I'm about to buy a boat with a Power Survivor 80 watermaker, installed in
2002. The owner died about 9 or so months ago, and there's some question as
to whether he ever used it.

I think I recall hearing that Chlorine was damaging to membranes. There are
two, about 2' long, on this model.

The broker has been flushing this system (not ever making water in the 8+
months it's been in a canal berth in Ft. Lauderdale) with city water every
few weeks, and assures me that this is proper for this model, claiming that
flushing as he does is adequate and frequent enough. Looking at the output
(overboard), it starts cloudy and goes clear.

So, is the first assertion (Chlorine is trouble) correct, and if not, does
the second assertion (this model doesn't require pickling), combined with
approximately 3-4 weeks between flushes, hold water, pardon the expression?

If there's trouble brewing, I'd greatly appreciate a link to support it, as
it's one of the items on the survey, and we're supposed to counter in a few
days...

Thanks, ever so much...

L8R

Skip and Lydia, anticipating

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away
from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." - Mark Twain

--
"And then again, when you sit at the helm of your little ship on a clear
night, and gaze at the countless stars overhead, and realize that you are
quite alone on a great, wide sea, it is apt to occur to you that in the
general scheme of things you are merely an insignificant speck on the
surface of the ocean; and are not nearly so important or as self-sufficient
as you thought you were. Which is an exceedingly wholesome thought, and one
that may effect a permanent change in your deportment that will be greatly
appreciated by your friends."- James S. Pitkin

This broker doesn't know what he is doing or what he is talking about.. And
just looking at the discharge over the side doesn't prove anything..

All RO membranes are will be damaged by chlorine and if the system isn't
used regularly (once ever couple weeks) then it should have been layed up
with a pickling flush with Sodium Metabisufite solution or what ever the mfg
recommends..

If you serious about the purchase of this boat, then make your offer
contingent on a operational test of the unit by a "Qualified" person.. If
you in a major cruising port, you should be able to get someone from a RO
dealer/shop to come and check it out. Probably cost a few hundred buck
though. The surveyor isn't going to be able to tell you anything for sure.

BTW, those RO membranes aint cheap.. If you don't want to spend the money on
a technician to test the unit, then buy the boat, but subtract the estimated
cost of a pair of replacement mebranes..

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

This broker doesn't know what he is doing or what he is talking about.. And
just looking at the discharge over the side doesn't prove anything..

All RO membranes are will be damaged by chlorine and if the system isn't
used regularly (once ever couple weeks) then it should have been layed up
with a pickling flush with Sodium Metabisufite solution or what ever the mfg
recommends..

If you serious about the purchase of this boat, then make your offer
contingent on a operational test of the unit by a "Qualified" person.. If
you in a major cruising port, you should be able to get someone from a RO
dealer/shop to come and check it out. Probably cost a few hundred buck
though. The surveyor isn't going to be able to tell you anything for sure.

BTW, those RO membranes aint cheap.. If you don't want to spend the money on
a technician to test the unit, then buy the boat, but subtract the estimated
cost of a pair of replacement mebranes..

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I can't tell you about your installation, but my Spectra watermaker allows
for fresh-water flushing with chlorinated water. It passes the flush water
through an activated-charcoal filter before it hits the membrane, so the
chorine is removed. This way I can perform regular backflushing when in my
slip, using my house tanks and keeping them filled with chlorinated city
water.

-Paul
s/v VALIS

"Steve" wrote in message
...
This broker doesn't know what he is doing or what he is talking about..
And
just looking at the discharge over the side doesn't prove anything..

All RO membranes are will be damaged by chlorine and if the system isn't
used regularly (once ever couple weeks) then it should have been layed up
with a pickling flush with Sodium Metabisufite solution or what ever the
mfg
recommends..

If you serious about the purchase of this boat, then make your offer
contingent on a operational test of the unit by a "Qualified" person.. If
you in a major cruising port, you should be able to get someone from a RO
dealer/shop to come and check it out. Probably cost a few hundred buck
though. The surveyor isn't going to be able to tell you anything for sure.

BTW, those RO membranes aint cheap.. If you don't want to spend the money
on
a technician to test the unit, then buy the boat, but subtract the
estimated
cost of a pair of replacement mebranes..

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

I can't tell you about your installation, but my Spectra watermaker allows
for fresh-water flushing with chlorinated water. It passes the flush water
through an activated-charcoal filter before it hits the membrane, so the
chorine is removed. This way I can perform regular backflushing when in my
slip, using my house tanks and keeping them filled with chlorinated city
water.

-Paul
s/v VALIS

"Steve" wrote in message
...
This broker doesn't know what he is doing or what he is talking about..
And
just looking at the discharge over the side doesn't prove anything..

All RO membranes are will be damaged by chlorine and if the system isn't
used regularly (once ever couple weeks) then it should have been layed up
with a pickling flush with Sodium Metabisufite solution or what ever the
mfg
recommends..

If you serious about the purchase of this boat, then make your offer
contingent on a operational test of the unit by a "Qualified" person.. If
you in a major cruising port, you should be able to get someone from a RO
dealer/shop to come and check it out. Probably cost a few hundred buck
though. The surveyor isn't going to be able to tell you anything for sure.

BTW, those RO membranes aint cheap.. If you don't want to spend the money
on
a technician to test the unit, then buy the boat, but subtract the
estimated
cost of a pair of replacement mebranes..

--
My opinion and experience. FWIW

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Take off $700 from the purchase price for the replacement of the
membranes. The broker may have prevented bacterial growth but he has
ruined the membranes. They are long gone. Chlorinated water is death
to RO membranes.

If they are standard 21"x2.5" membranes you can get Filmtec SW30-2520
membranes for about $200 each but don't tell the broker that. Have him
call Pur and get their ridiculous price. :-)

Skip Gundlach wrote:

I'm about to buy a boat with a Power Survivor 80 watermaker, installed in
2002. The owner died about 9 or so months ago, and there's some question as
to whether he ever used it.

I think I recall hearing that Chlorine was damaging to membranes. There are
two, about 2' long, on this model.

The broker has been flushing this system (not ever making water in the 8+
months it's been in a canal berth in Ft. Lauderdale) with city water every
few weeks, and assures me that this is proper for this model, claiming that
flushing as he does is adequate and frequent enough. Looking at the output
(overboard), it starts cloudy and goes clear.

So, is the first assertion (Chlorine is trouble) correct, and if not, does
the second assertion (this model doesn't require pickling), combined with
approximately 3-4 weeks between flushes, hold water, pardon the expression?

If there's trouble brewing, I'd greatly appreciate a link to support it, as
it's one of the items on the survey, and we're supposed to counter in a few
days...

Thanks, ever so much...

L8R

Skip and Lydia, anticipating

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away
from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." - Mark Twain


--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Take off $700 from the purchase price for the replacement of the
membranes. The broker may have prevented bacterial growth but he has
ruined the membranes. They are long gone. Chlorinated water is death
to RO membranes.

If they are standard 21"x2.5" membranes you can get Filmtec SW30-2520
membranes for about $200 each but don't tell the broker that. Have him
call Pur and get their ridiculous price. :-)

Skip Gundlach wrote:

I'm about to buy a boat with a Power Survivor 80 watermaker, installed in
2002. The owner died about 9 or so months ago, and there's some question as
to whether he ever used it.

I think I recall hearing that Chlorine was damaging to membranes. There are
two, about 2' long, on this model.

The broker has been flushing this system (not ever making water in the 8+
months it's been in a canal berth in Ft. Lauderdale) with city water every
few weeks, and assures me that this is proper for this model, claiming that
flushing as he does is adequate and frequent enough. Looking at the output
(overboard), it starts cloudy and goes clear.

So, is the first assertion (Chlorine is trouble) correct, and if not, does
the second assertion (this model doesn't require pickling), combined with
approximately 3-4 weeks between flushes, hold water, pardon the expression?

If there's trouble brewing, I'd greatly appreciate a link to support it, as
it's one of the items on the survey, and we're supposed to counter in a few
days...

Thanks, ever so much...

L8R

Skip and Lydia, anticipating

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you
didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away
from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.
Discover." - Mark Twain


--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

Opps! It never occured to me that there might have been a charcoal filter in
the system..

Thanks for catching my oversight Paul..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Opps! It never occured to me that there might have been a charcoal filter in
the system..

Thanks for catching my oversight Paul..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

There is a limit to how much chlorine an activated charcoal filter can
absorb. If the charcoal has not been changed in 8 months of flushing
with city water it will make very little difference.

On your trial sail take a TDS meter ( I will loan you one if you don't
want to spring for the $50) and make sure to try out the watermaker.
Measure the output. If it is less than 75% of the new spec or the TDS
is higher than 400 ppm start negotiating.

The main thing is, BUY A BOAT!! You have put more labor into looking
for one than I have in building one. :-)

Steve wrote:

Opps! It never occured to me that there might have been a charcoal filter in
the system..

Thanks for catching my oversight Paul..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions



--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com