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Old 11-08-2018, 14:06   #1
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12 volt watermakers, which one?

Spectra, Village Marine, or ? What have cruisers had, as their real experiences with these. I'm on my second Spectra, now a 200T with MPC control and Z-ion.
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Old 11-08-2018, 16:25   #2
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

12V, there is only one I think I would consider, and that is Spectra, unless there is another that is more energy efficient
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Old 11-08-2018, 18:56   #3
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

The village marine draw alot of amps, 25 to 30 and are noisy. The spectra are durable, quiet and last a long time with minimal maintenance
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Old 11-08-2018, 19:40   #4
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

Village Marine Little Wonder has been very reliable. It draws 17 amps to make 7-8gph.
The Spectras are far more energy efficient.
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Old 11-08-2018, 20:20   #5
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

Spectra!

I've owned three watermakers on two boats.
PS35, PS 80. The 80 was way better construction than the 35, but there is no comparison between them and the Spectra.

My 20 year old Spectra 180 got a factory upgrade about ten years ago.
It makes 8+ gph with under 9 amps @ 12 volts. with a PPM around 100.
One of the best features is that its sound is not objectionable unlike the PS units.
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Old 11-08-2018, 22:12   #6
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

My ps35 has always been reliable for me and its on its second boat.
Just not as efficient as the spectra models .
And at 35 gpd its not enough for a large crew.
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Old 12-08-2018, 02:12   #7
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

WE have been using a Katadyn e80 for a lot of years - all over the carib and med - it draws about 7 amps give 4 g/h or so and in the carb we ran it everyday for 2-4 hours and it ran off our solar panels. we had water for the 2 of us with no issues
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Old 12-08-2018, 03:20   #8
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

On our previous boat, Diva, we had a Schenker (Italian) 12v watermaker drew 8 A and made 30l/hr...great...ran off the solar panels...like Spectra it had a very clever pressure amplifier system and only needed a small feed pump.
Kept our 250l water tank full all the time...and plenty of water for showers and to make beer !!
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Old 12-08-2018, 08:42   #9
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

love my spectra catalina 300. its quiet, makes 8 gallons per hour, uses 9 amps and works off of my solar panels
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Old 12-08-2018, 09:11   #10
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

My Spectra Santa Cruz is 18 years old and was pickled by the previous owner for about 1-1/2 years before I fired it up. Original membrane. Took many hours to flush it out but works fine now. Puts out about 12 gph with both pumps on and draws about 20 amps. The genset is used to make water and charge batteries at the same time, usually, but occasionally we will run one pump on battery power. It’s very efficient and less noisy. Good customer service.
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Old 12-08-2018, 09:45   #11
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

Spectra Cape Horn X .. just an awesome piece of kit. Love the simple, non-automated nature and the redundancy in feed pumps. Coupled with a small handheld Katydyn 06 in the ditch bag, I never worry about being able to make water anytime, however remote, with minimal reserves and tankage.

Besides the initial upfront expense, it was surprisingly easy to fit into a 27' and has been a game changer. The smartest refit I think I've ever done.
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Old 12-08-2018, 10:02   #12
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

Quote:
Originally Posted by laika View Post
Spectra Cape Horn X .. just an awesome piece of kit. Love the simple, non-automated nature and the redundancy in feed pumps. Coupled with a small handheld Katydyn 06 in the ditch bag, I never worry about being able to make water anytime, however remote, with minimal reserves and tankage.

Besides the initial upfront expense, it was surprisingly easy to fit into a 27' and has been a game changer. The smartest refit I think I've ever done.
that's why I like my 35e it is also easily converted to manual operations ( I have a second one setup in ditch bag.)
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Old 12-08-2018, 10:34   #13
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

We have a Spectra Catalina that we like very much. We primarily run it with either the genset or when motoring. Once I figured out how to run it properly it has been pretty much trouble free. It’s relatively quiet and produces about 13 gallons/hour.
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Old 12-08-2018, 12:36   #14
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

Our Lucia promissed for October is planned with a SLCE AquaBase 60 liter/h using 25A. This is the standard option for Fountaine-Pajot.

It uses the same reciprocating high pressure pump as Spectra and some others. It has fully automatic salinity control, automatic flush, remote at navigation table, etc.

The price is quite similar ... 7500€ against 10,000$US for an equivalent Spectra.

Are there actual users of AquaBase in USA able to give some comments ?

If the Lucia will be mainly sailed in the East Coast and Bahamas, is it better to install a Spectra ?
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Old 12-08-2018, 13:32   #15
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Re: 12 volt watermakers, which one?

We have had two Dessalator watermakers in our two Beneteau's.
60 litres per hour...rugged reliable...fantastic
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