Watermakers

[boatmike]

A little while ago I posted regarding "was it worth taking my watermaker off my sailing cat to put on my new (to me) Aqua-Star Mobo" The feeling then was that as I intend eventually to head for Greece (Ionian?) and already had one, I should take it. However a very nice French Gentleman has now offered me my full asking price plus some £3K to leave it on the cat so I have of course agreed!
So now I have to decide if all the fuss and bother of maintainance, and the price of a new one (at least £4500) is worth it.
The first part of my cruise will be a leisurely potter down the French canals to Port St Louis and of course it will be no use there at all. Then (possibly the year after) down the Italian coast to the Ionian.
So here is the question. Is water freely available everywhere? Is it Potable? I understand some places may charge for it but I can buy a lot of water for £4500! Perhaps I should just invest in some good filters and even a UV in line steriliser instead? What does the folorum think?

 

[tcm]

I think that unless you are gonna use a watermaker a fair bit (aiming for at least once a week) then don’t get one. I also sorta think your heart isn’t set on getting a watermaker - so just don’t! Jerrycans, the 5 litre containers, all very fine i would think. Plus a few “new” bottles of water, perhaps.

 

[little_roundtop]

As long as you don't mind paying for a nights mooring (marinas, ports, town quays etc.) you'll have no trouble finding potable water. Watermakers are only needed if you want to anchor out as much as possible.

Tony C.

 

[ccscott49]

I have one in the ionian, but if I was you I wouldnt bother for the above reasons, I anchor out all the time and dont go to town quays etc. (unless by dinghy)

 

[wazza]

I have one in the ionian, but if I was you I wouldnt bother for the above reasons, I anchor out all the time and dont go to town quays etc. (unless by dinghy)

Are you saying you anchor our and then transport all your water back to your boat by dinghy? How many cans/size/trips do you take per week.. a rough guide would be nice thanks

 

[boatmike]

Are you saying you anchor our and then transport all your water back to your boat by dinghy? How many cans/size/trips do you take per week.. a rough guide would be nice thanks

I think you have misunderstood the post wazza. He has a watermaker!
And yes (to others) I think that's the conclusion I am coming to. Don't need one unless you anchor out all the time. With the cat I would of course but now we have a 33ft MoBo I will probably be on the town quay more. What I will probably do is try it and only fit one if necessity dictates. When I used mine before it needed to be run constantly to avoid cleaning and they do need maintaining to stay on peak performance. Even then I had a UV steriliser and activated carbon filter fitted. Probably do that again as it avoids dumping chemicals in your tank to avoid the dreaded runny bum and you can buy a UV steriliser and prefilter for under £200. That should mean no problem with dodgy supplies as I have heard quality in greece is a problem (?)

 

[ccscott49]

Are you saying you anchor our and then transport all your water back to your boat by dinghy? How many cans/size/trips do you take per week.. a rough guide would be nice thanks

Sorry didnt mean to confuse, I have a 90 litre an hour watermaker, so dont do the transporting bit anymore, used to and 20l containers get bloody heavy when you have to heave them up 6' topsides!

 

[ccscott49]

I think you have misunderstood the post wazza. He has a watermaker!
And yes (to others) I think that's the conclusion I am coming to. Don't need one unless you anchor out all the time. With the cat I would of course but now we have a 33ft MoBo I will probably be on the town quay more. What I will probably do is try it and only fit one if necessity dictates. When I used mine before it needed to be run constantly to avoid cleaning and they do need maintaining to stay on peak performance. Even then I had a UV steriliser and activated carbon filter fitted. Probably do that again as it avoids dumping chemicals in your tank to avoid the dreaded runny bum and you can buy a UV steriliser and prefilter for under £200. That should mean no problem with dodgy supplies as I have heard quality in greece is a problem (?)

Quality in Greece can be a problem, but if you use a filter system, from E bay, which removes ALL the nasties, you can have a seperate tap for drinking and cooking/tea!
More often than not later in the season in Greece the water gets brakish and no filter will take out the salt.

 

[little_roundtop]

Quality in Greece can be a problem, but if you use a filter system, from E bay, which removes ALL the nasties, you can have a seperate tap for drinking and cooking/tea!
More often than not later in the season in Greece the water gets brakish and no filter will take out the salt.

Many people do use water filters, though we never have (in the 7 years we've been here). Only once have we got bad water (in Agios Nikolaos on Zakinthos) and that was very brakish. Since that time I always taste the water before it goes in my tank. We've filled up in some fairly remote places since and never had the brakish water problem again.

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but it's not widespread - certainly in the more "popular" sailing areas the water is fine.

Tony Cross

 

[whipper_snapper]

I am wondering about the new generation of watermakers. We have (effectively) unlimited power during the day and getting water is a major PITA. Something that produced just 40L per day would transform our lives. However, the boat is often left unattended for weeks on end. I understand that there are new self flushing systems that avoid the need for pickling. Does anyone have any experience or comments on these?


Thanks

 

[sailinglegend420]

........ I understand that there are new self flushing systems that avoid the need for pickling. Does anyone have any experience or comments on these?

We have the the HRO automatic back-flush 70 ltr/h watermaker that automatically runs fresh water through the system at the end of each use, and then repeats the back-flush every 7 days. We come back to the UK for a couple of months or more and leave it running.

We debated long and hard about spending the money fitting one after reading the many threads on here. But we now admit it was one of the best decisions we made. You don't need one in the Med, but the convenience is worth the investment, and you will never need to buy bottled water again. We go into marinas or quays about three times a year but only use the watermaker to fill the tanks. Add a few grains of Himalayan salt to replace the minerals you need. Now we can use as much water as we like - three or four showers a day just to keep cool.

 

[Carmel2]

SWMBO says it's the best water to have a shower with..............What ever that means.

 

[ccscott49]

We have the the HRO automatic back-flush 70 ltr/h watermaker that automatically runs fresh water through the system at the end of each use, and then repeats the back-flush every 7 days. We come back to the UK for a couple of months or more and leave it running.

We debated long and hard about spending the money fitting one after reading the many threads on here. But we now admit it was one of the best decisions we made. You don't need one in the Med, but the convenience is worth the investment, and you will never need to buy bottled water again. We go into marinas or quays about three times a year but only use the watermaker to fill the tanks. Add a few grains of Himalayan salt to replace the minerals you need. Now we can use as much water as we like - three or four showers a day just to keep cool.

I asked a doctor about the taking of minerals, because we are on watermaker water, basically he said rubbish you get all the minerals you need from a reasonable diet and dont need the supplements, since been repeated by a few medical type folks. We run ours for five inutes every two days, when we are not using it and dont normally pickle, unless we intend to be away for a long period, which is rare, only illness. I wouldnt now be without mine.

 

[Tradewinds]

We run ours for five inutes every two days, when we are not using it and dont normally pickle

That's the secret I think. When cruising full time I used to run my VMT Little Wonder daily - just long enough to make sweet water if I didn't need to top up the tanks.

 

[tcm]

what a great thread

I think that many have touched upon the fact that having a WM gives you a significant amount of freedom - with no water on a boat, then that’s the first thing you need to address, move, go find/get/buy water at almost any price in terms of time and money - and that obligation dilutes (hah!) the freedom of boating that we all enjoy.

We have 160lph 240v watermaker - so it needs a working generator as well.

In terms of the actual amount of watr you need.... mebbe 5litres a day in everyday use? But that means not much washing.

Lifting more than 20kg is iffy on a repeated basis but inventive ideas include filling a bigger tank whilst it is in the dinghy, then pumping it aboard with a little 12v pump. Each (say) 3-4 tanks is like having another person on the dink.

i gotta go, far more to be said here tho

 

[ccscott49]

what a great thread

I think that many have touched upon the fact that having a WM gives you a significant amount of freedom - with no water on a boat, then that’s the first thing you need to address, move, go find/get/buy water at almost any price in terms of time and money - and that obligation dilutes (hah!) the freedom of boating that we all enjoy.

We have 160lph 240v watermaker - so it needs a working generator as well.

In terms of the actual amount of watr you need.... mebbe 5litres a day in everyday use? But that means not much washing.

Lifting more than 20kg is iffy on a repeated basis but inventive ideas include filling a bigger tank whilst it is in the dinghy, then pumping it aboard with a little 12v pump. Each (say) 3-4 tanks is like having another person on the dink.

i gotta go, far more to be said here tho

Yep, for a decent sized watermaker you are going to need a genny. But with a bit of intelligent planning you can charge batteries, wash clothes, (if you have a washing machine) make ice and make water all at the same time, minimises the nuisance value of the genny running and keeps the genny healthy by working it hard...ish. A bag tank in the dinghy was one solution I considered, with a small submersible pump, but when I got the watermaker, that idea was shelved. In the Ionian the watermaker is very handy. As is the washing machine.

 

[sailinglegend420]

Yep, for a decent sized watermaker you are going to need a genny..........

Not necessarily true!

My HRO energy recovery system takes 24 amps and produces 70 ltrs/hour, but it costs more than normal watermakers. We never use it at anchor - just look over the side and see what's floating by - we only use it when motoring so the amps are not a problem.

 

[Cardo]

Now, if only there was an affordable watermaker...

What's with the crazy prices??

 

[wazza]

Yes I am, not for the first time, a dopy twonk..!!

Of course ccscott49 has a watermaker..whoops

I CERTAINLY agree with you Cardo, prices are outragous.. Why can't there be a more simple, slower output, lower input & lower price on these things!!!!!

 

[ccscott49]

Not necessarily true!

My HRO energy recovery system takes 24 amps and produces 70 ltrs/hour, but it costs more than normal watermakers. We never use it at anchor - just look over the side and see what's floating by - we only use it when motoring so the amps are not a problem.

OK, sorry, you are going to need an engine! Is that better?
I run mine from an inveter, when at sea, motorsailing.