Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 24-09-2018, 15:34   #1
Registered User
 
Chotu's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

I have an older Spectra watermaker. The pumps seem to work but it's been sitting for a decade.

What are the steps I need to take to recommission this thing?

Is there a good way to test it out to see what I have now and what is or isn't working?
Chotu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 16:04   #2
Senior Cruiser
 
newhaul's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: puget sound washington
Boat: 1968 Islander bahama 24 hull 182, 1963 columbia 29 defender. hull # 60
Posts: 12,117
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Give jt a holler
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Profile: Tellie
He is the resident spectra master.
__________________
Non illigitamus carborundum
newhaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 16:53   #3
Registered User
 
Chotu's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by newhaul View Post
Give jt a holler
Cruisers & Sailing Forums - View Profile: Tellie
He is the resident spectra master.
Thank you. He's in South Florida. I'm closer to Maine. I wasn't looking to hire anyone just yet. I'm trying to learn how these watermakers work, how to test them, how to diagnose them and what readings I should have on my pressure and salinity meter thing.

I'm just new with watermakers.
Chotu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 17:10   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 124
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Here you go!
They were always helpful when I had questions for the 12 plus years we owned our Catalina 380 system.

https://www.spectrawatermakers.com/us/us
Bruce Beard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 17:42   #5
Moderator Emeritus
 
a64pilot's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,351
Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chotu View Post
Thank you. He's in South Florida. I'm closer to Maine. I wasn't looking to hire anyone just yet. I'm trying to learn how these watermakers work, how to test them, how to diagnose them and what readings I should have on my pressure and salinity meter thing.



I'm just new with watermakers.

I’m awfully sure that he will talk you though whatever you need to do, without being hired to do so. He doesn’t have an agenda, and won’t have you spending money you don’t need to.
I’d imagine that maybe some components may need some sort of servicing having sat that long, and if you don’t it may cause damage, but that’s just a guess.
a64pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 17:43   #6
Senior Cruiser
 
newhaul's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: puget sound washington
Boat: 1968 Islander bahama 24 hull 182, 1963 columbia 29 defender. hull # 60
Posts: 12,117
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chotu View Post
Thank you. He's in South Florida. I'm closer to Maine. I wasn't looking to hire anyone just yet. I'm trying to learn how these watermakers work, how to test them, how to diagnose them and what readings I should have on my pressure and salinity meter thing.

I'm just new with watermakers.
just give him a call or pm he will be happy to talk you thru any issues over the phone he is a great resource for us all
__________________
Non illigitamus carborundum
newhaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 17:48   #7
Senior Cruiser
 
newhaul's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: puget sound washington
Boat: 1968 Islander bahama 24 hull 182, 1963 columbia 29 defender. hull # 60
Posts: 12,117
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by a64pilot View Post
I’m awfully sure that he will talk you though whatever you need to do, without being hired to do so. He doesn’t have an agenda, and won’t have you spending money you don’t need to.
I’d imagine that maybe some components may need some sort of servicing having sat that long, and if you don’t it may cause damage, but that’s just a guess.
I sent him a pm letting him know assistance is needed. He should be along shortly.
__________________
Non illigitamus carborundum
newhaul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 18:24   #8
Sponsoring Vendor
 
Tellie's Avatar

Community Sponsor

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hollywood, Fl.
Boat: FP Athena 38' Poerava
Posts: 3,984
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Hi Choto, I'd be more than happy to help you out. All I need to know is the model and hopefully the year if your watermaker. We can discuss it here so everyone who might be interested can benefit as well.



Thanks for the PM Newhaul, hope all is well with you and yours.
Tellie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 18:50   #9
Registered User
 
senormechanico's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2003
Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran
Posts: 7,145
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Tellie is a gift to CF.
__________________
The question is not, "Who will let me?"
The question is,"Who is going to stop me?"


Ayn Rand
senormechanico is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 18:58   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Port Aransas, Texas
Boat: 2019 Seawind 1160 Lite
Posts: 2,126
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by senormechanico View Post
Tellie is a gift to CF.
[emoji106]
sailjumanji is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24-09-2018, 19:18   #11
Sponsoring Vendor
 
Tellie's Avatar

Community Sponsor

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hollywood, Fl.
Boat: FP Athena 38' Poerava
Posts: 3,984
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Thanks senormechanico and sailjumanji.



I just finished one of those not so great Mondays. You have no idea how much this means before I finally end my day. Thanks again.
Tellie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2018, 09:01   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2015
Boat: Land bound, previously Morgan 462
Posts: 1,991
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

The spectra is remarkably durable. At the price, they should be. I have had mine for 19 years and most of that time it was sitting idle - but with the storage solution inside, and renewed every two years or so.

I'm sure the Spectra techs will help you with firing up and running your Spectra. My suggestions below are only offered as a preview.

When you are running any fresh water or solutions, do not use normal tap water unless you have run it though a carbon filter, or use distilled water.

You may find some leaks in the system. Before bothering to chemically clean the system or check for fresh water output, follow directions specific to your model for starting it up but using just fresh non-chlorinated water at the intake. First make sure the low pressure pump(s) are running. Then check it all carefully for leaks. I bought a Clark pump seal kit and solved some leaks in the Clark oump and I bought a new low-pressure pump to replace one of the originals that had been corroded due to a small leak I had not noticed. Salt water not good for electric motors!


After you fix any leaks you can run a cleaning cycle. Spectra has two different chemical solutions, one for cleaning and one for storage. Get them from most chandleries. Go online to get the directions for how to run a cleaning cycle.

If the cleaning cycle shows no major amount of discoloration in the solution, and after flushing thoroughly with fresh water, you can finally try it with salt water input - but only if you are in clean ocean water. If not you can mix up your own salt water equivalent in a bucket. Direct the brine output back into the same bucket for re-cycling. Run it 10 minutes then check for taste and smell. You should get a TDS meter and use that as well. You want less than 700PPM but Spectra usually runs less than 300PPM.
waterman46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2018, 09:23   #13
Moderator
 
noelex 77's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jul 2007
Boat: Bestevaer.
Posts: 14,678
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tellie View Post
Thanks senormechanico and sailjumanji.
I just finished one of those not so great Mondays. You have no idea how much this means before I finally end my day. Thanks again.
+3

Hope your Tuesday is better.

The Spectra Ventura on our previous boat made over 70,000 litres and the only service other than filters was a new low pressure pump after about 5 years of use. When we sold the boat the water-maker was still going strong.

Our new boat does not have a water-maker yet but we have designed a space for the slightly larger Cape Horn model, which I think from Forum posts may be Tellie’s favourite.
noelex 77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2018, 10:24   #14
Registered User
 
Chotu's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

Ok, found the manuals!

I'm following the procedure to start up a pickled system since the 20 and 5 micron filters were fresh and clear. Ok, the filters weren't fresh and clear because none were installed but the water in the filter housing was perfect. It seems to be the brine because it burned a small cut I have when I opened it and spilled some.

I'm getting ready to install the 20 micron filter right now and it seems to be too long!

The system is a Spectra 380C with the extra membrane and housing to make extra water.

The prefilter says "Spectra 20 Micron Nominal Filter" on it. Took it out of the plastic and started to screw it in place and the filter seems a couple inches too long.

Any wisdom on this?

I think I have a perfectly pickled watermaker here.
Chotu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2018, 10:46   #15
cruiser

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Pangaea
Posts: 10,856
Re: Reviving an Old Spectra Watermaker

If you decide to sell your 380c, I’d be interested in buying it.

Ken
Kenomac is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
water, watermaker

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Reviving Old Watermaker Harry Brown Cooking and Provisioning: Food & Drink 11 29-05-2016 00:10
For Sale: Spectra Ventura Deluxe 150 Watermaker off-the-grid Classifieds Archive 9 28-11-2010 10:17
For Sale: SSB & Spectra Watermaker wolfcat Classifieds Archive 22 19-01-2010 07:01
My New-to-Me Spectra Watermaker Therapy Product or Service Reviews & Evaluations 33 26-09-2009 10:05
Spectra Watermaker 200T KharmaSeas Product or Service Reviews & Evaluations 12 03-08-2009 19:37

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:04.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.