Installing the watermaker  – from Marsh Harbor

 

Doing a large project while living on a boat is a lot harder than when the boat is out of the water, or even dockside.  For one thing, there is no place to put anything.  For another thing, there is so much stuff on this boat, and so much stuff that is needed for the installation of this watermaker.

The watermaker arrived at our house in a box the size of a small refrigerator, weighing in at 125 pounds.  The heart of the machine, the membrane, is about 3 ½ feet long.  There are multiple components to this contraption which are spread out in various locations throughout the boat.  Because of the size of the membrane, we were limited as to where we could locate this bazooka look alike.  I had to be the generous one and give up the shelf on my side of the bed where I have always kept my books.  I did this on the condition that a cabinet be built around the bazooka to disguise the thing and give me back some of the storage space I lost.

 

Once that decision was made, we had to run hoses, tubing and wires.  That meant everything in the way of these items had to be moved.  So we had to empty out the contents of my bookshelf, my 2 lockers, under the bathroom sink, the bathroom closet, and under the nav station.  We are talking a lot of belongings here.  All my clothes, books, sewing stuff, sheets and towels, snorkel gear, bottles of bleach, blue stuff, extra toilet paper….alot!!!  Our  bed was covered with the majority of this stuff, and the rest was scattered around the cockpit. 

 

Next we had to break out the parts for this machine.  Bags of hoses, clamps, fittings, etc.  Then came the tools. Now the kitchen counters, nav table, dining table, benches were covered.  Then Billy got hungry and wanted lunch…

 

After lunch the drilling began.  Now, I get very nervous every time Billy pulls out a drill on the boat.  I question him…”where are you going with that?  Why do we need a hole?”…etc.  Because of the many components and hoses many holes had to be drilled.  I was a good apprentice and questioned every one.  Even the ones I knew were necessary.  After the drilling came the vacuuming, and one of the times Billy was at the helm of the vacuum hose, he sucked up a pair of my underwear!  “That’s Great!” I said…”Now I only have four pair left!!”   Good Ol’ Capt. Bill!

 

Our goal for today was to get the wires and hoses run and leave tomorrow’s project for the tying in.  So we are working under a time frame as I write.  It is 5:00 p.m. Our happy hour started an hour ago (here on the Bonnie Christine) and we want to make it to the Jib Room by 7-7:30 for ribs and chicken.  And we won’t be able to go to bed until everything is put back in its’ place.  Because we can’t see the bed. 

 

We started this project on Tuesday morning.  We have worked for 6 to 7 hours every day.  As I write it is Friday afternoon.  Every day since Tuesday through now we have completely trashed the boat in a very organized manner, and then managed to get everything back in its place by evening.  Cabinets and lockers had to be emptied out every day.  We even had to remove floorboards to run some hose.  What a huge project this has been.  Our goal is to have the system up and running by Sunday afternoon, so we can go watch the Superbowl on Sunday night, and then be ready to move on Monday.

 

Billy’s skills at figuring out the layout and installation have not ceased to amaze me.  The installation manual was pretty vague, so he made things up as he went along, thinking about the next step as he went.  I was the helper, finding every tool he “lost”, holding the vacuum cleaner hose while he drilled, snaking wires, and just being here when he needed someone to yell at.  I’m very good at that!  He is a hell of a pipefitter/(tubefitter) .  I can only swear like a pipefitter….

 

The weather in Marsh Harbor has been rainy today, but otherwise pretty pleasant for the last 3 days.  We are expecting a nasty front to move in and bring 35-40 knot winds until Sunday.  So we have tied everything down up above and taken some other precautions to ride out the storm.  This will be nothing compared to how the islands were hit this summer.  Port o Call Marina, where we spent some time last year, is totally wiped out.  Harbor View Marina only recently began full operations.  They had to build an entire new dock.  Marsh Harbor Marina, where the Jib Room is seemed to survive unscathed, but looking at photographs taken during Hurricane Frances and Jeanne, many boats suffered damage.  The businesses on the main drag here are still getting back on their feet.  Miss Ruthie’s on the corner by the only street light in Abaco is still waiting for her new refrigeration units which had to be replaced.   She showed me the high water mark and it was over 4’.  She told me everything in the store had to be thrown away.  Yet somehow, she was able to have a functioning store just a week after the hurricanes hit.  We love going there for her roti and pastries and sandwiches.  She also had pretty nice internet services there last year, but had to replace every computer this year, due to the storms. 

 

Speaking of internet….we signed up for a week of Outer Island Internet (OII, wireless so it can work off our laptop) for $40.  It is sporadic and frustrating to work with.  But it is enough for us to send and receive a few e-mails and do some banking transactions.  Until the service here improves or we have Sat-phone, I think it is better just to go to the internet cafes, even if it isn’t as convenient.  Also, my verizon wireless phone, which worked fine last year, and worked fine over on Green Turtle, is not working well here in Marsh Harbor, even when I stand next to the Batelco tower.

 

I will write again after the water is up and running, and hopefully we will be at Little Harbor, drinking a concoction from Pete’s Pub.  Mmmm. Can’t wait……