oystercatcher100
New Member
Yes, forgot to mention mine was an ex demo unit - I bought it at the Southampton Boat show. Still came with 3 year warranty and appeared pretty much as new.
Watermaker Recommendation
- Thread starter Cardo
- Start date
Yes, forgot to mention mine was an ex demo unit - I bought it at the Southampton Boat show. Still came with 3 year warranty and appeared pretty much as new.
oystercatcher100
New Member
silver-fox
Well-Known Member
I bought a second hand Katadyn 80e from Englander of this parish in 08 and its still going strong. I still marvel at the process. I know how it works but it still seems magic when such high quality cool fresh water is produced.
It draws 8 amps and produces around 13 litres per hour. We run it off 160 watts of solar plus a wind genny. Always be suspicious of USA makers claims.... their gallons are smaller than ours
At anchor we can produce almost enough electricity to be self sufficient and run the water maker.....but not quite!
Is it essential? No!
Is it useful, emphatically yes, - if you enjoy long periods at anchor.
Still looking for the wine setting
It draws 8 amps and produces around 13 litres per hour. We run it off 160 watts of solar plus a wind genny. Always be suspicious of USA makers claims.... their gallons are smaller than ours
At anchor we can produce almost enough electricity to be self sufficient and run the water maker.....but not quite!
Is it essential? No!
Is it useful, emphatically yes, - if you enjoy long periods at anchor.
Still looking for the wine setting
noelex
Well-Known Member
I just estimated our Spectra Watermaker has made over 50,000 L for us. That is a lot of water to carry back and forth in the dingy.
No one buys a Watermaker for cheap water, it's value is in the convenience.
The cost of water so far including the initial purchase price is a bit over 0.10 euro per litre, but of course this is coming down as we use the Watermaker more.
Nikia
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
Here goes with my first post.
I'm living aboard, trying hard to give up the day job and sail away.
On the subject of watermakers, thought I'd pass on an interesting comment from another boat owner the other day.
He has a Bavaria and mentioned his watermaker. When I said my Tayana 37 didn't have one, he said "Oh it's not a blue water boat then"..........3 Atlantic crossings so far!
Here goes with my first post.
I'm living aboard, trying hard to give up the day job and sail away.
On the subject of watermakers, thought I'd pass on an interesting comment from another boat owner the other day.
He has a Bavaria and mentioned his watermaker. When I said my Tayana 37 didn't have one, he said "Oh it's not a blue water boat then"..........3 Atlantic crossings so far!
maxy
Well-Known Member
We have a Katadyn 160E watermaker. It has run faultlessly since new and produces 27-30 litres per hour consuming 13 amps at 12v.
We decided on 12v as we didn't have a generator and didn't really have the space for one. Following reading a lady's blog about their pacific crossing in a large yacht and her desperation for a fresh water shower. Curious thing was they had a water maker. Later it became clear the genny had failed and the 240v watermaker as a consequence. We can produce 12v from engine, solar, wind, towed, so for long journeys are not reliant on one source of energy.
When considering which model Katadyn to buy, the power consumption/production ratio is basically identical. Katadyn recommend not fitting the unit where people sleep, as its not very noisy but not quiet either. We had little choice but to place it under a bunk. Buying the most powerful unit meant that we only needed it to run for an hour a day or less. We also found when day sailing that the time under engine arriving and leaving anchorages was enough to satisfy our daily needs. We also discovered if you produce water whilst the engine is running, we produced 10% more because of the alternator voltage.
You pay your money and you take your choice.
We decided on 12v as we didn't have a generator and didn't really have the space for one. Following reading a lady's blog about their pacific crossing in a large yacht and her desperation for a fresh water shower. Curious thing was they had a water maker. Later it became clear the genny had failed and the 240v watermaker as a consequence. We can produce 12v from engine, solar, wind, towed, so for long journeys are not reliant on one source of energy.
When considering which model Katadyn to buy, the power consumption/production ratio is basically identical. Katadyn recommend not fitting the unit where people sleep, as its not very noisy but not quiet either. We had little choice but to place it under a bunk. Buying the most powerful unit meant that we only needed it to run for an hour a day or less. We also found when day sailing that the time under engine arriving and leaving anchorages was enough to satisfy our daily needs. We also discovered if you produce water whilst the engine is running, we produced 10% more because of the alternator voltage.
You pay your money and you take your choice.
Last edited:
Cardo
Well-Known Member
I've been checking out the various watermakers. The Katadyn 40e looks nice with a low power consumption however has a lower output. This unit comes cheaper than the others, though. The other similar units seem to run at around 9amps producing about 25l however seem to cost closer to £4k new unless a deal is found on a second hand or ex-demo unit.
I think I'll be trolling the stands at the boat show and see what I can fanagle.
I think I'll be trolling the stands at the boat show and see what I can fanagle.
Chief Charlie
Member
Water makers
Marsupila,
Can you disclose the make of w/maker and generator please.
Buying soon and keen to get as much info as possible.
Chief Charlie
Marsupila,
Can you disclose the make of w/maker and generator please.
Buying soon and keen to get as much info as possible.
Chief Charlie
oystercatcher100
New Member
I must admit I thought I would manage without a watermaker - that is until i bought one! now would not be without it, the simplicity is great. Can't remember exactly what I paid, around 3200 I think. I looked at the katadine but found it very noisy, and was also told that they use a special membrane which is very expensive to replace.
Adrian_
N/A
The Spectra Ventura 150 is based on a trivial 150gph membrane. The only thing that makes it different from the household RO units that can be purchased rather cheap today is the pressure pump &valves being saltwater resistent.
Other then that, a household RO unit that has a remineralisation cartridge would do exactly the same job.
I happen to know a dealer of RO units (bought one for the saltwater aquarium) and I'll ask him if he can let me come by next time he has a defective pressure pump returned under warranty. When opening it up it's really easy to figure out if it can take saltwater or not.
Other then that, a household RO unit that has a remineralisation cartridge would do exactly the same job.
I happen to know a dealer of RO units (bought one for the saltwater aquarium) and I'll ask him if he can let me come by next time he has a defective pressure pump returned under warranty. When opening it up it's really easy to figure out if it can take saltwater or not.
noelex
Well-Known Member
RO units that extract fresh water from saltwater are very different to household RO designed to purify fresh water. The pressures involved in the salt water unit are much higher.
The salt and fresh water units serve a very different function and are not directly comparable.
Last edited:
Adrian_
N/A
I never said the marine units do not operate at a higher pression 
But I'm willing to bet that an automated household RO device that has the membrane washing function incorprorated with the control unit could handle seawater on a rather long term, provided the pump and the pressure valves resist corrosion.
The membrane would die much faster, agreed, but even so total running cost on several years will be much lower.
Probably tho it would be next to impossible to get seawater resistent pump and valves designed for usage with the household unit tubing. RO units manufacturers are not idiots, so to speak.
But I'm willing to bet that an automated household RO device that has the membrane washing function incorprorated with the control unit could handle seawater on a rather long term, provided the pump and the pressure valves resist corrosion.
The membrane would die much faster, agreed, but even so total running cost on several years will be much lower.
Probably tho it would be next to impossible to get seawater resistent pump and valves designed for usage with the household unit tubing. RO units manufacturers are not idiots, so to speak.
noelex
Well-Known Member
I never said the marine units do not operate at a higher pression
But I'm willing to bet that an automated household RO device that has the membrane washing function incorprorated with the control unit could handle seawater on a rather long term, provided the pump and the pressure valves resist corrosion.
The membrane would die much faster, agreed, but even so total running cost on several years will be much lower.
Probably tho it would be next to impossible to get seawater resistent pump and valves designed for usage with the household unit tubing. RO units manufacturers are not idiots, so to speak.
A saltwater RO unit needs to generate pressures of 900 psi+. The type of pump used to generate these very high pressures is different from a freshwater RO as is the engineering of the pressure vessels etc.
Resistance to corrosion is a minor part of the difference between a salt and freshwater RO unit. The construction and technical details are are not the same.
Last edited:
Adrian_
N/A
I think we're talking about a different thing.
What I say is that a household unit fitted with it's regular RO membrane can make RO water out of sea water if the ansamble (particullary pump and pressure valves) resists corrosion and the unit has the feature called membrane washing. Not sure for how long and it's clearly not going to be pushing anywhere near the rated flow, but it definitelly can do it.
What you say is that a marine watermaker operates at a much higher pressure, uses a more powerful pump and so on. I never argued against that.
The problem when making RO water out of sea water is that for every 10 liters of seawater processed you are going to produce more then 0.3kg of salt. If this isn't washed off the membrane it will destroy the membrane very soon.
What I say is that a household unit fitted with it's regular RO membrane can make RO water out of sea water if the ansamble (particullary pump and pressure valves) resists corrosion and the unit has the feature called membrane washing. Not sure for how long and it's clearly not going to be pushing anywhere near the rated flow, but it definitelly can do it.
What you say is that a marine watermaker operates at a much higher pressure, uses a more powerful pump and so on. I never argued against that.
The problem when making RO water out of sea water is that for every 10 liters of seawater processed you are going to produce more then 0.3kg of salt. If this isn't washed off the membrane it will destroy the membrane very soon.
Cardo
Well-Known Member
As this thread seems to have resurrected, I thought I'd add that I ended up buying a Baitek Pulsar Split 25 from Jim at Sailfish Marine. Bought it at SBS at a reasonable deal, I feel. Currently installing the bad boy, there's quite a few bits to it!
Adrian_
N/A
You grabbed one of those sold for £3295 ?
That sure looks like a fine unit. What is the cost of the consumables?
That sure looks like a fine unit. What is the cost of the consumables?
Cardo
Well-Known Member
£3295? Was that for new or second hand?
We bought a new one for a little more than that, though it did come with a bunch of extras. The consumables should be quite reasonable, the filters are standard parts so can be bought in loads of places. This is the thing that put me off the Spectra units.
Adrian_
N/A
Sorry, I think I missed the "plus VAT" line
Not sure if it's OK to post the link, but if you google Baitek-Pulsar-split-25-litres/hour-12-volt-DC-watermaker-SPECIAL you're bound to get on the special offer page.
Not sure if it's OK to post the link, but if you google Baitek-Pulsar-split-25-litres/hour-12-volt-DC-watermaker-SPECIAL you're bound to get on the special offer page.
Cardo
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I think I missed the "plus VAT" line
Not sure if it's OK to post the link, but if you google Baitek-Pulsar-split-25-litres/hour-12-volt-DC-watermaker-SPECIAL you're bound to get on the special offer page.
Ah, yes, plus vat. In which case, we did get a pretty good deal. We got the auto-flush unit with it as well as a bunch of replacement filters. We should be set for quite some time.
Jamesuk
Well-Known Member
Spectra make great watermakers. The clark pump is silent almost
