Watermaker Recommendation

[Cardo]

As always: Yes, I know it's been done to death! But things change.

So, in preparation for our 2 year cruise we are now looking to purchase a watermaker. We hadn't initially planned to get one, but having spoken to some liveaboards it would appear a watermaker would make life a lot more comfortable. So, we have managed to wangle some funding. Now we need to work out what to buy. There are loads on the market, with massively varying prices.

We will be primarily 2 people living aboard a 35 footer with occasional guests. We may also cross the Atlantic (where there would be 4 of us). We have 500Ah of battery and we will be installing at least 240watts worth of solar panels.

I've never used a watermaker before so something reasonably On/Off style would be nice, however I'm reasonably practical and can carry out maintenance if necessary.

So, thoughts?

 

[V1701]

If you want compact the Katadyn Power Survivor 40e, no idea how reliable or otherwise they might be I'm afraid, would like to know though...

 

[Cardo]

Size, whilst obviously always a consideration isn't the biggest factor. Reliability and efficiency are more important in this case. I'll take a peek at the Katadyn, although the output looks a little low at 5.7l per hour. I was contemplating the Spectra Ventura 150 or something along those lines. Anyone have any opinions on these or others?

 

[oldvarnish]

Size, whilst obviously always a consideration isn't the biggest factor. Reliability and efficiency are more important in this case. I'll take a peek at the Katadyn, although the output looks a little low at 5.7l per hour. I was contemplating the Spectra Ventura 150 or something along those lines. Anyone have any opinions on these or others?

My last boat had a Spectra - quite an elderly one and engine driven. Very good, no problems, and more than enough water.

I've now got a Katadyn 40. Much smaller, of course, and certainly not enough output for lengthy showers all round. One gallon per hour sounds meagre but a thirsty crew would be glad to see it. For sensible waters users it's more than enough, though, and only consuming 4 amps when running. I've been able to use mine on solar power alone.
The Katdyn is also a very simple installation.

 

[Pete7]

This is worth a read on the Katadyn 40.

http://www.katadyn.ishipaco.com/

Pete

 

[TQA]

With 400 watts of solar I have just enough to run the fridge lights lappie and the watermaker for an hour or so on sunny days. I have a Spectra 150.

I find though that cost of filters and chemicals is at least equal if not greater than the cost of buying water.

 

[Cardo]

This is worth a read on the Katadyn 40.

http://www.katadyn.ishipaco.com/

Pete

A very useful link, thank you. He does appear to be a supporter of the 40E and its predecessor. Having looked around, they appear to be quite reasonably priced, too.

With 400 watts of solar I have just enough to run the fridge lights lappie and the watermaker for an hour or so on sunny days. I have a Spectra 150.

I find though that cost of filters and chemicals is at least equal if not greater than the cost of buying water.

It's amazing how different people seem to manage different things with solar power. I've read some people on here say they manage quite happily on 40+' boats with only 150w, yet you only have just enough with 400w. I guess it's a case of YMMV.

As for cost, I'm sure the cost of the watermaker will be far greater than the cost of buying water! However, I'm hoping the increased quality of life should be well worth it.

 

[dulcibella]

I have a concern that watermakers create a culture of dependence. More than one person I know has truncated an ocean cruise or taken a very windward coastal route because the watermaker became u/s or unreliable.

Any sensible cruising boat has lots of odd spaces and corners where cans and bottles of water can be stashed, quite apart from the tank(s). I found the last 12 litres of bottled water from a cruise in 2008-9 only last week! A total of 400 litres would give plenty of reserve for four people on a passage of a month or more. A sensible policy is simple - switch off the electric pump so that all water is manually (or pedally) pumped, use as much water as you like for drinking and cooking and a mugful a day for washing face/shaving/toothbrushing. Seawater is unlimited and is perfectly satisfactory for bathing, hairwashing and dishwashing (yes, detergents and shower gels do lather in it). A catchment system for rain is simple to make and provides an extra sense of security. Tank up and enjoy your ocean cruising instead of putting your faith in fallible devices.

 

[beerbiker21]

Containers...

In the UK 20 litre beer (polypins) are light and cheap, easily filled and can be stashed just about anywhere. These can be used a few times before the thin plastic starts leaking. Lots of local brewers will have spare 25 litre jerrycans which are more substantial and will last forever...also good as (ugly) fenders. You can avoid the lack of water by drinking beer, of course!

 

[Marsupial]

I have a concern that watermakers create a culture of dependence. More than one person I know has truncated an ocean cruise or taken a very windward coastal route because the watermaker became u/s or unreliable.

Any sensible cruising boat has lots of odd spaces and corners where cans and bottles of water can be stashed, quite apart from the tank(s). I found the last 12 litres of bottled water from a cruise in 2008-9 only last week! A total of 400 litres would give plenty of reserve for four people on a passage of a month or more. A sensible policy is simple - switch off the electric pump so that all water is manually (or pedally) pumped, use as much water as you like for drinking and cooking and a mugful a day for washing face/shaving/toothbrushing. Seawater is unlimited and is perfectly satisfactory for bathing, hairwashing and dishwashing (yes, detergents and shower gels do lather in it). A catchment system for rain is simple to make and provides an extra sense of security. Tank up and enjoy your ocean cruising instead of putting your faith in fallible devices.

Yes I agree, BUT, we have a 240v water-maker, 60 lts per hour and a 4kva genny and recently we have been supplying water to other boats who, "can run for 6 weeks without a top-up" - OH REALLY? after only 7 days being galed in an anchorage with no hose pipe supply they were desperate. When we did make it to a port some were charged 5 Euros for 50 ltrs of brackish water; So a water-maker is becoming a must have around the MED yes we carry an emergency supply 30 ltrs in bottles for drinking, but every day we shower, wash the deck with fresh water and don't really worry much about water. I carry 400 ltrs of fuel which equates to 7200 ltrs of fresh soft water if don't motor; in some places out here its easier to find fuel than water. Our sensible policy is not to use the forward tank unless the genny or water-maker goes down, and then its a different usage regime, but 200 ltrs should last a while.

The genny is now in its fourth year - apparently it should have fallen apart 3 years ago, so something must be wrong with it. The water maker is also four years old and is still performing to spec - its not a faith thing - I take it you have "faith" that your hull wont fall apart? SWMBO says YOU can wash in sea water if you like but please keep downwind.

 

[nigelmercier]

In the UK 20 litre beer (polypins) are light and cheap, easily filled and can be stashed just about anywhere. These can be used a few times before the thin plastic starts leaking...

I need a few of these semi-rigid but collapsible containers to temporarily transfer my fuel into. I've had no luck in finding a supplier, they all now seem to use plastic bags, like in a wine box.

I've got a water maker on board my boat. It was shut down with the sodium metabisulphite solution, and hasn't been used in 7 years. I suspect membranes are now dead.

 

[noelex]

Size, whilst obviously always a consideration isn't the biggest factor. Reliability and efficiency are more important in this case. I'll take a peek at the Katadyn, although the output looks a little low at 5.7l per hour. I was contemplating the Spectra Ventura 150 or something along those lines. Anyone have any opinions on these or others?

If you want to operate the Watermaker without a generator it needs to be an energy recovery model. Spectra make the best energy recovery models IMHO.
I have a spectra ventura 150. Now almost 4 years old and it's never missed a beat. We run it (and the rest of the boats power needs ) almost exclusively from 330w of solar. For the last 4 years it has supplied all our water.

 

[oldvarnish]

I have a concern that watermakers create a culture of dependence. More than one person I know has truncated an ocean cruise or taken a very windward coastal route because the watermaker became u/s or unreliable.

I agree, up to a point. In coastal European waters, there is no need for a water maker. But catching rainwater on an ocean passage is a far from certain business. On a 3K miles trip down the tropics this year, I collected a grand sum of four gallons - the rain squalls never came.
Also, in those parts of the world where local water is suspect, the advantage is obvious.
So I would not shun a water maker, but anyone who does coastal European sailing and thinks there boat is not properly equipped without one, is wrong.

PS Agree very much about switching off the electric pump.

 

[noelex]

In coastal European waters, there is no need for a water maker..

The need for a Watermaker is dependent on where you cruise and on your style of crusing.
We anchor, generally 360 days a year, often in the more remote anchorages, which we prefer, so no matter what water storage we have it all has to be transported via the dingy often from a distant tap.
Boats using marinas, or even town quays, on a regular basis find water transport much easier, although water is getting harder to find.

 

[oldvarnish]

The need for a Watermaker is dependent on where you cruise and on your style of crusing.
We anchor, generally 360 days a year, often in the more remote anchorages, which we prefer, so no matter what water storage we have it all has to be transported via the dingy often from a distant tap.
Boats using marinas, or even town quays, on a regular basis find water transport much easier, although water is getting harder to find.

That's a fair point. Perhaps I should have said 'typical coastal waters cruising'. Not many people spend as many nights at anchor as you do - I salute you.

 

[boatmike]

If you want to operate the Watermaker without a generator it needs to be an energy recovery model. Spectra make the best energy recovery models IMHO.
I have a spectra ventura 150. Now almost 4 years old and it's never missed a beat. We run it (and the rest of the boats power needs ) almost exclusively from 330w of solar. For the last 4 years it has supplied all our water.

I have owned boats with both Schenker and Spectra Watermakers. You have a choice of AC models, DC models, or engine driven models. The power requirements of either engine driven or AC models will be high. The DC models are usually based on a "clark pump" which is more complex but IMHO reliable. both of the ones I have owned have been DC. On changing boats and refitting my new boat I have researched what is available and think you should talk to this guy. He started life servicing Spectra (the originators of the clark pump principle) but now supplies both these and Baitek which are essentially the same thing.

http://www.sailfishmarine.co.uk

I have just installed a Baitek which produces 25 litres per hour for 9 amps of 12v DC current. IMHO Spectra are now trading on their name and are rediculously expensive. Schenker are good too but I am impressed by the build quality of Baitek. Take a look at the website. I have no commercial connection to sailfish and have to say that he is only a little guy compared with say HRO, Fisher Panda etc but in the Med (where I intend to cruise) they are seemingly well known being built in Italy. Their main business appears to be big ship systems and these little sets are a new venure for them, but they are well built and very simple. Take a look.

 

[KellysEye]

Spectra. I don't know if it is still the same but Spectra use bespoke parts and their own chemicals for cleaning. Hence expensive. All other water makers use parts that you can buy off the shelf around the world and the same with chemicals. Echotech is an example http://www.echotecwatermakers.com/?gclid=CP6Gpb7HmbECFVQqfAod_Gehdw

 

[TQA]

Spectra. I don't know if it is still the same but Spectra use bespoke parts and their own chemicals for cleaning. Hence expensive. All other water makers use parts that you can buy off the shelf around the world and the same with chemicals. Echotech is an example http://www.echotecwatermakers.com/?gclid=CP6Gpb7HmbECFVQqfAod_Gehdw

My Clark pump failed on my Spectra and the repair was expensive as are the chemicals.

Maybe I am too finicky about where I am willing to run the W/M but so many anchorages seem polluted nowadays.

 

[oystercatcher100]

I have owned boats with both Schenker and Spectra Watermakers. You have a choice of AC models, DC models, or engine driven models. The power requirements of either engine driven or AC models will be high. The DC models are usually based on a "clark pump" which is more complex but IMHO reliable. both of the ones I have owned have been DC. On changing boats and refitting my new boat I have researched what is available and think you should talk to this guy. He started life servicing Spectra (the originators of the clark pump principle) but now supplies both these and Baitek which are essentially the same thing.

http://www.sailfishmarine.co.uk

I have just installed a Baitek which produces 25 litres per hour for 9 amps of 12v DC current. IMHO Spectra are now trading on their name and are rediculously expensive. Schenker are good too but I am impressed by the build quality of Baitek. Take a look at the website. I have no commercial connection to sailfish and have to say that he is only a little guy compared with say HRO, Fisher Panda etc but in the Med (where I intend to cruise) they are seemingly well known being built in Italy. Their main business appears to be big ship systems and these little sets are a new venure for them, but they are well built and very simple. Take a look.

I cannot agree more with Boatmike. After much deliberation I bought a Baitek unit last year from the company he mentions. It was priced excellently, installed easily (with help from the very knowledgeable guy who sold it to me) and has performed faultlessly using minimall DC power. Big thumbs up!

 

[Cardo]

I cannot agree more with Boatmike. After much deliberation I bought a Baitek unit last year from the company he mentions. It was priced excellently, installed easily (with help from the very knowledgeable guy who sold it to me) and has performed faultlessly using minimall DC power. Big thumbs up!

I had come across this website previously as they offer second hand and ex-demo units.
Has anyone bought one of these? I must say the ex-demo units don't look all that bad.