Cleaning and pickling the #watermaker - first flushing through with an alkaline cleaning solution that removes organic deposits, then with an acidic solution that removes calcium deposits and remains in the system, "pickling" it to prevent any growth while it sits in hot weather for a few months.

#CruisingLife #TheBoatyard #Desalination

Yeah ! Can now control my watermaker from home automation, and rinse at the press of a button from the other side of the world \o/
Next step is making a custom board with all inputs and outputs.

#homeassistant #esphome #watermaker

#Watermaker filter changed. This bay we've been in has pretty good water, despite being somewhat turbid (visibility 5-6m). The fouling growth on the hull is pretty low too.

So the last filter did pretty well. But I'm also trying out different filters and there's definitely a big quality difference in spun polypropylene filters. The cheapo ones last a week while the good one (at about 3 times the cost) did over a month.

Also foundd some mussel bits in the strainer.

#Desalinator #CruisingLife

The rest of the system is pretty boring by comparison. A few pre-filters/strainers, a fresh-water flushing connection with a activated carbon filter to remove chlorine (which would damage the membrane).

And of course the pump, some through-hulls and a small control panel.

We also added a diverter valve to ours, so the product output can be directed either to a sample tap in the galley or the water tank.

#Watermaker #Cruising #TheBoatyard

The heart of our energy recovery watermaker is a fascinating piece of technology. A hydraulic intensifier with two chambers, driven by a medium pressure (~7 bar) pump on one chamber and the brine pressure of the reverse osmosis membrane on the other, creating the necessary 70+ bar for desalinating seawater.

When it reaches the end, the piston reverses and the chambers swap. A reversing valve at the top controls this, also hydraulic. No cables!

#Watermaker #Desalinator #CruisingLife #Technology

~40 nautical mile leg northwards done. Actually got some nice wind for a while and managed to sail most of the way across the Golfo di Orosei under full Genoa before it packed up again.

Did some endoscopic surgery on the in-mast furling underway and got all the broken bits out. There's hope of fixing this without unstepping the mast yet. Will also have to take the winch out though.

And we had enough power to fill the tank with desalinated water!

#CruisingLife #Sailing #DIY #Repair #Watermaker

Winter is coming. We've test-fired our diesel air heater one chilly and humid morning and today I'm cleaning and pickling the watermaker, which needs to be done to protect the membrane from funky sealife growing in it during the winter months where we don't need it.

#watermaker #desalinator #cruisinglife #liveaboard #boatmaintenance

Small upgrade to our watermaker - a transparent filter housing, so we can see when the pre-filter needs changing, rather than having to guess.

As filter lifespan depends on seawater turbidity, simply counting hours doesn't work. Some places you get really clean water, others it's what we call "turtle soup" (because sea turtles are living in it, and they seem to prefer murkier waters for some reason).

#watermaker #desalinator #cruisinglife #boatmaintenance #plumbing