Last night I had a phone conversation that reinforced our choice of the company for a major system on Harmony. At the risk of sounding like a pessimist, my experience with vendors has largely been one of unfilled expectations. Yes, I accept responsibility for either not communicating clearly in some cases or enlarging expectations beyond the norm. However, last night I was sincerely blown away.
As I have described in an earlier post, we had met an intriguing couple at the Newport Show in September who had started a company which makes and sells watermakers, or in the technical parlance, reverse osmosis systems. DIY Watermakers, started and operated by Raymond and Amanda Fosdick, was the company we selected, and they have provided tremendously responsive support and service since we purchased our system.
Last night, Raymond, and I were discussing the significant product development and expansion they have being undergoing in the past weeks. We were also discussing the final component that was needed to complete our system, the control panel. Harmony will sport a remote control panel which has been in development for a few weeks.
In the few weeks that we have had the system components in the house, I have consulted Raymond numerous times for insight. I am sure that he has been convinced that I got the system working, but connected the output to my brain. Anyway, Raymond has displayed not only patience, but an impressive intimacy with what Harmony's installation will require. Business hint: nice way to make a customer feel really important!
As an interested customer, I have tried to learn as much about the watermaking system as I can. Raymond has used our conversations to gather my perspectives on his ideas for business expansion, boat show issues, and system applications for folks like Beth and me. For my part, I have enjoyed the conversations, as it helps me develop a valued relationship with a vendor who has supplied an important system on Harmony.
OK, it should be obvious that Beth and I are impressed with DIY Watermakers and it's owners. We also can't wait until Harmony is in the water and we can use the system. Well, if that was not enough to seal our deal as loyal customers, Raymond committed to upgrade our remote panel to his newest technology at no cost. Now, that is not just unnecessary and unexpected, but hugely appreciated.
Regardless that DIY Watermakers is working hard to build a customer base in an industry filled with good competitors, Raymond is treating those customers he has as people whose relationships he values. Thanks Raymond and Kudos DIY Watermakers!
Yes, there have been times when I have been thirsty for water, but as I have immersed myself in Harmony's restoration, I have often been parched for sincere respect and response from the vendors of the systems, equipment, and materials that we will invest significant boat dollars in. What a nice feeling to be quenched!
Fair Winds and Following Seas!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
The Boat Doctor - Good Medicine
Today was an interesting day on Harmony! Usually I am a solitary figure doing whatever tasks are on the every growing list of boat projects. Today I had company on-board. The Boat Doctor made a house call and we started the rewiring project. What a way to get charged up!
So instead of having a 3 way conversation with me, myself, and I, I actually was able to talk to another person. Our primary focus today was on giving Greg, the Boat Doctor, a general lay of the land since he'd last been on Harmony during the summer. We went over where to put batteries, bilge pumps, and switches. However, our biggest focus was on gathering data for wiring the lights, both inside the cabin and external navigation lights.
We have decided to go with an all LED set-up in order to require less energy and save a chunk (a nautical term referring to something larger than a bit) on wiring costs. We often don't consider the cost of the wiring when we look to either add a component or rewire something. However, the gauge of wire required for a long run can get fairly expensive.
For instance, Harmony's mast is about 55 feet high and roughly 25 feet or so from the circuit panel. In very simple terms that means a run (round trip) of about 160 feet of wire. With an incandescent bulb I might need to a 10 gauge wire costing $1.63 per foot for a total cost of $260.80. However, with an LED bulb I would need 160 feet of 16 gauge wire at $0.69 per foot or a total of $110.40. The net saving for that one wire run is $150.40!
Ok, now that is the savings for one 160 foot wire run for ONE bulb. On a typical mast, one would have an anchor tricolor, a steaming light, and a deck light. On Harmony we will have all of these, but they will be LEDs and they should require 3 wire runs. Remembering the savings from above, our using LEDs will net us a $450 for just the masthead wiring!
So, this type of savings is also possible relative to the other lighting runs. We will need running lights at both the bow and stern. The bow lights will require an approximate wire run of 60 feet for each light and the stern light will require a 40 foot run. Using the $0.94 per foot saving from the masthead example, our savings for the deck level running lights is another $150.40!
Within the cabin, we will use LEDs, as well. As I described in an earlier posting, we will have 3 categories of lights: Overhead, ambient, and courtesy. These lights will require wire runs, as well. Since the minimum gauge of wire we can use for ABYC standards is 16/2, we can use the same savings per foot as above.
Harmony is a big boat with a bow to stern length of about 43 feet. A stem to stern round trip is about 90 feet including the length needed to connect to the circuit panel. We will probably need to run port and starboard circuits for at least the overhead and ambient lights, and the courtesy can be on one circuit.
For the sake of discussion, we can assume that each category of lighting will require a 90 foot of wiring per circuit: 2 overhead circuits, 2 ambient circuits, and 1 courtesy circuit. Doing the math, that is 5 wire runs of about 90 feet each for a total length of wire of 450 feet. At $0.94 savings per foot, the net savings on the cabin light wiring is about $423.
Of course, the LED lights cost more than the regular incandescent bulbs. A rough calculation shows that the wiring savings basically covers the premium price for the LED lights. Now, what I haven't added into this cost/benefit discussion is the long term savings from bulb cost and fuel to charge the batteries to cover the extra amperage draw from the incandescent bulbs. Nickels and dimes, perhaps, but over the years they do add up to real dollars.
All in all, we are creating an minimal energy footprint which day in and day out save us money, make life on-board easier, and allow us to leave behind a more environmentally responsible wake.
Fair Winds and Following Seas!
So instead of having a 3 way conversation with me, myself, and I, I actually was able to talk to another person. Our primary focus today was on giving Greg, the Boat Doctor, a general lay of the land since he'd last been on Harmony during the summer. We went over where to put batteries, bilge pumps, and switches. However, our biggest focus was on gathering data for wiring the lights, both inside the cabin and external navigation lights.
We have decided to go with an all LED set-up in order to require less energy and save a chunk (a nautical term referring to something larger than a bit) on wiring costs. We often don't consider the cost of the wiring when we look to either add a component or rewire something. However, the gauge of wire required for a long run can get fairly expensive.
For instance, Harmony's mast is about 55 feet high and roughly 25 feet or so from the circuit panel. In very simple terms that means a run (round trip) of about 160 feet of wire. With an incandescent bulb I might need to a 10 gauge wire costing $1.63 per foot for a total cost of $260.80. However, with an LED bulb I would need 160 feet of 16 gauge wire at $0.69 per foot or a total of $110.40. The net saving for that one wire run is $150.40!
Ok, now that is the savings for one 160 foot wire run for ONE bulb. On a typical mast, one would have an anchor tricolor, a steaming light, and a deck light. On Harmony we will have all of these, but they will be LEDs and they should require 3 wire runs. Remembering the savings from above, our using LEDs will net us a $450 for just the masthead wiring!
So, this type of savings is also possible relative to the other lighting runs. We will need running lights at both the bow and stern. The bow lights will require an approximate wire run of 60 feet for each light and the stern light will require a 40 foot run. Using the $0.94 per foot saving from the masthead example, our savings for the deck level running lights is another $150.40!
Within the cabin, we will use LEDs, as well. As I described in an earlier posting, we will have 3 categories of lights: Overhead, ambient, and courtesy. These lights will require wire runs, as well. Since the minimum gauge of wire we can use for ABYC standards is 16/2, we can use the same savings per foot as above.
Harmony is a big boat with a bow to stern length of about 43 feet. A stem to stern round trip is about 90 feet including the length needed to connect to the circuit panel. We will probably need to run port and starboard circuits for at least the overhead and ambient lights, and the courtesy can be on one circuit.
For the sake of discussion, we can assume that each category of lighting will require a 90 foot of wiring per circuit: 2 overhead circuits, 2 ambient circuits, and 1 courtesy circuit. Doing the math, that is 5 wire runs of about 90 feet each for a total length of wire of 450 feet. At $0.94 savings per foot, the net savings on the cabin light wiring is about $423.
Now, Greg, the Boat Doctor, will use his ABYC Master Technician's expertise to design an appropriate schematic for the wiring and that will determine just how much wire we really need. But, if I add up the estimated savings I calculated above, we are looking to reap $1,023 in potential savings with just the wiring.
Of course, the LED lights cost more than the regular incandescent bulbs. A rough calculation shows that the wiring savings basically covers the premium price for the LED lights. Now, what I haven't added into this cost/benefit discussion is the long term savings from bulb cost and fuel to charge the batteries to cover the extra amperage draw from the incandescent bulbs. Nickels and dimes, perhaps, but over the years they do add up to real dollars.
All in all, we are creating an minimal energy footprint which day in and day out save us money, make life on-board easier, and allow us to leave behind a more environmentally responsible wake.
Fair Winds and Following Seas!
Monday, January 7, 2013
The Water Maker - Liquidity is Good
Well, after making the decision to purchase a watermaker, we needed to order all of the components. We had chosen the DIY Watermaker system, and had worked closely with the owners of the company to make sure we had all we needed. Just like an oasis, the system arrived the other day in 3 boxes!
After doing an inventory of the contents, I noticed that elements of the control panel were not included. A quick email and call to Raymond Fosdick, solved the mystery. Since we were mounting our control panel for easy access at the galley sink, we needed some customization. Mystery solved, but it was more like light dawning on my Marblehead rock-like head: I guess we can take that for granite!
Now, I had to figure out how to configure the system on the aft bulkhead of our engine room. One of the advantages of going with a modular or componentized system is the flexibility of installation. Even though the Westsail 42 offers tremendous interior volume, fitting a rigidly boxed water making system into the boat would have required either a serious compromise of the internal storage space or a rethink of the engine room layout.
Once Raymond patiently walked me through some of the systems elements (remember how dense granite is?), I was able to make headway. I had constructed a mock-up of the aft bulkhead in the engine room out of dry-erase panels. This would enable me to sketch hose layouts and component placement before making a permanent design decision.
Another benefit of this exercise is that I could actually see what the system would look like on the bulkhead. We very much want a neatly laid out engine room where systems are orderly and easily reached for maintenance and trouble-shooting. Besides that, I know how quickly a space like an engine room can become a rat's nest of wires, hoses, cables, and other assorted mechanical flotsam.
Harmony's engine room is not only huge, but very accommodating for things like workbenches, parts storage, and easy engine maintenance. Since we want to minimize, if not eliminate, the risk of inadvertent overboard discharge of pollutants, having an easy access to oil filters, fuel filters, and other engine stuff will go a long way to keeping the engine pan AND the bilge relatively pristine.
OK, as I worked and reworked the configuration of the water maker layout, I found the water flow made more sense to me. I finally arrived at what I felt as an optimal design. Before I lug all of the components down to boat for installation, I will need to get all of the control panel items in hand. Additionally, I will have to fabricate a few items to not only facilitate the installation of the membrane tubes, but to make periodic maintenance easy. Not to worry, however, for the winter is long.
Yes, it is a good feeling to see how the system will be configured and to visualize the clean, fresh, and plentiful water flowing into our tanks. Yes, liquidity is good in many ways!
Fair Winds and Following Seas!
After doing an inventory of the contents, I noticed that elements of the control panel were not included. A quick email and call to Raymond Fosdick, solved the mystery. Since we were mounting our control panel for easy access at the galley sink, we needed some customization. Mystery solved, but it was more like light dawning on my Marblehead rock-like head: I guess we can take that for granite!
 |
| The Aft Bulkhead in Harmony's Engine - a blank canvas for water making components |
Once Raymond patiently walked me through some of the systems elements (remember how dense granite is?), I was able to make headway. I had constructed a mock-up of the aft bulkhead in the engine room out of dry-erase panels. This would enable me to sketch hose layouts and component placement before making a permanent design decision.
Another benefit of this exercise is that I could actually see what the system would look like on the bulkhead. We very much want a neatly laid out engine room where systems are orderly and easily reached for maintenance and trouble-shooting. Besides that, I know how quickly a space like an engine room can become a rat's nest of wires, hoses, cables, and other assorted mechanical flotsam.
 |
| A view of the commodious engine room for starboard to port |
 |
| A look at the bulkhead mock-up and trials of configuration |
 |
| The DIY Watermaker components neatly laid out with drawn-in hose paths |
Fair Winds and Following Seas!
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