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#1
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What again? Another thread on watermakers?
As work work quietens down, it's time to look at the next stage of the fit out for "Hinewai" - the water system (Thanks for a great thread back in September - v.useful in the planning stage). But we'd welcome your thoughts on Water Makers. "Hinewai" is a 44 steel ketch and most of the time there'll only be Jean and I on board. However, for longer passages, we'd plan on having a couple of helpers so we're allowing for 4 persons on board. We're allowing for passage water use of 5 gallons (25ltr) per day per person - say 100ltr per day. We carry c. 500 ltr of water in the tanks. We have good solar and wind power generation which, to date, has been more than enough for keeping the batteries topped up (but then we don't bother that much with the refrigeration at the moment and downwind sailing in the tropics will degrade the output from the fan). We have a reasonable house battery bank of 520AH and are allowing running the engine an hour a day, but we don't have room around the engine for extra pulley etc so the water maker will have to be driven 12VDC. Looking at the various options and allowing for our budget of around Aus$10K, we're probably in the market for a water maker producing c.50ltr per hour. These seem to draw c.15A in that time. But, the big question is which system? Down here in Australia, two makes predominate. Spectra and PUR (or Katadyn as it seems to now be called). All things being equal and assuming we look after the things right, do any kind readers have any experiences, views, thoughts, comparisons, etc about either - or any suggestions on alternatives? Giving something back - especially for steel boat owners. We currently have two steel water tanks of 300 ltr each, one side being hull plate, each with a centre baffle. As part of this exercise, we opened up out water tanks to inspect them and were staggered at the breakdown of the paint system from our last inspection a year ago - the insides looked like those shots of the Titanic with its rusticles (but at least the clean water we were getting at the taps showed the filter was still working). With a manic grin and grinder in hand, I'm heading off to the boat this weekend to cut the tops off the tanks. We'll sort out the paint and the rust, line the tanks and are then installing four water bladders - one either side of the baffle in each tank. I reckon this will cost us some 50-100ltr capacity, but it will mean no more rust worries and we only risk loosing 25% of our water if a "tank" gets contaminated, not 50%. We'll retain the water integrity of the lower part of the tank so if a bladder lets go, the water will be caught. Well, hopefully it will work for us. Thanks Peter (Also posted to rec.boats.cruising, uk.rec.sailing and aus.sport sailing) www.oceanodyssey.net "Do not measure your life by the number of breaths you take, Rather by the number of times life just takes your breath away" |
#2
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What again? Another thread on watermakers?
Stick with Spectra. How about setting up a good system to catch rainwater?
Also take a look here for a good coating for the inside of those tanks...Stinky solvent based, but once it's cured works well. OK for potable water. http://www.microleak.com/brochnew.htm "Peter" Peter@ wrote in message ... As work work quietens down, it's time to look at the next stage of the fit out for "Hinewai" - the water system (Thanks for a great thread back in September - v.useful in the planning stage). But we'd welcome your thoughts on Water Makers. "Hinewai" is a 44 steel ketch and most of the time there'll only be Jean and I on board. However, for longer passages, we'd plan on having a couple of helpers so we're allowing for 4 persons on board. We're allowing for passage water use of 5 gallons (25ltr) per day per person - say 100ltr per day. We carry c. 500 ltr of water in the tanks. We have good solar and wind power generation which, to date, has been more than enough for keeping the batteries topped up (but then we don't bother that much with the refrigeration at the moment and downwind sailing in the tropics will degrade the output from the fan). We have a reasonable house battery bank of 520AH and are allowing running the engine an hour a day, but we don't have room around the engine for extra pulley etc so the water maker will have to be driven 12VDC. Looking at the various options and allowing for our budget of around Aus$10K, we're probably in the market for a water maker producing c.50ltr per hour. These seem to draw c.15A in that time. But, the big question is which system? Down here in Australia, two makes predominate. Spectra and PUR (or Katadyn as it seems to now be called). All things being equal and assuming we look after the things right, do any kind readers have any experiences, views, thoughts, comparisons, etc about either - or any suggestions on alternatives? Giving something back - especially for steel boat owners. We currently have two steel water tanks of 300 ltr each, one side being hull plate, each with a centre baffle. As part of this exercise, we opened up out water tanks to inspect them and were staggered at the breakdown of the paint system from our last inspection a year ago - the insides looked like those shots of the Titanic with its rusticles (but at least the clean water we were getting at the taps showed the filter was still working). With a manic grin and grinder in hand, I'm heading off to the boat this weekend to cut the tops off the tanks. We'll sort out the paint and the rust, line the tanks and are then installing four water bladders - one either side of the baffle in each tank. I reckon this will cost us some 50-100ltr capacity, but it will mean no more rust worries and we only risk loosing 25% of our water if a "tank" gets contaminated, not 50%. We'll retain the water integrity of the lower part of the tank so if a bladder lets go, the water will be caught. Well, hopefully it will work for us. Thanks Peter (Also posted to rec.boats.cruising, uk.rec.sailing and aus.sport sailing) www.oceanodyssey.net "Do not measure your life by the number of breaths you take, Rather by the number of times life just takes your breath away" |
#3
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What again? Another thread on watermakers?
"Peter" Peter@ wrote in message ... As work work quietens down, it's time to look at the next stage of the fit out for "Hinewai" - the water system (Thanks for a great thread back in September - v.useful in the planning stage). But we'd welcome your thoughts on Water Makers. "Hinewai" is a 44 steel ketch and most of the time there'll only be Jean and I on board. However, for longer passages, we'd plan on having a couple of helpers so we're allowing for 4 persons on board. We're allowing for passage water use of 5 gallons (25ltr) per day per person - say 100ltr per day. We carry c. 500 ltr of water in the tanks. That's a LOT of water per day. Typically while cruising we would use 2 gal/person/day. This does not include extra water for washing clothes (about 15 gallons required for hand washing 2 people's clothing in tropics after 2 weeks). 2 gal/person/day would be enough for a fresh water shower every 2-3 days and a fresh water rinse every day after swimming. If you have the budget Spectra is the better option. -- Evan Gatehouse you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me ceilydh AT 3web dot net (fools the spammers) |
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