Watermaker for Moody 37

[Becky]

We are planning to fit a watermaker to our boat. But I have seen/read lots of conflicting comments about them. There were a lot to choose from at SIBS, but several seemed to be varations on one type. There were also some fully automatic ones that flushed/backwashed themselves when necessary, which HWMBO thought a good idea. But I am somewhat fearful of too much complexity.
So, does anyone have experience of using one? And any comments on what to look for, what to avoid?


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Talbot]

from my research there are two that others chose above all others:

PUR 40 or 80 (dependent on boat size and water consumption
Spectra (sp) - seems popular, but there have been some issues with it.

My money at the moment is on the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.onlinemarine.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online_superstore/plumbing/pur_watermakers.htm?E+scstore>PUR 40</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Sea Devil]

Becky hi,

Ive had one since trinidad - fitted it myself - fairly straight forward - just avoid kinking HP hoses. Mine is a sort of Village Marine - VM are possibly the most efficient.....

Before I fitted it a circumnavigation couple said - There is no where in the world where you cannot get water - That is true I think

The down side of Watermakers is that they need lots and lots of TLC. (sodiumetabisulphate is cheap from beer shops like gold dust from watermaker companies - the filters need changing at least monthly and they are not cheap either)

I spent an hour or so yesterday laying mine up for the winter... They need to be used almost daily - certainly every 3 or 4 days - They really eat amps so in a way when ever you switch the engine on you should run the watermaker so that if you are stuck in a dirty oily port it can lay idle or you backflush it which makes it possible not to use it for 10 days...

So the big problem is the constant TLC - if you do not look after the membrane(s) by using it you can back flush and store for 10 days or lay up with afore mentioned Sodiumeta.... and it should last for a year or so.. I am waiting to find out!!! New membrane(s) are very very expensive

The big advantage of them is you do not have to Jerry jug fresh water out to the anchorage - I have always set out on a voyage with enough fresh water to last the trip - used the watermaker for showers etc....

Every time you start the engine start the watermaker - let it run for about 5 minutes and then test the product to see if its ok - if not then let it run longer and test the product - if all ok start sending it to the tank - all a bit of a hassel but ...

The fresh water tastes great - showers are more frequent - conserving water becomes a thing of the past.... but the hassel?? You tend to find a lot of PUR in workshops being repaired..


<hr width=100% size=1>http:// link http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing

 

[jerryat]

Hi Becky!

We used the PUR 35 (as it was then - now the 40) on a pond circuit about four years ago and found it excellent. You do though, as Bambola stresses, have to spend a fair amount of time in maintenance and/or run it very regularly, not all that convenient if you're sailing well and don't want to use the engine!

We NEVER used it in a port anywhere. The slightest contamination with oil (in particular) can wreck the membrane and it's an horrendous cost to replace. The newer PUR40 is a more compact assembly than the 35 so takes up less room, very useful if you are pushed for space. I agree with Bambola re obtaining water - we have never failed to get some when needed - though it's sometimes a fair way away and heavy to carry, even on our bikes. But then we're cruising, have all day to do things, so what's the hurry?!! You get to meet really nice people too!

Overall, we do not now consider them an essential. On our last circuit, we found it perfectly possible to carry enough water in the main tank and jerry-cans, for the ocean bits, and still arrived with some left. Ok, we only showered every three days, but that was fine combined with wet-wipes etc in between. You, with a larger boat should have no problems assuming you monitor use sensibly.

We hope to be off again next Spring after out refit, but it is unlikely we will bother fitting one again, with all the associated engine running, hassle, spares and restrictions of use at anchor in many places. Of course, we won't carry all our water in one tank as it would be disastrous it the event of a burst, but again carry at least as much again in smaller containers. Easy to stow and easy to fill.

As always I guess, it depends what you want. If copious daily showers are essential to you and your crew, a watermaker is the only way on a long passage unless you have massive tankage, but quite frankly, even in our little boat, we managed a 5+ knot average on the crossings and reckon we can survive reduced 'home comforts' for around two and half weeks!

Just a personal view as always, but I hope it helps.

Cheers

Jerry

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Tradewinds]

Hi Becky,

Agree with Bambola. We have a Village Marine Tec Little wonder c1996. Good unit and recommended, but as Bambola says, you should run them everyday - if only till you get sweet water coming through. We never backwashed having heard tales of heavily chlorinated tank water overcoming the inline charcoal (?) filter and ruining the membrane - whether this was possible or not, we preferred to run it daily instead. In a dirty harbour, if you're there for a week or so, you should 'pickle' it. It's a routine that you get used to. IMO you don't really need one for an Atlantic crossing - we have a 100gall tank and arrived with well over half (2 adults+2 children). You can carry plastic bottled water as a supplement (instead of wine and beer!) if you need to - lots cheaper than a water maker.

However, in those glorious isolated anchorages that took you so long to get to, a watermaker gives you a great deal of self-suffiency as long as you have the available power to run them (wind+solar).

Hope this helps.

<hr width=100% size=1>