Steve,

Every boat is a series of compromises. Over the life span of a boat,
how many times do you think that your boat will be 10 days away from
another source of fresh water? For me it's been never and I sereously
doubt that I'll ever make a Pacific crossing, which is the only time
that I could foresee this as an issue. Other than that, I've got
sufficient other liquids aboard that we could consume before getting to
a port with water.

Two water tanks would be great, as would two fuel tanks, an additional
main/foresail, etc, but storage space is also a very important commodity
for those things that are needed on a regular basis.

I'm personally more worried about the mechanical portion of the
watermaker failing. I actually have two watermakers aboard, one 12V and
the other 120V. I thought that I had things covered, but last year when
we were in the Acklin islands of tbe Bahamas, a high pressure hose
developed a leak and I didn't have a spare. Getting one shipped in
(along with a spare) was a huge headache, costly, and took about a week.

-- Geoff

"Steve Lusardi" wrote in
:

Geoff,
Nothing is bullet proof. One water tank is not acceptable with or
without a watermaker. There are a myiad of things that could foul the
contents of a water tank and a watermaker is just one of them. With
two tanks and a failure, you have a back-up. Make space, generate a
second tank and direct the output of the watermaker to just one of
them with a transfer pump that can move contents from one to the
other. Just consider that you are 10 days from the nearest water
supply and your only, very ample water supply becomes contaminated and
your plan is? Steve

"Geoff Schultz" wrote in message
.. .
Steve,

How are you claiming that watermakers fail? The only failures that
I've heard of are by cracking the membrane due to over pressurization
or sudden pressure change. In general they fail when someone hasn't
pickeled the system and then you don't get much output or the TDS is
too high. I've never heard of one failing during a production run.

I always check the TDS meter at the start of the run and at the end
of the run and I always see better TDS readings at the end. I pump
directly into my main (and only) tank and have never had any
problems.


-- Geoff

"Steve Lusardi" wrote in
:

Peter,
You have received some pretty good responses to your query, but what
troubles me is your query. Please tell me you are NOT pumping the
output of your watermaker into your main water tank, because it very
much sounds like that is what you are doing. Please be aware that
these watermakers fail and that their failure can contaminate the
output. It is always wise to use an intermediate tank and then do a
manual transfer after checking that the generated water is OK.
Steve


"Herodotus" wrote in message
...
Hi,
Does anybody know if an activated charcoal filter removes chlorine
from fresh water such as that taken on board from municipal
supplies

I read the following within an article in "Ocean Navigator" -
online

"A charcoal filter is also required to prevent chlorine in water
from dockside sources getting to the membrane. It should be placed
in the system before the watermaker when tank water is used during
backflushing."

Further, I have had an activated charcoal filter for drinkable
water using the cartridge disposable household plumbing in-line
filter for years but have no idea as to how often one should change
them.

Anybody know?

regards
Peter






--
-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org






--
-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org