sure to check the prefilters regularly.
Also I think you will find live aboard water consumption considerably
higher than cruising consumption. I sure hope you have some shore side
friends who will let you use their shower or you are going to be really
ripe come March at 2 gal/day. :-)
--
Glenn Ashmore
I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
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