Water maker in the Med

[mark1882]

I am currently preparing my boat Arrifana a Westerly Oceanlord for taking her to the Med in May and have started to look at amongst loads of other things a water maker. I have spoken to a few people at CA meetings and there seems to be differences of opinion as to whether or not a water maker is necessary and the availability of potable water so any views on this would be greatly appreciated.,particularly as its a big ticked item and only want to go down this road if I have to.

Many thanks

Mark

 

[Carmel2]

Not necessary, but I would not be without ours. It's not a fancy one, EchoTec 70lt per hour. I am told they are fitted to Caribbean charter boats as they are simple and hard wearing, and even a numbnuts like me would have to go some way to knacker it. We like to anchor for a long period of time, so it suits us well. It's a luxury, but not having to worry about showering, washing up etc is a bonus.

 

[Monique]

+1. I just changed mine from a 25 liter/hour to a dual voltage 24V DC/220 V AC 100 l/hr.

We have only one recommendation: ensure you run it in a very clean anchorage. Also use it lots, the membranes don't mind.

Pickle it properly when the boat is laid up.

Enjoy.

 

[macd]

Mark1882: as said, by no means necessary: potable water is generally easy to find. Having said that, let's be a little more careful about describing 'the Med': most comments you receive (mine included) will refer to the European and Turkish Med. North Africa is relatively little travelled by yachts and can be very different.

I'd agree, too that a watermaker can be a convenience, but it can equally be an encumbrance. Much will depend on the habits and preferences you evolve. If these include frequent (weekly or bi-weekly, say) visits to town harbours and/or marinas, you're likely to spend half your time pickling the thing because it isn't being used. But if, like Carmel2, you'll spend extended periods on the hook, then the equation leans more in favour of a watermaker.

My impression is that most Med cruisers either don't have one and don't feel the need; or maybe have one and leave it decommissioned for lengthy periods. Obviously a fair number of Med cruisers arrived there the long way round, which would have dictated their installing a watermaker in a way cruising solely in the Med would not.

You don't indicate whether your means dictate a pecking order of Med/cruising equipment (although I note you're considering a bow thruster, too). If your budget's finite, I'd put power generation (specifically solar) way ahead of watermaking; I'd also do the same with suitable canvas (bimini, including side panels and maybe winter cockpit tent). But perhaps you have those already?

 

[vyv_cox]

We have been cruising the Mediterranean for half of each year since 2005. Our main water tank has a capacity of about 250 litres and we carry a few additional containers. We never buy bottled water. I can barely remember an occasion when our tank fell below half full. There are a few places where water is of poor quality, mainly various islands in both east and west Mediterranean but there is usually an alternative, in Greece delivered by mini tanker or taps in most villages. No necessity at all to have a water maker but of course if the facility is there it will be fully utilised.

 

[RichardS]

As Vyv says, providing you can fit large enough tanks you will probably not feel the need for a water maker. We have 750 litres which would keep three or four of us going for 3 or 4 weeks with daily showers but there are plenty of taps/tankers in the Adriatic / Ionian if you have less capacity.

Richard

 

[Carmel2]

If these include frequent (weekly or bi-weekly, say) visits to town harbours and/or marinas, you're likely to spend half your time pickling the thing because it isn't being used

Not necessarily. With ours we have a fresh water flush that you run once for 10 mins every 5 days to keep the membrane in tip top condition.

 

[AndrewB]

Seagull Mk IV. Turns the vilest bilge-water into something palatable. Considerably cheaper than a watermaker.

 

[duncan99210]

We don't have a watermaker (although it's high on the 'when we've got some money list') and have never found ourselves limited by the need to find water. With 300 litres of tankage and a collection of collapsible containers we find it easy to cope. Most places we go there's either a tap nearby to fill our containers or there's one on the quay side to use. Failing all this, most of the islands have a water tanker which will appear on a daily basis and fill you tanks for a few euros.

300 litres will last us the best part of two and a half weeks: it is difficult not to find water within that period! The balancing act would tend to nudge towards electricity generation rather than a watermaker if the budget is being squeezed.

 

[Bertramdriver]

I have a watermaker which is rarely used and therefor a non productive cost. What is invaluable is our in line fresh water filter system which means we don't have to waste money on bottled ( Screwfix sell a cheap kit)
We've never had a problem with tummy bugs as each tank fill is treated with chlorine tablets and the taint is filtered out at the tap.

 

[simonjames]

We've had ours for 10 years (seafresh 60 litres per hour), and it's been invaluable. Had it moved to new boat in 2008 and have never had a problem with it. I was really worried about the reliability of them, but have never had a problem. Apparently a lot of unreliability is caused by poor fitment not poor machinery.
Since we've been in the med it's really come inti its own, as we've not once had to go into a marina for water.

 

[westernman]

Never needed one. But then I have over 1000 litres of tankage.

 

[silver-fox]

IMHO you don't need one in the Med BUT....

If you intend to spend any length of time at anchor and want to avoid marina fees, you need to avoid the three things will drive you into a marina at 30€ a night and possibly a lot more are:-

1. Electricity and the need to charge the batteries
2. water
3.Food

-A good spread of solar panels will take care of (1) (yes I know you can run your engine but doing so 2 hours a day, every day, will soon wear you down!)
-A watermaker will take care of (2)
-and(3) you will need to go ashore once a month to restock.

Do you NEED it - definitely not
Will you appreciate it? - Almost certainly if you plan to spend any length of time at anchor.

 

[vyv_cox]

Seagull Mk IV. Turns the vilest bilge-water into something palatable. Considerably cheaper than a watermaker.

It most definitely improves the taste of most tap water. What it cannot do is remove dissolved salts. Much of the water available from marina taps on many islands comes from artesian wells and becomes steadily more saline as summer progresses.

 

[ribrage]

I am currently preparing my boat Arrifana a Westerly Oceanlord for taking her to the Med in May and have started to look at amongst loads of other things a water maker. I have spoken to a few people at CA meetings and there seems to be differences of opinion as to whether or not a water maker is necessary and the availability of potable water so any views on this would be greatly appreciated.,particularly as its a big ticked item and only want to go down this road if I have to.

Many thanks

Mark

mark the general rule is this :

1 bald bloke and 1 dog on board and 1500 litres lasts 3 months
1 bald bloke ,1 dog PLUS one woman on board - 1500 litres lasts 1 month
1 bald bloke , 1 dog , 1 woman and 1 daughter on board - buy a water maker !

 

[tri39]

Crammed full we can set off with 315 litres of fresh water altho we're rarely as full as that!
In 20yrs plus in the Med we have never run out of water. Even when consumption peaked with two teenage girls' hair to wash daily!!!
Now with just me and my wife onboard most of the time I don't even think about fitting a watermaker.
I've enough machinery to keep working already.

 

[Seren]

Watermaker in Med?

Find our Spectra (25 ltrs/hr?) a very good use of drinking/cooking water. At the beginning of each season we buy a couple of packs of shop water and use the empty bottles to store the desalinated product. As our tanks are aluminium (link with Alzheimer's ???) we use that water for showering/laundry etc. Getting bald(er), no dog but plenty of family/friends visit! The Spectra draws about 6 amps and only used when motoring. Pickle twice per season - before summer break and after October haul-out. As others have said not essential but affords more independence.

 

[TonyMS]

We don't have a watermaker, because we can't afford the amps.

Seldom had a problem getting water, but in Ibiza especially and also Mallorca it is usually vile. We bought Regas bottled water in strong 8lt containers, which we still have.

The water in Menorca, on the other hand is delicious, especially from the free tap by the yacht club in Fornells.

 

[Paragon]

No direct experience of watermakers other than the boat I've just bought has one (HRO ML9 I believe) which I'll be removing and probably putting on Ebay in the next few weeks. I don't know much about it other than it was a med boat so obviously used there and currently the installation is complete and the pump comes on etc. No idea whether it's been pickled or not, suspect it would be best to get a new/spare membrane anyway.

If anyone's interested in it, let me know and I can send pics of it, and it's removal, over the next few weeks.

 

[silver-fox]

No direct experience of watermakers other than the boat I've just bought has one (HRO ML9 I believe) which I'll be removing and probably putting on Ebay in the next few weeks. I don't know much about it other than it was a med boat so obviously used there and currently the installation is complete and the pump comes on etc. No idea whether it's been pickled or not, suspect it would be best to get a new/spare membrane anyway.

If anyone's interested in it, let me know and I can send pics of it, and it's removal, over the next few weeks.

I have PM'd you