Finding drinking water Pacific Islands

[Bleemus]

Spent eight weeks in the Tuamotus. Didn't rain once.

[ErikFinn]

Originally Posted by sailabroad

We don't have a watermaker, and have struggled with the decision to invest in one, for many reasons.

Ciao,

I know this is not specifically what you asked for, but I feel I am in a quite similar situation as you, and I feel most new watermakers are way overpriced. I found the following information very interesting; CF member x-ray (Rainer) made his own watermaker using a Karcher pressure washer, see this thread starting from post# 249:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post1091879


Here is his website in German with more details:

Startseite - watermakers Webseite!


Here is his website translated to English using a translator:

https://translate.googleusercontent....F1s5aiEXram9hg

What are your thoughts about a system like that?

Cheers,

Erik

[ingrid75]

We spent ten years cruising the islands of the South Pacific. Before we left California we installed a Power Survivor 35. We never had to use it. There is plenty of rain in the Sp. the reason there are water shortages amount the locals is that many of them are not very efficient rain collectors. And, as others have mentioned, there are places where you can buy water. I.e. The bigger islands like Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, etc. the trick is to be water wise, don't waste.

[barnakiel]

It is not so that it rains a lot there. Misinformation.

Tall islands can get a lot of rain in some years and very little in another. And this may vary too from one place to another. The Pacific is not your local lake - look at the chart, learn to read the scale. Walk places rather than drive everywhere - you will get some understanding of the DISTANCES then, perhaps.

Get the biggest tanks you can. Then some jerries too. You may end up where it is not that you will get water - you will get ASKED for some ..., perhaps.

Perhaps not.

Expect little water in the low islands. Tuamotus and the likes. Unless they have a watermaker. Very many do not.

Or else you may get water but it may be of dubious quality (read about amoebas some - this may help you decide on what you want).

Water up on the continent. You will get water in Hawaii and the Societies. And then it is all up to where you go. Ask about specific places. Distances are huge, water situation varies a lot.

Get a watermaker if you afford one. That's sure.

Catch your own, too. Rain.

Good luck.

b.

[boatman61]

I found using the main as a water catcher worked well.. raise the boom about 10-15degrees with the topping lift and hang a bucket by the gooseneck.. main catches the rain, wind drives it forwards and much flows into the bucket.. used two buckets.. by the time I'd got one back and emptied the contents it was time to go back to the mast and switch as the other was overflowing..

[Bleemus]

While in the Tuamotus we made lots of friends. We could make 120gph and often had other cruisers tie up to us and we would fill their tanks and rinse their decks for them. The goodwill generated was heartwarming as were the bottles of wine and booze.

[Bleemus]

Originally Posted by boatman61

I found using the main as a water catcher worked well.. raise the boom about 10-15degrees with the topping lift and hang a bucket by the gooseneck.. main catches the rain, wind drives it forwards and much flows into the bucket.. used two buckets.. by the time I'd got one back and emptied the contents it was time to go back to the mast and switch as the other was overflowing..

Were you anchored off the stern for the wind to blow the water to the mast?