View Poll Results: do you have, or are planning to have, a watermaker
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Yes
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73 |
84.88% |
No
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13 |
15.12% |
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08-03-2014, 11:03
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#46
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Florida cruising currently
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 19,289
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Re: watermaker - are you planning to have one
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tellie
Everyone knows who I am and what I do. I don't knock any competitors product and I am quite comfortable with any decision you make. But you should seriously contact CF member Captain Bill and have a beer together.
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I figure this is basically a passivate poke at DIY Watermakers because I posted a link and is really your way knocking them regardless of your claim above.
I read the Captain Bill thread on DIY that had like 4 posts and really ended up being that their phone system was down (Captain Bill on that thread says he has a Katadyn unit). I have also come across boat blogs with the DIY Watermaker systems installed and they all seem happy with their systems.
So since I have no personal direct experience with them but you appear to have some issue, post it and don't play patty cake.
__________________
It is OK if others want to do it different on THEIR boat
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08-03-2014, 11:54
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#47
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Whidbey Island
Boat: Cape Dory 30K
Posts: 118
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
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08-03-2014, 12:22
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#48
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,092
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
Tim--sure! Easy for you when you have only 2 seasons...hot rain and cold rain.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
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08-03-2014, 14:03
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#49
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,108
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim_H
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Yes, everyone should have a rain catchment system of some type. It should be everyone's first priority when thinking about water. Without a doubt, this is the best way to get high volumes of the purest water in a short time.
When it rains.
In the Bahamas and Caribbean, it can go months without any rain at all. I imagine many parts of Pacific and Baha Mexico are also like this.
Our large hardtop is guttered for rain catchment, and when it rains hard I have measured the rate of water going into the tank at 100gph. It could deliver even more if I increased the thruhull size and hose in the catchment system, because it overflows the gutters due to slow draining during these times.
Doesn't do us a bit of good for 3-4 consecutive months during the year, though!
Mark
__________________
www.svreach.com
You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
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08-03-2014, 14:04
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#50
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Whidbey Island
Boat: Cape Dory 30K
Posts: 118
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
thats a solar still not a catchment system.
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08-03-2014, 14:08
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#51
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Sponsoring Vendor

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hollywood, Fl.
Boat: FP Athena 38' Poerava
Posts: 3,937
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim_H
thats a solar still not a catchment system.
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Look a bit closer. I believe it is nicely set up for a filtered catchment system. Could be a solar still though.
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08-03-2014, 14:50
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#52
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Whidbey Island
Boat: Cape Dory 30K
Posts: 118
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
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08-03-2014, 15:06
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#53
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,092
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
"Produces up to 4 to 6 liters per sunny day". That is barely enough for 1 crewmember's drinking water!
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
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08-03-2014, 15:06
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#54
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 9,398
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
We consider our watermaker to be an essential. But we usually don't visit marinas often, we've gone over 12 months between visits at times.
They give you so much freedom. You can easily carry enough food and fuel to last for long periods, carrying enough water is much more difficult.
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08-03-2014, 15:41
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#55
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Senior Cruiser

Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,147
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Terra Nova
"Produces up to 4 to 6 liters per sunny day". That is barely enough for 1 crewmember's drinking water!
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I think Tim_H was pointing out what it is, not what it is capable of....
On Topic: We have a Spectra 150 and are very happy with it.........
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08-03-2014, 15:55
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#56
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2006
Location: west coast of Florida
Boat: Schucker mini-trawler
Posts: 353
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to afford a watermaker. It's out of my budget range, and will be for quite some time (I prioritized a new-to-me diesel and that will take two or three years to pay off) but gosh, hauling water is HORRIBLE. I hate it. It's physically demanding, makes me ache for at least two days and is totally draining.
My tank is just 50 gallons (a lot for a 23' boat) but if there was any way I could afford a watermaker I would have one. I do have the thru-hull already installed and a place to mount the unit. Alas, not the funds to pay for one.
And yes, I know that I could afford many trips to marinas for "free" fill-ups. However, I prefer those places where marinas aren't. A watermaker would make my life easier. For years I've dreamed of the Spectra with Z-brane. Maybe someday there will be a used unit for sale that my credit card can swing.
A girl can dream, eh? And a watermaker is definitely a happiness quotient enhancer for many. I wish I had one.
__________________
Janice aboard Seaweed, trawler life on a nickel budget...
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08-03-2014, 16:07
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#57
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Sponsoring Vendor

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hollywood, Fl.
Boat: FP Athena 38' Poerava
Posts: 3,937
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim_H
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Right you are.
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08-03-2014, 16:09
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#58
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Kemah, Texas. USA
Boat: Beneteau 41
Posts: 66
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
I do not want one. I do not need one. I will get one. They are maintenance intensive but I can do maintenance. It keeps the commodore happy and reduces my work load.
__________________
Cap Ron
"I've been told a successful marriage is a polite compromise."
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08-03-2014, 16:59
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#59
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Sponsoring Vendor

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hollywood, Fl.
Boat: FP Athena 38' Poerava
Posts: 3,937
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Re: Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
No one needs one.....but then again, no one needs a boat. You just got to figure out what you want that makes you happy.
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08-03-2014, 17:56
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#60
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: northeast USA
Boat: EndeavourCat 36
Posts: 372
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Watermaker - Are you Planning to Have One?
Key Largo to Puerto Rico, 9 months, caught rain with a homemade catchment system. It was 1992 when we got to Boqueron, and Powersurvivor had just started selling a motorized version of the 35 (later called PUR, now Katahdin). Bought it, installed it, loved that thing. Took us all the way to. Grenada, happily. It was the first small cruising boat water maker I heard of. Our unit broke down frequently. They made the motor housing out of plastic and it cracked (next version, more metal, less plastic). Still loved it. Filled four Gatorade gallon jugs, put them in the fridge, then filled the big tank. Always had delicious fresh water to drink. We had a Windbugger wind vane and made water whenever the wind blew. Used the rain catcher, too, whenever we could.
When we are closer to heading out, I will get a Spectra for this boat. A friend from trade school works for a Spectra dealer now and he will do the installation. Tellie is not the only one who thinks Spectra is great; my friend does, too. Sounds like it will be a lot easier to maintain than that 1992 Powersurvivor.
I will also have a catchment system, planning it now. I'm happy to use rainwater when I can get it.
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