I am considering purchasing a water maker for my boat, but don't want to spend billions of dollars. Does anyone have experience with portable or 'low cost' (ie., < $1,000) units? Something that would make several gallons an hour would suffice. Thanks!
Water maker
- Thread starter Pegleg Sailor
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Then by all means, get a small one! Really.
But what's most important is that you need to explain what you are intending to use it for. If for "normal" regular use on a cruise, experience indicates that smallest isn't necessarily better. In fact, the next biggest size up, which makes more gallons per day (or per hour), may actually be more efficient in amps per gallon than a smaller one. This happened to a friend of mine who did this exercise.
But what's most important is that you need to explain what you are intending to use it for. If for "normal" regular use on a cruise, experience indicates that smallest isn't necessarily better. In fact, the next biggest size up, which makes more gallons per day (or per hour), may actually be more efficient in amps per gallon than a smaller one. This happened to a friend of mine who did this exercise.
I'll chime in
not because I'm cruising with a watermaker but because I just got back from living with some former neighbors who are in the San Blas. They all have watermakers (PUR and Little Wonder) and the ONE thing EVERY one of them said was - get the biggest one you can manage.
As Stu says, it'll depend on what you want it to do. If it's just an emergency backup to hold you over until you can get to civilization then cheap and low output may do. If you intend for it to be your main source of water because you'll be away from good sources (like in the San Blas islands) then small capacity will drive you nuts and even $1000 (good luck) will be wasted because you'll be running it non-stop to keep up. Did I mention they're noisy?
The only person who loves his is a former neighbor (I live in a marina) who built his own as Tim suggests. The high pressure pump is engine driven and it is capable of putting out 60 gallons per hour. Oh, and it cost him about the same as the guy who installed his 8 GPH Little Wonder.
The other reason for a build-your-own approach is that watermakers are a maintenance-heavy device (despite what the manufacturers would have you believe.) If you don't have the desire to involve yourself this deeply I'd strongly consider not having one at all.
not because I'm cruising with a watermaker but because I just got back from living with some former neighbors who are in the San Blas. They all have watermakers (PUR and Little Wonder) and the ONE thing EVERY one of them said was - get the biggest one you can manage.
As Stu says, it'll depend on what you want it to do. If it's just an emergency backup to hold you over until you can get to civilization then cheap and low output may do. If you intend for it to be your main source of water because you'll be away from good sources (like in the San Blas islands) then small capacity will drive you nuts and even $1000 (good luck) will be wasted because you'll be running it non-stop to keep up. Did I mention they're noisy?
The only person who loves his is a former neighbor (I live in a marina) who built his own as Tim suggests. The high pressure pump is engine driven and it is capable of putting out 60 gallons per hour. Oh, and it cost him about the same as the guy who installed his 8 GPH Little Wonder.
The other reason for a build-your-own approach is that watermakers are a maintenance-heavy device (despite what the manufacturers would have you believe.) If you don't have the desire to involve yourself this deeply I'd strongly consider not having one at all.
Thanks all, good info. Yes, the $1000 is a pipe dream; my thought had been 'emergency until I get to port', but perhaps that's short sighted.
Years ago I thought I wanted a manual watermaker for the ditch bag. They were around $600. So this thread got me wondering how the state of the art might have changed. Guess what? Same old units and man has the price gone up! Does Jessica have one on her non-stop? http://www.landfallnavigation.com/-sas07.html
http://www.landfallnavigation.com/-sas35.html
http://www.marine-electronics-unlimited.com/Katadyn+Survivor+35+Manual+Watermaker.html
http://www.landfallnavigation.com/-sas35.html
http://www.marine-electronics-unlimited.com/Katadyn+Survivor+35+Manual+Watermaker.html
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