Which Watermaker To Choose

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Barra

well thats it im defo putting the watermaker in before next med summer!

What kind have you got onboard? im looking for efficient 12volt alternatives to spectra without the price tag - was quoted 7k euro the other day for the spectra and thats not even intalled!

We got our spectra system a few years ago from:

Mavromarine Ltd.
In Cyprus
Dimitrios Marrupoulos
E-mail: mavromarine@cytanet.com.cy

He was very helpful and great to deal with so he may be worth a try for a quote.
These people sell Spectra and Baitek watermakers
Spectra watermakers - Sailfish Marine - Watermakers, Marine Generators, Solar Panels and more..

Baitek are a Specra "copy" at a lower price. Personally considering the good reputation of Spectra and lack of problems I would be reluctant to try and save money, but as always, these decisions are with the person forking out the hard earned cash.

Installation is an easy DIY. If you do pay someone it should not be expensive. The only exception is the through hull, which usually requires a lift out, but most people plan this when they need antifouling etc anyway.

Good luck.

[NorthPacific]

Well I have a new to me Katymy thingy! Not hooked it up yet. But it will ,I hope produce 1.5 gallons an hour at 4 amps. Plan to run it 2 hours a day from wind and solar power. She gets her 1.5 gallons and I get mine.

Well thats the plan I will be happy with a few pints!

[Shamancat]

Hi we plumbed the water maker output into a 50 l header tank that then overflows into one of two 200 l hull tanks. We have a separate pump and tap for drinking water from the header tank that way we can fill the hull tanks at a marina and not worry too much about the quality.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by downunder

Showering only every 3 days!

Quote "Would i prefer a higher output water maker, hell yes!!!!

We still have to ration water, which kinda defeats the purpose of having a water maker." Quote

Can't blame you wanting to replace your Katadyn40e. You back up the experience of most real cruisers.

Particually those with women on board.

On one Atlantic trip , We guys went across on 320 litres of water. , we had half a tank left at the other side. That included all water. Nobody showed at all, just a seawater rub down , finished off with a fresh wipe down.

Dave

[CaptLinda6pack]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

We got our spectra system a few years ago from:

Mavromarine Ltd.
In Cyprus
Dimitrios Marrupoulos
E-mail: mavromarine@cytanet.com.cy

He was very helpful and great to deal with so he may be worth a try for a quote.
These people sell Spectra and Baitek watermakers
Spectra watermakers - Sailfish Marine - Watermakers, Marine Generators, Solar Panels and more..

Baitek are a Specra "copy" at a lower price. Personally considering the good reputation of Spectra and lack of problems I would be reluctant to try and save money, but as always, these decisions are with the person forking out the hard earned cash.

Installation is an easy DIY. If you do pay someone it should not be expensive. The only exception is the through hull, which usually requires a lift out, but most people plan this when they need antifouling etc anyway.

Good luck.

Here..here! Your right on the money there.. Service is everything when it comes to any product. Here's what I just read on Yacht World blog

Sea Recovery Watermakers
" It's not just me " I'll make this short. Sea Recovery AquaMatic 1400. It was $ 14,000.00 plus install. At 91 hours??????????? New Touch Screen @ $ 980.00, main circuit board $ 1,400.00, service call/repair $ 2,100, that's a total of 4.5K. Now it doesn't work again. They don't know whats wrong but say they all fail and it will be $ 1,300.00 for retro-fit kit with 8 hour install or about $ 2,300.00 with service call. NOW, I think I understand. They build a POS watermaker, pawn it off on us moron boaters and when there technology fails we pay to fix it??????????? I DON"T THINK SO. There unit sucks and they want us to pay to retro-Fix it. I DON"T THINK SO.

Does any body remember some years ago when the Banner Tow was flying over the boat show">Miami boat show, something about " MAN DIESELS "???????? I DO.

" It's not just me "

[Barra]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

We got our spectra system a few years ago from:

Mavromarine Ltd.
In Cyprus
Dimitrios Marrupoulos
E-mail: mavromarine@cytanet.com.cy

He was very helpful and great to deal with so he may be worth a try for a quote.
These people sell Spectra and Baitek watermakers
Spectra watermakers - Sailfish Marine - Watermakers, Marine Generators, Solar Panels and more..

Baitek are a Specra "copy" at a lower price. Personally considering the good reputation of Spectra and lack of problems I would be reluctant to try and save money, but as always, these decisions are with the person forking out the hard earned cash.

Installation is an easy DIY. If you do pay someone it should not be expensive. The only exception is the through hull, which usually requires a lift out, but most people plan this when they need antifouling etc anyway.

Good luck.

Thanks for the contact i will give them a go as I have been quoted 7000 euro in france for the 25 liter spectra and 3300 euro for the baitek version. These are units that are so similar on the plans as to almost look interchangeable...

Alot of things in france cost more than they should it seems (something about propping up a socialist state?) but thats just too big a gap for me to ignore - maybe in cyprus it will be more reasonable!

I hear you on the service side which is why sea recovery for example is out but still researching baitek history it this stage without much luck in english being an italian company. They have reps in every european country on the med and at this stage thats the most important area for us and a 3 year warranty but unless they honour it its not worth much i reckon.

[Lagoon4us]

LINDA I So agree with all your findings and comments, Broken SeaRecovery Watermakers are common and the costs to repair are disgraceful.

Ours came with the boat and works beautifully however when the circuit boards fail i will convert over to using components from Rich at Cruise RO Water and Power , we already have a membrane and housing from him now and know in our hearts we will eventually purchase a pump from him.

Existing filters/valves/piping/gauges and 12 volt flush system from our SeaRecovery will all be re-usable. A replacement membrane and circuit board for a SeaRecovery will cost as much as a new unit from various manufacturers.

Cheers

[Barra]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

Ours is Sea-recovery, it is an energy saver model incorporating a 12 volt flush c/w 12volt circuit board to time flush.

The pump is 240AC.

It all runs off our inverter, I wouldn't recommend Sea Recovery as they are very expensive to repair and buy parts for.

The point is if you have a solar array running a good battery bank equipped with an inverter you are making water for near no cost.

I would go for an AC machine any day powered by Gen-set/Shorepower/Inverter.

Whats your reasoning on the AC unit over a more energy efficient DC unit (thats effectively free once you've sunk the solar panel cost like you say)?

Unless its just cos you have the genset already I dont see how thats the way to go?

thanks

[Lagoon4us]

Hi yes our boat came with a 6Kva genset however we normally run the watermaker solely through the 2000watt inverter. Powered from our batteries that are being charged when motoring and/or solar. Our solar upgrade amounts to 800watts+ so power is not an issue.

Our cooking is totally electric, we have no gas on board so we normally also run the genset for an hour in the evening (another opportunity for making water). Boats beside us don't know it's running as the exhaust exits some 300mm under the waterline.

Cheers

[wolfenzee]

As with every piece of equipment on the boat, and boats for that matter. People have different needs, wants and budgets. Some people spend more on there water maker or electronic navigation system or some other gizmo than I spent on my entire boat. 30' William Atkin design cutter with all upgrades and modifications for live aboard/passage making (including radar and water maker) <$25,000...$17.000 at purchase.
No electronic gizmo is essential, life went on before they were invented.

[downunder]

Wolf,

I understand your sentiments and budget and your post fits well the cruising on $500/month thread rather than which watermaker to choose.

Life certainly went on before watermakers but thats not the subject of this thread. You do GoPrisko proud. Miss that thread now its been closed.

Cheers

[wolfenzee]

I know....I mentioned earlier how more information was needed to decided on which water maker to get, not just the budget but individual water consumption, which can only be figured by crusising for a while to figure out how much you need (unless you have deep pockets and are willing to get the "latest & greatest").
Personally I want to get a water maker that has a manual over ride. This thread has made me realize a few things firstly unless you want to back flush you have to use your watermaker fairly often, secondly unless you have a high output watermaker you should not rely on the watermaker for all your water usage (between the two a watermaker should be used to top off the tanks), thirdly knowing your water consumption and having adequate tankage in case of watermaker failure is important, fourth having a water maker that is easily serviced by the boat owner in any place in the world (some make service kits to take along) and fifth the water maker shoulf fit the individuals needs.

[CaptLinda6pack]

Originally Posted by Lagoon4us

LINDA I So agree with all your findings and comments, Broken SeaRecovery Watermakers are common and the costs to repair are disgraceful.

Ours came with the boat and works beautifully however when the circuit boards fail i will convert over to using components from Rich at Cruise RO Water and Power , we already have a membrane and housing from him now and know in our hearts we will eventually purchase a pump from him.

Existing filters/valves/piping/gauges and 12 volt flush system from our SeaRecovery will all be re-usable. A replacement membrane and circuit board for a SeaRecovery will cost as much as a new unit from various manufacturers.

Cheers

That sounds great to me. I hope you get something that really works. and will check it out too! However; I am surprised on how many companies are able to walk away, from their products that don't work!

What I would like to see is, Accountability! We the boaters should take action jointly against the Fly-by-Night.. so called... Water Makers. I feel also, all boaters that purchase a water maker should READ the contracts and demand an agreed life to and of the system, to include and not exclude any performance guarantees implied both written and oral..LOL Before I give up even 1 dollar I want to make sure I'm not buying "Snake-Oil". Linda

[Lagoon4us]

Rich gets my vote!

[NorthPacific]

Best advice I have found with a small water maker like my kat E40 is to make the water into gerry jugs, sample and then send to main tanks. The other advice was to use the water you make each day and never touch your reserve unless you have to. This is the creed we will follow starting this July when we leave.