Best watermaker for Max. 3500$/3000Euro, have excess power and 3500W inverter

[CaptainRivet]

Hi all,

I am looking for the best watermaker for my budget of 3500$ or 3000Euro.
Best for me means the best hardware and setup for longlivety and reliability for this budget. don‘ care if it needs more power and/or is more complicated to operate or to install.
Modular would be good to install in different location but not a must.

So far Top of my list:
Seawater pro 21gph with stainless steel pump upgrade for 3058$

https://seawaterpro.com/product/115-...ane-no-remote/

Echotec economy 21 for 3450$

https://www.echotecwatermakers.com/a...ts_economy.htm

Echotec but on paper less good hardware then the seawater pro, true or is the devil in the detail...

Background:
I have real 1200W of bifacial Solar panels, so 100A charge and 840AH Lifepo4 battery and 3500W cont. 220V inverter. Batteries are full at noon, latest 5o‘clock PM if it’s cloudy..so plenty excess of energy and I dump daily 2h directly into the hot water boiler. Surprisingly that also works on passages, the bificial solar panels on the davits work with diffusion light and not direct sunlight...a real game changer as shading of the sails is by far less an issue.
Install will be in my FP Lavezzi cat, liveabord with 2 Persons most of the time so around 60lph/20gph is fine.
On my old boat I had a Katadyn Powersurvivor 40E...installed by previous owner...not really satisfied and reliable, was repairing it more with their expensive proprietary parts then using it. Also just to small with 6l an hour production...So out of the game....

Any thoughts, tips other watermaker for Max 3500$/3000Euro to consider?

[DefinitelyMe]

Check out these guys:

https://www.cruiserowaterandpower.com/

Their product sounds like it would fit your bill. You say you don't mind a bit of added complexity? Then go for the SM20, simple version.

Modular. About 20gph (actually the 20gph unit puts out about 22-23gph when new. Ours is now 6 years old and down to about 18gph).

Customer service is excellent. Price is good. Parts are non-proprietary, so when we bust the boost pump by sucking up a plastic bag in Indonesia it was simple to substitute any old pump to get us by. Only down side is that the physical size of the components is quite large, so you'll need quite a bit of space for the installation. On the plus side you can split up the components.

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by DefinitelyMe

Check out these guys:

https://www.cruiserowaterandpower.com/

Their product sounds like it would fit your bill. You say you don't mind a bit of added complexity? Then go for the SM20, simple version.

Modular. About 20gph (actually the 20gph unit puts out about 22-23gph when new. Ours is now 6 years old and down to about 18gph).

Customer service is excellent. Price is good. Parts are non-proprietary, so when we bust the boost pump by sucking up a plastic bag in Indonesia it was simple to substitute any old pump to get us by. Only down side is that the physical size of the components is quite large, so you'll need quite a bit of space for the installation. On the plus side you can split up the components.

That’s a 4250$ bill and compared to seawater pro as far as I can see identical components, all min. 316 where it matters.

[Tellie]

I know Mike from SeawaterPro well. His shop is about 400 yards away from mine. I have been in his shop many times.
Mike is a great guy and at your limited budget you won't go wrong with Mike.

[EngineerRetired]

Check out Super Water Pro. Made in Florida. $1500 for something like 30 GPH. The best part is you can get parts at almost any hardware store. (Really important as you travel!) Easy install and there are several youtube videos on how to do it.


Really worth a look https://seawaterpro.com/

[DefinitelyMe]

Originally Posted by CaptainRivet

That’s a 4250$ bill and compared to seawater pro as far as I can see identical components, all min. 316 where it matters.

Hmm, yes you're right. Apologies. I thought I'd paid about $3K. But that was six years ago........

[gregabbiss]

Originally Posted by CaptainRivet

Hi all,

So far Top of my list:
Seawater pro 21gph with stainless steel pump upgrade for 3058$

https://seawaterpro.com/product/115-...ane-no-remote/

Echotec economy 21 for 3450$

https://www.echotecwatermakers.com/a...ts_economy.htm

Echotec but on paper less good hardware then the seawater pro, true or is the devil in the detail...

I have the Seawater pro 160LPH model and its fantastic. more importantly the company, their support and the way they supply the kit is brilliant. I would definitely buy again. We have the one with the remote panel. not sure that was important or not to be honest.

BTW also have about 2+kw of Bifacial LG solar panels and with a mildly sunny day they drive the water maker through the inverter no problems at all. Watermaker draws about 1kw (less actually).

[Outventure]

We have a 110v 40gph Seawater Pro on our Lagoon 440 and are super happy with it. Have had it for half a year now, so I can't speak for long term durability, but the contact with Mike was great, shipping super fast and the price hard to beat.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by EngineerRetired

Check out Super Water Pro. Made in Florida. $1500 for something like 30 GPH. The best part is you can get parts at almost any hardware store. (Really important as you travel!) Easy install and there are several youtube videos on how to do it.


Really worth a look https://seawaterpro.com/

His cheapest as per his web site is $2350

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

His cheapest as per his web site is $2350

Kärcher driven one incl. Shipping is 2350$ plus tax, "cheap UPS" handling+ custom fees.
1500 was the old kit on youtube with needle valve and cheaper components.
Would have got the 2995+350=3500 one but an opportunity for a used overhauled hp UC35 tronic 12V with new hp pump and membrane for only 2500Euro came up, this is new 9250Euro and top notch quality in 12V so independent from the inverter.

[EngineerRetired]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

His cheapest as per his web site is $2350

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SYHVs-uZE0

https://seawaterpro.com/product/thre...gaAhLUEALw_wcB

[smj]

Originally Posted by EngineerRetired

https://seawaterpro.com/product/thre...gaAhLUEALw_wcB

Pretty sure the link you provided was referring to the 3 membranes for $1595.00 not a complete water maker.

[CaptainRivet]

Originally Posted by smj

Pretty sure the link you provided was referring to the 3 membranes for $1595.00 not a complete water maker.

Correct and the YouTube video is from 2017 with the old kärcher kit for 1495$ with needle valve and other low spec parts...discontinued for obvious reasons

[goboatingnow]

You have to love forum recommendations. , a price for a partial machine , who components are discontinued as questionable

[EngineerRetired]

Originally Posted by smj

Pretty sure the link you provided was referring to the 3 membranes for $1595.00 not a complete water maker.

I don't know watched the video of her unpacking everything.