Help Please - Small Watermaker Recommendations?

Swagman

Swagman

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Based from the UK, try to get away on a boat for a
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I've been baffled by the multitude of choice and claimed value after visiting the SBS.
We have a 12v system, wish to pick a watermaker capeable of 25/30 litres per hour for minimal drain, and appear to have 10 or so to choose from with prices that range from £2,800 to £5,000.
I am sure the 'practical research' forum members have on such devices is going to be a better guide than all the glossy brochures - so really appreciate any views on what watermaker you have.
Cheers
JOHN
 
I also did the research and spoke to quite a few cruisers with watermakers..I settled on a Spectra Catalina 300 which does 30litresl/hr
 
I bought a Katadyn 80E (the enclosed version). Claims to draw 8 amps but seems to draw 10amps for the first 15 mins or so (kept popping the fuse!). Will only produce about 16 litres or so an hour so not quite up to the rate you want. The advantage of the smaller unit is installation - we just draw the water from the existing engine water inlet rather than make a new hole (the siting of the right location without any chance of air getting in seems a bit critical). But they also make a 160 model, producing 30 litres an hour though this uses 18 amps and needs its own dedicated supply.

I bought mine from West marine from the US, off one of their auctions at less than half price of the UK. Since I've only had it since May and used it on a few occasions, I can't rate on reliability etc but so far - all's good.
 
My Spectra does exactly what they claim; around 30 litres per hour from 10A and nearly double the output by running the second pump (i.e. 20A for nearly 60 litres per hour). We produce more than 10A 'spare' after our autopilot, fridge, etc. from solar so we can make 30 litres per hour 'free'. While one would always be able to get water here in the Med, it does mean going into a marina berth at a considerable cost and in any case we like to anchor....and we like to have unlimited water. We are not really interested in managing on 8 litres per day or whatever, it's not our 'thing' other than in an emergency.
 
I have been towing my Waterlog Watermaker for the last 12 months without fault. To the point now I never fill the tanks from the mains anymore. It is easy to deploy and will Merrily top the tanks from empty within the hour.

Excellent, throughly recommend!
 
I use a power survivor 80E, which produces about 14 litres an hour and I run it when motoring or every two days for three hours when battery charging, I also dont like going into marinas and it does fine for two, showering every day at anchor. Got it very cheap, for 800 quid secondhand, but it was fine.
 
Awful lot of work involved with a water-maker - needs almost daily use to keep the membrane in top condition. Requires monthly service and pulls quite a lot of power in order to run it. For ocean passages I would never set out without sufficient in my tanks and a rationing system to allow me sufficient water to get to my destination in case the the water maker breaks down.
There is no where in the world where you cannot get water - so having lived with one for many years and miles I am not certain it is actually either value for money or necessary.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Awful lot of work involved with a water-maker - needs almost daily use to keep the membrane in top condition. Requires monthly service and pulls quite a lot of power in order to run it. For ocean passages I would never set out without sufficient in my tanks and a rationing system to allow me sufficient water to get to my destination in case the the water maker breaks down.
There is no where in the world where you cannot get water - so having lived with one for many years and miles I am not certain it is actually either value for money or necessary.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Michael,
Thanks for your views, but as you are obviously not happy with your model it would be good to know what that is?
Cheers
JOHN
 
[ QUOTE ]
Oooooooooohhh! You fibber! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Who is being serious, you or Ship's Woofy?
I tried to visit the company site because the gadget sounded like being too good to be true. Unfortunately, each time I tried to access a link from the welcome page so as to obtain more information, for some reason my Firefox just hung.
I hate suspense /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
If you do a search of the fora you may find previous threads on this piece of equipment and all will be revealed (unless threads have been withdrawn by moderator)! If it sounds too good to be true, maybe it is? Can't say too much, due to previous threats of litigation.
 
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Can't say too much, due to previous threats of litigation.

[/ QUOTE ]
Thanks Tugboat!
I shall certainly do a search. As to the threats of litigation, I appreciate your caution. If anyone objects to my thinking that it might be too good to be true they are always welcome to enlighten me and convince me otherwise via a PM through the forum.
 
[ QUOTE ]
If anyone objects to my thinking that it might be too good to be true they are always welcome to enlighten me and convince me otherwise via a PM through the forum.

[/ QUOTE ]Would you like to hear about my perpetual motion machine, or the anti-gravity belt, perhaps? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Would you like to hear about my perpetual motion machine, . . ., perhaps? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Which one? If it's the one where a dynamo powers an electic motor, it's not yours!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
I invented that when I was 9 and kids still played with Meccano! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
If you've still got that Meccano kit you could make your own watermaker to trail behind the boat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Pre-owned watermakers!!!!

I see that the makers of the "world's most popular watermaker" (or whatever their claim was) now offer reconditioned pre-owned units, which must surely dispel the ugly rumours that the things never existed in the first place!
 
Re: Pre-owned watermakers!!!!

[ QUOTE ]
I see that the makers of the "world's most popular watermaker" (or whatever their claim was) now offer reconditioned pre-owned units, which must surely dispel the ugly rumours that the things never existed in the first place!

[/ QUOTE ]
That hardly seems possible. The watermakers are so good that I just can't imagine any satisfied owners ever wanting to part with theirs /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you've still got that Meccano kit you could make your own watermaker to trail behind the boat /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Now there's a good idea!
It'll have to wait, though...
I am designing a windmill that drives a (water) propellor so that I do not need to start up the engine. Only problem, so far, seems to be that if there's enough wind to turn the windmill there should be enough to sail and not motor. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Come to think of it, suppose I link that propellor to a wind generator? It should generate enough wind to move the boat, which in turn would spin the propellor faster thereby generating yet more wind for sailing. Only trouble with <u>that</u> approach would be an inundation of posts on the forum telling me that I ought to clamp the propellor while sailing. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
It's all so exciting, isn't it?! If only itweren't so confusing.... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
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