Watermakers

[Tellie]

Choosing a watermaker based on what works for another rarely works out well. Not only is every cruiser different, every boat is different along with it's capabilities. If you have a generator on board and you don't mind running a few hours every day or every other day or so then an AC watermaker starts to make sense. But if you lose your generator you lose the ability to make water, with the lose of both the generator and the watermaker it may put a quicker halt to what you are doing and directing focus on finding the nearest repairs. A DC powered unit can be operated while a generator is running and when it is not. This way the watermaker is not tied to the reliability of a generator but can certainly take advantage of the right generator which can serve double duty in charging the batteries as well. Watermakers can be sized too large and too small if you base that decsion on another crusiers requirements. For example, and I'm not picking on you Rebel at all, a Katadyn 40E, although a good watermaker is about as anemic a watermaker you can put on a boat. I know price point is an issue for many but when discussing 12volt systems the real numbers you want to look at are the amount of amps it takes to make one gallon of water. The 40E will use an advertised 2.6amps to make a gallon of water and take 40 minutes to do so. Not realistic for most cruisers. For about $700 more you could buy a watermaker that will make that same gallon of water with 1.1 amp and make 4.5 gallons in that same 40 minutes of run time. Do the math on amp use for the amount of water you would like and the differences can be large. There is also lot less wear and tear on the machine in the long run. Adding a 40gph watermaker on a boat with a 80 gallon capacity doesn't make sense either. Most crusiers will be making water long before their watertanks are empty which is a good idea, even more important if they are long distance cruisers who cannot afford for safety reasons to wait until their supply is low before making water. Then there are all those cruisers in between whose needs wants and capabilities are far more numerous to get into here.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

The Cruise RO SeaMaker 20 and 30 gallon per hour water makers can operate from a Honda EU2000i generator

Yeah I looked at those; they're popular here in Mexico. I hate lugging gas around and didn't want something that big in the boat. I'm really trying to nail the solar / wind energy thing.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Yeah I looked at those; they're popular here in Mexico. I hate lugging gas around and didn't want something that big in the boat. I'm really trying to nail the solar / wind energy thing.

Then the Spectra VENTURA 200T is the way to go for solar and low power users.

Spectra Watermakers - All Marine Products

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Tellie

If you have a generator on board and you don't mind running a few hours every day or every other day or so then an AC watermaker starts to make sense. But if you lose your generator you lose the ability to make water, with the lose of both the generator and the watermaker it may put a quicker halt to what you are doing and directing focus on finding the nearest repairs.

Not necessarily. Ours runs off the inverter which, while a high DC current draw, can be neutrally supplied by our 150A of alternators when motoring.

Alternately, we know many cruisers with Honda generators and no watermaker who would be very happy to lend us their Honda for an hour's worth of our watermaker output.

Mark

[rcmpegasus]

I am running a Cruise RO 40 gal per hour unit, looks to be using around 18 amps AC when running. I power it off my Victron inverters. Most of the time I operate it while I am motoring so the alternator keeps the batteries up a bit. If at anchor I will run a small Honda generator while making water or if good sun just the panels. Any deficits in battery level are made up over time by the solar panels. I like the setup as I can use three different power sources and one or both of the inverter chargers. The big thing to include in your calculations is the Peukert equation. Having a battery that is large in relation to your DC draw is important.

I designed the boat system and wired it for a 5 kW generator, but never installed it as I find I can get by on primarily solar, occasional alternator use and in need the honda generator. I haven't installed air conditioning yet, which will likely change this.

The Cruise RO is fantastic, simple reliable and really puts out water. Support is excellent from the company. The crew loves the freshwater toilets and showers everyday, which means our consumption has increased a good bit. Currently with five people we use about 100-130 gallons every three days.

[Bayside Bert28]

Completed installation of my Spectra Cape Horn Extreme 330 GPD. I'm think I will love this thing.

[cburger]

I hope this isn't considered highjacking the thread but as I am getting ready to go carry jugs of water down to my boat in the cold darkness thought turn to water makers. The boat is being fitted out with an eye towards simplicity and reliability of gear and would like to ask a couple questions.

1 Is it possible to have a watermaker that can be run from polluted riverwater, the boat is on the Hudson and would like to have a system set up that can reliably make clean potable water from any type of area, not just pristine in the middle of the ocean locations, (If that even exists anymore). I know that municipalities make drinking water as well as us microfiltration for the final process on wastewater and protect the membranes with some form of pre-filtration, (Activated carbon maybe). Is there any type of prefitration systems suitable for small sailboat suitable watermakers that will allow water production in potentially oil contaminated waters.

2 I do not want a generator of have to burn any type of fuel to make my water. For a 32 sailboat does one know of a system with a reasonably high output with a low amp draw that is simple, reliable, small footprint from a company with a great customer service ethic?

[rebel heart]

Regarding the prefilters, I know there are some fancy oil-water separators and probably some that can handle other chemicals like chlorine. I've seen some yachts making water in filthy harbors, but I don't think that gear is going to fit your low cost and low maintenance qualifiers.

[a64pilot]

All it takes to handle chlorine is an activated charcoal filter, but remember you'l be filtering far more water than your making, so you'd have to have a big pre-filter and change it often

[sy_gilana]

6Watt per Litre...!

WATER-PRO MODULAR B-60 12/24V | Eco-Sistems Watermakers

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by Bayside Bert28

Completed installation of my Spectra Cape Horn Extreme 330 GPD. I'm think I will love this thing.

There's a curmudgeon in every group.
So where's that charcoal filter? What happened to the brine discharge quick disconnect? Also be careful with he cooling fan on the closest feed pump. You can push it down too far and it can be broken by the rise on the top of the feed pump. Minor stuff to be sure. Enjoy your CHE330 and if you have any questions or need advice just let me know.

[Tellie]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

6Watt per Litre...!

WATER-PRO MODULAR B-60 12/24V | Eco-Sistems Watermakers

Electrical Specifications
550w motor when 12v DC. Power consumption: 32 A, 3
84w*
550w motor when 24v DC Power consumption: 16 A, 3
84w*
Average consumption per liter of produced water: 6,4w *

[Bayside Bert28]

Originally Posted by Tellie

There's a curmudgeon in every group.
So where's that charcoal filter? What happened to the brine discharge quick disconnect? Also be careful with he cooling fan on the closest feed pump. You can push it down too far and it can be broken by the rise on the top of the feed pump. Minor stuff to be sure. Enjoy your CHE330 and if you have any questions or need advice just let me know.

That's funny. We were wondering where that charcoal filter goes!!! It goes in the first clear? We are just getting around to commissioning the new system today.

So there should be a quick disconnect for the brine discharge? Why? I'm sure the quick disconnect is in the pile of fittings that are left over!

It's been an easy install (largely had it done) but there were no snags at all. Fortunately, there were already functioning thru hulls for pickup and discharge. Also, there was a plumb in the top of the fresh water storage tank for the fresh water return. These 3 things saved time and were there from the original water maker on the vessel.

Will look at the fan.

Your input is welcome!

[jtsailjt]

Originally Posted by cburger

I hope this isn't considered highjacking the thread but as I am getting ready to go carry jugs of water down to my boat in the cold darkness thought turn to water makers. The boat is being fitted out with an eye towards simplicity and reliability of gear and would like to ask a couple questions.

1 Is it possible to have a watermaker that can be run from polluted riverwater, the boat is on the Hudson and would like to have a system set up that can reliably make clean potable water from any type of area, not just pristine in the middle of the ocean locations, (If that even exists anymore). I know that municipalities make drinking water as well as us microfiltration for the final process on wastewater and protect the membranes with some form of pre-filtration, (Activated carbon maybe). Is there any type of prefitration systems suitable for small sailboat suitable watermakers that will allow water production in potentially oil contaminated waters.

2 I do not want a generator of have to burn any type of fuel to make my water. For a 32 sailboat does one know of a system with a reasonably high output with a low amp draw that is simple, reliable, small footprint from a company with a great customer service ethic?

You don't need clean, pristine ocean water because all these systems include prefilters and you can add additional ones, they will just need cleaning more frequently in less clean water. I don't know just how dirty the Hudson is so can't say whether it would be feasible to regularly operate a watermaker there.

Of course some watermaker are more efficient than others but all of them require a high pressure pump that demands lots of energy to generate that high pressure, and there's no getting around that. If you were in the Caribbean with a couple of big wind generators and a large solar array onboard, you might be able to power one of the smallest watermakers that would supply your basic needs. But in NY, the reality is that you don't have the same sort of access to free, renewable, energy that they have in the Caribbean because the wind doesn't blow as regularly or as strongly, and you get far less sun each day so there's no way you can generate the amounts of energy needed. Since you've ruled out fossil fuels to generate the energy you need to run a watermaker, unless you move your boat to someplace with a lot stronger and more regular wind, I fear that you are destined to keep lugging your water. Look at it this way, it's good exercise!

[cburger]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

You don't need clean, pristine ocean water because all these systems include prefilters and you can add additional ones, they will just need cleaning more frequently in less clean water. I don't know just how dirty the Hudson is so can't say whether it would be feasible to regularly operate a watermaker there.

Of course some watermaker are more efficient than others but all of them require a high pressure pump that demands lots of energy to generate that high pressure, and there's no getting around that. If you were in the Caribbean with a couple of big wind generators and a large solar array onboard, you might be able to power one of the smallest watermakers that would supply your basic needs. But in NY, the reality is that you don't have the same sort of access to free, renewable, energy that they have in the Caribbean because the wind doesn't blow as regularly or as strongly, and you get far less sun each day so there's no way you can generate the amounts of energy needed. Since you've ruled out fossil fuels to generate the energy you need to run a watermaker, unless you move your boat to someplace with a lot stronger and more regular wind, I fear that you are destined to keep lugging your water. Look at it this way, it's good exercise!

Thank you for the informative post, I have worked in the water/ wastewater field for some time, (Not an engineer) and had the chance to tour some so called "State of the art" municipal reverse osmosis facilities. In the process of speaking with the engineers it was indicated that oil in water can be the death of the membranes. Walking back to the boat this morning I can see oil from someone's boat in the marina on the surface.

I appreciate your input regarding the solar and wind arrays and while I would like to take advantage of this technology I don't want to spoil the look of my classic, traditional vessel by building a big monster solar and wind installation and as such still trying to figure out where all that gear will go if at all.

So at the end of the day I will have to speak with some of the companies that build the gear about the present realities of using polluted river water to make potable.

After riding out Hurricane Sandy's devastation the local police forces had almost a marshal law scenario in place, and were not allowing people to return to their houses/ boats if they went into town to get food, fuel, etc.
We lost electric for almost two weeks in the marina and I came to the realization that it would be nice to be able to make water as efficiently as possible and hunker down.