s/vYOLO You Only Live Once Swab’s Log Blog
Posting Date: Wednesday December 4, 2013
Las Olas Marina, Ft Lauderdale, Fl.
Mooring 9
December 2, 2013 Monday
Blog Entry 0024 Sailing Seniors Adventure Day
190
Subject: Reverse Osmosis (some say
the synonym for My Life!)
Since this is a very complex and expensive system and
something Captain Steve has never dealt with, he wanted a factory authorized
service tech to look at the system before he used it. There are an exorbitant number of marine
supply stores and technicians in the Ft. Lauderdale area, supposedly more than
anywhere else in the US. But there are
only a handful of service technicians in Ft. Lauderdale and then to find ones
who could service our system, AquaMarine Reverse Osmosis system. ( http://aquamarineinc.net/) Well there are not many factory authorized
service technicians. Actually not many
companies manufacturer reverse osmosis systems.
The problem is that, water makers are very expensive and complex to
install. Although they are relatively
simple to operate, these systems do require daily maintenance when in use. So only about 5% of boats this size has
them. But water maker systems are
economical if you are plan to spend any length of time where drinking water is
scarce, such as the Caribbean or sailing for extended periods. Water can cost $5. - $8. per gallon – then
the quality of the water labeled as potable water is questionable. The requirements for water to be classified
as potable here in the US, is not the same through out the world. (FYI Rum costs a lot less in the
islands! Bear coasts $60. a case! I’m not sure what milk coasts – hopefully
I’ll let you know in January!)
Therefore Captain Steve wanted to get the water maker serviced
before we left Ft. Lauderdale.
So we started to go through the very short list of factory
authorized technicians in the area. The
second one on the list not only answered the phone but would look at it
today. (www.yachtequipmentandparts.com) A hour later Captain Steve
started the dinghy and went to pick him up at the dock.
For the next 3 hours he went through the entire system with
Captain Steve. A clamp had to be
tightened, all the filters were changed and the tech suggested that the gallon
meter should be replaced, but can be bypassed (which is what they did). FYI - The gallon meter measures the amount
of water that is being produced. The
meter is not necessary because you can have a good idea the amount of potable
water that is being processed by the length of time the system is
operating. This system generates 20 to
25 gallons an hour! So basically we just
have to pay attention to the time that it is running.
So we are in great shape!
All systems are a go!
Please send all of your gallon water jugs – I think we might
have a new career – selling water! But I
don’t think we should name it after the boat - some how ‘You Only Live Once’
water is not something I would seek out to buy!
Please let me know your suggestions for a name – just click on Comments!
FYI – Boat names:
‘Just Chummin’ 45 ft fishing boat.
Sea u later! Headed
south!
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