Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Boat Projects - Watermaker Fine Tuning

New value and switch
Until now, when Tom made water (ROH2O), he would get it going, test the water quality and then put the hose into a tank via our deck fill.  It was simple and worked just fine this past season but he knew eventually he wanted to run a hose so that it would fill directly into one or both tanks.  In typical Tom project fashion, he has been thinking, researching, and designing it in his head for a while now.  He eventually came up with a plan and this week put it into action.
Running the hose behind the microwave
KISS method- Keep It Simple Stupid -is something we try to live by on our boat. Tom routed the hose from the watermaker (located in the cockpit locker) through the port side behind the microwave and down the hose run from the deck plates and into tank #2.  While back in the states, he made up a simple diverter value (3 way) and switch plate ......I told you his been thinking about this for a while.  Sample mode allows him to take a sample reading of the water quality using a short bit of hose.  Tank mode of course allows the ROH2O to flow directly into the tank.
Mounting the 3 way and switch plate
With the Christmas Winds blowing 20-25 knots each day and thus our wind generator whizzing along in combination with the solar panels, the power grid on s/v Honey Ryder has been topped up rather nicely each day.  And this includes making ROH2O for at least 2 hours each day - no engine.  Wind and solar only!!  Free ROH2O from free wind and sun.  :) :) big grins on our faces.  

7 comments:

  1. Nice job, you two. I am sure other cruisers are green with envy. And you are just green! :-)

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  2. Sabrina, I really do enjoy reading about your adventures. Keep them coming. Living my dream through you!! Terri Tilford

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  3. Nice work. I am similar to Tom and have been thinking about where and how I would add a water maker for some time. Some nice ideas here I may steal.

    Fair winds,

    Jesse
    s/v Smitty

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    1. Thanks for the comments and for following along. Fair Winds.

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  4. So glad to finally meet you guys. Great boat! BTW, doesn't "water maker" sound God like? Hope to see you guys along the way. Thsnk for your hospitality. Ed & Cheryl - Slowdown

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    1. Hum? No. Water maker sounds like a simple name for great invention. Glad we got to meet you two as well. We will keep our ears and eyes open for you two down island.

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