We’d become irritated with having to change Play d’eau’s costly onboard 2 micron water filter every few months. The removed blackened filters showed just how dirty local water supplies were, wherever we happened to fill the 1,150 litre water tanks.

Lightbulb moment

Whilst waiting for the tide in St Peter Port late last year, a Nordhavn 60 moored in front of us. ‘We need to fill with water,’ the Skipper announced as I admired his boat.

One of his crew appeared carrying a filter arrangement. Being nosy I was told, ‘We use this to pre-filter the water we take on board, making sure it’s clean before it reaches the tanks.’ Now why hadn’t I thought of doing that? Hindsight is great, isn’t it?

The solution

Finding the Dockside Pre-Filter on the ASAP Supplies website, I had one in my hands within a few days. Its 3 micron filter would certainly do the job, and the best part was that back-flushing cleans the filter so its life should be really long.

There’s always a ‘but’

The problem was the fittings. They were not standard UK. However, Herm Seaway came to the rescue, again, and machined two brass connectors so standard hose fittings would fit. How perfect is that?

Is the Onboard filter still needed?

Good question, to which the answer is ‘yes’. Why? As well as filtering to 2 micron, its carbon content removes chlorine and any nasty tastes and smells which might lurk in local water supplies.

All water on Play d’eau now comes through the Dockside Filter as well as the onboard carbon filter.

Result

The great news is that we haven’t had to change the on board filter in over 3 months, and there’s no sign of it becoming dirty. And as far as the Dockside Filter is concerned, we give it a quick backwash each time we fill.

Job done.

Piers and Lin
From the water purification department of
Play d’eau
Fleming 55