Moving the watermaker to the forward locker.

[WanderIVth]

Hello,

In our upcoming refit, I was curious about moving the watermaker. We don't use it often as we're currently in a marina, but I obviously still want it. I want to move it to the forward locker. It's currently in position 1 on the diagram; this used to be a bedroom that has been converted into a closet, but the watermaker and its components take up a significant amount of room in the closet. Is there any major reason I shouldn't move it to location 2? I'd drill a hole through the wall separating the closet and that compartment to run the pipes/electrical. Location 3 is the freshwater tank.

Thank you all,
Bryant

[GreenWave]

Do you have easy access to compartment 2? You will need that for filter changes, maintenance and such.

[WanderIVth]

Originally Posted by GreenWave

Do you have easy access to compartment 2? You will need that for filter changes, maintenance and such.

Yes. It's a locker where we have a bunch of stuff. I think it's a watertight locker which may mean that if I smash into something it would make it more likely for the boat to sink.

[Cheechako]

I see no problem with it. I had mine in the tail end of one hull in the catamaran, under the stern steps.
BTW use your watermaker! Lack of use for too long can make the membrane worthless.

[WanderIVth]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I see no problem with it. I had mine in the tail end of one hull in the catamaran, under the stern steps.
BTW use your watermaker! Lack of use for too long can make the membrane worthless.

Thanks! We will use it, just not daily or probably even weekly if we can avoid it. It's pickled now; so that should give us a bit of time.

[Fore and Aft]

WanderIVth, I have seen water makers in every place possible on a boat. The strangest last year was right next to the toilet. I only assume the owner sat down to pee?
Cheers

[Sailingveterinarian]

My biggest concern in moving it to a forward locker is moisture...condensation...rust.
My watermaker was in a forward compartment. Sustained moisture damage. I installed the new one under a bed

[a64pilot]

Make sure you can access it easily, and depending on which one it is, there may be no need to have it all in one place, mine is scattered about with the boost pump and filters in the bilge where water spillage doesn’t matter The control panel on an engine room wall, and the HP pump and membranes in a locker, but also don’t put it anywhere where if it leaked it could hurt anything.

[AlanT]

Looks like a good plan. If it's a 12v unit you may need larger gauge wire for the longer run. If there is no bilge pump in there (which I assume) you should add a water alarm of some sort to that watertight compartment. Otherwise a hose or membrane failure in that locker could swamp that compartment without you becoming aware. I am experimenting with wireless water alarms at the moment for spaces that have no alarm/bilge pump. So you might look into those if you have a wifi network on the boat. They are not marinized so I am checking durability. Wasserstein is one brand if you want to look it up.

[a64pilot]

For an inexpensive water alarm, look up ones meant for basements, they are cheap and run on flashlight batteries, and have an alarm about like a smoke detector.
Unless of course you just have to Bluetooth / WiFi things, some people do.

Seems they are now WiFi / Bluetooth for those who must.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Basement+...f=nb_sb_noss_2

[CapnBazza]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

WanderIVth, I have seen water makers in every place possible on a boat. The strangest last year was right next to the toilet. I only assume the owner sat down to pee?
Cheers

On the good ship Purrfect She Who Must Be Obeyed insists that everyone sits down to pee. It stops the head smelling like a male urinal and avoids having to mop up after guests who aren’t used to aiming for a moving target or who think they’re bigger than they are.