T&T: Fw: Fresh water

[Larry N. Brown]

> My question is about modern needs
> for water and use of water makers. I think the reverse osmosis water 
> makers
> require good clean water, so you need to get way offshore to run them, but
> with the engine running all day providing electricity for the water maker, 
> or
> even if it is driven off the motor, is there any reason to carry more than 
> a
> few days supply?
>
> I imagine that these older boats used the water tanks as
> ballast, but that space might be better used for other purposes. Just
> wondering
>
> Thanks for your thoughts
>
> Mike
> San Rafael, CA

Mike,

Perhaps I can fill in a few blanks. There are many philosophies on this 
subject and here's mine. I was having some MAJOR refitting done to Cigano 
and a fellow at the yard convinced me I needed more fuel capability. I had 
400 gallons of fuel and 2 x 200 water tanks which had been certificated as 
fuel tanks but used for water. I had the yard plumb them in as fuel tanks. 
Some might call it overkill but I'm still burning $2.95 diesel.

The only area large enough for water tanks was under the aft stateroom bed. 
I installed 2 x 60 gal  Ronco plastic tanks. We have 2  Tecma freshwater 
flushing toilets, a washer/drier and we cook aboard all the time so we use a 
lot of water. Fill the tanks about every 3 days.  To make up for our small 
water capacity, I bought an Aquamarine 40 gph water maker which runs off my 
Kohler 240 vac genset.  http://www.aquamarineinc.net/content/home.html  It's 
been installed and in service for well over a year and it's a good unit. 
Relatively easy to install. By the way, a 40 gph unit is identical to a 20 
but it has two membranes instead of one. A 60 would have 3 membranes. Once 
you've sprung for the membranes, it requires no additional power or expense- 
until replacement time.

The manufacturer says that if you go over 2 week without use, you have to 
pickle the membrane. Here at the dock, we use city water. Every 2 weeks, we 
let one tank get really low and then fill it with RO water. This insures 
there's no chlorine in the water when we flush out the membrane. Good for 
another 2 weeks.

Now, about the "good, clean, water". We've operated the watermaker in 
everything from muddy river water to brackish to clean salt water. Only 
difference we see is the psi it takes to get 40 GPH flow. Only caveat is not 
to suck in oil and to have good prefiltration. Our raw water intake is 3 
1/2' below the water line so we don't worry about oil which floats on the 
surface. The Aquamarine unit comes with a 25 and a 5 micron prefilter unit. 
Operating in the river, we rinse them out after every tank fill and re use 
them till they no longer allow water through. Don't worry about going way 
offshore to get clean water, just watch the filters.  In the ICW, Andina 
installed a small swimming pool, sand, back-flushable filter. I'd do that if 
I had the room. (Anyone know of a really small filter like this?) 
Additionally, I have an UV bug killer to zap anything that could possibly 
have made it through the membrane.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Regards,

Larry and Teri
M/V Cigano, 47' Prairie Sundeck Cruiser
Lying: 64 Cypress Road
          Covington, LA