Success!!
09 February 2010 | Cayos Limones, San Blas Islands, Panama
John
Spent all day yesterday dismantling the water maker, taking the entire membrane tubes out of their mounts so I could replace the end caps - which was supposedly hard to do. Wasn't really hard, just time consuming. The workbench on board has a vice, which normally lives in a locker under a seat. Of course, not having used it at all in the two and half years we have been living on board, it was pretty rusty. Sharon spent some time on the back net with a wire brush and can of oil, and got it cleaned up. To do this job, you have to put the membrane tubes, which are heavy fiberglass with aluminum ends, into the vice and unbolt the end caps, which then are pried out with two big screwdrivers. They are made out of nylon, and have threaded holes that the high pressure salt water lines screw into. The threads were worn, and dripping under the 850 PSI working pressure. Hammer the new ones in, replace the bolts, and then re-assemble all the pipes. Amazingly enough, no leaks! Of course, cleaning up the mess and putting everything back away took some time, too, but at least now we can use as much water as we want without worrying about it.
It is true - cruising is simply finding parts and repairing your boat in exotic places.
We also found out what the Indians that live here want - magazines! I had a spanish language national geographic magazine that I was done reading, and gave it to a Kuna Indian family with two young boys - their mom told me that they could read a little, but were learning. Aparently this was a huge hit in their village, as they came back to see if I had any more magazines, and have had two other dug out canoes ask for magazines - word gets around. If I come back here again, I will be sure to bring a stack of spanish magazines, especially stuff that would be good for kids.