Spectra watermaker questions

[SVSeaHawk]

I have a Spectra Ventura 150 that came with the boat two years ago but was nonfunctional. The caps on the membrane were blown off I presume from freezing in Maine where I got it.


I repaired this and got it working with a lot of help from T.J. down in Florida (business name I can't remember). Put in a new membrane, many new fittings and had to turn off a sensor that keeps telling me to replace the prefilters but then we got it working.


My memory is that it put our 6.5+ gal/h which was great. Low PPM and I was happy. We did a winter in the Bahamas and put the boat away for a year with pink antifreeze.


Now I've recommissioned it, in the process Iv'e had to turn off the airlock sensor. It runs but...


The output is LOW... 4.2-4.6 gal/h
The salinity is HIGH... fluctuates in the 500s


I fear the membrane might be damaged and I'm not sure how to test/rule that out.


The pressure reading on the panel ranges from 53 to 58psi.


The gauge on the accumulator tank reads zero so that's a concern. Either the gauge is broken or the tank has depressurized. When testing the gal/h at the tank I can see the pulsing that indicates perhaps the accumulator tank pressure is low.


I'm on anchor in the Bahamas with the family now but I can get to a town, pull that tank, find a bike pump and try to re-pressurize it. I'm not sure how the presence of pressure in the accumulator tank will effect output and quality but it can't hurt, right?


After that, I don't know what to do. The system is obviously a jalopy held together with string and bubble gum but I'd really like to get it working without sending off to the states for a box of (expensive) parts.



Any thoughts, ideas, insights would be hugely appreciated...