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Monday, May 19, 2014

Great customer service from Hart Systems, Inc.

A quick story about Great customer service from Hart Systems, Inc.  

This weekend we were cleaning a water tank and broke the 1/8" nylon dip tube that measures the water in our tank using a 'Tank Tender' by Hart Systems Inc.   The tube is essential to the operation of the water gauge and definitely not something we could source in the Marshall Islands.  Even google was not helpful on this one.  So, I emailed Lisa at Hart Systems, Inc who was super responsive, friendly and knowledgeable.  Lisa was quick to respond to my email inquiry and after a short chat on the phone, she has my credit card info and my part is in the mail.  Way to go Hart Systems, Inc! 





Saturday, May 17, 2014

Sunset cruise aboard LightSpeed with 10 friends

We hope to be doing on regular basis as it's lots of fun.


10 friends aboard LightSpeed for a Sunday sunset cruise.

Makeover of the water maker.

 Stormy sunset in Majuro, Marshall Islands.  Bright lights from the commercial tuna fishing fleet add a post apocalyptic twist.
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 Old Spectra water maker layout.  This is a bastardised Catalina 300 system.  The Mag pump was having real issues and so I wanted to replace it with two smaller Shurflow pumps part number 8008-943-839
 New feedpump arrangement.  These Shurflow 125 psi feed pumps are part number 8008-943-839 and the exact part # sold by Spectra.  I was able to eliminate my old wash down pump and the grey valve shown at the lower left will be my wash down hose connection point.  The red valve just above the filter housing can feed in fresh water to flush the system or provide the deck wash-down with fresh water.

Spectra List Price:
Shurflow 8008-943-839 $339..... My cost $213 @ www.CLRMarine.com
Fan $92....                                    My cost $7 on ebay.
Heat sink $33....                           My cost $13.
Total:  $464....                             My total cost $233
I relocated the Clark pump and membrane into a cabinet, so the whole wall of gear shown above has now disappeared.


Does this part look new to you?  It's a high pressures fitting for our Spectra water maker.  The corroded threads, spanner marks and galling on the inside mating surface indicate to me that it's clearly been used.  The local dealer sold it as new.   We also attempted to purchase a water filter housing, but it took 2.5 days for the dealer to produce a incomplete part and on the 4th day the dealer suggested we 'make the remaining parts ourselves', so needless to say that was a big waste of money.   All along the local Spectra dealer was anchored aboard his boat only 150' away, but the service and parts provided were less than 3rd world.   US mail only takes about 6 days and ordering from a mainland dealer would be our strong suggestion.

Backward dinghy race and water fight.

 Mieco Beach Yacht club backward dinghy race.



Saturday, May 03, 2014

Marshall Islands 35th Constitution day fireworks

 Marshall Islands 35th Constitution day fireworks show was pretty impressive.

A little background on the Marshall Islands:
Politically, the Marshall Islands is a presidential republic in free association with the United States, with the US providing defence, funding grants, and some limited access to social services.  In 1979, the Government of the Marshall Islands was officially established and the country became self-governing.  In 1986, the Compact of Free Association with the United States entered into force, granting the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) its sovereignty.  
  I captured these photos with a 4 second exposure aboard LightSpeed.

 In this photo you can see the shore lights in the form of a nice sine wave as a passing boat wake rocked the boat.
 A nice show that lasted about 20 minutes.