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09-16-2019, 06:42 AM
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#1
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Guru
City: Palmetto
Vessel Name: Wanderlust
Vessel Model: 1999 Jefferson Rivanna 52'
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 713
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DIY Watermaker Repair
About six weeks ago, our Village Marine Stowaway watermaker (circa 2005) started having issues. The master control panel’s buttons stopped working. You couldn’t auto flush the system or start the low pressure or high pressure pumps.
After discussion with the technician who originally installed the unit in this boat for the previous owner and with the technician who repairs these units at the company (Parker) that bought Village Marine years ago, we determined the control panel board was bad. The board hadn’t been made in 10 years. The replacement for it is $2400.
A little investigation with a multi-meter and the wiring diagram in the original manual revealed that crossing the power wires still allowed the LP pump, the HP pump, and the fresh water flush solenoid to work.
I ordered a bank of three switches and a waterproof cover from Home Depot for $25, made a wiring harness from parts already on the boat, and mounted the switches on some old starboard I had laying around. A total of two hours of labor and, presto, our watermaker works again! Granted, it may be a bit Frankenstein-ish to some people... but it works.
John
__________________
John Easley
USCG 100 ton Master
1999 Jefferson Rivanna 52’
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09-16-2019, 07:18 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
City: Comox
Vessel Model: 1989 Wellington 57 motorsailer
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 281
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Well done on the troubleshooting and the DIY fix!
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09-16-2019, 07:31 AM
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#3
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TF Site Team
City: MX, thru Canal to Bahamas
Vessel Name: Muirgen
Vessel Model: 50' Beebe Passagemaker
Join Date: May 2019
Posts: 3,400
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Obviously would have been better off to go with the $2,400.00 part! Not! Glad you got it up and running again. Remember when everything electronic came standard with wiring diagrams? Ah, the old days . . .
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09-16-2019, 07:52 AM
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#4
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,121
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Early on I changed out the non-standard RO membranes in my Village Marine system. Also needed to replace a couple of valves and pressure sensors with off-the shelf parts. IMO it is better to have a modular approach to the RO, especially in a smaller (less than 65 ft? vessel. Individual components are easier to access and easier to fit around other ER fixtures.
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09-16-2019, 09:14 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,267
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Good troubleshooting and repair!
This is why I went with a watermaker that does not have a circuit board, and uses only non proprietary parts.
This is something to think abut for the folks looking to add or replace a watermaker.
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09-16-2019, 09:48 AM
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#6
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Guru
City: Palmetto
Vessel Name: Wanderlust
Vessel Model: 1999 Jefferson Rivanna 52'
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 713
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nightsky
Well done on the troubleshooting and the DIY fix!
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Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by slowgoesit
Obviously would have been better off to go with the $2,400.00 part! Not! Glad you got it up and running again. Remember when everything electronic came standard with wiring diagrams? Ah, the old days . . .
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I remember those days. Though I do like smart phones, a lot of things were better then.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisjs
Early on I changed out the non-standard RO membranes in my Village Marine system. Also needed to replace a couple of valves and pressure sensors with off-the shelf parts. IMO it is better to have a modular approach to the RO, especially in a smaller (less than 65 ft? vessel. Individual components are easier to access and easier to fit around other ER fixtures.
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On our system, I don't think the factory-supplied pressure vessels were ever actually installed. Two standard 40" membrane housings were installed right from the beginning. That's a nice plus. Much cheaper to replace, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ksanders
Good troubleshooting and repair!
This is why I went with a watermaker that does not have a circuit board, and uses only non proprietary parts.
This is something to think abut for the folks looking to add or replace a watermaker.
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Thanks. Good point for those thinking of adding a watermaker.
John
__________________
John Easley
USCG 100 ton Master
1999 Jefferson Rivanna 52’
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09-16-2019, 09:58 AM
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#7
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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I got a recommendation from a full time Caribbean cruiser about this company. They make “cheap” water makers using off the shelf parts. He has had good luck with it he said.
https://seawaterpro.com/
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09-16-2019, 10:02 AM
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#8
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Guru
City: Palmetto
Vessel Name: Wanderlust
Vessel Model: 1999 Jefferson Rivanna 52'
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 713
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cardude01
I got a recommendation from a full time Caribbean cruiser about this company. They make “cheap” water makers using off the shelf parts. He has had good luck with it he said.
https://seawaterpro.com/
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Heard nothing but good things about those folks.
__________________
John Easley
USCG 100 ton Master
1999 Jefferson Rivanna 52’
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09-17-2019, 12:57 PM
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#9
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Member
City: Palm City
Vessel Name: Chapter Three
Vessel Model: Offshore 54
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 16
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System now works perfect
Quote:
Originally Posted by MV Wanderlust
About six weeks ago, our Village Marine Stowaway watermaker (circa 2005) started having issues. The master control panel’s buttons stopped working. You couldn’t auto flush the system or start the low pressure or high pressure pumps.
After discussion with the technician who originally installed the unit in this boat for the previous owner and with the technician who repairs these units at the company (Parker) that bought Village Marine years ago, we determined the control panel board was bad. The board hadn’t been made in 10 years. The replacement for it is $2400.
A little investigation with a multi-meter and the wiring diagram in the original manual revealed that crossing the power wires still allowed the LP pump, the HP pump, and the fresh water flush solenoid to work.
I ordered a bank of three switches and a waterproof cover from Home Depot for $25, made a wiring harness from parts already on the boat, and mounted the switches on some old starboard I had laying around. A total of two hours of labor and, presto, our watermaker works again! Granted, it may be a bit Frankenstein-ish to some people... but it works.
John
Attachment 94037
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I did the same but went one step further..I also used two switches, one for each pump, panel mounted the valves and gauges, and remote mounted the filters. In three years not a problem, and so much easier to change filters.
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09-17-2019, 01:04 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Offshore 54
I did the same but went one step further..I also used two switches, one for each pump, panel mounted the valves and gauges, and remote mounted the filters. In three years not a problem, and so much easier to change filters.
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Very clean install. Nice.
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