an affordable watermaker for the ditch bag...

An interview worth reading, some needful thought process from John Scalzi, and a new pandemic threat to worry about...

There's currently an Indiegogo campaign for an inexpensive manual watermaker by the name of QuenchSea that you might want to check out.

It's actually pretty cool as it fits into the niche that, up till now, only the Katadyn Survivor 06 filled bringing some much-needed competition into the mix.

So here are the points that caught my attention;

Water production for the QuenchSea is stated as two liters+ per hour while the Katadyn 06 claims one liter per hour (+-15%).

The fact that the Katadyn is a hand pump with very little mechanical advantage makes the pumping system on the QuenchSea a very definite step up.

Lastly, the price of the Katadyn 06 currently lists at $1295.00 (although I've seen it on sale for as low as $995.00) which makes the projected price of the QuenchSea at £80 GBP ($99 US) something of a mind-boggling but pleasant surprise. Factor in the fact that by taking advantage of their Indiegogo pre-order offers you can get your hands on one or more for even less.

Color me impressed.

Listening to Superbus

So it goes...

internet woes and a watermaker update...

Regarding red right returning, a bit of good news, and an apt cartoon for the times...

Yesterday and today we've been having issues with our internet provider and we're being told that the problem may continue till Monday or so. Which may mean a bit less Boat Bits for a bit.

This morning I made water. Not a very exciting subject but, as we're getting on to several years of regular twice a week use of our watermaker, it makes me happy that it has worked out so well. For those with an interest, we're still making 20 gallons an hour, the Karcher pump is still pumping just fine, and our water is at 207 PPM which is not so bad for a cheapseats system that a lot of people told me I'd regret.

More soon come when we do not have to ration our internet usage.

Listening to an albums worth of Dire Straights covers

So it goes...

This certainly made my day...

Sailing Anarchy links to something you need to read, a bit of needful watching, and it was Darwin day yesterday...

How about a simple DIY passive solar-powered desalination system that someone could put together for a couple of hundred dollars?

No electricity.

No brute force power requirements.

No rocket science.

Just some simple improvements to very old technology taking advantage of modern tech and science.

Interested?

Go over to MIT and check it out.

Listening to Lucy Dacus

So it goes...

Think cockpit shower on steroids...

Scalzi with a lucid take on the Democratic candidates, an article you might need to read, and in the "This nearly made my head explode" department...

Small Boats Monthly (always a worthwhile read) has an interesting and useful project you might want to check out.



Listening to some music from Texas

So it goes...

An energy-passive water harvester...

An amazing exercise in horrific tackiness while preying on and exploiting grieving families,  something very much worth a read, and some troubling Coast Guard news...

They had me at energy-passive.




Listening to Richard Swift

So it goes...

Boat economics 101...

Something taxpayers might want to take note of, a little situational awareness snafu edition, and in the "Pants on fire" department...

So, let's say you need a water jug or two for your boat and have chosen the Scepter five gallon because it's what just about everybody uses. You know, this one...

What's it going to cost you?

Well, as it happens, Budget Marine just sent me an email that had that very thing on sale for $53.95 (normal price is $59.95).

Yowza! I'm not sure about you but more than $50 bucks for a plastic jerry can seemed just a little bit high so I thought I'd see what other folks were selling the exact same thing for...

WEST Marine had it for $29.99.

Defender had it for $19.99.

Amazon had it for $14.44.

WalMart did not have the Scepter jug but did have a reasonable facsimile for $12.97.

Quite the difference. Obviously this sorta/kinda disproves the whole "You get what you pay for" mantra /idiot speak so common where boat stuff is concerned as well as underlining the fact that you really should do your due diligence and math before shelling out money for just about anything for a boat.

Especially whenever the seller has the word b-u-d-g-e-t in their name.

Listening to Los Lobos

So it goes...

PS Have a great Cinco de Mayo

More on an affordable watermaker...

A wager of interest, something to think about, Yvon Chouinard writes a letter, and a bit of needful reading...

So, just how does an affordable 20-gallon per hour watermaker go together and work?



More information can be found here.

Listening to Los Blue Angels

So it goes...

On the subject of making water...

This really sucks, a report you may want to check out, and in the "stupid, selfish, greedy, and spiteful people" department...

I've been meaning to get around to doing an in depth review of the cheapseats (spelled $1500)  20 gallon per hour watermaker we bought but with all the after-hurricane hurly burly it will be awhile.

Still, I'll go on record in the meantime that the watermaker far exceeds my expectations, works just like it is supposed to do, and that running it for a couple of hours or so every five/six days pretty much provides us with all the water we need and then some.

Doing the happy dance.

Listening to TV Heads

So it goes...

All kinds of interesting...

Sharecropping in America 2016, troubling, and in the "Why am I not surprised?" department...

Water water everywhere!


WaterSeer™ Indiegogo from DESIGN ALLIANCE on Vimeo.

Listening to Buyepongo

So it goes...

A project that you might want to follow...

In Palau they're doing something important, it's hard to be a whale these days, and a not the same old same music video...



Listening to Winston Jarrett

So it goes...

a couple of notes on a finite resource...

Liz Clark with a good cause that needs some support, a woman ashore with water problems, and another moment of clarity...

That woman with the crazy water bill got me thinking about how we handle resources on land and water. Apparently what she should be paying is about $115 a month for water use akin to 4500 gallons a month (150 gallons a day).

Wow, that's a LOT of water!

Most folk I know on boats tend to be a bit frugal where water is concerned and, I expect, on "So It Goes" we're a bit more frugal than most but not manic.

The scary thing is water is a finite resource any way you look at it... At sea on passage it's obvious that there are no stand pipes sitting in mid-Atlantic waiting for you to top up if needful. Rain is not always there when you want it (though apparently always there when you don't), and watermakers can fail. Folks on boats know that so they're careful.

On land, water is just as much a finite resource. It's just no one seems to think so and sooner, rather than later, folks are going to look back and marvel at how folks used a 150 gallons a day...

Listening to Bahamas (who just may be my current favorite band)

So it goes...