After 9 years of sailing around the world with our beautiful SM PITU we decided to start new adventures in our Homeland Switzerland.
PITU has been for us a great boat and we gave her all the maintenance she needed.
Ivan Russell Smith is now the new owner of PITU. He is from Oregon and will start sailing form Tahiti.
Please accept Ivan as a member of Amel Yacht Owners  and as a new owner of PITU.

We will like also to thank all the members of this group that for so many years helped us with good advices and inputs.

Amel will stay for ever in our life and specially PITU.

Maria and Willy Geiger
SY PITU
www.pitugolf-pitu.com
Now in Tahiti

Hi Dan

Most helpful, thank you.

We are also looking to replace our anchor chain and best price and quality we found so far amongst all the islands so far was Budget Marine in St Martin at  approx $1500 for 100m of Aqua4 10mm P30 galvanised chain.

We will be getting a final quote for good French manufactured chain in Martinique soon too before purchasing.

What is your price in Curacao for what length and type of chain?

Best regards

Colin

SV Island Pearl II

Nevis

On Wed, 27 Mar. 2019, 20:43 Dan Carlson, <carlsdan61@...> wrote:

Hello Colin, 

Our experience at both was good. Both regularly handle Amels.  There were 4 other SM and a 54 at Curacao Marine while we were there.  There were at least 3 other SM in and out of  Peake when we were there.  We did not have much work done at either yard. We had bottom paint and hull wax applied at Peake, and only the hull polished at Curacao Marine.  A number of other boats we're having there bottoms refinished with copper-coat at Curacao Marine.  Seems they have the expertise and good price. 

Depth entering Curacao marina is something to watch but not a problem.  The use a submersible lift to lift the boat from the water and then place in the yard.  Peake uses a travel lift to hoist the boat and then they use a hydralic loft to move the boat around the yard. I saw no issues with either method.

Although I did not have much work done at either yard, my impression was that if you had a more varied list of jobs you wanted done then I would favor Peake.  What I observed and through limited interaction was that they had good electronic guy, canvis shop, diesel, and rigging on site. There was also a very good looking wood shop over at Powerboats next door.  And many other Marine services in the area.  They had a full time staff to professionally manage scheduling and completion of work at Peake.  Curacao Marine did seem to struggle a bit with that.

I did not think that Curacao was well set up for "boat minding". The boats are in a secure "bonded" yard so you can not hire your own boat minder.  The yard manager would do it, but really he had to many other things and no organizational support.  

At Curacao they do not have lodging on site. You have to book your own. Rental cars are cheep. Budget Marine was pretty good for sourcing my anchor chain.  Shopping  for other supplies is very good.   An additional benefit is adding a nice stop at Bonaire on the way.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions.

Regards, Dan Carlson on sv BeBe, sm#387

On Wed, Mar 27, 2019, 11:57 AM islandpearl2_sm2k332 <colin.d.streeter@... wrote:

Hi Dan

I would be most interested in your current assessment of Curacao Marine in terms of taking care of an Amel SM during haul out and storage compared to your experience at Peake.

We have just had a quote from Peake, and will be writing to Curacao Marine today for a quotation as well to compare prices.

What we are now more interested in is how well they both take care of the boat, as well as return flight costs to the UK from both locations before a final decision.

Thanks in advance

Colin & Lauren Streeter

SV Island Pearl II, SM#332

Pinny Beach, Nevis

On Mon, Mar 25, 2019 at 10:42 PM Dan Carlson <carlsdan61@...> wrote:

James, we also stored our SM#387 at Peake Yacht Services from June 2017-Nov 2018.  We were pleased with the yard and the services.  We did not have much work done, but would go back again. We hauled out at Cuacao Marine this past year to position our boat for this current season in the western Carribean. 

Would be happy to answer any more questions.

Regards, Dan and Lori Carlson on sv BeBe, SM #387

On Sat, Mar 23, 2019, 4:56 PM James Cromie via Groups.Io <jamescromie=yahoo.com@groups.io wrote:

Giorgio - Thank you so much for the info!  I will definitely contact Daniella.  I have heard that there is some concern of piracy / theft when sailing between Trinidad and Grenada or near the Venezuela coast in that region. I believe that air and sea travel has been suspended on the border of Trinidad and Venezuela based on the UK.gov website.. 

-James

On Mar 23, 2019, at 5:11 PM, Giorgio Ardrizzi <giorgio.ardrizzi@...> wrote:

Hi James, I left for the second year my Amel Sharki from Peake Shipyard in Chaguaramas Bay Trinidad.

The shipyard works like a Swiss watch and all the staff is very helpful.

The prices compared to the various marinas on the islands are much lower and the service it's great.

They have a shipchandler inside and various technicians capable of performing any kind of work.

In addition, Trinidad is practically at the lower end of the hurricane belt and is an event that occurred 3 or 4 times in a century.

In this moment there are 4 Amel in the yard.

Write an email to Daniella, the person responsible for the reservations and get a quote for your boat.

The address is: reservations@...

If you want more info I am at your disposal.

Good luck.

Giorgio Ardrizzi

Saudade III - Sharki #1

Il Sab 23 Mar 2019, 21:19 James Cromie via Groups.Io <jamescromie=yahoo.com@groups.io> ha scritto:

I'd like to ask the forum for recommendations on safe and affordable locations for storing our boat for 3 - 4 months.  
Martinique is a great option, but there are perhaps better locations for getting work manual labor type jobs done at more affordable rates.  
Grenada seems to be historically a popular place, but I wonder about the current situation with more instability in nearby Venezuela.

Any advice or recommendations is greatly appreciated!

Best,
James Cromie
SV Soteria #347
Culebra

--

Colin Streeter

0411 016 445

James,

 

I’m not sure you can get into Varadero marina and boatyard. It is not surveyed. Our charts show “Unsurveyed. Depths between 7 and 10 ft. Stoney”. Do they have a privately maintained channel? I know they do dredging as part of their operations so perhaps this is the case. Else, Aruba is a really nice duty free island with cheap airfares to and from the USA.

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275

Currently cruising - San Blas Islands, Panama

www.creampuff.us

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io [mailto:main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io] On Behalf Of James Cromie via Groups.Io
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2019 9:28 AM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Long term storage options in southern Caribbean

 

Thank you Colin, and others for posting all this information on the various options for storage.  

 

No one has mentioned much about Aruba, but they seem to be rather competitively priced for dry storage.  Does anyone have an opinion  or experience with work or storage in Aruba - specifically at Veradero Marine? 

 

Thanks,

James  

Soteria #347

 

 

On Mar 27, 2019, at 8:40 PM, Dan Carlson <carlsdan61@...> wrote:

 

Hello Colin, 

 

Our experience at both was good. Both regularly handle Amels.  There were 4 other SM and a 54 at Curacao Marine while we were there.  There were at least 3 other SM in and out of  Peake when we were there.  We did not have much work done at either yard. We had bottom paint and hull wax applied at Peake, and only the hull polished at Curacao Marine.  A number of other boats we're having there bottoms refinished with copper-coat at Curacao Marine.  Seems they have the expertise and good price. 

 

Depth entering Curacao marina is something to watch but not a problem.  The use a submersible lift to lift the boat from the water and then place in the yard.  Peake uses a travel lift to hoist the boat and then they use a hydralic loft to move the boat around the yard. I saw no issues with either method.

 

Although I did not have much work done at either yard, my impression was that if you had a more varied list of jobs you wanted done then I would favor Peake.  What I observed and through limited interaction was that they had good electronic guy, canvis shop, diesel, and rigging on site. There was also a very good looking wood shop over at Powerboats next door.  And many other Marine services in the area.  They had a full time staff to professionally manage scheduling and completion of work at Peake.  Curacao Marine did seem to struggle a bit with that.

 

I did not think that Curacao was well set up for "boat minding". The boats are in a secure "bonded" yard so you can not hire your own boat minder.  The yard manager would do it, but really he had to many other things and no organizational support.  

 

At Curacao they do not have lodging on site. You have to book your own. Rental cars are cheep. Budget Marine was pretty good for sourcing my anchor chain.  Shopping  for other supplies is very good.   An additional benefit is adding a nice stop at Bonaire on the way.

 

Let me know if you have any more specific questions.

 

Regards, Dan Carlson on sv BeBe, sm#387

 

 

 

On Wed, Mar 27, 2019, 11:57 AM islandpearl2_sm2k332 <colin.d.streeter@... wrote:

Hi Dan

 

I would be most interested in your current assessment of Curacao Marine in terms of taking care of an Amel SM during haul out and storage compared to your experience at Peake.

 

We have just had a quote from Peake, and will be writing to Curacao Marine today for a quotation as well to compare prices.

 

What we are now more interested in is how well they both take care of the boat, as well as return flight costs to the UK from both locations before a final decision.

 

Thanks in advance

Colin & Lauren Streeter

SV Island Pearl II, SM#332

Pinny Beach, Nevis

 

On Mon, Mar 25, 2019 at 10:42 PM Dan Carlson <carlsdan61@...> wrote:

James, we also stored our SM#387 at Peake Yacht Services from June 2017-Nov 2018.  We were pleased with the yard and the services.  We did not have much work done, but would go back again. We hauled out at Cuacao Marine this past year to position our boat for this current season in the western Carribean. 

 

Would be happy to answer any more questions.

 

Regards, Dan and Lori Carlson on sv BeBe, SM #387

 

 

 

On Sat, Mar 23, 2019, 4:56 PM James Cromie via Groups.Io <jamescromie=yahoo.com@groups.io wrote:

Giorgio - Thank you so much for the info!  I will definitely contact Daniella.  I have heard that there is some concern of piracy / theft when sailing between Trinidad and Grenada or near the Venezuela coast in that region. I believe that air and sea travel has been suspended on the border of Trinidad and Venezuela based on the UK.gov website.. 

 

-James

On Mar 23, 2019, at 5:11 PM, Giorgio Ardrizzi <giorgio.ardrizzi@...> wrote:

 

Hi James, I left for the second year my Amel Sharki from Peake Shipyard in Chaguaramas Bay Trinidad.

The shipyard works like a Swiss watch and all the staff is very helpful.

The prices compared to the various marinas on the islands are much lower and the service it's great.

They have a shipchandler inside and various technicians capable of performing any kind of work.

In addition, Trinidad is practically at the lower end of the hurricane belt and is an event that occurred 3 or 4 times in a century.

In this moment there are 4 Amel in the yard.

Write an email to Daniella, the person responsible for the reservations and get a quote for your boat.

The address is: reservations@...

 

If you want more info I am at your disposal.

Good luck.

Giorgio Ardrizzi

Saudade III - Sharki #1

 

Il Sab 23 Mar 2019, 21:19 James Cromie via Groups.Io <jamescromie=yahoo.com@groups.io> ha scritto:

I'd like to ask the forum for recommendations on safe and affordable locations for storing our boat for 3 - 4 months.  
Martinique is a great option, but there are perhaps better locations for getting work manual labor type jobs done at more affordable rates.  
Grenada seems to be historically a popular place, but I wonder about the current situation with more instability in nearby Venezuela.

Any advice or recommendations is greatly appreciated!

Best,
James Cromie
SV Soteria #347
Culebra

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

Colin Streeter

0411 016 445

 

 

 

Here’s what I have found.
I installed a bypass hose on the product water so I could divert the water before it went into the tank.
I removed the wires off the pressure sensor and everything came back to life. I ran it till the green “good water light came on then rotated the pressure knob until indicator was just in the green. Product water flowed. I tested the water every 3-4 mins and quality slowly improved. After about 15 mins it was down around 315 on my TDS meter so diverted it into the tank. We ran for 45 mins with no problem while keeping a good eye on the pressure gauge. We have run it 4 times since then and the only issue I have had is around the hour mark it will suddenly shut off and it is always when we are not watching, hopefully I will catch it one time.
I assume I should get 60 liters of product water per hour?
Regards
Alan Grayson
SV Ora Pai

---

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> on behalf of Thomas Peacock <peacock8491@...>
Sent: Sunday, 24 March 2019 1:44:05 PM
To: main@amelyachtowners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Dessalator duo 60 warning light

 

One more thought, having lost much hair getting my water maker to work after new membranes:

Have you sampled and tested the “fresh” water output just before the red light comes on? If it is too salty, the switch will trip and shut it down. I had this problem because of incorrectly installed O-rings with the membrane. I am assuming new O-rings were installed with the new membranes?

Tom Peacock

Aletes SM 240

St Augustine, Florida

On Mar 24, 2019, at 9:36 AM, CW Bill Rouse <brouse@...> wrote:

Alan,

Some random observations:

1. The pressure knob should be turned all the way anticlockwise when flushing.
2. It is possible that you have some sort of failure with the 24VDC bypass solenoid
3. You should not have any waterflow showing in the glass waterflow indicator when flushing with freshwater.  I think it is possible that something is causing freshwater to pass through the tube and V shaped Brine seals to the product water pathway. The possible causes could be damaged V shaped Brine seals, something wrong in the assembly of the membranes, tubes and end caps, or possibly something wrong with the bypass solenoid. 
4. The most common "Red Light" shutdown is because the high pressure sensor senses too high pressure. This is commonly caused by a defective pressure gauge. In other words, the actual pressure is higher than 50 bar and the sensor shuts the system down. I was supporting a client yesterday with this defective pressure gauge issue. I had him turn the pressure valve to about 1/2" short of the green. His system did not shut down and began making about 60 liters per hour.
   
5. Flow indication when the pressure valve is completely turned anticlockwise and flushing with freshwater may be an indication of incorrect orientation of the tube end caps causing the shaped brine seal to be ineffective i.e. oriented the wrong way. It might also be caused by the hoses connected in reversed locations.

Take a look at the attached PDF, which is a page from my book. 

Be very careful because even the slightest reverse pressure (1-2 BAR) through the membranes will damage the membranes and cause them to be ineffective. By reverse pressure, I mean water flowing backwards from the product water output back into the membrane tubes. Unfortunately some people refer to the process of freshwater flushing as "backwashing." It is not. Freshwater flushing flushes the entire saltwater pathway and only the outside of the membranes.

I hope this helps.

Best,

CW Bill Rouse
720 Winnie St
Galveston Island, TX 77550
+1(832) 380-4970

On Sat, Mar 23, 2019, 7:15 PM Alan Grayson <bazgrayson@...> wrote:

Hi Eric, yes I removed both hoses from the membranes and I got water out.
We turned the knob increasing the pressure slowly. We were just in the green and we had product water start to flow, however we had looked away from the gauge when everything stopped and the warning light came on. We can fresh water flush and water flows thru and we have 10 liters  per hour on the flow meter.
Regards
Alan

---

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io <main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io> on behalf of eric freedman <kimberlite@...>
Sent: Saturday, 23 March 2019 11:46:39 PM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io
Subject: Re: [AmelYachtOwners] Dessalator duo 60 warning light

 

HI,

If I understand you correctly you disconnected both hoses from the membranes and the unit still went to the red alarm position. I assume you had no low pressure showing on the gauge, is that correct?

Or do you have low pressure in the green but the alarm light is on .

With the hoses disconnected from the membranes did water come out of either hose?

 

I went through the entire system last system with a problem  it even stumped  the USA Desalator rep.

I do have the 160, however, I might be able to help if you would reply.

Fair Winds

Eric

Kimberlite Amel Super Maramu #376

 

 

 

 

From: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io [mailto:main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io] On Behalf Of Alan Grayson
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2019 7:21 PM
To: main@AmelYachtOwners.groups.io
Subject: [AmelYachtOwners] Dessalator duo 60 warning light

 

Hi All, I started my water maker for the first time and I have a problem.
i put new membranes in and flushed it with fresh water for about 15 mins. I ran sea water thru it for about 5mins then started to slowly increase the pressure while checking for leaks. Once the needle was in the green it started producing product water but after about 1 min the warning light came on and now nothing runs. I was using the 24v side. I released the pressure knob and even unhooked the pressure lines then tried again. The red warning light came straight on. I reset the 24V breaker in the engine bay and checked the 2 fuses in the control box in the lazarette. I then tried the 220v side and had the same result.
does anyone have any ideas?
Regards
Alan Grayson
SV Ora Pai, SM 406
Cat Cay Bahamas

<Dessalator Membrane Orientation and  HP hose connections.pdf>