Fw:

Hi,

I have hesitated to inflict the attached on those of you who may be interested in reading all this, but it is typical of all that we have had to endure in our dealings in the Bay of Islands. Surely that can't be a coincidence. The other issue of course is that of our freezer which is still unresolved as a result of sloppy and incompetent construction at Partridge Yachts, Kerikeri. This has been corroborated by a refrigeration expert here in Whangarei.  In spite of it being taken out of the boat and sent back to them for re-building it still doesn't work satisfactorily and is using much more power to keep going than it should. Electric power consumption is of course of paramount concern when one's ability to generate power is so limited. The only way we are going to get the thing to work satisfactorily will be to have it rebuilt by people who know what they are doing - at great expense as usual.  

So, you will see that getting a yacht ready for the high seas is not a minor excercise. It's taken 3 years and not a little frustration as well as expense as you can see to get to this point so now let's look forward to fair winds and temperatures where the butter melts!!

We're getting close now to leaving; yesterday for example we purchased almost the last of our food supplies and spent the rest of the day re-stowing most of the provisions already on board to improve the boat's trim. She is probably down an inch to an inch and a half from where she used to float but that's fairly normal for cruising boats.

Hopefully our next blog will be just before the great departure.

Cheers,

J & J (G) 

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
To: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
Sent: Tue, 25 May, 2010 7:56:59 AM
Subject: Re:

Jim,

Now you call me John Martin!!!!!! Now I have a disease!!! You say the pump is not working after we worked on it and then after negative emails that just fell short of calling us liars the water maker suddenly works perfectly.........

We work on your pump for free out of warranty and still you are not happy, you still complain.... You would not understand what we did or did not do as you seem to have no comprehension how any thing mechanical works.

Maybe there was nothing wrong with it and we just changed the oil..... you will never know unless you would like to pay the bill!

Please go away and leave us alone with our so called dodgy products and put us on your negative Blog where every one is against you. ( you will any way)

 I think you should seek help for your paranoia or maybe you have a whinging desease that needs treatment.

Have a nice day!

 

Terry Forsbrey
OpenOcean Water makers
www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz
006494028449 0064212533035

---

From: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
To: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Mon, 24 May, 2010 9:21:04 PM
Subject: Re:

Terry, you're in business - get used to it!!!!!!! I think I'm entitled to know what you did to MY pump!!!!! I appreciate it if it was free of charge but I would like to know what the problem was. When will you get it through your head that I am not constantly complaining - rather all I want is for my watermaker (which you supplied) to be working. This exchange of adversarial emails over what should have been able to be amicably settled just flabergasts me. In fact your reactions have been eerily akin to John Martin when we sacked him from managing the building of our house in Kerikeri. Maybe it's a Bay of Islands disease???  

---

From: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
To: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
Sent: Mon, 24 May, 2010 3:58:32 PM
Subject: Re:

Jim,

Your water maker is working. Your constant complaining is wearing me down. Please do not email me again unless the watermaker is not working. What we do repairing and servicing pumps is our business.

 

 

Terry Forsbrey
OpenOcean Water makers
www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz
006494028449 0064212533035

---

From: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
To: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Mon, 24 May, 2010 11:21:59 AM
Subject: Re:

I find your adversarial attitude quite strange. Particularly when dealing with a customer who has expended a great deal of money with you. What difference would it make to the cost (or lack thereof) if you told me exactly what had been done to the pump? I've already thanked you for doing the work in a recent email  - the reason I hadn't done so before was because there was no advice to me as to what (if anything) had actually been done.

---

From: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
To: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
Sent: Mon, 24 May, 2010 10:43:30 AM
Subject: Re:

Hello Jim

Good news the water maker works as advertised. It may have simply had an air lock in the system from being out of the water and the system full of air. I have complete confidence you will be right and in a month or so you will be telling us what great people we are and you are so very happy with our water maker. The 60 liters per hour is a very conservative estimate of production as we would not want someone to call us liars as well as simply incompetent. If you want to know what we replaced in your pump you will have to pay for it or at least thank us for the free out of warranty service, but alas, I don't think you have it in you.

Stay safe on your trip

Cheers
 

Terry Forsbrey
OpenOcean Water makers
www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz
006494028449 0064212533035

---

From: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
To: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Sun, 23 May, 2010 7:52:27 PM
Subject: Re:

Terry,

I have just run the watermaker again and it seems to have settled down - i.e. no pressure fluctuations and doing all that it should. I cannot understand why it behaved as it did and now seems ok. I have done nothing differently.

It also seems to be making more product water than the claimed 60 litres per hour - is this any indication of a problem or should I be grateful?

I tasted a very small quantity but we are in the Town Basin and there was a sewage discharge here the other day so I am reluctant to test too extensively but it tasted ok.

I simply don't understand why it behaved so differently and it doesn't do much for confidence but perhaps it is a question of continuing to run it at various times and hope that it behaves consistently. 

There's nothing more that I can say at the moment.

Jim Donald

P.S. Could you please tell me what parts were replaced in the pump - thanks 

---

From: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
To: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
Sent: Sat, 22 May, 2010 9:03:36 PM
Subject: Re:

Jim.

We will have to see the system before we can properly evaluate the problem. 

However if water is not getting to the high pressure pump it would cause the pressure to fluctuate wildly. The first thing we would do is start at the through hull fitting and trace the water flow to the panel. make sure water is getting there. If it is check that the water is then getting to the filter housing. ( press red button on top of filter housing and see if air and then water is coming out. If it is the pump should run properly.

We dismantled, checked, tuned and tested your pump and over pressure valve at our work shop and it was working perfectly when we shipped it back to you, ( over three hours and a few parts spent by us on a customers out of warranty pump at our expense).

I would of thought you would of thanked us for the free service but as usual you seem only capable of complaining.

Good luck on the investigation.
 

 

Terry Forsbrey
OpenOcean Water makers
www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz
006494028449 0064212533035

---

From: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
To: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Sat, 22 May, 2010 12:09:05 PM
Subject: Re:

I think that the fact that the system still isn't working after we brought the boat to Opua TWICE earlier this year and also later removed the pump with great difficulty and sent it to you should indicate that it's about time you did something for us. Maybe not for nothing but surely there's a compromise somewhere.

Please tell me if the pump has a valve which shuts off if the system over pressurises for some reason. If it has then this may be the problem?? 
As for not being happy - you're correct in assuming I'm not happy at the moment but all it will take for that situation to reverse is to get the thing working reliably. I am easily pleased - that's all it will take!!!

Jim Donald

---

From: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
To: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
Sent: Sat, 22 May, 2010 12:00:43 AM
Subject: Re:

What would you like us to do? Would you like us to come to your boat probably taking up a day and $50.00 in fuel and look at your 3 year old water maker that other contractors have worked on and worked perfectly after installation for free? Do you work for free? How do we pay our rent? How do we pay our overheads?

I think you are being unreasonable.

We want you to be happy and tell every one what nice people we are to deal with but I think no mater what we do you will never be happy so its a no win situation.

What say you?

 

Terry Forsbrey
OpenOcean Water makers
www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz
006494028449 0064212533035

---

From: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
To: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Fri, 21 May, 2010 9:31:04 AM
Subject: Re:

It will be extremely inconvenient for us to bring the boat to Opua, but I suppose that if there was no alternative that's what we would have to do.

There is absolutely NO change to the system from when it was installed but I think that the problem is that you have no record of that (or any other) installation that you have done. All we have done is ensure that we can now check the oil!! And there has only been one other person working on the system apart from you and that was because we were on the hard and weren't prepared to pay a ridiculous amount to have you come to Whangarei. We removed the pump and sent it to you but it does seem that the pump is the problem. It may be simple to fix (i.e. a malfunctioning valve) so could you please tell me if there is such a valve. We are losing time while this is going on - all we want is to get the thing fixed.

Jim Donald

 

---

From: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
To: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
Sent: Thu, 20 May, 2010 11:02:31 PM
Subject: Re:

Jim,

Please bring the boat to Opua to sort it out before you leave. There has been too many different people working on your boat for us to have a chance of fixing by email. We need to see the system as it is now in your boat to finally sort it out.

At this point i am tired of debating a 1 yea.r warranty that you expect to be honoured for three years. Bring the boat to Opua to clear out!

Cheers
 

Terry Forsbrey
OpenOcean Water makers
www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz
006494028449 0064212533035

---

From: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
To: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
Sent: Thu, 20 May, 2010 11:06:02 AM
Subject: Re:

I don't know what you did to it because there was no advice to that effect when it was returned. So, how would I know - hence the question??? I don't think I'm on a high horse - rather the opposite. All I am is a poor customer who has spent a great deal of money installing and then trying to get the thing working reliably before starting an offshore voyage. I would far rather have someone who supposedly knows what they're doing sort it out than have to be in a position of doing it myself with limited knowledge and equipment in an offshore environment. If that was necessary then so be it but otherwise it would be ludicrous if the solution can be arrived at here. The seacock is open, I've checked the filter - in fact it is brand new. I'm asking you for help because I'm not an engineer and have run out of ideas. Tell me, does the HP pump have some sort of limiting valve whereby it shuts down if the system over pressurises? This has been suggested here as a possibility if that valve was malfunctioning. As far as the boost pump is concerned, I've been told that there isn't one. If there is, can you tell me where it may be located and what does it look like?

And, as far as the warranty is concerned, it may have expired but not "years ago". The system was installed in 2007 - 3 years ago. And it's had very little use as the boat has been out of the water having further refit work done, a good deal of which has been necessitated by the incompetent work done at Kerikeri.

I think I may have found someone here in Whangarei who can look at the pump for me but it would help to have the answers to these questions.

Thank you

Jim Donald

---

From: Terry Forsbrey <oceanwatermakers@yahoo.com.au>
To: Jim Donald <tiare_taporo@yahoo.co.nz>
Sent: Thu, 20 May, 2010 9:13:01 AM
Subject:

Jim pleas re read this email as the first is ammended.

Good morning:

As far as the installation of the high pressure pump in the first place, sometimes you are limited in space and you make do with what you have.

As far as us insinuating that you are incompetant, are you suggesting we had your pump up here and DID NOTHING to it.

I suggest you come down off your high horse and work with us instead of insulting us and our products.

You say that it ran fine and then stopped working and no water was present at the filter. That means there is nothing wrong with the high pressure pump and there is no water getting through the system. IE dirty filter, closed seacocck, valve in wrong position,  or bad boost pump. Check to see if the boost pump is working properly. You have to use simple reasoning to work through the problem. If your solution is to cry for help and run down good products then God help you offshore.

I repeat, bring the boat to Opua and we will look at it. Our rates are $65.00 per hour as your warranty has expired years ago.

Have a nice day

 

Terry Forsbrey
OpenOcean Water makers
www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz
006494028449 0064212533035

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiare Taporo III

Well, we are now back in the water. What a great feeling. We are berthed in the Whangarei Town Basin Marina and are now stocking the boat with food and attending to the myriad of details necessary for departure. It's certainly NOT like booking a 7 day package deal holiday to Vanuatu - much more time consuming and expensive but once we are over this first departure we should find future "jumping offs" to be much less stressful - at least that's the theory.

When we  launched at Norsand last Thursday everything went like clockwork, except for one thing. Jim had his head down in the bilge checking for the unlikely possibility of leaks and had just poked his head back up when he caught sight of a bedraggled object clinging to a rope on the side of the slipway. He was wondering "who the hell is that and why would they be going for a swim now" when he realised with some bemusement that it was Gina who evidently had fallen overboard when throwing a bow rope to Kevin on the side of the slipway! She was given $2 for a shower ashore and dry clothes were organised from the yacht and soon everything was sorted. It's what you call "making a splash!!!!" At least Norsand will have one more reason to remember us!

We have lots of details to attend to now once back in the water and then will be waiting for a weather window which is looking a bit elusive at the moment. More details closer to departure.

Cheers - and lots of love,

Jim and Jean (Gina) 

 

Almost back in the water

Hi everyone,

Well, it's almost 3 weeks since our last blog - a record for us! Many things have been happening during our stay out of the water. Most notable is that when we were checking the engine alignment recently we found a possible problem with the gear box! So, we decided to be prudent and removed it from the boat. We found that a small part had fractured as a result of the cowboy effort in Kerikeri with the drive train - another costly result from the Kerikeri so-called refit. However, there is a bright side - we now know that the overall condition is excellent with virtually no wear after 30 years which is reassuring.

We've been to Auckland again just last weekend and had a pleasant time staying with Heather and Magan -Jean's (Gina's) sister and brother-in-law. She was able to spend some time with her son Perry again on one of his flying visits to our shores and Jim caught up with his mother for Mother's Day. She is now in the Caughey Preston Hospital but her health is much improved as a result of the constant care she is receiving. No doubt largely as a result of this she was much more amenable than previously (!) and was pleased with the bottle of wine. This visit was somewhat poignant because it is likely that, as our plans are to leave for Vanuatu within 3 weeks at the outside, we won't be seeing any family now for about 5-6 months! The great adventure is looming.

On a further personal note Jim has received some great news. His youngest daughter, Charlotte who lives in Christchurch, has announced that she is expecting again! Lucia is now just over 2 so she will have her hands full but at least Lucia will be almost 3 by then so the "terrible twos" will have passed - hopefully! 

Life in the boatyard carries on - although not with any degree of normality for a Canadian couple who were due to launch a week ago. Phil fell from a plank on trestles about 2 metres above the ground while working on his boat and badly fractured both wrists as well as severely injuring his face. Sadly this bad accident will set them back at least 12 months as they won't be able to sail from here until next year and will possibly return to Canada in the meantime. It was a wakeup call for all of us and we are all more careful just where we put our feet when working elevated above the ground. 

Jean (Gina) has been great as she often rises before the other half (who is usually not a morning person!) and attends to the morning chores, emptying the grey water in the appropriate place as well as watering the ground under the boat to maintain the humid atmosphere necessary to nurture the timber hull.

We are now ready to be launched but are frustrated by the current weather caused by a slow moving low just to the north of us. We have to antifoul a few small areas where timber shores have been placed against the hull but we have to wait for dry weather and cannot launch before that is done. However, there are plenty of other things we can do either here or in the marina. Provisioning is one of them so the time is definitely not wasted.

As this is being written Jean is making stews from organic beef that we buy from a German lady (Ursula) at the Whangarei market. They will have all the good things in them - carrots, red onions, parsnips, garlic, turnips and swedes. We should get 8 pre-cooked frozen meals out of this lot which will be great on passage as all we will have to do is heat them up. As far as the freezer is concerned, we are resigned to the fact that we will have to keep food up from the bottom of the box in order to stay frozen - maybe we can get some vaccum packed meat to put in that area and consume it first? Either way it's a great inconvenience and an unnecessary monument to opinionated ignorance. It doesn't appear that there is any willingness on the part of the builder to address the issues so once again it will fall to us to fix it at our cost in the future.

As always we'll keep you posted with all the blow by blow details of the launching and departure - if this weather ever lets us!

Cheers,

J & J (G)