Seawater Pro Desalinator

[Cherp]

Hi...we are looking at fitting a water-maker and the Seawater Pro looks affordable and adequate for our needs. Does anybody have experience with them?

[Tellie]

Rich, you'd probably handle this more tactfully than I would.

[Quadrille in JB]

Tillie,
Your short comment seems derisive. Maybe you could explain your experiences with the sea waterpro water maker.
I was skeptical, but after researching the water cooled electric pressure cleaner pump that’s being used I took a leap and Purchased one. We’ve been using it for nearly a year with great results.
One of the big things going for It is that all of the parts are readily available. Amazon has them all. While in Norway earlier this year, we saw the same Karcher pressure cleaner for sale in a hardware store for about the equivalent of US$200.
It’s easy to install, comes with all parts and fittings that are numbered so that even a complete novice could install it. All you have to do is hook it up to raw water, overboard waste water, and freshwater to your water tanks, and of course plug it into 120vac.
As it only drawls 9.9 A at 120 volt AC we run it each day for 10 to 20 minutes on our inverter when the sun is high and the solar panels are putting out nearly 60a at 13.7 Vdc.
It easily puts out 20 gallons per hour at 800 psi. I have to throttle it back to keep it from exceeding 20 gallons per hour as I was warned that this could damage the membrane.
The whole package including the upgraded raw water pump and water cooled pressure cleaner pump, including shipping was under $2000. And my book, that’s a pretty damn good deal

[sailormed]

Originally Posted by Tellie

Rich, you'd probably handle this more tactfully than I would.

What I read here is that Tellie leaves it to Rich (the AC watermaker specialist) to explain something "tactfully", meaning not very pleasant and thus critical concerning this manufacturer.

[Cherp]

Originally Posted by Quadrille in JB

Tillie,
Your short comment seems derisive. Maybe you could explain your experiences with the sea waterpro water maker.
I was skeptical, but after researching the water cooled electric pressure cleaner pump that’s being used I took a leap and Purchased one. We’ve been using it for nearly a year with great results.
One of the big things going for It is that all of the parts are readily available. Amazon has them all. While in Norway earlier this year, we saw the same Karcher pressure cleaner for sale in a hardware store for about the equivalent of US$200.
It’s easy to install, comes with all parts and fittings that are numbered so that even a complete novice could install it. All you have to do is hook it up to raw water, overboard waste water, and freshwater to your water tanks, and of course plug it into 120vac.
As it only drawls 9.9 A at 120 volt AC we run it each day for 10 to 20 minutes on our inverter when the sun is high and the solar panels are putting out nearly 60a at 13.7 Vdc.
It easily puts out 20 gallons per hour at 800 psi. I have to throttle it back to keep it from exceeding 20 gallons per hour as I was warned that this could damage the membrane.
The whole package including the upgraded raw water pump and water cooled pressure cleaner pump, including shipping was under $2000. And my book, that’s a pretty damn good deal

How do you "throttle it back"?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Cherp

How do you "throttle it back"?

Lower the pressure.
For instance if your in brackish water if you stay at 800 PSI you will make more than 20 GPH which is about the limit for a single 40” membrane, and that can damage it, so you turn the pressure down until you get 20 GPH.
It’s one reason why one should have an easy to read, accurate flow meter.
You don’t exceed 800 PSI, or your membranes max rating, whichever occurs first.
Also water temp will influence the rate water is made, the warmer the water, the faster, but seemingly also the higher the TDS. Colder water makes less water, but purer it seems.

[Quadrille in JB]

A64pilot is totally correct

[Cherp]

To me, 800 psi sounds like a truckload of pressure and 20 gph sounds like a good water supply. I think we would be inclined to run a desalinator less and often, rather than going for a high output over a short time. From what I've read, that is easier on the gear. In any case, I won't be having much to do with our water-maker. My wife has decided she is going to build one. She has a formidable intellect and good practical skills, so the heavy artillery will be brought to bear on the project. It will be done.

[Q Xopa]

Originally Posted by Quadrille in JB

Tillie,
Your short comment seems derisive. Maybe you could explain your experiences with the sea waterpro water maker.
I was skeptical, but after researching the water cooled electric pressure cleaner pump that’s being used I took a leap and Purchased one. We’ve been using it for nearly a year with great results.
One of the big things going for It is that all of the parts are readily available. Amazon has them all. While in Norway earlier this year, we saw the same Karcher pressure cleaner for sale in a hardware store for about the equivalent of US$200.
It’s easy to install, comes with all parts and fittings that are numbered so that even a complete novice could install it. All you have to do is hook it up to raw water, overboard waste water, and freshwater to your water tanks, and of course plug it into 120vac.
As it only drawls 9.9 A at 120 volt AC we run it each day for 10 to 20 minutes on our inverter when the sun is high and the solar panels are putting out nearly 60a at 13.7 Vdc.
It easily puts out 20 gallons per hour at 800 psi. I have to throttle it back to keep it from exceeding 20 gallons per hour as I was warned that this could damage the membrane.
The whole package including the upgraded raw water pump and water cooled pressure cleaner pump, including shipping was under $2000. And my book, that’s a pretty damn good deal

A64s comments are, aa usual, 'right on the money'.

I have no dog in this fight but my experience so far.

I got a Seawater Pro setup too. So far cant fault it. I wasnt expecting much but so far it is better than expected.
I actually got another membrane housing from him.
I also opted for his Stainless chinese AC motor and ceramic pump. This nudged me above the $2k mark. I reckon thats not bad for that much watermaker.


I went for this not expecting too much or the pump to last long etc.
My thinking was that all the parts are generic and at this price its still well and truley viable to have spares, throw a few pumps at it and still be ahead. Or if the initial ones dont last I can upgrade etc. Time will tell

He doesnt claim to have the highest quality pumps. But Im not sure if the high quality gear does any better.

Im sure we can get some experts to give a better insight into this stuff.

But I can also add he seemed good to deal with and upfront and delivered what he he said he would.

[Quadrille in JB]

Originally Posted by Cherp

To me, 800 psi sounds like a truckload of pressure and 20 gph sounds like a good water supply. I think we would be inclined to run a desalinator less and often, rather than going for a high output over a short time. From what I've read, that is easier on the gear. In any case, I won't be having much to do with our water-maker. My wife has decided she is going to build one. She has a formidable intellect and good practical skills, so the heavy artillery will be brought to bear on the project. It will be done.

You need to have ~800 psi to force the water through the membrane. That’s why a High Pressure pump is required.
There’s nothing magic about assembling a water maker. Just purchase the “right”
Parts and put them together. It’s a very “doable” project.
My initial plan was to assemble my own watermaker until the Admiral saw the ad for the very affordable SeawaterPro unit. The cost was less than the total of the parts I would have to buy. To me, the difference between $2,000 and $6,000 to $8,000 can buy a lot of boat “toys.”