Finally, we would be able to desalinate the seawater in order to make it drinkable. We would not have to buy potable water anymore!
Not so fast, Liahona said. The desalinator started up but kept popping the circuit breaker after about 10 minutes. We were only able to make about 25 liters of drinkable water at a time. That would not fill our 1,000-liter water tank.
Tim began his troubleshooting. He checked the voltage, plumbing, lines, capacitors to start. He fixed the problems that he found, but nothing got the desalinator to work. Finally, after two days of effort, he found that he needed a new circuit breaker. We needed this very specific part for the Amel sailboat. Tim asked for this part through many channels - Amel forums, Facebook sailing groups, local groups and the Amel service center in Martinique. The local Amel owners checked their supplies on hand. Finally, we heard from a local owner who thought he had exactly what we needed. We dinghied right over.
Percy owned an Amel Santorin, a single-masted Amel, his pride and joy! Seven years ago, he began his search for the perfect retirement boat while lying in the hospital recovering from heart surgery. He wanted a sailboat that he could handle himself, when no one else was around. Percy came across an ad for a Santorin, a one-mast boat, that could be sailed single-handedly, from the cockpit. He knew that the Amel was a very safe sailboat. He decided on that day that he would buy that boat. And he did!
Percy invited us on and showed us his container of circuit breakers. Although he had a vast array, he lacked the only one we needed. We stayed and chatted with Percy for hours. He was such an interesting man so with many life experiences. We would have enjoyed spending more time with him but were pressed to get back to our boat to order the part from the service center. Percy put us in touch with his agent, who we hired to get the part through the red tape and into Grenada, otherwise it would have taken weeks to receive our part.
One week later, and $250 in shipping and agent fees, as well as $150 for the part, we met with Rodney to collect it.
Tim installed it, and it is working today!
Now we can make water! A true miracle!
Here’s to a cold one,
Miriam
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