Water filters

[pmagowan]

The majority of superyachts in the Med treat the water they use for boat washing purposes before it comes on board to avoid streaks down the topsides. Many use a two stage process, with a filter followed by chemicals. They all use watermakers for drinking and showering of course. Quite a few more modest yachts use a similar filtration system for drinking water, I was looking at one for a Swiss boat last week. The filters are usually on the pontoon or quay.

We use a General Ecology Seagull IV filter on the drinking water tap, which I found to be extremely effective by comparison with the unfiltered tap.

Interesting. Watermakers sound like a good idea as you are then self sufficient which is something I like. You could then keep a tank constantly topped up and there is no risk of bringing in contaminated water.

 

[vyv_cox]

Interesting. Watermakers sound like a good idea as you are then self sufficient which is something I like. You could then keep a tank constantly topped up and there is no risk of bringing in contaminated water.

In many cases the big expensive boats draw too much to get into the smaller harbours of Greece and thus have to have watermakers. The ones I have seen with filtered tap water have been in deep water ports such as Barcelona, Palma, St Tropez, Antibes.

 

[pmagowan]

In many cases the big expensive boats draw too much to get into the smaller harbours of Greece and thus have to have watermakers. The ones I have seen with filtered tap water have been in deep water ports such as Barcelona, Palma, St Tropez, Antibes.

I have just been looking up water makers. They are expensive but quite simple technology relying on pressure across a membrane to 'filter' the salt out of the water. They certainly look like a good idea if you were doing any extended sailing away from good water supplies./ There is even a hand pumped version which can keep a couple of dozen people hydrated on a liferaft for emergency use. Overall they would be a very handy addition but are obviously on the expensive side for normal use in the UK where we have really good access to clean water. They are also a bit noisy and use a bit of electric but this could be alleviated by only using them when the engine is on. Might go on the list for a 'would like' rather than a 'must have'.

 

[vyv_cox]

More and more smaller yachts long term cruising have water makers. I know of several 38 ft boats with them. No need at all in UK.