Polynesia to NZ Sans Watermaker

[getlostonpurpose]

Well, I'm waiting back for the last email but it sounds like my "shuttle valve" may be busted in my watermaker and it's apparently something I can't fix in the field. Seeing as how I'm not too keen on the unit in the first place and shipping to and from Tahiti is a major expense (not to mention whatever the repair cost is), I'm considering sailing on towards New Zealand w/o a watermaker.

For all those folks who've done this trip before, will I have problems finding good water in places like the Cooks, Tonga, Samoa, Niue, and Fiji along the way? You think I'd be better off spending the money to fix it?

Damn, I was getting use to fresh water showers at night.

Drew

[cdennyb]

are you on some kind of time schedule where you can't possibly wait and fix it where you are? How much is "too much" ? Got a repair manual complete with pictures and procedures? I wouldn't hesitate to attempt the fix on any watermaker if I had the parts to do so with. Maybe there's a service center along the route to get the parts from. either way, I'd fix it ASAP before I went too far. You can attempt to ration and watch for squalls but no-body can predict the weather along your route only what's probably going to happen based on previous experiences. Take you chances and top off the tank(s). Salt water shower and cookin' from here on out huh?
good luck brother

[Jim Cate]

FWIW

Good grief, folks... cruisers have been doing this trip without RO for a long time, and if you can't figger out how to do these relatively short passages without your watermaker working, how would you have dealt with a failure at sea?

At any rate, fresh water is available in all the destinations that you mention. At Niue there was no way to get alongside, but one can jug water from the dinghy landing (as of some years ago).

At any rate, we did these passages in Insatiable one with a total water capacity of 46 US gallons for the two of us, and had no problems.

And no, we didn't have a shower other than a sun-shower, and we not only survived, but were sometimes invited back aboard other's boats despite this lack of hygene!

Cheers,

Jim and Ann
s/v Insatiable II lying Gladstone Qld Oz

[getlostonpurpose]

Good grief Jim,

I didn't ask whether it could be done or not. I asked whether it was a pain in the ass. I'm not out here on some sort of survival quest and have no desire to shower with 3 cups of water on the back deck. Thanks for answering the question though.

cdennyb,

I have all the replaceable parts, multiple repair manuals full of diagrams and photos. I've been working on it off and on for a week and I'm in contact with the company. It's no problem getting all the fresh water I can take here in Polynesia. I've been on the same 50 gallon tank for near 2 weeks with almost nightly showers. But my girlfriend is coming next week so the amount will double.

Drew

[dana-tenacity]

I have to admit that on first reading I thought this was a late Apil Fools Joke.


I suggest you don't leave - please.

[Lancerbye]

But my girlfriend is coming next week so the amount will double.

Maybe triple or quadruple your water requirements. LOL

[DtM]

shower together !!

[Tellie]

Watermakers Bah!!! ,who needs those contraptions? I mean folks have been crossing oceans for years witoutem. If you can't cross an ocean without those modern conveniences ya ain't no sailor. Just toss all them fancy fangled things overboard the roller furlings, GPS chart plotters, auto pilots, Radars, dingy's, outboards, solar panels, big alternators, refrigerators, electric winch, folding props, water heaters, SSB, VHF, Ham radio, WiFi antennas, etc. Why Ol Slocum is rollin in his grave.

[Tellie]

Getlost, what kind of watermaker is it?

[Dave852]

Rarotonga, free water hose will reach from quay to your med-moored boat
Aitutaki, free water can go along side.
Nuie, free water, jerry jug.
Niafu, you will have to pay but can go along side. (no jerry jugs needed)

[getlostonpurpose]

it's a katadyn powersurvivor 40. i just shipped the unit (minus the motor) to katadyn in minneapolis. cost $180 to get it there and i don't know how much the repair or shipping it back here will cost . i hate having pieces of equipment on the boat that aren't in working order! Next time I'll put a lot more thought and research into my watermaker choice and not go for the one I could get a deal on because of my job. If I paid full price for this thing originally, I'd be ultra ticked off.