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sy_gilana · 12-07-2015, 15:56

I don't think your problem is the watermaker, I think its the $5000.

I have installed 4 Eco-Sistems machines on other boats and can vouch for their low power consumption:water ratio.

I hear good things about the Gay Porn Extreme from Spectra, but I have never been to see one.

PS. the spelling (Eco-Sistems) is correct it's in Catalan, they are based in Barcelona.

monte · 12-07-2015, 15:58

Auto incorrect ? Nice!

**weavis** · 12-07-2015, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

I don't think your problem is the watermaker, I think its the $5000.

I have installed 4 Eco-Sistems machines on other boats and can vouch for their low power consumption:water ratio.

I hear good things about the Gay Porn Extreme from Spectra, but I have never been to see one.

PS. the spelling is correct it's in Catalan, they are based in Barcelona.

WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

gotta love Catalan.

sailjumanji · 12-07-2015, 16:14

Good luck in finding a used Spectra. I have a couple of friends that have the Ventura 150 and 200. Both love them. Our boats have twin 120 watt solar panels. The owner of the 200T runs his for a few hours in the middle of the day, and makes enough water for three days. This unit is spec'd at 8.3 gal/hr at 10 amp draw. He says it actually does a bit better than spec. Runs four hours, minus a couple of gals of fresh water flush at the end, and net 30 gal for the mid-day run. That lasts him about three days with liberal water use. Also provides enough to rinse his gear, fresh water rinse when wife gets out of the water, no hauling jugs of water from questionable sources. Yeah, it is not cheap vs $0.50 per gallon water in the Bahamas. But we want the freedom to not have to chase down water or come in from remote islands unless we want. Others have told me I am adding 60 lb unit to the boat, and that's more weight. Lets see - if I have a WM, I can probably just keep 50 gals of water in the tanks rather than 100 gals. Let's see, that's over 400 lbs of water not carried. I think net gain on the weight issue.

I lucked out and found a two year old unit that was never installed. For sale by owner. I haven't installed yet. The test sheet on the unit says 6.7 gal/hr at 8.4 amps or about 16.5 watts per gallon. Only near-term issue I have is that water here is not clean enough to use it in the bay, can try it out offshore on the way to Florida in October, but then the boat is going to be stored for four months so will have to pickle it. Then put back in service in the Bahamas. Would like to test connections and unit before absolutely needing it in the Bahamas, but don't want to pickle more times than I have to.

Finally, I looked in Katadyn. Friend with the 80 and now the 160 whined about how noisy it was. He heard the Spectra and saw the better output efficiency, and wished he had forked over the additional money for the Spectra.

And another thing - that JT (Tellie) guy must not have a life because I have talked to him on the cell several times, always there, very knowledgable, and all at the same time that he knew he could not sell me a unit as I am not in his area. Wish I was.

colemj · 12-07-2015, 16:15

I think there is some confusion between Echo-Tech systems and Eco-Sistems systems. I know I was confused and had to google Eco-Sistems.

Echo-Tech make solid watermakers, but their DC units are not power misers.

Eco-Sistems are much more difficult to figure out. They claim they are using an energy-recovery pump, but give the 60L/hr 12V power specs as 32A.

That isn't very energy efficient - 2A/gal, which is on par with many others. It is, however, more efficient than Echo-Tec's DC systems.

I noticed one thing about Echo-Tec that I admire - they list their output and power consumption at 12.5V/25V, which is far more realistic and honest than other manufacturer's specs.

Mark

colemj · 12-07-2015, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

Lets see - if I have a WM, I can probably just keep 50 gals of water in the tanks rather than 100 gals. Let's see, that's over 400 lbs of water not carried. I think net gain on the weight issue.
…….

Only near-term issue I have is that water here is not clean enough to use it in the bay
……..

Friend with the 80 and now the 160 whined about how noisy it was.

Yes, that is also our strategy - we work on the bottom half of our water tank. Before, we would start to get anxious when we got to 1/2 tank.

You can certainly use your watermaker in dirty water as long as there is no oil in it. That is the job of the filters. You will need to change them more often, but they are cheap. We are currently in really nasty water and running ours just fine.

Yes, the Katydynes are amazingly loud. I was quite surprised the first time I heard an 80 chunking away.

Mark

PeterLIA · 12-07-2015, 16:48

I bought a Cruise RO watermaker from Rich Boran 2 years ago and after a LOT of use can't speak more highly on it. No problems from day 1.
Only issue for you is even using their smallest model I doubt your solar system will have the capacity, so unfortunately you will need to look elsewhere unless Rich has a trick up his sleeve I'm not aware of.
Model Fresh Water Production GPH/GPD High Pressure Pump Amps
120/220V AC Boost Pump
Amps
12VDC Price SM20-S 20/480 9.3/4.8 8.2 $4000

monte · 12-07-2015, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

I don't think your problem is the watermaker, I think its the $5000.

I have installed 4 Eco-Sistems machines on other boats and can vouch for their low power consumption:water ratio.

I hear good things about the Gay Porn Extreme from Spectra, but I have never been to see one.

PS. the spelling (Eco-Sistems) is correct it's in Catalan, they are based in Barcelona.

Tell us more about these please. Build quality, ease of installation, price?
Thanks
Monte

SV THIRD DAY · 12-07-2015, 17:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterLIA

I bought a Cruise RO watermaker from Rich Boran 2 years ago and after a LOT of use can't speak more highly on it. No problems from day 1.
Only issue for you is even using their smallest model I doubt your solar system will have the capacity, so unfortunately you will need to look elsewhere unless Rich has a trick up his sleeve I'm not aware of.
Model Fresh Water Production GPH/GPD High Pressure Pump Amps
120/220V AC Boost Pump
Amps
12VDC Price SM20-S 20/480 9.3/4.8 8.2 $4000

A 20GPH water maker for $4000??
That Rich guy must be nuts...well my wife certainly says I am!
It ain't rocket science folks, its just a low pressure/high pressure plumbing project.

But if you don't plan on having either a diesel generator or Honda 2000 aboard, then our 120v AC units just don't make sense for you. As Scotty would say to Capt Kirk, "I'm giving her all I got captain, I can't change the laws of physics".

So back to what the original poster was looking for....he could buy a 20GPH water maker AND Honda 2000 generator for his $5000 budget, and make water AND power at the same time, hey that almost sounds like a pretty good business nitch.....bingo.

belizesailor · 12-07-2015, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by belizesailor

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

Oops 11 years ago...plenty good test run I think.

belizesailor · 12-07-2015, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

...
I hear good things about the Gay Porn Extreme from Spectra, but I have never been to see one.

...

Are you sure you posted to the right forum? ;-)

**Tellie** · 12-07-2015, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Yes it does cost more and performs the same. But you are going from one 40" membrane to two 21" membranes. When membrane replacement time comes around the cost of a 21" membrane for the most part is the same as a 40" membrane. So you'd double the replacement cost. Most boats I've ever worked on can find a way to fit the 40" membrane though.

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

**Tellie** · 12-07-2015, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by newhaul

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

Yeah, unfortunately there is no upgrade for a Katadyn either. Sorry.

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

**Tellie** · 12-07-2015, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailjumanji

can try it out offshore on the way to Florida in October, but then the boat is going to be stored for four months so will have to pickle it.

And another thing - that JT (Tellie) guy must not have a life because I have talked to him on the cell several times, always there, very knowledgable, and all at the same time that he knew he could not sell me a unit as I am not in his area. Wish I was.

Hey, I'll get you when you get here to Florida

I actually have a life every now and then, but this weekend I'm sitting here with a couple of broken toes and stuck with my foot up and pounding the key board.

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