Water maker in the Med

[Yngmar]

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.

I've found this PDF rather handy when looking at water filtration (micron = micrometre): http://cl.ly/293Q3S1D2Q1O/The-Filtration-Spectrumosmonics.pdf

This is also what most manufacturers specify, e.g. the Seagull filters down to 0.4/0.1 microns, so everything left of that on the chart it will not get out (including salt, pesticides and herbicides).

 

[macd]

micron = micrometer

Please...
A micrometer is a measuring instrument
(I realise you were just copying from the link; what the hell do our transatlantic cousins call a micrometer?)

 

[vyv_cox]

When you say 'will not get out' I assume you mean will not be retained by the filter. I should point out that General Ecology claim that the Seagull IV is more than just a filter, it removes contaminants by Broad Spectrum Molecular Capture and Electrostatic Removal as well. This may well be true but I do know that it doesn't remove salt from saline water.

 

[tcm]

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

You can definitely manage without one... but if you do have one, I'd recommend "using it often". You can stay at anchor for longer and/or keep crew shower-happy. If there's sorta no limit on water, 2-4 people can easily get through 2-400 litres a day.

it has to be assumed redundant/broken for long ocean passages of course.

I would guess that an Oceanlord wouldn't really feature one, not much? There again, with wataermaker you can then have a washing machine which is (more of) an absolute MUST ... esp if you want to avoid the godawful schlepp to the nastiest parts of every town to find a laundry, add up 10 visits and you've paid for the washing machine....

 

[rivonia]

We have sailed the Sth and Nth Atlantic. It was useful to have a watermaker. In the MEd do not bother at all. Not required. You will spend money that can be used on much better pieces of equipment. There are so many places where the water is FREE, when you get to them fill up and fill all the water jerry cans as well.

 

[crisjones]

We have a watermaker and it is used all summer and saves us a fortune in marina and harbour fees. We do fill up anywhere that water is freely available but the flexibility afforded by the watermaker is great. Many of the Greek Islands and some parts of Turkey do not have potable water so you are self sufficient in those places.

However, as others have said, a watermaker is far from essential in the Med, bottled water is available everywhere even when shore mains supplies are dubious and it is a fraction of UK prices because almost everyone buys it. We never buy bottled water and always drink shoreside mains water or watermaker produce and have never had any problems.

A TDS meter (total dissolved solids), even if you have no watermaker, is almost essential for testing shoreside water and they only cost about £12-15 from Amazon or Ebay. The "taste" test is probably good enough for most people but the TDS meter is well worth the expense.