Fresh water makers best price and performance?

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by hoppy

Tellie or any one else for that matter, any thoughts on Schenker

The specs on the Schenker smart 30 (30l/hr @ 9amps) seem to suggest a fairly similar performance to The Ventura 200T

Schenker watermakers - Smart 30 digital

You must have missed post 122 !!

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

You must have missed post 122 !!

What has it got to do with Schenker?

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

You must have missed post 122 !!

That looks like a knocked off Spectra

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by hoppy

Tellie or any one else for that matter, any thoughts on Schenker

The specs on the Schenker smart 30 (30l/hr @ 9amps) seem to suggest a fairly similar performance to The Ventura 200T

Schenker watermakers - Smart 30 digital

I don't knock other watermaker companies. Though the Clark pump is simple in theory and design it has come a very long way since it was first built for boat based watermakers. Making a mutant knock off is not as easy as it seems. What you may want to research is the service availability of parts. There is a distributor in Greece and only one in the entire US. I would plan accordingly.

Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

[captain58sailin]

How is your service network on the pacific side Tellie?

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Tellie

I don't knock other watermaker companies. Though the Clark pump is simple in theory and design it has come a very long way since it was first built for boat based watermakers. Making a mutant knock off is not as easy as it seems. What you may want to research is the service availability of parts. There is a distributor in Greece and only one in the entire US. I would plan accordingly.

Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

They are made in Southern Italy and have distributors in Mallorca, Canary Islands, St. Lucia, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. Pretty much the route I would take if I perhaps sail home to Aus. For my cruising now, they also have one in Turkey.

I will not bother with the Greek dealer for pricing, no need to

[markwesti]

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[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Tellie

I don't knock other watermaker companies. Though the Clark pump is simple in theory and design it has come a very long way since it was first built for boat based watermakers. Making a mutant knock off is not as easy as it seems. What you may want to research is the service availability of parts. There is a distributor in Greece and only one in the entire US. I would plan accordingly.

Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

There is frustratingly little info on their site which does make it harder to work out the fitting. Only the main unit and the feed pump have measurements.

The Ventura 200T & Schenker main unit are similarly sized, but the 200T's feed pump looks to be a much better size for me and the fact that I can download the manuals and read the fitting instructions does make me feel more confident about whether it can fit where I want it.

With the Ventura is there any problem putting it next to the hot water tank or will the performance suffer because of the extra heat?

[noelex 77]

If you are looking at an energy recovery watermaker look closely at warranty on the HP pump.

Spectra do an amazing offer here with a lifetime warranty for the original owner on this pump. Even outside this warranty they offer a rebuild for a very reasonable price.

There are really no other complex parts to manual Spectra watermaker. The low pressure pump is not expensive to replace (it is similar to the freshwater pump in a boats pressurised water system) and other than that it just a few pre-filter housings some hose and a gauge. There is nothing else to go wrong.

Spectra do charge a premium for their filters, but the major and expensive components are covered.

Sorry to sound like an ad for Spectra, but this sort of great offer needs to be acknowledged and factored into the purchase price. Unlike some other warranties it seems to work as advertised.

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by hoppy

There is frustratingly little info on their site which does make it harder to work out the fitting. Only the main unit and the feed pump have measurements.

The Ventura 200T & Schenker main unit are similarly sized, but the 200T's feed pump looks to be a much better size for me and the fact that I can download the manuals and read the fitting instructions does make me feel more confident about whether it can fit where I want it.

With the Ventura is there any problem putting it next to the hot water tank or will the performance suffer because of the extra heat?

It depends on the "Extra heat". Most watermakers have some insulation and the small increase in heat is not a problem at all even in an enclosed area. I would be more concerned about an engine room installation too close to the engine itself. You can also contact me anytime once you are on the boat taking measurements and such to ask any questions you might have on installation issues. The success of any watermaker once chosen is very dependent on a good installation. Not hard, but having someone in your corner before you start work is a big plus. I'd check with Schenker about this as well during your research to make sure they will be there. I can't find any Schencker manuals at all. I'm sure they can be ordered but I would like to know what really comes with the unit and whether or not you have to order accessories like a fresh water flush.


Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Believe it! I've got a Katadyne 40e and while small and inefficient compared to a spectra I've been able to operate it for 3-4 hours a day, as well as run the fridge and top up the batteries from overnight all with solar.
...

I run my Catalina 300 off solar. Very efficient at about 1 AH/gallon. We usually run 2 hours/day so about 24 AH for 24 gallons. I usually wait till solar output is good before starting. We have about 30 amps solar output max so on a good day I can run the water maker and add charge to batteries at the same time.

Even on a bad solar day, a one hour engine run of one engine use well less than 0.6 gallons of fuel (MD2020 burns 0.6 GPH at loaded cruising RPM, don't know exact charge only usage, but obviously less). Each engine has a 65A alternator so again I can easily run the watemaker and put quite a bit of juice back in the batteries at the same time on just one engine. At today's fuel prices that's pretty cheap water and I can do this for a lot of days before I need take on fuel.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Tellie

It depends on the "Extra heat". Most watermakers have some insulation and the small increase in heat is not a problem at all even in an enclosed area. I would be more concerned about an engine room installation too close to the engine itself. You can also contact me anytime once you are on the boat taking measurements and such to ask any questions you might have on installation issues. The success of any watermaker once chosen is very dependent on a good installation. Not hard, but having someone in your corner before you start work is a big plus. I'd check with Schenker about this as well during your research to make sure they will be there. I can't find any Schencker manuals at all. I'm sure they can be ordered but I would like to know what really comes with the unit and whether or not you have to order accessories like a fresh water flush.


Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

I was initially concerned about an engine room install, but it was the most convenient place go put it in my boat. I discussed with Spectra and they said they had tested up to 200F. Unless I have a fire, my engine room does not get anywhere near that hot.

So 15 years ago I decided to install in the engine room. I've had no problems I can specifically associate with heat.

[zboss]

It looks like spectra makes a compact version of the Cape Horn extreme... I wonder if that costs more and works just as well as the normal version.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Tellie

To start, there is no exchange or upgrade program for a Katadyn to a Spectra. There was, for a limited time, an exchange for an older Spectra to a new one of the same model but it made no sense and was dropped.
.


Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

Actually I was referring to the katadyn trade upgrade program from the 35E to a larger output katadyn system. The 35 45 and the 80 use the same membrane and I have the one in the 35 and a brand new spare that came with the boat

[Bulawayo]

Originally Posted by WindLove

In the end, isn't a watermaker just trading fuel for water? Most people I know run them off of the power from their generators or from the engine. Maybe they would be using the engine anyway for propulsion, but often they wouldn't be. When you run the engine at anchor so you can stay longer, then you are trading fuel for water.

I have a hard time believing a solar system could really provide enough power to push all that water under high pressure and still maintain the battery system.

Hi WindLove.....its just a question of having enough space to mount enough solar panels. Earlier postings reference this.
If you manage this arrangement you'll love the results!