Guy Steven's Watermaker

[RECESS]

Has anyone read the January 2003 issue of Good Old Boat with the article from Guy Stevens about building a homemade watermaker? Did it look difficult to build? I am thinking of buying the back issue. I was looking at the May/June issue of GOB and a person had built a version of this design. It does not look complicated and since I have a generator, an AC watermaker would be a sweet build.

Anyone have any experience?

 

[Ross]

Finding all of the right pieces would be the biggest hurdle.

 

[RECESS]

I went to a webiste that did a similar, but what seemed like a more complicated build. The big point of both is said to be that all parts are common to a Home Depot or any port supply store in most countries? I do not know personally, it sure would be nice.

 

[RichH]

Guys described RO system is OK. However, the recent price escalations of Stainless Steel (needed for the high pressure connectors and the high pressure regulator) has gone 'sky-high' due asian demand and the drastic decline of the $US. These pricing penalties coupled with an essentially idle 'watermaker industry' should prompt one to 'see what's available - already built' ... as you may find real bargains as these builders/distributors unload their stock.

A Water maker is easy to build, even an engine driven RO. You can easily build a 'manual' controlled RO, which is the cheapest.
For a long lasting RO machine use stainless steel hose connectors and *bronze* head high pressure pump.
There are some inexpensive DIY watermaker build/construction/parts lists available on the internet - do websearch: lichtfeld + watermaker

I note that your location is Georgia .... not a good place to operate a watermaker due to the high turbidity (solids loading) in the local water; you'll be forever changing out the needed prefilters. A watermaker is principally only used in CLEAN/CLEAR seawater.

 

[RECESS]

I sail primarily in the Panhandle of Florida. I live right on the Florida - Georgia border near the Gulf Of Mexico.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Recess- The RO systems for fresh water are so cheap at home depot. But I guess you need one to do higher pressure to remove the salt or should I say remove the water from the salt water. The guy on the webiste you posted is very techniclly proficient at many things. I wouldn't build one with that much electronics on it because I am not that good with circuitry to be able to design it and trust it. A manual one with some switches and gauges is more up my alley.
Do you know what kind of pump is required for one? Is it like a pressure washer pump.
Have you found a place to buy a high pressure pump that belt driven?

 

[RECESS]

I just read about this last night in the latest issue of Good Old Boat. I read about a guy that is sailing/motoring around the world and has used the Guy Stevens version in his boat that he built for 2k, a similar output range commercial model runs for 8k right now. I have barely started to look into it. I would be looking to do an AC version rather than a belt driven high pressure pump as I have a generator.