11/10/2016 Rainman Watermaker - The Larks of the Independence

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BOAT UPGRADES

Rainman WatermakerWe suffered over the decision to buy a watermaker. Did we really need

one? Was it worth the expense? Should we get a built in version? Can't

we just get water at docks or jerry jug water in? In the end, we decided

to add a watermaker. We are hoping to do a lot of cruising in the out

islands of the Bahamas this winter and want to be as self sufficient as

possible.

Not having a generator onboard we were limited to systems that use 12

VDC or can function off of our little 2000W Honda generator.

The Rainman is made specifically for the Honda generator and is

completely portable. It, like our portable A/C, takes some lugging around

(it’s heavy!) and setting up, but it definitely beats the complexity of a

built in system. It makes 32 gallons an hour, which is enough for us for 4

or 5 days. The Honda uses about a quart of gas an hour while operating

the watermaker.

One accessory we opted for that has completely paid off this summer in

the Chesapeake was the brackish water flow guage. This allows the unit

to be used in pretty much any type of water.

Rainman watermakers can also be mounted inside the boat, in lockers

and to through­hulls if you are so inclined. We toyed with this idea, but in

the end we have put the membranes in the aft stateroom, the pressure

pump assembly in the forward v­berth and run the hoses between. The

raw water pick up goes out the porthole. So far the unit has worked

great! We have even used it while underway.

The Larks of the Independe…37 likesLiked

The adventures of the S/V Independence &

her crew Matt, Lucy & Hastings. Living life at

full throttle (6 knots on a good day, depends

on the wind but I don’t know sometimes the

current is going the wrong way and it’s more

like 2 knots.)

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The Rainman's pressure pump assembly and our Honda genny on the swim step.

Hastings monitoring water creation!

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Now I leave the membranes in the aft cabin. Tucked in their case, they fit perfectly on the

shelf by the bed.

Brine goes overboard through the drain in the head.

Arguments in the Boat Yard

An Ode to my Omnia (AKA the

Omnimonopea)

Rainman Watermaker

Updating Independence's

Electronics

Lagoon 380 Bi-Annual Haul-Out

Task List

Summer Comfort System

The Escalator

Washington, DC

The Marriage Crisis

Sailing Potomac River

3 Days of Ingram Bay Anchorages

August (15)

July (17)

June (7)

May (12)

April (26)

March (7)

February (5)

January (3)

2015 (8)

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The pressure unit sits on a shelf in the forward v-berth. The raw water pick up goes out

the portlight. It even works when making way (you just have to be careful not to get air in

the line).

Obviously we don't run the Honda genny down below, because we don't want to die. So it

still gets lugged out from it's storage locker.

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T H E B O A T Y A R D

W I L D E R N E S S

U P D A T I N G

I N D E P E N D E N C E ' S

E L E C T R O N I C S . . .

L A G O O N 3 8 0 B I -

A N N U A L H A U L - O U T

T A S K . . .

Filling the tanks!

On another note, we have diesel and gas containers that we use to fill our

tanks with. Even in the Chesapeake, we have come across marinas that

are too shallow or sketchy for us; we have been able to use our dinghy

and containers to fill up on diesel for our engines and gas for our dinghy

engine and generator.

We purchased the Rainman from SeaTask in Ft. Lauderdale. Chris has

been wonderful showing us how to use the unit and answering follow­up

questions. We have no affiliation, just happy customers!

­ ¬ Õ Ø ç

T H E L A R K S O F T H E I N D E P E N D E N C E

This is the story of Matt, Lucy and Hastings, the crew of the

sailing catamaran “Independence”. “Inde”, as her friends call

her, is a 2005 Lagoon 380 S2, a 38 foot long French-built

beauty.

Y O U M I G H T A L S O L I K E