Visit our Popular Forums

laika · 06-10-2018, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoTies

I recently fitted a 200T to a boat that didn't have pressure water so it was extra plumbing and expense. I guess most yachties don't like potential points of failure and having a filter housing and hose under pressure the whole time just looks like a failure point to me. I now fit a valve to isolate the freshwater flush side when not in use.

I installed a valve upstream of the filter housing to eliminate the continuous pressure problem

**Tellie** · 06-10-2018, 16:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoTies

For your purposes I think you have made the best decision possible. The 200T is simple and reliable and doesn't have any of the troublesome electronics that plagues other models/brands. The last one I installed for a client I mounted the Clark pump and membrane against the hull in the quarter berth. Not pretty and even though I had other options of mounting it out of sight it suited the owner. The feed pump and flush filter were mounted inside a cabinet that involved losing some storage space but the admiral concerned had very long black hair so was quite happy to reduce her sauce storage for regular hair washing water. The only thing that grinds my gears about this series Spectra is the 5/8" hose they use (hence the 1/2"-3/4" dilemma). It may be obtainable in the US but is a rare beast in the rest of the world, as are extra fittings if you need them. I would also love to see them provide a mounting template so people in your position could decide ahead of time where best to fit the Clark unit.

I think that is a great idea. Lets run it by the new management.

**Tellie** · 06-10-2018, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt.Don

Hi everyone,

After way too many hours comparing watermakers, reading every post and going back and forth on PowerSurvivor, Spectra, Little Wonder, Cruise RO....., I finally decided to buy the Spectra Ventura 200T. Usually when someone comes to me to buy a 200T it's an easy upsale to the CapeHorn Extreme330. It's like two 200T's for about $700 more, well worth the difference if you have the room. Remember that thisw is a very modular system and I've only found two boats in the past 15 years that I couldn't find a way to get a Cape Horn Extreme330 in. Our plans are to spend 3 or 4 months sailing the Sea of Cortez. Since this is a trip we've been planning for several years, I want the boat to be ready and I don't want to schedule around water.

Two parts to this post: 1) my reasons for the Spectra Ventura 200T and 2) my thoughts on installation. Comments are most welcome!

Why the Spectra Ventura 200T? For us, it came down to wanting to run the watermaker on 12 VDC while at anchor. We have 260 watts solar, Honda EU2000i, and there's a lot of motoring around Baja. With the 12 volt units, I can run off solar (couple hours each day), Honda generator or diesel/alternator (while motoring). This gives us power redundancy and flexibility. The Ventura 200T makes 8 gallons / hour at 10 amps. I can budget around 10 amps -- I can't see drawing 20+ amps with our batteries for other brands of watermakers.

Assuming 2 people, 5 gallons/day water use, we'll need to run this a couple hours / day. Looking at the PowerSurvivor 40e, 1.5 GPH at 4 Amps, the 80e 3 GPH at 8 Amps, I'd be looking at running the 40e 5x longer, and the 80e 3x longer. Though I sell these (rarely) I would spend a lot of time wit. These would be running most of the day. As mentioned numerous times on the forum, the Spectra units have a cost premium; I think this is offset by the higher water output, efficiency, convenience and time, and potential resale value. I'm glad you see this value. If you take proper care of the 200T and keep it looking ghood I've seen these comand 2/3rds of the price of a new one five years later.Though it is rare as most people leave the watermaker in the boat when sold. If you get back half of what you paid for this system five years later it becomes one of the cheapest watermakers out there. I probably could have gotten by with the Spectra Ventura 150; for the couple hundred dollars difference in price, the 200T produces more water and is more suitable for warmer waters. Anyway, I'm looking forward to having the watermaker on the boat! Not to beat a dead horse, have you looked at or considered the CHE330?

Where to install the Ventura 200T on a 35' sailboat? My options are pretty limited. I don't think the Clark pump will fit under the aft bunk. The hull tapers rapidly and gets very narrow and short. One option would be to install under the forward v-berth -- there's lots of unused space; however, I don't want the weight that far forward or the noise in the master cabin. That leaves the aft cockpit locker or under the settee. I also don't want to give up the cockpit locker, where we store the stern anchor, liferaft, and it seems everything else. That leaves under the starboard settee. Will it fit? I think so. I have 12" on the front side and 9 1/2" on the backside, with the bottom hull slopping. I think this is the best location, for convenience, use and operations. Yes, we give up a convenient storage, but as my wife pointed out, we won't be carrying around extra cases of water! Remember, this is an extremly modular system. The membrane vessel is easily relocated from the Clark pump and you vcan mount the Clark pump in any popsitio, upside down sideways cattywampus etc. This usually opens up a lot more mounting places.

Point 1 - Clark pump installed under the starboard settee. Thoughts?

Until I see the Clark pump, I can't tell how to securely mount to the curved hull. I'm thinking about building a level platform along the inside of the hull and screwing the Clark pump to these supports. I may just 5200 wood blocks or glass-in wood blocks. How does one secure this to the inside of the hull? This is what I do on all my installations. I use 3/4" PVC board. 5200, and "T" nuts. This way the 5200 permantly mounts the PVC and the "T" nuts allow future removal and easy re-installation.

Where to install the feed pump? My options are even more limited. At 15" wide and 12" tall, the only option is under the galley sink or aft cockpit locker. As mentioned before, I don't want to sacrifice the aft locker, so I think the galley sink is my best option. This is not as simple as it sounds - I have to relocate the sink hot/cold plumbing and diverter valves. Again, there's a lot of wasted space with the angle of the sink, counter top and refrigerator, with a dummy board holding the fresh water valves. Fortunately this is all Pex, so I think I can reroute without too much trouble. This would be pretty convenient location for use. I prefer it closer to the waterline, below it if possible. The less the feed pump has to draw (36" above the waterline max) the less hard it has to work, thus less wear and tear on the feed pump head.

Thru-hull -- Everything I've read indicates I should install a new thruhull for the watermaker. I'm keep thinking about tee'ing off the head intake, but think I'll be better of with a dedicated thruhull closer to the centerline. What do you think about a new thruhull, mid-ship, just to the starboard side of the keel, right under the galley sink? Would I be better off more forward or back, where the engine intake and sink-discharge are located? Always further back. Don't trell Spectra I said so (go ahead, they know I'm a trouble maker), but on a 200T "Teeing" into a head thru hull will be fine.

I have a spare Forespar Maralon 3/4" thruhull. Oddly enough, the thruhull is labeled 3/4", but the size of the intake is slightly larger than 1/2" diameter. The barbed fitting is slightly less than 3/4". The 200T instructions state either 1/2" or 3/4" dedicated thruhull -- I guess I'm ok with the Maralon thruhull. 5/8" hose will probably fit nicely on the barbed fitting. That is fine. You could run three 200Ts off a 1/2" intake line.

Brine discharge -- I'm not prepared to drill another hole in the boat for the brine discharge. I'm debating between 1) running temporary discharge hose to the galley sink, 2) tee'ing to the galley sink discharge or 3) tee'ing to the deck scupper/bilge pump drains. Note, on the Tartan 3500, all the deck drains, bilge pump and sump-pump combine together to a junction box, above the waterline, center, aft, under the swim-step. I could tee into either the galley sink or the drains. The only difference is the deck hose drains are about 12" higher than the sink hose. Any preference? Yes, install the dedicated brine discharge thru hull (usually 5/8") a few inches above the waterline. This way a quick glance overboard while the system is running will give a good feel that everything is working properly.

Product water output -- I haven't decided whether I want to connect to the water tank, or use a jerry can. I'm leaning towards tee'ing into either the port or bow water tank. The port tank is 35 gallons stainless; the bow tank is 40 gallons plastic. The bow tank might be easier to tee into, since the port tank plumbing is all under the settee or behind cabinets. Use a 3/way valve and tap into both tanks. Infact add a second 3/way and run a line to your galley sink as well. You'll be glad you did.

Electrical -- I'm not worried about running 10 amps. I have a 'spare' circuit on the electrical panel. It is only a few feet from the electrical panel to galley sink. Double check the wiring size for the runs distance. You are more than likely to find that the wire gauge will be too large to fit a standard 15amp panel breaker.

That's where I'm at -- waiting for the Ventura 200T to arrive so I can double-check the size and finalize the fit. Any comments on installation are most welcome. Just ask.

Thank you
Don

:bigg rin:

Capt.Don · 07-10-2018, 09:16

Quote: