Recommended water makers

[sailinglegend420]

[QUOTEhttp://www.swcc.gov.sa/files/assets...EMBRANE FOULING - THE FINAL FRONTIER....1.pdf[/QUOTE]

Scanned through the article and read the summary - I think its suggesting that a larger water maker with a large throughput of water helps to keep the membrane clean.

We have an HRO (Horizon Reverse Osmosis) 70 litres/hour with an automatic back flush that runs about 20 litres through the system after it stops. It then repeats this every 7 days to keep the system clean. It takes 24 amps and has an energy transfer device which keeps the amps usage relatively low.

Only had it one year but we are very pleased with it.

If you are getting a watermaker don't underestimate the time or cost of getting it fitted!

 

[rivonia]

Dear Rivonia,
What production and how many amps are you getting from the Schenker? 30lph @9 amps, as advertised?
Thanks

Fliti

Hi, we are delighted to say that at initial start up she draws between 9 & 10 amps and then drops to a steady 8amps. I must say that when ever we have the water maker on we have always run the engine as well, so as to keep the batts topped up. We manage to get 30Lts an hour, which is plenty as we have two tanks so can then fill the other on the next time. We use one tank untill it gets to a quarter empty and then fill the empty one. Works for us so we can shower and make endless cups of tea when we want.

Peter

 

[Pete7]

Hi, I've just this last week finished installing a 160E and I'm very pleased with this product, it's simple to use and produces the ltrs/ph as specified.

GG, were have you mounted the 160? and could you say how noisy it is in operation?

I spent a day fondling watermakers at the Southampton Boat Show last year. Spectra had a 150 up and running which was quite interesting to see producing water. The intensifier made a quiet click, whoosh, click, sound that wouldn't be a problem, but the buzz from the electric pump was, however it was bolted to a frame and the frame to the metal floor of the tent so perhaps a little unfair to comment. The Hydrovane looked like a serious piece of engineering and I expected to see the Royal naval "crowsfoot" stamped on it, so yes Marsupial may be leaving it for his grand children. The katadyn units looked neat for those with limited space. It was interesting to produce a graph showing how many amp hours each used to produce 100 litres of water. Katadyn were all much the same (just the speed of production varied) as the smaller Hydrovanes, the Spectra used less amp hours but had higher inital purchase cost.

Pete

 

[chrisb]

recommended water makers

i think the first consideration is how you are going to power it-ie battery/engine/generator.certainlt at 12v they need a lot of amps.then what is your useage.once you have a watermaker your consumption certainly goes up.
i have a desalator[french]powered by a 3kw compact genset which i use to power other things as well.very frugal c diesel .very pleased with it. produces 65litre/hr and fully automaqtic once switched on. recommend

 

[Pumphrey]

Spectra 380

We bought a Spectra 380 secondhand which I think dates back to 1999!

The Clark pump is famously robust although ours needed "something doing to it" before it would work. We are now in Malaysia and parts have been easy to get although very few have "Spectra" stamped on them.

One of the best bits of kit on board. It may cost more but it's worth it.

Roger

 

[grumpygit]

GG, were have you mounted the 160? and could you say how noisy it is in operation?

I spent a day fondling watermakers at the Southampton Boat Show last year. Spectra had a 150 up and running which was quite interesting to see producing water. The intensifier made a quiet click, whoosh, click, sound that wouldn't be a problem, but the buzz from the electric pump was, however it was bolted to a frame and the frame to the metal floor of the tent so perhaps a little unfair to comment. The Hydrovane looked like a serious piece of engineering and I expected to see the Royal naval "crowsfoot" stamped on it, so yes Marsupial may be leaving it for his grand children. The katadyn units looked neat for those with limited space. It was interesting to produce a graph showing how many amp hours each used to produce 100 litres of water. Katadyn were all much the same (just the speed of production varied) as the smaller Hydrovanes, the Spectra used less amp hours but had higher inital purchase cost.

Pete

Hi Pete, I 've mounted it in the V berth under the cabin sole. I would say not the quietest of pumps but are any of the other electric units any different ?

With having a water capacity of 1200 ltrs we will (hopefully) only be making water when the engine or generator is running. So any extra noise is mostly of no concequence especially with the master cabin is at the blunt end.

With just fitting the 160 we've not had much experience with it yet.

I can PM you some pics of the installation if it would be any help. GG

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[richardwatson]

I fitted a Katadyn Powersurvor 160E five years ago. Its been excellent and is still on its original membrane. Produces the rated 30 litre output, and draws 7-8A. Very little maintenance, no electronics to go wrong and modular, so was easy to fit. Shipped it to Europe from West Marine wmjmarine.com which was just a little more than half the price I was quoted in the UK even after shipping and VAT. Katadyn advised not to fit it in the engine compartment, due to high ambient temperatures on the membrane. Bear in mind the pump is noisy when you decide where to install one.

 

[fliti]

Dear Richard,

Thanks for your response which pretty much swings it for me. The 160 it is based on cost, space and the recommendations in these pages. The Schenker is about 15% more expensive and consumes more space and the Spectra is about 15% higher still. I can't justify the additional price. Thanks for the recommendations on positioning too!

All the best

Fliti

 

[H2OMaker]

Go for the Spectra Ventura 150 DL , 24 liters /hr lifetime warranty on the Clark pump , drived by a Shurflo pump !

Best

 

[Swagman]

Hi Fliti,
Think you'v emade a wise choice. We asked about models in 2004 and Richard then recommended Katadyn. We did same as him but the smaller unit - 80E.
Got it off Ebay from WestMarine for half the UK price (including shipping and VAT) landed in Spain.
Easy peasy to fit - no new through hulls in or out - and produces the 15 litres per hour we need (we run engine 3 hours each day anyway) to give Sue and I more than enough to cover liveboard needs.
And it is 2010 now - and still with same membrane, never missed a beat, and water still sweet.
Cheers
JOHN