Build Your Own Watermaker

[lagoon100]

Hello

I'm looking for a Watermaker, 12gph low power so i can run it from the solar panels, or 45gph high power demand from an engine so i only have to run it for a short period.

I locked around and found that the prices are very high for whats actually in it.
Does anybody have a good address?

Did any body try to build is own unit, like this advertised in ebay?

eBay Motors: Build your own watermaker and save $$$$$. (item 180315158622 end time Dec-26-08 04:27:31 PST)


Thanks for any advice and merry x-mas
lagoon

[JusDreaming]

building your own is VERY possible and their are a number of places to get the plans for free We have discussed this in length so a search will give you the links to the various plans. I built ours, 20 gallons per hour, for 2400.00, it is engine driven though.

[lagoon100]

Hi
thanks for your hint, just one more question, how long did it take you?

best regards
Lagoon

[Jmolan]

eBay Motors: Build your own 12 Volt DC Watermaker (item 170289129344 end time Dec-29-08 07:47:49 PST)

I bought these plans, it is for a DC motor version. The plans look complete, I believe I got them for $20. I have not built the machine, but it does not look too tough. Here is what he advertises.

12 Volt DC system with a 6 gallon per hour output. I built this watermaker for under $1575

I figured for $20 it was part of my search and education to see if I even wanted to deal with a water maker...

[highseas]

For $2400. may as well just go buy one,with proven reliability,time is money.The Katydyn 40 E is all you need.

[JusDreaming]

Originally Posted by highseas

For $2400. may as well just go buy one,with proven reliability,time is money.The Katydyn 40 E is all you need.

the katydyn makes approx. 1.5 gallons per hour. We are talking 20 gallons per hour. Better check your prices again A "Village Marine" unit that produces 14 gph is 6k. "It aint rocket science"

[JusDreaming]

Originally Posted by lagoon100

Hi
thanks for your hint, just one more question, how long did it take you?

best regards
Lagoon

probably a week maximum, It took me about a two weeks of working on it after work and week ends. I would guess about 3-4 days if you work on it full time, 5 days if you include the time for ordering stuff

[highseas]

Why on earth would you need 20 gall per hr.?It only draws 4 amps and makes 40gall. per day!

[JusDreaming]

Originally Posted by highseas

Why on earth would you need 20 gall per hr.?It only draws 4 amps and makes 40gall. per day!

that would equal basically 100 a/h for a 24 hr day, those amps need to come from some where . What your panels would produce during the day, the batteries would suck back down at night.
so with 20 gallons per hour you would only need to run the system for 2 or 3 hrs per week, be it engine driven or electric it still makes noise, and uses some sort of power consumption. And I think it would surprise you how much water you actually use as a livaboard. Sixty gallons per week for us is pretty conservative. We by no means are water hogs, and still use about that much +/-

[Jmolan]

It has been my experience with many thing's mechanical. If you have the potential to run it at 100%, but it will take care of your needs at 50%, you often get much better use of energy, and the life of the machine is greatly extended. I suspect a watermaker would fit right in this scenario.

So the goal is, have a good supply of water, using solar power only. Can it be done? Is it being done? Are we better off with a larger capacity unit running part time? I live in a very sunny place.

[highseas]

So if your use is about 60gall. per week,and ran a 40E for 12 hrs. a day,you would produce 140gall. per week.What am I missing?

[maxingout]

Originally Posted by highseas

So if your use is about 60gall. per week,and ran a 40E for 12 hrs. a day,you would produce 140gall. per week.What am I missing?

We have a low capacity watermaker like you are talking about. The problem is that most harbors are dirty with oil and silt in the harbor, and you can't run your watermaker in port for 12 hrs a day or you will destroy the prefilters and membrane.

Your other option is to leave the harbor and drift or daysail and make water for twelve hours at sea so that you don't suck in silt and oil in your prefilters and membranes. That is quite a hassle to leave port just to be able to make water.

During our circumnavigation, the only time we ran our watermaker was on passage. The original membrane lasted eleven years and still going, but if we had made water in ports, it would have been ruined long ago.

There's nothing wrong with a low capacity watermaker as long as you want to build your sailing life around the safe function of the watermaker.

[JusDreaming]

Originally Posted by highseas

So if your use is about 60gall. per week,and ran a 40E for 12 hrs. a day,you would produce 140gall. per week.What am I missing?

It's fun to engineer and build stuff

[highseas]

I guess when I'm in a filthy harbour, I will tie up for dockwater,or haul from shore.Better yet, try to avoid such places.Seeing I only have 100 gall. of tankage,I would quickly run out of space to store 20 gall. per hr. anyway. I will be anchored at sea!,or seeking more remote destinations.Thanks for your insight.

[Cheechako]

Lagoon 100, check out Aquamarine. He's a small shop out here on Deer Harbor in the San Juan islands. Been in business for years. I havent dealt with him in years but he's a great guy and helpful. Used to sell an engine drive kit... or whatever you want. Check out the Kubota charging/watermaking unit. That is the same little Kubota "arrow" engine I've posted about here before for 12v charging. water makers are simple. The hardest part is making the bracket for your engine. Aquamarine, Inc -