watermakers for sailboats

5 Best Watermakers for Sailboats

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

With the right Watermaker, the ocean becomes an almost immeasurable supply of fresh and clean drinking water to keep you hydrated during your offshore sailing adventures.

Many sailors do spend a lot of their time and money on various parts of the sailboat including the sails, engine, electronics, and generators especially when preparing for long-distance voyages.

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with this, they often overlook one crucial part of general human survival: having an ample supply of fresh drinking water.

Whether you have freshwater drinking tanks on your sailboat or planning to cruise in areas where you can easily access clean drinking water, the hassle involved in having to come to the dock to fill the water tanks can be quite overwhelming.

This is exactly why you need to find the best watermakers for sailboats.

Like many other nautical technologies, watermakers have significantly advanced in the last few decades to become very efficient and more reliable. They're no longer a luxury on your sailboat but a necessity. Better still, watermakers have become relatively affordable and are meant to keep you hydrated as you explore areas that do not have clean and fresh drinking water.

In this article, we'll take a look at how watermaker systems work, highlight its benefits, and highlight the best sailboat watermakers on the market right now. At the end of this read, you should be able to choose the best watermaker for your sailboat.

Table of contents

Benefits of Having a Watermaker on Your Sailboat

The freedom and security that come with having full water tanks on your sailboat are of immense importance, especially if you're cruising in an area where fresh drinking water is hard to come by and quite expensive when you do. As such, having a watermaker aboard your sailboat is no longer a luxury like it used to be in the past. With a steady supply of fresh and clean water, your life on the sailboat will be a lot better. This is because you'll have enough clean water to drink, cook, wash, and shower, which is beneficial if you want to enjoy your sailing adventures.

Honestly speaking, many sailors do not actually need a watermaker. Well, if you're planning to sail just near the shores, then there's a chance that you can easily access fresh and clean water by the dock. But this can be limiting if you've been dreaming of going off the grid and sailing to some exotic and unknown places in the world.

With that in mind, a watermaker makes a lot of sense to most sailors. You won't have to worry about having to carry aboard gallons of fresh water for cooking and drinking during your voyage. You won't have to treat freshwater as a precious commodity that must last until you can refill at the next port. With a watermaker, you can simply go ocean crossing without worrying about running out of water.

A watermaker allows you to have a steady supply of fresh and clean water to keep everybody well-hydrated and healthy. You can clean the water anytime you feel like and all you have to do is replace the filter once in a while and you'll be good to go. In essence, a watermaker is probably one of the most important equipment to have aboard your sailboat, so installing it is of great importance if you're a serious sailor.

The Basics of Modern Marine Watermakers

Modern marine watermakers essentially follow the principle of reverse-osmosis to produce pure, drinking water from seawater. During this process and through very high pressure, seawater is forced through a semipermeable membrane that only allows freshwater molecules to pass through it but not salt, bacteria, or any other organic material. The newly made pure, drinking water is then piped to the sailboat's water tanks while the leftover (brine) is discharged overboard.

Even though marine watermakers may differ in the type of pump that's employed and how it is driven, this is one of the most important features in every watermaker. In most cases, water can be electrically pumped or powered directly off the boat's engine. If you have an AC generator or alternator on your boat, it would make much sense to use the AC output to drive the watermaker directly. You can also choose the DC-powered models if you rely on renewable energy from solar or wind. Alternatively, you can still go for AC-powered watermakers but you'll have to buy an inverter.

All in all, DC-powered watermakers are more efficient since they integrate a power-saving energy recovery system (ERS). You must, however, keep in mind that your energy consumption levels might be quite high if you're sailing in colder and saltier areas. This is because the water purification process might be a bit slower in such areas. As such, you should consider investing in a more high-powered watermaker system if you will be sailing in colder and saltier areas than if you're planning to sail more in warm and less salty areas.

As far as an engine-driven watermaker is concerned, you should mount the high-pressure pump on the engine so that it can be belt-driven using an automatic clutch. An engine-driven watermaker should be your first option if you want large quantities of fresh drinking water. This is more productive than AC or DC-powered watermakers. Even with a relatively small engine, this setup has an automatic regulator that constantly pumps the water. With that in mind, engine-driven watermakers are ideal if you want to reduce your energy consumption. To put it into perspective, an engine-driven watermaker can lower energy consumption by an enormous 80%, especially when compared with conventional AC or DC-powered watermaker systems.

How to Choose the Best Watermaker for Your Sailboat

There are many factors to consider when looking for the best watermakers for your sailboat. Here are the most important things to consider.

Your Freshwater Needs

One of the most important things to consider before spending your money on a watermaker is your freshwater needs. What quantity would be enough to keep you going on your sailing adventure? While the quantity might differ from one sailor to the other or from one boat to the other, you should consider the number of gallons that a particular watermaker can produce per day. This will help you in choosing the ideal watermaker; a model that will ensure that you never run out of water. Do not underestimate your water needs, especially if you're planning to sail with your children or if you're planning to stay on the boat for an extended period of time.

Do you have enough space on your vessel to accommodate the type of watermaker you're looking to buy? While most watermakers are designed to fit in the smallest of space, you should consider the actual size of the watermaker and find out whether you have enough space on your vessel to fix it.

Watermakers can run on electricity, renewable energy such as wind and solar (if you have them on your vessel), or both. When looking for the perfect watermaker, you should consider how to power it and whether or not the watermaker has low-energy consumption, which is definitely a great feature. Again, there are also engine-driven watermakers, so it's important to know exactly what you're going for.

Maintenance

Watermakers have a reputation for being difficult to maintain. Fortunately, the equipment and components have improved in the last few years so you should go for a model that's easy to maintain. You should use the watermaker in water bodies that look good, You should avoid using the watermaker in dirty harbors as you may have to change the filters every so often or even damage your watermaker altogether.

Best Watermakers for Sailboats

Let's take a look at the best watermakers available on the market right now.

The Ultra Whisper

Engineered by limited electrical options that can run on either DC or AC, THE Ultra Whisper by Sea Recovery is one of the best watermakers currently available on the market. In addition to being very quiet, this watermaker features an automatic operation that requires very minimal operator adjustment.

This watermaker is ideal for small powerboats and sailboats since it can serve as an efficient water supply. This model boasts about a 75% reduction in power consumption, especially when compared to other models.

• ‍ Smooth and quiet water production
• Can produce up to 2,280 liters per day
• Ideal for small boats
• It is energy efficient
• ‍ It might not be perfect for large boats

Echotec Watermaker

If you want a watermaker model that can produce 60 liters per hour flawlessly and with no maintenance apart from changing the filters, look no further than the Echotec Watermaker. This model is designed for ultra-reliable performance and easy customer installation.

This watermaker is made from high-quality components that can withstand the continuous harsh marine environment, making it one of the most durable watermakers on the market. This is essentially a series of modular watermakers ranging from 12-volt to 24-volt DC-powered models. They bring forth energy efficiency, a computerized energy recovery system, and ultimate reliability to ensure that you never run out of fresh drinking water while out there on the sea.

• ‍ Energy efficient
• Cost-effective
• ‍ Comes with a very low speed
• Not ideal for large boats

Spectra Katadyn PowerSurvivor

As a compact and energy-efficient watermaker, the Spectra Katadyn PowerSurvivor is arguably the most affordable watermaker currently available on the market. We are talking about a model that only requires 4 amps to desalinate water for your sailboat. It can produce 1.5 gallons of fresh drinking water per hour, which is an excellent return for a watermaker of its size.

It is also one of the most portable watermakers around. You can choose to either install it permanently or temporarily in case you want to take it somewhere else. This portability is also essential if you're looking for a space-saving model that can fit in the smallest of compartments. Its simple but rugged design is essential in ensuring that it can perform at its best even in harsh marine conditions. In terms of its power capabilities, this is the only model on the market that will convert to a hand-operated system or manual power if there's a power shortage.

• ‍ Portable and lightweight
• Rugged design to withstand harsh marine environments
• Efficient and reliable
• Can revert to manual power if there's a power shortage
• Perfect for off-grid sailing
• ‍ Gasoline or diesel can easily damage the semi-permeable membrane

Village Marine - Little Wonder Series

Whether you're looking for a watermaker for your small sailboat or looking for a watermaker that can efficiently serve those huge yachts, the Village Marine Little Wonder Series provides everything. This model is meant for experienced sailors who are looking for various capacity options. This watermaker weighs just about 69 pounds but can produce nearly 180 gallons of fresh drinking water each day.

Designed with a low RPM high-pressure pump, this model remains one of the most efficient and economical watermakers on the market. That's not all; this watermaker is designed with corrosion-resistant features and is one of the most serviceable watermakers in the game. It is reliable, quiet, and portable; all factors that make a watermaker great.

• ‍ Easy to operate
• Corrosion-resistant
• Easy to maintain
• Quiet and versatile
• ‍ It doesn't have automatic adjustment controls

Ventura 150 Watermaker

This is one of the most versatile watermakers on the market. It can use both electricity and renewable energy. This model is engineered to be lightweight and energy-efficient and its compact and modular design makes it a great option if you're looking for a watermaker that's easy to use and install in confined spaces.

The Ventura 150 watermaker is highly efficient as it can produce over 6 gallons of water an hour, which makes it quite perfect for small vessels. This sailboat watermaker features a controller that allows you to operate and monitor the device remotely. It also has the auto store button that will automatically flash the system after every five days.

This watermaker is quiet and surprisingly compact despite its ability to produce about 150 gallons of water per day. It also gives you the option of going for the automated manual or manual model.

• ‍ Very versatile
• Can use both electricity and renewable energy power
• It is smooth and quiet
• It is compact and lightweight
• ‍ The manual model has analog controls

To this end, it's easy to see that having an ideal watermaker aboard your vessel is one of the first crucial steps towards being self-sufficient and sustainable. With a watermaker, you'll be able to access fresh drinking water at all times when sailing even in far-flung places. Most of these models are well-constructed and incorporate some of the best technologies that make them efficient, reliable, and easy to install, use, and maintain.

So when it comes to choosing the best watermaker for your sailboat, it may all come down to what is ideal for you in terms of energy consumption, efficiency, the quantity of water produced, among many other things. With an ideal watermaker, you can remain off the grid for as long as you want without ever worrying about running out of water and this is of great importance in enjoying your sailing adventures.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Do You Need a Watermaker for Your Sailboat?

• By Jen Brett
• Updated: October 2, 2019

I remember, in the not too distant past, when having a watermaker aboard a cruising boat seemed to be the ultimate luxury. Plenty of sailors considered them too expensive and complicated. Fortunately times have changed. With improved technology and a range of price points on the market, now even average cruising boats of modest means carry a reverse-osmosis system. And really, is there anything that feels better after a day spent sailing and swimming than a hot shower? The freedom and security that come with full water tanks are also a nice bonus, particularly if you’re cruising in an area where fresh water is difficult to come by and pricey when you do.

Choosing a Watermaker

As with any major system, there are many factors to consider when you choose a watermaker. You’ll need to figure out your freshwater needs, the space you have available for the system and how you’re going to power it . Generally speaking, in a reverse-osmosis desalination system the raw water is run through a series of pre-filters, and then a high-pressure pump moves the water through one or more membrane housings. The wastewater, or brine, is released overboard and the product water goes into your water tanks.

Since all of the watermakers that are currently available for cruising sailboats use this process for desalination, the major differences between the systems are how you power the high-pressure pump and the user interface. Powering options include 120/220-volt AC, 12- or 24-volt DC and engine/belt driven. All have their pros and cons.

“The first question I ask a potential customer is ‘Will your boat have a ship’s generator?’” said Rich Boren of Cruise RO Water. “If they plan to have a generator, then the decision to go with a 120-volt high-output watermaker seems natural. While running the generator for battery charging and other loads two to three times per week, they can keep their water tanks full without having to make generator runs just to make water.”

A 12-volt system, such as the Spectra Catalina 300 Mk II or the Horizon Reverse Osmosis Seafari Quest, makes a lot of sense for smaller cruising boats since they don’t need a generator to run and have fairly miserly power consumption. On a breezy, sunny day, a solar panel and/or a wind generator will likely keep up with the demand. “The only difference between 12-volt DC low-output and 120-volt AC high-output watermakers is how the high-pressure pump brings seawater up to the 800 psi needed to drive fresh water through the reverse-osmosis membrane,” Boren said. “The membrane and support equipment, like pre-filtering and plumbing, are the same.”

These systems typically produce anywhere from about 6 to 16 gallons per hour, and some units can do so for about a 1-amp-per-gallon power draw.

“Many smaller sailboats, under 45 feet or so, often utilize solar panels,” said Berkeley Andrews of Parker Hannifin, which produces Sea Recovery, Horizon Reverse Osmosis and Village Marine watermaker systems. “Their entire electrical backbone consists of 12-volt or 24-volt. So they must have a watermaker that can operate on low voltage. These customers have limited amp hours on their batteries, so all of their equipment must be suited to handling this.”

In choosing a watermaker, Bill Edinger, owner of Spectra Watermakers, said to be realistic about water needs. “When helping customers decide which system is right for them, first we like to determine their approximate water usage with questions like ‘How many people are aboard normally? Are you going to be living on the boat full time? Do you have a washing machine? Any children? Are you going to be cruising full time or leaving the boat for extended periods?”

A common error people make is choosing a watermaker that is too small for their needs. “The most common mistake I see cruisers making in their watermaker purchase decision is underestimating how much water it will take them to cruise comfortably,” Boren says. “I’m not talking about the minimal amount of water it takes for the crew to stay alive, because there is a big difference between staying alive and comfort. Selecting a watermaker that will only meet their minimal drinking-water needs but not keep up with the comfort needs of the crew can lead to crew tensions and feeling like camping rather than cruising.”

Remember that “watermakers are rated in gallons of production in a 24-hour period,” Edinger said. “So a 300-gallon-per-day watermaker system sounds like a lot of water. The important thing is that it produces about 12 gallons per hour. Normally a system like this will be run three to four hours per day if power is not a critical issue, in this case producing 36 to 48 gallons of water. It’s better for a system to run for a few hours every few days than an hour every day.”

Watermakers for Small Boats

If space is at a premium, consider purchasing a modular system instead of an enclosed one. In a modular system, the components, such as the membranes and filters, can be mounted separately. Another power source for the high-pressure pump is the boat’s diesel engine. In these engine-driven setups , the pump and an additional pulley are mounted on a custom bracket next to the engine. The watermaker can then be run while motoring or using the engine to charge the batteries.

While engine-driven watermakers can produce a large amount of water, 20 or more gallons an hour on average, the downside is that the installation can be more complex than for other systems. “Unlike the 12-volt DC or 120-volt AC watermakers, where you simply bolt the high-pressure pump down and then run the wires and plumbing hoses, the hardest installation aspect of an engine-driven watermaker is finding space. Some boats simply have no room in the engine compartment to mount the 5-pound pump with a 7-inch pulley on the engine while still leaving access to other engine parts that need to remain serviceable,” Boren says.

A relative newcomer to the marine market, the portable watermaker is a good solution for cruisers who want the convenience of a watermaker but don’t want to permanently install one. The Rainman is one such system that is available as a self-contained unit driven by a gasoline-powered Honda motor, or as a 115-volt AC-powered unit. “The bulk of our gasoline-powered system customers are sailing yachts between 30 and 50 feet,” said Ron Schroeder of Rainman Desalination. “Our customers seem to prefer to have a simple and somewhat manual system over one that relies on control panels, software and solenoid valves. We are also attractive to those customers who have had bad experiences with the installation process of an installed system.”

The Spectra Passport is another portable system. Edinger said it has already proved popular with offshore race crews and cruisers who need a watermaker for only a limited time.

Maintenance for Watermakers

Watermakers have long had a reputation for being difficult to maintain, but the equipment has improved over the years and overall, routine maintenance isn’t more challenging than with other onboard systems. “The best rule of thumb is to operate the watermaker in water that looks good,” Andrews said. “There are a few factors in the feed-water condition that come into play. Operating a watermaker in dirty harbors will most certainly result in repeated pre-filter changes and a clogged sea strainer. If you have extra filters on board, you can get by, but it’s not recommended. The environment in the open ocean and remote anchorages is much better. Also consider how shallow the water is where you’re anchored. Sometimes there can be a lot of tidal movement, which can kick up fine particulate and sediment. This too can also contribute to more frequent filter changes and even damage other components. A nice option is an automatic freshwater flush, which will rinse the watermaker’s membrane element after use. It helps keep the membrane vessel housing free of any biological growth that could foul the membrane and reduce your ability to produce fresh water.”

Whatever system you choose, with proper use and maintenance you can expect years of service from your watermaker. And plenty of hot showers.

Jen Brett is a CW associate editor. This article first appeared in the February 2015 issue of Cruising World.

Aqua Marine: www.aquamarineinc.net

Blue Water Desalination: www.bluewa​terdesalination.com

Cruise RO: www.cruiserowaterandpower.com

Dometic Marine Sea Xchange: www.do​metic.com

ECHOTec: www.echotecwatermakers.com

FCI Watermakers: www.filtrationconcepts.com

Horizon Reverse Osmosis (HRO): www.hrosystems.com

Katadyn: www.katadyn.com

Rainman: www.rainmandesal.com

Sea Recovery: www.searecovery.com

Schenker Watermakers: www.schenkerwa​termakers.com

SK Watermakers: www.skwatermakers.net

Spectra Watermakers: www.spectrawater​makers.com

Village Marine Tec: www.villagemarine.com

Watermakers Inc.: www.watermakers.com

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3 Best Watermakers for Sailboats (Reviews & Buying Guide)

With a boat surrounded by water, there’s surely no such thing as dehydration out on the sea. Right? Well, not exactly. There’s way too much salt in seawater, and your kidneys would have to work overtime to filter it out. And to do that, they would need more water, which explains why copious amounts of seawater is toxic to humans.

So before you take a sip of that salty brine, why not pass it through a watermaker? The best watermakers for sailboats can take seawater and turn it into potable drinking water, giving you an infinite water supply to keep you hydrated and healthy on extended excursions.

What is a Watermaker?

Otherwise called a ‘desalinator’, a watermaker takes salty seawater and passes it through a process called reverse osmosis. This happens by pushing the water through a semi permeable membrane that allows the water molecules to pass through, but restricts salt, bacteria, and other organic material.

The clean, drinkable water is then passed into a water tank where you can then collect water for use. The remaining brine that was left during filtration is then tossed overboard and discarded. What’s nice is that these machines don’t use any chemicals, so there’s no risk of water contamination or pollution.

Some machines also use a pre or post treatment of the water using things like filters, sand, activated carbon, remineralization, or microfiltration to guarantee safe drinking water.

The Benefits of Watermakers

Modern-day technology has made it possible for manufacturers to develop more compact, efficient watermakers than ever before. This has also significantly driven down prices, making them far more accessible to sailors of all backgrounds.

Today, watermakers are recognized as a sailboat essential, especially for people who frequent the waves for long periods of time. Some of the benefits of these machines include:

Efficient Speed and Fuel Consumption

Yes, you read that right. Consider this - just 1 gallon of water weighs 8.3 pounds. If you’ve got 10 gallons on board, that’s equivalent to 83 pounds. A hundred gallons, and you’ve got an extra 830 pounds on board.

Watermakers allow boat owners to shave down their total weight. This lets you sail more efficiently, allowing faster speeds and lower fuel consumption which is important when you’re planning to sail long distances .

More Floor Area

Without a watermaker, you’d have to find room on board for the several tens or hundreds of gallons you need to bring with you. That also entails finding a place on your boat to store these water vats, which would obviously require significant room.

The watermakers of today are compact and lightweight. They can be either modular or self-contained, giving you different options to match your boat’s floor plan and use as little space as possible.

Safe Sailing

To ensure safe sailing, some studies have found that dehydration might actually be the reason for poor sailing performance. With dehydrated captains feeling lightheaded, achy, tired, and confused, it becomes increasingly likely to run into an accident that could endanger the lives of the people on board.

A watermaker guarantees that there will be fresh potable water at the ready any time you might need it. This doesn’t only curb the chances of dehydration, but also provides a solution for a variety of health conditions including diarrhea and various types of infections.

Extended Sailing Duration

You’ll only be able to sail for as long as your supplies on-board last. As your drinking water runs low, you’ll find yourself having to find the nearest dock to replenish supplies every so often. That’s if there are docks and shores you can access throughout your route. But what if there aren’t any?

Having the necessary equipment on board to extend your supply also means that you won’t have to rely on on-shore facilities to see you through your trip. This gives you more independence and flexibility as well as reducing the need to calculate complicated logistics.

Easier Boat Maintenance

Whether you’re underway or parked at the dock, your watermaker can help streamline boat maintenance by bringing freshwater straight to your vessel. With no need to collect buckets of water to lug back on board for a washdown, you can cut back the time and effort it usually takes to keep your boat clean.

Lots of boat owners even use their watermaker to give their boats a quick clean while they’re out at sea. This helps get rid of accumulated filth and dirt, reducing the need for a tedious deep clean once you get back to the dock.

The 3 Best Watermakers for Sailboats

Back in the day, watermakers were a luxury for the rich and the capable. But today, they’re incredibly affordable and easily accessible. Needless to say, manufacturers have also taken liberties with designing their own machines.

For you, that means an endless list of watermaker bets that could easily screw up your choice. So to help narrow down your options and lead you to the right one, here are our top 3 vetted picks:

1. Katadyn Power Survivor 40E Watermaker Desalinator

Small yet powerful, the Katadyn Power Survivor 40E is a reliable workhorse designed for boats with a small crew population of 2 to 3. This modular unit provides 1.5 gallons of water per hour, and draws only 4 amps from a 12-volt system, making it one of the most energy efficient desalinators out there.

This ‘Energy Recovery’ system works to desalinate seawater at just a fraction of the energy used by other watermakers in the same segment. Thus the device gets its name: Power Survivor.

Silent and lightweight, the machine lets you separate its primary system components so you can install the device seamlessly even in tight or awkward, irregular spaces. Most of its parts also come with a 3-year warranty, giving you that extra peace of mind versus damages and malfunctions.

2. AMPAC USA SeaPro Saltwater Desalination RO Watermaker

Able to produce 100 gallons per day, this watermaker was designed for use on small power boats or sailboats. Its super quiet automatic operation features intuitive controls that let you start and stop the desalination process with the push of a button.

Equipped with a noise pulsation dampener, the sounds produced during operation are negligible at best. This lets you run the machine in the evening to store up clean water for the next day without having to disturb your crew’s peace and quiet.

For boats with limited space, the SeaPro comes in a modular design that’s perfect for tight floor areas. It also comes in a partially mounted compact frame option that lets you fit the desalinator in place with little time and effort.

3. Rainman 12 Volt DC Watermaker

According to Rainman, their 12 Volt DC Watermaker consumes the least energy, able to filter 9 gallons of water per hour. The design touts a two-part system -- one pressure supply unit and another reverse osmosis unit. The former lifts the seawater from the source, while the other performs the desalination process.

What’s unique about Rainman’s watermaker is that the design gives you the option to install the unit directly to your boat, or to keep it handy as a portable watermaker system. This offers immense flexibility, allowing you to set up or take down your system as your situation calls for.

Aside from all of that, the Rainman Desalinator also features a streamlined control panel that makes everything easy to understand and operate at a glance. It also comes equipped with its own LED salinity sensor that tells you when water is good enough to store in your tank.

Choosing the Right Desalinator Watermaker

Not quite sure which one is right for you? Here are a few factors worth taking into consideration when buying a watermaker.

Size and Installation

There are two major options: modular and self-contained. The modular system lets you take the unit apart to install each part at a different part of your boat. This one’s ideal for boats with limited space. The self-contained system has the entire unit built together, which means it has to be installed as one piece.

Gallons Per Hour

How big is your crew? More people means you might need a watermaker with a higher GPH. Smaller machines capable of 1.5 to 2 GPH might be good for crews of 2-3 persons. But larger boats may need several hundreds of GPH to meet all of the crew’s needs.

* See: What size Yacht will Require a Crew?  

Non-Proprietary Parts

You’re going to make part replacements one way or another. See to it that you’re buying a machine that uses non-proprietary parts so you can purchase the necessary replacements anywhere online.

Warranty and Services

In case anything happens to your watermaker, who will be there to help you fix it? Check the warranty coverage and see how long the manufacturer is willing to cover it for damages and malfunction. It’s also important to make sure there’s a nearby service center to cater to your needs in case of damage.

Water You Waiting For?

The best watermakers for sailboats offer to give you a virtually endless supply of clean drinking water when you need it. But there are a ton of choices on the market, so it pays to know what you’re getting before you shell out that cash. Consider our bets for the best desalinators for your sailboat, and keep your crew happy, healthy, and hydrated all along the way.

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SWP Modular & Portable Watermakers

Welcome to SeaWater Pro, the premier provider of high-quality watermakers for boats and portable watermakers for all your marine adventures. Our cutting-edge technology and reliable products will ensure that you have access to clean, purified seawater wherever you go. With our easy-to-use and reliable watermakers, you can say goodbye to bulky storage tanks or worry about running out of fresh water. Our compact and efficient systems are designed specifically for marine use, making them perfect for boats of all sizes. Whether you're cruising the open seas or anchored in a secluded cove, our watermakers will provide you with a steady supply of fresh, drinkable water. At SeaWater Pro, we understand the importance of safe and clean drinking water while at sea. That's why our portable watermakers are equipped with advanced filtration systems that remove harmful contaminants and bacteria. Look no further than SeaWater Pro for your next, most reliable boating adventure investment!

Latest Articles

Watermakers vs. traditional water storage: a comparative analysis, demystify desalination, charting your course: your first steps into the exciting world of the sea industry, how do i know which seawater pro watermaker i'll need for my boat.

• Identifying which power source you'd like to run the system. AC or DC power?
• Determine how many gallons per hour will you need to maintain your lifestyle, 17 or 40 GPH.

How much does each SeaWater Pro System weigh?

Every modular watermaker system ships in 3 boxes.

• Box 1: Components (tubing, filters, boost pump, comet pump, fittings, etc.) - 40 lbs.
• Box 2: Motor - 40-48 lbs. (varies by motor option)
• Box 3: Membrane Vessels 15 lbs. per vessel, 30 lbs. each for stainless steal option.

Can I install a SeaWater Pro system myself?

Yes! We have videos and instructions for our customers on the resources page .

Do I need a control panel?

Do I need a control panel? Click to watch video

How do I rinse my system after I use it?

Rinse Timer Setup Guide Click to learn more about using your system's rinse timer!

How often do I need to pickle my watermaker?

How to pickle my SeaWater Pro system! Click to watch our short video guide.

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Watermakers

Blue Water Desalination offers six distinct lines of watermakers to suit the needs of the most discerning mariners, from the day fisherman up to the long-range sailor and transoceanic yachtsman. Within the six lines, we offer dozens of models of varying capacities in both frame and modular style configurations along with high-output commercial systems that can be custom designed for many different applications.

Yacht Systems

Our yacht desalination systems combine the best in simplicity and cutting-edge performance. From our compact Express series to our fully-automatic Legend series, we offer a system for any sized yacht from center consoles to megayachts. With a bevy of standard features available, along with upgrades including an industry leading 7” full-color touch screen and touch screen remote, our watermakers are sure to make your boating experiences safer and more convenient.

Commercial Systems

With a choice of semi-automatic or fully automatic operation, a wide range of capacities and the availability of modular and compact set ups with three-phase motors, our systems are an excellent choice for commercial applications . Blue Water rises above the competition in features, ease of use and ingenuity. We continually work to improve and add to our product lines, so if one of our current systems does not meet the freshwater demands of your commercial vessel, a Blue Water representative would love to discuss a customized watermaker solution with you.

• Fresh Water Flush system
• High Rejection membranes
• Quiet and reliable high pressure pumps
• Product water Carbon filter
• Dual voltage 50/60 Hz motors
• Stainless steel booster pump shaft
• Designed for ease of service & maintenance
• Installation kit including bronze sea strainer
• No charge upgrade to Commercial Pre-filter**
• No charge Oil/Water Separator assembly available**

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Fresh water anywhere

AC ELECTRIC, PETROL (GASOLINE), and 12VDC ELECTRIC WATERMAKERS. PORTABLE and INSTALLED MODELS AVAILABLE.

AC ELECTRIC , PETROL (GASOLINE) , and 12VDC ELECTRIC WATERMAKERS . PORTABLE and INSTALLED MODELS AVAILABLE.

no power source required

Petrol (gasoline) watermakers.

230V/50HZ or 115v/60hz

Ac electric watermakers.

12VDC power source

12vdc watermakers, rainman watermakers, a fresh approach to saltwater desalination. .

The Rainman Advantage

VERSATILITY

Rainman watermakers can be easily transferred between boats or used in remote land based applications. Keep your watermaker when you change your boat.

RELIABILITY

Partnering with the best companies for components, Rainman watermakers have a very high quality build, ensuring reliability and longevity of your investment.

LIFE CYCLE COST

With modest initial investment and components designed for durability and easy maintenance, the overall life cycle cost of a Rainman watermaker is kept to a minimum.

GLOBAL SUPPORT

A global network of over sixty dealers are in place to ensure you have support in the far corners of the world. Routine consumable parts are non-proprietary and easily sourced.

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Best Watermakers for Sailboats

Having the best watermaker for sailboats on board is one of the first and most important stages toward being sustainable and self-sufficient.

October 17, 2023

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

With a watermaker, you'll always have access to fresh drinking water while sailing, even in remote locations. The majority of the models are well-built and have cutting-edge technology that make them efficient, dependable, and simple to install, use, and maintain.

We have shortlisted some of the best watermakers for sailboats. These include, The Ultra Whisper, EchotecWatermaker, Spectra KatadynPowerSurvivor, Village Marine - Little Wonder Series, and Ventura 150 Watermaker.

So, when it comes to selecting the best watermaker for your yacht, it may all boil down to what works best for you in terms of power consumption, efficiency, and the amount of water generated, among other factors.You may stay off the radar for as long as you like with the right watermaker, and you'll never run out of water, which is crucial for enjoying your sailing excursions.

After conducting our research and speaking with some experts in the industry, we have put together this guide to help you learn more about the best watermakers for sailboats.

Table of Contents

‍ Best Watermakers for Sailboats – A Complete Guide

Trawlers, long-range boats, and yachts have seen a recent spike in interest in the marine business. It's reasonable that an off-grid,long-range, on-the-water life would be more enticing now than ever before. When preparing your boat for the long term, it's crucial to think about the most sustainable solutions, and having an appropriate supply of freshwater is sometimes disregarded. While most boats in this group have built-in freshwater tanks, the tank's capacity is often severely limited.

Let's have a look at some of the top watermakers now on the market.

The Whisper Ultra

Sea Recovery’s Ultra Whisper is by far one of the greatest watermakers currently available on the market, with limited electrical options that can work on either DC or AC. This watermaker is not only silent, but it also has an autonomous functioning that requires very little user intervention.

Since it can serve as an effective water supply, this watermaker is suitable for small powerboats and sailboats.When compared to other models, this model promises a 75 percent reduction in power use.

• Water output that is smooth and quiet
• Ideal for small vessels, it can produce up to 2,280 liters per day
• It conserves energy
• It might not be ideal for huge vessels

Watermaker by Echotec

Look no further than the Echotec if you want a watermaker that can create 60 liters per hour with no care other than changing the filters. This type is built for high reliability and simple customer installation.

This watermaker is constructed of high-quality components that can endure the severe sea environment, making it one of the most robust watermakers available. This is essentially a line of modular watermakers that range in power from 12-volt to 24-volt DC. They provide an energy economy, a computerized energy recovery system, and unwavering dependability to guarantee that you never go out of drinkable water while at sea.

• Low energy consumption
• Cost-effective
• It has a very slow speed
• Not recommended for large vessels

PowerSurvivor Spectra Katadyn

The Spectra Katadyn PowerSurvivor is likely the cheapest watermaker on the market as a compact and energy-efficient watermaker. We're talking about a desalination system for your sailboat that only uses 4 amps. It can create 1.5 gallons of clean drinking water each hour, which is a good yield for a small watermaker.

It's also one of the most mobile watermakers on the market. You have the option of installing it temporarily or permanently in case you need to move it. This portability is especially important if you're searching for a model that can fit into even the tiniest of spaces.

Its simple but tough design ensures that it can work well even in the harshest sea environments. When it comes to power, this is the only type on the market that can switch to a hand-operated mechanism or manual energy if there is a power outage.

• Lightweight and portable
• Rugged construction for use in hostile marine settings
• Effective and dependable
• If there is a power outage, you can switch to manual power
• Ideal for off-grid sailing
• The semipermeable membrane is quickly damaged by gasoline or diesel

Little Wonder Series by Village Marine

The Village Marine Little Wonder Series has everything you need, whether you're searching for a watermaker for your little sailboat or a watermaker that can effectively serve those large boats. This type is designed for seasoned sailors seeking a variety of capacity options. This watermaker is only 69 pounds in weight, but it can produce approximately 180 gallons of fresh drinking water every day.

This type is one of the most efficient and cost-effective watermakers on the market, thanks to its high-pressure pump with low RPM. Not only that, but this watermaker has corrosion-resistant characteristics and is one of the most serviceable watermakers on the marketplace. It's dependable, quiet, and portable, which are all fantastic qualities in a watermaker.

• Simple to operate
• Corrosion-resistant
• Simple to maintain
• Quiet and adaptable
• There are no automatic adjustment controls

Watermaker Ventura 150

This watermaker is one of the most multifunctional on the market. It has the ability to run on both electrical and renewable energy. This model is lightweight and energy-efficient, and its small and modular design makes it a fantastic choice if you need a watermaker that's simple to operate and install in tight areas.

The Ventura 150 watermaker is extremely efficient, producing over 6 gallons of water per hour, making it ideal for tiny boats. The controller on this yacht watermaker allows you to control and monitor the unit from afar. It also includes an auto-store feature that will flash the system every five days.

Despite its potential to create around 150 gallons of water each day, this watermaker is silent and surprisingly compact. It also allows you to choose between an automated manual and a manual model.

• Extremely adaptable
• It is possible to employ both electrical and renewable energy sources
• It is silent and smooth
• It is both small and light
• Analog controls are available on the manual model

Marine Watermakers: The Fundamentals

Reverse osmosis is used in marine watermakers to take in seawater and produce clean, drinkable water suited for any of your live-aboard demands. The newly created freshwater is then poured into your vessel's existing water tank, while the remaining "brine" is dumped overboard. The manner in which the water is pushed varies among most maritime watermakers. Typically, the water is either electrically propelled (AC or DC) or powered by the motor of your boat. The filtration procedure will be slower and the incoming seawater will be saltier and colder, so sailors may need a more powerful system than those fishing down in the Caribbean.Watermakers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, with modular models best suited for smaller vessels because the sections may be "stashed" in any available extra cargo space.

With the appropriate Watermaker, the ocean may provide an almost limitless supply of fresh, clean drinking water to keep you hydrated on your offshore sailing adventures.When preparing for long-distance journeys, many sailors invest a lot of time and money on various aspects of the sailboat, including as the generators, electronics, engine, and sails.

While there's nothing wrong with that, they frequently forget one critical aspect of human survival: having enough fresh drinking water.Whether you have fresh water to drink in tanks on your yacht or plan to cruise in regions where clean drinking water is readily available, the annoyance of having to return to the dock to fill the water tanks might be overwhelming, which is exactly why you should look for the best watermakers for sailboats.

Watermakers, like many other navigational technologies, have progressed greatly in recent decades to become more efficient and reliable. Thus, they are no longer a luxury, but a necessity on the sailboat. Even better, watermakers have become reasonably priced and are designed to keep you hydrated when exploring locations without access to clean, fresh drinking water.

In this post, we'll look at how watermaker systems function, the benefits they provide, and the best sailboat watermakers currently available. You should be able to select the best watermaker for your yacht after reading this article.

To be honest, many sailors do not require the use of a watermaker. If you plan to sail near the coast, there's a good chance you'll be able to get fresh, clean water right off the dock. However, if you've always wanted to go off the grid and sail to far-flung corners of the globe, this can be a constraint.

A watermaker makes great sense to most seafarers with that in mind. During your cruise, you won't have to be worried about transporting tons of water for heating and drinking. You won't have to think of freshwater as a limited resource that must be conserved till the next port.You can easily cross the ocean without worrying about running out of water with a good watermaker.

A watermaker ensures a constant supply of fresh, clean water, keeping everyone hydrated and healthy. You may clean the water whenever you want, and all you have to do is remove the filter once in a while to keep it running smoothly. In essence, a watermaker is one of the most crucial pieces of sailboat equipment, thus having one installed is critical if you're a serious sailor.

Modern Marine Watermakers

To create pure, drinkable water from seawater, modern marine watermakers rely on the reverse-osmosis concept.Seawater is driven through a semi - permeable barrier that only permits freshwater molecules to flow through it, but not salt, germs, or any other organic substance, throughout this process. The newly purified fresh water is then piped into the sailboat's water tanks, with the remainder (brine) being thrown overboard.

Even though the sort of pump used and how it is powered varies amongst maritime watermakers, this is one of the most crucial aspects in any watermaker. Water can be pumped electrically or straight from the boat's motor in most circumstances. If your yacht has an AC generator or alternator, using the AC output to run the watermaker directly makes a lot of sense.

If you use renewable energy sources such as solar or wind, you can opt for DC-powered devices. You can also use AC-powered watermakers, but you'll need to purchase an inverter.

Overall, DC-powered watermakers are more effective than AC-powered watermakers because they have a power-saving energy recovery technology (ERS). However, keep in mind that if you're sailing in colder and saltier places, your energy usage may be fairly significant. This is because the water filtration procedure in certain places may be a little slower. As a result, if you expect to sail in colder, saltier places, you should make investments in a higher-powered watermaker system than if you plan to sail in warmer, less salty areas.

In case of a motor-driven watermaker, the high-pressure pump should be mounted on the motor so that it can be belt-driven with an automated clutch. If you need a significant amount of drinkable fresh water, a motor-driven watermaker should be your primary choice. This is more efficient than watermakers that are powered by AC or DC. This arrangement has an automatic controller that continuously pumps the water, despite the little engine. Engine-driven watermakers are great for reducing your energy consumption in this regard. When compared to traditional AC or DC-powered watermaker systems, an engine-driven watermaker can save up to 80% on energy consumption.

How to Select the Best Watermaker for Sailboats

When looking for the best watermakers for your yacht, there are numerous aspects to consider. The following are the most crucial factors to consider.

Your Freshwater Requirements

One of the most crucial factors to consider when purchasing a watermaker is your freshwater requirements. How much would be sufficient to keep you going on your sailing adventure? While the amount may vary from one sailor to the next or from one boat to the next, you should think about how many gallons a specific watermaker can create every day. This will assist you in selecting the best watermaker for you; one that will ensure you never run out of water.

Do not misjudge your water requirements, particularly if you plan to sail with children or stay on the boat for an incredibly long time.

Is there enough room on your boat to lodge the sort of watermaker you want to buy? While most watermakers are designed to fit into the tiniest of spaces, you need to evaluate the authentic size of the watermaker to see if you have enough space on your vessel to install it.

Watermakers can be powered by electricity, renewable energy sources like wind and solar (if available), or a combination of the two. When searching for the ideal watermaker, think about how it will be powered and whether or not it will consume little energy, which is a terrific feature. Again, there are engine-driven watermakers, so it's crucial to know exactly what you want.

Maintenance

Watermakers have a bad record for being tough to keep up with. Since components and equipment have improved in recent years, you should choose a model that is simple to maintain. You should utilize the watermaker in attractive water bodies.You should resist using the watermaker in polluted harbors because you may have to replace the filters frequently or perhaps damage the watermaker.

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Our Systems

Echo tec. watermakers desalinators for boats, homes, and hotels.

ECHOTec  manufactures the most rugged and easy-to-operate desalinators/watermakers or desalination systems for yachts, commercial vessels, offshore installations, and land-based applications such as small communities, hotels, and beach houses. Designed for customer installation and ultra-reliable performance, far from factory-trained service centers, the wide product range covers modular AC, DC, and belt-driven watermakers from 8.4 GPH / 32 LPH to self-contained desalination systems with a production of 14.000 gallons or 53.000 liters per day.

More than 5,000   ECHOTec  desalination systems operate dependably and cost-effective throughout the world, many of them on continuous duty. Only the highest quality components, proven to withstand continuous operation in the harsh marine environment and comply with industry standards including NEMA, ASTM, API, NSF, and BSI are selected for safe operation and ultimate product life cycle. 

ECHOTec Watermakers are globally available directly from the manufacturer and through a fast-growing net  of factory-trained distributors.

Our Featured Desalinators

2400 GDP Series – A Proven Energy Recovery Desalination System

115/230v AC Pro Series (Semi-Modular/Self-contained)

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Testimonials.

After 8 years experience with our ECHOTec watermaker on “Lindisfarne”, we chose an ECHOTec 260-DML-1 for our next boat “Moon

Annika & Björn

We upgraded many systems on our 10.8m sloop Tryphena for our trip from the east coast to the Kimberley. The ECHOTec 260-DML-1 water maker was probably the best investment we made. It is a beautiful piece of engineering and lived up to our every expectation.

Peter Giller

I have had 3 watermakers on different yachts over the years and I know that I need a robust, simple and efficient machine. My Echotec 260-DML-1 is all those things. In recent voyages to the Louisiades, the Solomons, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, I have enjoyed reliable, easily made water. In the Solomons, where the sea water is very warm, I was getting a litre a minute from my 260-DML-1! I had a couple of queries when installing the unit and was greatly helped by Peter from Blue Sea Machines. I unreservedly recommend both his service and the product.

Lawrie Gubb

After one year in use, I can confirm that ECHOTec was the right choice for our Island Packet 380. The 12V-unit produces a vast amount of freshwater with minimal (service) effort. We particularly appreciate that we can get competent and fast support directly from the manufacturer – even a year after the purchase. We highly recommend this watermaker.

The Habibi Crew

Just to give you some feedback on our watermaker, I must say that I am really impressed with the unit. Having a fair amount of experience with RO units, although normally much larger than this one, I am surprised at the quietness of it. It runs much quieter than expected.

Your service in getting the unit to us before departure was great as was the way it was packaged and shipped. The unit is well put together and I am very pleased with the workmanship and the fact that you supplied everything needed to do the installation.

I am happy that I bought an Echotec watermaker and will be recommending it and your company to anyone who asks.

Matt Lansdown

This was our first attempt at changing our membrane since we installed the ECHOTec 260-DML-1 all by ourselves six years ago in Malaysia. Thank you for your prompt and helpful replies! We previously had a Xxxxxxx system that failed miserably in the middle of the Pacific, repair was complicated and expensive. We love the simplicity of the ECHOTec system. We had zero maintenance, except for the occasional gear oil and filter change, in the past six years! We just have installed new solar panels and are now able to run the watermaker on solar power only during high sun. It’s really great to be able to do this! Great product and outstanding service, thanks again! Kind regards

Denis & Maria

Since 3 years we have an ECHOTec installed like most cruisers we know. After more than 25.000 liters produced, we as well as all our friends have no problems with our desalination system. Therefore, we have decided to use an ECHOTec 260-DML-1 again on our new project: The 100% solar-powered catamaran “Solarwave”, without sails and any fossil fuel.

Michael Köhler 

Just wanted to let you know how pleased we are with our new watermaker and the service we have received from your company. Thanks to everybody for their help and patience and prompt service. We will certainly recommend you to others.

Jim and Paula

Having the Echotec 260-DML-1 on board and functioning superbly was of great assistance to our efforts during the Newport to Bermuda Race. Thanks for providing such exemplary service – which has impressed me along the lines of your pragmatic and efficient watermakers.

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DC Watermakers: Expensive but Useful for the Cruising Sailor

Reverse-osmosis watermakers run from $3,000 to over $8,000, and though many are similar, close examination is required for the buyer who wants the right one for his or her onboard needs..

Reverse-osmosis watermakers have long been available for boats, but until a few years ago, they were bulky, power-hungry machines that were barely suitable for the typical cruising sailboat. All that has changed in the last decade or so, and relatively efficient, reasonably compact reverse-osmosis watermakers are now readily available. In the seven years since Practical Sailor last evaluated DC-powered watermakers, there has been slow but steady development in this niche of the marine market.

The trend today is toward higher-output, energy-efficient, more automated watermakers. At the same time, some of the original, dead-simple machines—or their lineal descendants—are still available. This look at today’s watermaker market will help you decide if a watermaker is a good choice for your own boat.

Who Needs a Watermaker? The percentage of sailboat owners who really need a watermaker is very low. If your sailing is coastal cruising in areas with reasonable access to fresh water at rational intervals, you can get by without a watermaker. This would include virtually all North American coastal cruising.

The concept of “reasonable access,” of course, is open to interpretation. Traditionally, when you went to a dock for fuel, you also filled your water tanks, usually without charge. This is still the customary practice in North America, although less so in other parts of the world, where paying for water is acceptable and expected. At virtually every marina in North America, unlimited water use is included in the price you pay for a slip. In other parts of the world, a fee for water—sometimes metered, sometimes a flat daily rate—is added onto the slip cost as a separate item, much like electricity or any other utility.

However, you can pay for a lot of water at a marina or fuel dock—even in places such as the Bahamas, where water is truly expensive—before you will come close to recouping the purchase and operating cost of any watermaker. And, if you have very small water tanks, it will probably still prove cheaper to install additional tankage than to buy a watermaker.

How Much Water Is Needed? This will come as no big surprise: the more water capacity you have, the more water you use. When PS Editor-at-Large Nick Nicholson first installed a watermaker (a first-generation Little Wonder) aboard his home-built, 40-foot cruising cutter Calypso, he was giddy with the idea of making all the fresh water he and his partner could ever use. In the first few weeks, he remembers, he went so far as to wash down the anchor chain with fresh water.

But reality set in pretty quickly when Nicholson discovered that he was using about 15 gallons of water every time he brought the anchor aboard. That meant almost three hours of running the watermaker every time he anchored. Installing a salt water anchor washdown pump brought that episode to a rational conclusion.

How much water do you need every day? There is no simple answer. Some 30 years ago, Nicholson and a friend lived aboard an old racing boat with no shower, no hot water, no pressure water, and one tiny sink with a hand pump in the galley. That vessel’s 62 gallons of fresh water lasted almost exactly two weeks, meaning two people used just under five gallons a day for cooking, bathing, washing dishes, and drinking. Most of that water was lugged in five-gallon soft plastic jugs, down the dock, into the dinghy, up on deck, and into the tank.

Two decades later, during his circumnavigation, Nicholson’s Calypso had 180 gallons of fresh water that would last just over 14 days on average at anchor or on passage, meaning that he used almost 13 gallons a day. “Were we profligate in the use of water?” asked Nicholson. “No. Did we consciously conserve? Yes, but not fanatically.”

With hot and cold pressure water in the galley and head, plus a really good shower, Nicholson and his mate used a lot more water on Calypso than he did aboard that Spartan racing boat. In the tropics, you drink a lot of water: a gallon a day per person would not be unusual. A daily shower is also very nice in the tropics, whether you’re underway or at anchor. You’ll also want to wash off with fresh water after swimming. Nicholson related that he also washed dishes in hot, fresh water aboard Calypso.

While on board Calypso, Nicholson lived as close to normally as possible, keeping the boat and crew clean, healthy, and hydrated. For the sake of comparison, a typical two-person household ashore uses about 200 gallons per day, which makes Calypso’s 13 gallons per day seem absolutely parsimonious.

What’s a realistic amount of water use on a serious cruising sailboat? Figure on three to six gallons per person, per day. Anything less than that is closer to camping out than living in comfort. Obviously, the crew of a 30-foot minimalist cruiser with small water tanks is going to have to be a lot more frugal with water than those aboard a luxurious 40-footer with a lot of water capacity.

Measuring Output If you’ve decided that a watermaker really is for you, the first question to ask is simple: how large a watermaker do I need?

Watermaker manufacturers typically use two standards to measure fresh water output: gallons per day, and gallons per hour. The gallons-per-day rating is ludicrous, as very few watermakers would survive very long running 24 hours per day. Likewise, if you had to live with the noise of a watermaker for more than a couple of hours per day, you’d probably toss the machine over the side.

The gallons-per-hour rating is more important. Remember, however, that there will be about five minutes worth of water discarded every time you start up the machine before the water quality reaches an acceptable standard. Likewise, if you flush the watermaker with fresh water every time you use it—unnecessary if the watermaker is used daily, but never a bad idea—you will waste a gallon or so of fresh water each time that operation is performed. To minimize start-up and shut-down waste, it is best to make water in one multi-hour whack, if you’re making water on a daily basis.

Running Time The decision then becomes how long you want to run the machine daily. This is a matter of personal taste, tolerance for noise, and the vessel’s capacity for electrical power. We would recommend that you buy a watermaker whose rated hourly output allows making all the water your crew will use daily in no more than two hours of operation, with allowance for startup discard water and fresh water flush at shutdown. As an example, a crew of two, using 10 gallons daily and wanting to run the watermaker for no more than two hours per day, should buy a machine with a nominal output of at least six gallons per hour. Note that actual system output will vary with water temperature and salinity, system voltage, and the age and characteristics of the individual membrane.

Noise All watermakers require running a pump. Even the quietest of these pumps is similar in noise to the sound of a medium-sized pump for pressurized water. If the watermaker is isolated from the living spaces, the noise may not be significant. If it is mounted under a cabin settee or quarterberth, you will be quite aware that the watermaker is running. Sailboats, unfortunately, tend to resonate like a drum, with both structure-borne and airborne noise. Cruising powerboats generally have better sound insulation in machinery spaces than sailboats, since the noise of the engine is ever-present when underway. However, if you run the watermaker while the main engine is running to charge batteries, the additional noise of the watermaker will pretty much be lost in the clutter of the main engine noise.

Water Quality Every watermaker is capable of producing decent potable water. Potable water is typically defined as having total dissolved solids (TDS) of less than 1,000 parts per million. Most water produced by watermakers will have a TDS of 300 to 500 ppm. Once again, the salinity of the source water will have an impact on the final water quality. In the open ocean, said Nicholson, Calypso’s water TDS was typically 400 to 425. In the high salinity of the Red Sea, that increased to 450 to 475.

It is imperative that you have a simple hand-held water tester—about $40 at most supply outlets—to monitor water quality on a regular basis. In fact, Nicholson said that he customarily checked water quality five minutes after startup, and just before shutdown, every time he made water. Regular testing of water will enable you to monitor the health of the membrane, and is a good check on system performance.

Power Source There are basically three choices for powering the watermaker on a sailboat: AC electric power, DC electric power, and direct drive from the main engine. If you have a separate generator, AC power is a rational solution, but that usually means a boat over 40′ to justify the space, weight, and cost of a generator.

Driving the high-pressure pump from the boat’s main engine is a good way to maximize output, but it may require a fairly complex installation involving custom brackets, custom pulleys, and modifications to the engine box. Since it is not unusual for a cruising boat to already have one or two big alternators plus a refrigeration compressor belted off the engine, there may not be enough space in the engine box—or enough room on the engine—to add an engine-driven watermaker pump. In addition, the main engine may have to be run within a narrow RPM band to properly drive the high-pressure pump on the watermaker, so this is not the system for everyone.

For the typical cruising sailboat under 45′, that leaves DC power—the ship’s main battery bank—to run the watermaker. Fortunately, that’s a very good option. There’s a nice variety of 12 V and 24 V watermakers out there, from extraordinarily simple (but not cheap) to extraordinarily complex (but not cheap) models.

Maintenance Ironically, the more you use a watermaker, the less maintenance it requires. A watermaker that is used almost daily essentially requires no maintenance, other than occasional replacement of the pre-filter cartridge on the inlet side of the system. According to Nicholson, the longest period of time that Calypso’s watermaker was in commission was from January through August, or eight months. During that time, the boat covered, about 8,000 miles from Bonaire in the Caribbean to New Zealand, and made over 2,000 gallons of water.

Nicholson took on water at Balboa at the Pacific end of the Panama Canal, and at Raiatea in French Polynesia. “Otherwise, we made every drop of water consumed aboard during that period. We replaced a failing feedwater booster pump and a few pre-filter cartridges in that period.”

Current thinking is that it may be less harmful for a watermaker to be flushed with fresh water regularly during long-term storage than the traditional solution of “pickling” the membrane with a sodium bisulfite solution. However, on an unoccupied boat, that means that a fairly sophisticated electronic controller system must be employed to automatically run the flush system on a weekly basis. This also means, of course, that the boat’s battery system must be kept on all the time as well. This is all well and good if the boat is plugged into shore power or has a solar panel system to keep the batteries up when the boat is unoccupied. (Note that long-term storage of the watermaker in this fashion is not possible during periods where the temperature may drop below freezing.)

In any case, a watermaker that is not used regularly must either be pickled—which must be repeated about every six months if it remains unused—or flushed with fresh water every five days or so. While automatic back-flush systems make this less onerous, any electronically-controlled system carries with it the risk of component failure.

Unexpected Advantages Racing boats carry watermakers for an entirely different reason than cruising ones: to save weight. A gallon of fresh water weighs just over eight lbs. The 180 gallons of water that Nicholson carried aboard Calypso added almost 1,500 lbs. to her departure displacement. While this extra weight is not a major consideration for most cruising boats, it’s a big deal on modern racing boats, and will affect the performance of any boat.

The new Volvo 70s—some of the fastest monohull sailboats in the world—weigh about 30,000 lbs. The longest legs of the Volvo race will have the boats at sea for about four weeks, during which time the nine crew members on board each boat will consume a lot more than 180 gallons of water.

Instead of having big water tanks, each Volvo 70 carries at least one power watermaker with a rated output of no less than 20 liters per hour, plus two manually-operated watermakers. The 20-liter-per-hour output was chosen to permit the installation of low-voltage watermakers (Volvo 70s utilize 24-V DC systems) incorporating a single 20″ membrane. In fact, most Volvo 70s that PS has examined utilize watermakers with slightly higher output. Machinery installations are highly proprietary at this stage, and their proper functioning is critical to success. We will report on how these watermakers perform in a later issue as that event gets underway and progresses.

Energy Efficiency A DC watermaker’s energy efficiency is the measure of the amount of electricity consumed per unit of fresh water produced. This is a useful number, but its actual importance depends on the boat’s entire electrical energy management system. For a boat with limited battery and charging capacity, electrical efficiency may be a paramount concern. For a boat with a big battery bank, big alternator, and additional charging capacity in the form of solar panels and wind generator, electrical efficiency may be significantly less important.

Traditional watermakers use a simple single-piston or three-piston pump to generate the 800 lbs. or so of pressure required to push salt water through a semi-permeable membrane to make fresh water. Whether the pump is powered by an AC motor, DC motor, or by direct-coupling to the main engine or generator, it takes a fair amount of power to run the system.

Over the years, various patented pump designs have been developed to employ the pressurized waste brine [created by the reverse osmosis process] to reduce the energy required to operate the system. Originally, this idea was employed by PUR in the development of efficient manual desalinators such as the Survivor series for military use. Variations on the employment of waste energy are the principles underlying the Clark pump used by Spectra watermakers, and the EfficientSea system used in HRO’s Seafari Escape systems. The original Spectra was, indeed, a breakthrough in energy-efficient DC watermakers, and Spectra watermakers are still among the most energy-efficient systems available on an amp-hour-per-gallon basis.

Village Marine, maker of the Little Wonder, which was the first commercially-viable high-output DC watermaker, has significantly increased energy efficiency through the use of a different membrane configuration and a more efficient DC motor. Whereas the original Little Wonder had a nominal output of six gallons per hour while drawing about 16 amps, the newest configuration draws 13 amps while producing a little more than eight gallons per hour—roughly a 50% increase in electrical efficiency. We should point out that we can verify the output and energy consumption figures for the original Little Wonder, but are using the factory-supplied figures for the new version, which we have yet to test.

Just how important is energy efficiency? Let’s put this in perspective. Take two relatively efficient watermakers, one requiring 12 amp hours of 12V DC power to produce 10 gallons of water, and another requiring 17 amp hours to produce the same amount. That’s a difference of five amp hours of energy consumption per day. If you’re keeping your batteries charged with solar panels, that will be a significant number.

If, however, your primary charging source is a 100-amp alternator on the main engine, you’re talking about another three minutes or so of engine operation daily, which may be of less concern. This is particularly true if the main engine is also running an engine-driven refrigeration compressor at the same time the batteries are being charged and water is being made.

As a significant consumer of power, the watermaker must be part of the boat’s entire energy balance sheet, with battery size and charging sources playing a prominent role in the final configuration of the system, and thus any purchase decision.

Installation Installing a watermaker is not a decision to be taken lightly. First, you need to find a suitable location, and space is always in short supply on a sailboat. Fortunately, many DC watermakers come in both frame-mounted and modular configurations. The frame-mounted system secures all components to a pre-plumbed, pre-wired, drop-in chassis, making for a straightforward, neat installation. The modular configuration separates the bulky components, allowing you to fit them into more limited or irregular spaces. On the downside, with a modular system you may have to spend a fair amount of time fabricating mounting arrangements for the various components, as well as having more wiring and plumbing to complete. Although often more time-consuming to install, modular watermakers greatly outsell self-contained frame-mounted systems in the sailboat market.

You will need to install a dedicated inlet seacock, as well as a non-metallic through-hull fitting above the waterline for waste brine discharge. And you’ll need to build a manifold system that allows diversion of product water either overboard or into the boat’s water tanks. The manifold system must be readily accessible, and it should include the capability of diverting product water to an outlet at a sink for testing water quality.

Of course you will also need a dedicated high-capacity DC electrical circuit protected by a suitable circuit breaker, with heavy wiring to the watermaker’s motor.

Accessibility to all components for service is critical. You will be replacing pre-filter elements on a regular basis, and you may also need access for pickling the membrane if the unit is to be left in storage.

At the very least, we recommend monitoring product water flow and system pressure with simple analog gauges and flow meters, which may be remotely mounted on a control panel if the watermaker is installed in an out-of-the-way part of the boat.

Weight Except for lightweight multihulls or racing boats, the weight of a watermaker is not a consideration. The smallest, lightest DC watermaker—Katadyn’s PowerSurvivor 40E—weighs about 25 lbs. A typical high-output DC installation, including all plumbing and wiring, will weigh from about 75 to around 150 lbs. At the most, that’s equivalent to the weight of about 18 gallons of water.

Automation The biggest tendency in today’s watermakers is toward automation of the water production and maintenance processes. This level of convenience is a decidedly mixed blessing.

On startup, the automatic system monitors output water quality. When TDS drops to an acceptable level, the water is automatically diverted to the water tanks. At shutdown, some automatic systems back-flush the membrane with fresh water. The more sophisticated systems can then be programmed to automatically back-flush the system at regular intervals so that the membrane does not have to be chemically preserved, a sometimes messy and tedious process.

This, of course, all assumes that the electronics function properly, and that the boat’s batteries stay charged in storage so that periodic automatic flushing doesn’t run the batteries down.

These are, in our opinion, a lot of assumptions to make. Electronically controlled management systems fly in the face of the cruising sailor’s “keep it simple, stupid” philosophy, and should only be employed by those to whom absolute ease of operation is the overriding concern. Just remember, it’s a long, long way across the ocean, and getting a new electronic control module shipped to a remote location—much less finding an installer —may not be a simple matter.

Generally, automatic control systems can be bypassed for manual operation in case of a failure. If you have an automatic system with manual backup, make sure you understand its operation before you set off cruising.

The typical electronic management system adds about $1,500 to $2,000 to the price of a manually-controlled watermaker. If you want convenience, you’re going to pay for it.

The Bottom Line For the world-cruising sailboat without a generator, a DC powered watermaker is a viable option. In light of the difficulty you can sometimes have in finding potable water in out-of-the-way places, a watermaker can make a big difference between cruising in comfort, and cruising as a borderline survival exercise.

Without a watermaker, you may spend a lot of your cruising time searching for sources of fresh water. In many parts of the world, the water that comes out of the tap isn’t suitable for drinking, and even the locals may collect rainwater or use bottled water for human consumption. With a reliable watermaker whose operation and maintenance you understand, the search for potable water can be largely a thing of the past.

However, watermakers are expensive. They’re among the most expensive pieces of equipment you can put on a boat, and they can be maintenance-intensive. A DC watermaker will set you back anywhere from $3,000 to over $8,000, just to buy the equipment. Professional installation can easily increase that by 50%. Having a watermaker is somewhat akin to acquiring a pet, albeit a useful one. Once you have it, you may enjoy its company, but you are also obliged to take care of it regularly.

Now let’s take a quick look at some of the most available DC watermakers on the market today. Note that most DC watermakers are available in 12 or 24-V models, reflecting the current tendency to higher DC voltage systems on boats. Although the models listed here are those of primary interest to the average sailboat owner, other higher-output models, including engine-driven and AC-powered models, may also be available from most manufacturers.

PS invites comments from readers who own any of these systems, particularly regarding power consumption, output, and reliability.

HRO Systems, Sea Recovery Horizon Reverse Osmosis and Sea Recovery share common ownership and a common manufacturing facility. Their DC watermakers are identical—only the labeling is different. Their energy-efficient DC models—named Ultra Whisper for Sea Recovery, and Seafari Escape for the HRO-labeled version—feature a stainless steel energy recovery type pump that is conceptually similar to the composite Clark pump used by Spectra. They are available in both modular and fully self-contained configurations.

The stainless steel pump housings, while robust, make these among the heaviest DC watermakers, with weights from 130 to 145 lbs. Full electronic management, including automatic fresh water flush for long-term storage, is an option for both brands right now, but will become standard this fall. A company spokesman also told us that there will be new models introduced this fall that will differentiate the two product lines. Higher-output 24-V DC versions of these watermakers are also available. Both companies also market a more conventional high-pressure DC-powered watermaker, but the efficient energy recovery system watermakers are the more interesting products.

HRO and Sea Recovery watermakers are sold through a traditional dealer system.

Katadyn’s Powersurvivors The Powersurvivors are the current versions of the original PUR products. They are compact, which means they’re useful for a variety of installations, but they also lack any monitoring instrumentation or adjustment. Essentially, these are the most basic DC watermakers around, as well as being among the lightest. The 40E has the distinction of being the only DC watermaker that is convertible for hand operation in the event of power failure. The various Powersurvivor models are widely available through retail outlets such as West Marine. We found the 40E online for $3,000.

SK Watermakers SK is a small company whose primary business is AC-powered watermakers. The DC 150 is available in frame-mounted and modular configurations. These are not energy-efficient watermakers, but they are rugged and nicely made. Since they are sold directly by the manufacturer, they are also the least expensive DC watermakers for their output on the market.

Spectra Watermakers By a slight margin that has decreased with the introduction of new or re-designed models by other manufacturers, Spectra watermakers are the most energy efficient available. These are semi-modular units requiring separate component installation. The MPC 3000 automatic controller offers automatic operation and maintenance, but at a price. The new Z-Brane system, another option on some models, is designed to permanently eliminate chemical cleaning and preservation, prolonging membrane life. Spectra watermakers are available from selected retail dealers and distributors. The new Cape Horn Xtreme has been chosen by several of the Volvo Ocean Race teams to supply water needs for a crew of nine on this 30,000-mile ocean race.

Village Marine Tec. The Village Marine Little Wonder was the original high-output DC watermaker. Still in production after more than a decade, the Little Wonder has undergone significant upgrades in both output and energy efficiency, and offers models with outputs of seven to 12.5 gallons per hour at 12-V DC. All Little Wonder watermakers are supplied complete with pre-filters, manual fresh water flush, and low-pressure boost pump (the latter adds about one amp to the total current consumption).

Both modular and frame-mounted configurations are available in most models, but modular systems outsell framed versions eight to one, since relatively few sailboats have room for the enclosed, self-contained models. Electronic control packages are available only for AC-powered models.

Village Marine sells through factory outlets around the country, and a few selected dealers.

Also With This Article “Value Guide: DC Watermakers”

Contacts • HRO Systems, 800/366-4476, www.hrosystems.com • Sea Recovery, 800/354-2000, www.searecovery.com • Katadyn North America, Inc., 800/755-6701, www.katadyn.com • SK Watermakers, 800/489-0852, www.skwatermakers.com • Spectra Watermakers, 415/526-2780, www.spectrawatermakers.com • Village Marine Tec., 800/421-4503, www.villagemarine.com

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Best Watermaker for Sailboat: Top Picks for Clean and Safe Water on Board

As a sailor, I understand the importance of having a reliable source of fresh water while at sea. One of the best ways to ensure a steady supply of fresh water is to invest in a watermaker for your sailboat. With so many options available on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs.

After conducting extensive research and considering various factors such as efficiency, size, and power consumption, I have compiled a list of the top watermakers for sailboats. Whether you’re a liveaboard sailor or you enjoy weekend cruises, there is a watermaker on this list that will suit your needs.

Types of Watermakers

When it comes to choosing a watermaker for your sailboat, there are several types to consider. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to understand the differences between them before making a decision.

Manual Watermakers

Manual watermakers are the most basic type of watermaker. They are operated by hand and require no electricity or other power source. These watermakers are typically the most affordable option, but they also require the most effort to operate. Manual watermakers are best suited for small boats or emergency situations where power is not available.

Electric Watermakers

Electric watermakers are the most common type of watermaker. They are powered by electricity and can produce a large amount of fresh water quickly and easily. Electric watermakers are available in both AC and DC models, making them a versatile option for sailboats. However, they do require a power source, which can be a limitation for some boats.

Handheld Watermakers

Handheld watermakers are a newer type of watermaker that are designed for portability and convenience. They are typically small and lightweight, making them easy to store and transport. Handheld watermakers are powered by hand or by a small battery, and can produce a limited amount of fresh water. They are best suited for day trips or emergency situations where a larger watermaker is not available. Each type of watermaker has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing a watermaker for your sailboat.

Factors to Consider

Water output.

When choosing a watermaker for your sailboat, the amount of water it can produce is an important factor to consider. You’ll want to make sure the watermaker can produce enough water to meet your needs without being too large or too expensive. Consider factors such as the size of your boat, the number of people on board, and the length of your trips when determining your freshwater needs.

Power Consumption

The power consumption of a watermaker is another important factor to consider. You’ll want to choose a watermaker that is energy efficient and won’t drain your boat’s battery. Look for models that boast about a reduction in power consumption, especially when compared to other models.

Ease of Use

You’ll want to choose a watermaker that is easy to use and operate. Consider factors such as the size and weight of the unit, the ease of installation, and the simplicity of the control panel. Look for models that are user-friendly and don’t require a lot of technical knowledge to operate.

Maintenance

Maintenance is an important consideration when choosing a watermaker for your sailboat. Look for models that are easy to maintain and don’t require a lot of upkeep. Consider factors such as the frequency of filter changes, the ease of replacing parts, and the availability of replacement parts.

Price is always a consideration when choosing a watermaker for your sailboat. Look for models that are within your budget but still meet your freshwater needs. Consider factors such as the initial cost of the unit, the cost of replacement parts, and the cost of maintenance when determining the overall cost of the watermaker.

Top Watermakers for Sailboats

As a sailor, I understand the importance of having a reliable watermaker on board. After researching and comparing various models, I have compiled a list of the top watermakers for sailboats.

The Ultra Whisper by Sea Recovery is a top-of-the-line watermaker that can run on either DC or AC power. It is designed for limited electrical options and is super quiet, making it ideal for sailboats. It can produce up to 600 gallons per day and has a compact design, making it easy to install on board.

The AMPAC USA SeaPro Saltwater Desalination RO Watermaker is a great option for small power boats or sailboats. It is designed for automatic operation and is super quiet. It can produce up to 100 gallons per day and has intuitive controls that make it easy to start and stop the desalination process with the push of a button.

The Rainman Naked 12V Watermaker is a compact and efficient option for producing fresh water on board. It is easy to set up and use, and can produce up to 30 liters of fresh water per hour for a smaller unit or up to 140 liters per hour for a larger one. It is also lightweight and can be easily transported.

The Schenker Smart 30 Watermaker is designed for sailboats and is a great option for those who want a reliable and efficient watermaker on board. It is compact, lightweight, and produces up to 30 liters of fresh water per hour. It is also energy efficient and can run on both AC and DC power.

The Spectra Ventura 150 Watermaker is a high-capacity watermaker that can produce up to 6.3 gallons per hour. It is designed for sailboats and is energy efficient, making it ideal for long trips. It also has a compact design and can be easily installed on board.

In my research for the best watermaker for sailboats, I came across several options that vary in size, efficiency, and price.

The Ventura 150 watermaker is a highly efficient option that can produce over 6 gallons of water an hour, making it perfect for small vessels. It also features a controller that allows you to operate and monitor the device remotely, which is a convenient feature for those who want to keep an eye on their water production.

The Rainman naked 12V watermaker is another great option for anyone looking for a compact, efficient way to produce fresh water. It is simple to set up and use, and it produces up to 30 liters of fresh water per hour for a smaller unit, or up to 140 liters per hour for a larger one. This watermaker is a good choice for those who want a reliable and easy-to-use option.

The AMPAC USA SeaPro Saltwater Desalination RO Watermaker is a powerful option that is designed for use on small power boats or sailboats. It can produce up to 100 gallons of fresh water per day, which is a significant amount for a small vessel. The automatic operation features intuitive controls that let you start and stop the desalination process with the push of a button, making it easy to use.

Overall, the best watermaker for your sailboat will depend on your specific needs and preferences. It is important to consider factors such as size, efficiency, and price when making your decision. I hope this article has provided you with valuable information that will help you make an informed decision when choosing a watermaker for your sailboat.

Saiful Emon is the founder and editor of Sun Sea Skis , a sailing blog for adventure seekers. He loves sailing, traveling, and sharing his experiences with others. He also writes about fitness, wellness, business, and marketing in his spare time!

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5 Best Watermakers for Sailboats

Last Updated by Daniel Wade, October 1, 2021

With the right Watermaker, the ocean becomes an almost immeasurable supply of fresh and clean drinking water to keep you hydrated during your offshore sailing adventures.

Many sailors do spend a lot of their time and money on various parts of the sailboat including the sails, engine, electronics, and generators especially when preparing for long-distance voyages.

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with this, they often overlook one crucial part of general human survival: having an ample supply of fresh drinking water.

Whether you have freshwater drinking tanks on your sailboat or planning to cruise in areas where you can easily access clean drinking water, the hassle involved in having to come to the dock to fill the water tanks can be quite overwhelming.

This is exactly why you need to find the best watermakers for sailboats.

Like many other nautical technologies, watermakers have significantly advanced in the last few decades to become very efficient and more reliable. They're no longer a luxury on your sailboat but a necessity. Better still, watermakers have become relatively affordable and are meant to keep you hydrated as you explore areas that do not have clean and fresh drinking water.

In this article, we'll take a look at how watermaker systems work, highlight their benefits, and highlight the best sailboat watermakers on the market right now. At the end of this read, you should be able to choose the best watermaker for your sailboat.

Benefits of Having a Watermaker on Your Sailboat

The freedom and security that come with having full water tanks on your sailboat are of immense importance, especially if you're cruising in an area where fresh drinking water is hard to come by and quite expensive when you do. As such, having a watermaker aboard your sailboat is no longer a luxury like it used to be in the past. With a steady supply of fresh and clean water, your life on the sailboat will be a lot better. This is because you'll have enough clean water to drink, cook, wash, and shower, which is beneficial if you want to enjoy your sailing adventures.

Honestly speaking, many sailors do not actually need a watermaker. Well, if you're planning to sail just near the shores, then there's a chance that you can easily access fresh and clean water by the dock. But this can be limiting if you've been dreaming of going off the grid and sailing to some exotic and unknown places in the world.

With that in mind, a watermaker makes a lot of sense to most sailors. You won't have to worry about having to carry aboard gallons of freshwater for cooking and drinking during your voyage. You won't have to treat freshwater as a precious commodity that must last until you can refill at the next port. With a watermaker, you can simply go ocean crossing without worrying about running out of water.

A watermaker allows you to have a steady supply of fresh and clean water to keep everybody well-hydrated and healthy. You can clean the water anytime you feel like and all you have to do is replace the filter once in a while and you'll be good to go. In essence, a watermaker is probably one of the most important equipment to have aboard your sailboat, so installing it is of great importance if you're a serious sailor.

The Basics of Modern Marine Watermakers

Modern marine watermakers essentially follow the principle of reverse-osmosis to produce pure, drinking water from seawater. During this process and through very high pressure, seawater is forced through a semipermeable membrane that only allows freshwater molecules to pass through it but not salt, bacteria, or any other organic material. The newly made pure, drinking water is then piped to the sailboat's water tanks while the leftover (brine) is discharged overboard.

Even though marine watermakers may differ in the type of pump that's employed and how it is driven, this is one of the most important features in every watermaker. In most cases, water can be electrically pumped or powered directly off the boat's engine. If you have an AC generator or alternator on your boat, it would make much sense to use the AC output to drive the watermaker directly. You can also choose the DC-powered models if you rely on renewable energy from solar or wind. Alternatively, you can still go for AC-powered watermakers but you'll have to buy an inverter.

All in all, DC-powered watermakers are more efficient since they integrate a power-saving energy recovery system (ERS). You must, however, keep in mind that your energy consumption levels might be quite high if you're sailing in colder and saltier areas. This is because the water purification process might be a bit slower in such areas. As such, you should consider investing in a more high-powered watermaker system if you will be sailing in colder and saltier areas than if you're planning to sail more in warm and less salty areas.

As far as an engine-driven watermaker is concerned, you should mount the high-pressure pump on the engine so that it can be belt-driven using an automatic clutch. An engine-driven watermaker should be your first option if you want large quantities of fresh drinking water. This is more productive than AC or DC-powered watermakers. Even with a relatively small engine, this setup has an automatic regulator that constantly pumps the water. With that in mind, engine-driven watermakers are ideal if you want to reduce your energy consumption. To put it into perspective, an engine-driven watermaker can lower energy consumption by an enormous 80%, especially when compared with conventional AC or DC-powered watermaker systems.

How to Choose the Best Watermaker for Your Sailboat

There are many factors to consider when looking for the best watermakers for your sailboat. Here are the most important things to consider.

Your Freshwater Needs

One of the most important things to consider before spending your money on a watermaker is your freshwater needs. What quantity would be enough to keep you going on your sailing adventure? While the quantity might differ from one sailor to the other or from one boat to the other, you should consider the number of gallons that a particular watermaker can produce per day. This will help you in choosing the ideal watermaker; a model that will ensure that you never run out of water. Do not underestimate your water needs, especially if you're planning to sail with your children or if you're planning to stay on the boat for an extended period of time.

Do you have enough space on your vessel to accommodate the type of watermaker you're looking to buy? While most watermakers are designed to fit in the smallest of space, you should consider the actual size of the watermaker and find out whether you have enough space on your vessel to fix it.

Watermakers can run on electricity, renewable energy such as wind and solar (if you have them on your vessel), or both. When looking for the perfect watermaker, you should consider how to power it and whether or not the watermaker has low-energy consumption, which is definitely a great feature. Again, there are also engine-driven watermakers, so it's important to know exactly what you're going for.

Maintenance

Watermakers have a reputation for being difficult to maintain. Fortunately, the equipment and components have improved in the last few years so you should go for a model that's easy to maintain. You should use the watermaker in water bodies that look good, You should avoid using the watermaker in dirty harbors as you may have to change the filters every so often or even damage your watermaker altogether.

Best Watermakers for Sailboats

Let's take a look at the best watermakers available on the market right now.

The Ultra Whisper

Engineered by limited electrical options that can run on either DC or AC, THE Ultra Whisper by Sea Recovery is one of the best watermakers currently available on the market. In addition to being very quiet, this watermaker features an automatic operation that requires very minimal operator adjustment.

This watermaker is ideal for small powerboats and sailboats since it can serve as an efficient water supply. This model boasts about a 75% reduction in power consumption, especially when compared to other models.

‍Smooth and quiet water production

Can produce up to 2,280 liters per day

Ideal for small boats

It is energy efficient

‍It might not be perfect for large boats

Echotec Watermaker

If you want a watermaker model that can produce 60 liters per hour flawlessly and with no maintenance apart from changing the filters, look no further than the Echotec Watermaker. This model is designed for ultra-reliable performance and easy customer installation.

This watermaker is made from high-quality components that can withstand the continuous harsh marine environment, making it one of the most durable watermakers on the market. This is essentially a series of modular watermakers ranging from 12-volt to 24-volt DC-powered models. They bring forth energy efficiency, a computerized energy recovery system, and ultimate reliability to ensure that you never run out of fresh drinking water while out there on the sea.

‍Energy efficient

Cost-effective

‍Comes with a very low speed

Not ideal for large boats

Spectra Katadyn PowerSurvivor

As a compact and energy-efficient watermaker, the Spectra Katadyn PowerSurvivor is arguably the most affordable watermaker currently available on the market. We are talking about a model that only requires 4 amps to desalinate water for your sailboat. It can produce 1.5 gallons of fresh drinking water per hour, which is an excellent return for a watermaker of its size.

It is also one of the most portable watermakers around. You can choose to either install it permanently or temporarily in case you want to take it somewhere else. This portability is also essential if you're looking for a space-saving model that can fit in the smallest of compartments. Its simple but rugged design is essential in ensuring that it can perform at its best even in harsh marine conditions. In terms of its power capabilities, this is the only model on the market that will convert to a hand-operated system or manual power if there's a power shortage.

‍Portable and lightweight

Rugged design to withstand harsh marine environments

Efficient and reliable

Can revert to manual power if there's a power shortage

Perfect for off-grid sailing

‍Gasoline or diesel can easily damage the semi-permeable membrane

Village Marine - Little Wonder Series

Whether you're looking for a watermaker for your small sailboat or looking for a watermaker that can efficiently serve those huge yachts, the Village Marine Little Wonder Series provides everything. This model is meant for experienced sailors who are looking for various capacity options. This watermaker weighs just about 69 pounds but can produce nearly 180 gallons of fresh drinking water each day.

Designed with a low RPM high-pressure pump, this model remains one of the most efficient and economical watermakers on the market. That's not all; this watermaker is designed with corrosion-resistant features and is one of the most serviceable watermakers in the game. It is reliable, quiet, and portable; all factors that make a watermaker great.

‍Easy to operate

Corrosion-resistant

Easy to maintain

Quiet and versatile

‍It doesn't have automatic adjustment controls

Ventura 150 Watermaker

This is one of the most versatile watermakers on the market. It can use both electricity and renewable energy. This model is engineered to be lightweight and energy-efficient and its compact and modular design makes it a great option if you're looking for a watermaker that's easy to use and install in confined spaces.

The Ventura 150 watermaker is highly efficient as it can produce over 6 gallons of water an hour, which makes it quite perfect for small vessels. This sailboat watermaker features a controller that allows you to operate and monitor the device remotely. It also has the auto store button that will automatically flash the system after every five days.

This watermaker is quiet and surprisingly compact despite its ability to produce about 150 gallons of water per day. It also gives you the option of going for the automated manual or manual model.

‍Very versatile

Can use both electricity and renewable energy power

It is smooth and quiet

It is compact and lightweight

‍The manual model has analog controls

To this end, it's easy to see that having an ideal watermaker aboard your vessel is one of the first crucial steps towards being self-sufficient and sustainable. With a watermaker, you'll be able to access fresh drinking water at all times when sailing even in far-flung places. Most of these models are well-constructed and incorporate some of the best technologies that make them efficient, reliable, and easy to install, use, and maintain.

So when it comes to choosing the best watermaker for your sailboat, it may all come down to what is ideal for you in terms of energy consumption, efficiency, the quantity of water produced, among many other things. With an ideal watermaker, you can remain off the grid for as long as you want without ever worrying about running out of water and this is of great importance in enjoying your sailing adventures.

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Ultra Whisper watermaker

For boats with limited electrical options on board, Sea Recovery developed a series of watermakers called Ultra Whisper. The Ultra Whisper can be connected to a 12VDC or 24VDC power supply. Advantages of this watermaker are the quiet operation and simple control and operation. The filtration process of the Ultra Whisper is also based on reverse osmosis process .

• Quiet water production
•  Available in 12VDC and 24VDC
•  Water production: 768 to 2,280 litres per day
•  Ideal for small leisure boats

Up to 75% less power consumption

Sea Recovery replaced the high pressure pump in the Ultra Whisper with the Energy Transfer Device. This patented design allows water production through a two valve flow system, which delivers a smooth, constant, fault-free and automatic operation. The Energy Transfer Device, together with other efficient functions of the Ultra Whisper, reduces the power consumption up to 75%.

Sea Recovery Ultra Whisper price

The sales consultants of Theunissen Technical Trading BV (TTTBV) are very willing to consult you in your search for the optimel Sea Recovery watermaker. Based on the size and utilization of your yacht or ship and your specific demands, we can propose a fit for purpose watermaker. The Sea Recovery Ultra Whisper price will always be dependent on choices made with regard to pre- and post-filtartion, the need for options and the needed volume of fresh water per hour or day. In order to get your best price for a Sea Recovery Ultra Whisper watermaker, we encourage you to contact us for an inquiry. During the lifetime onboard, TTTBV is able to perform service and maintenance on board. Also spare parts and consumables are available, mostly directly from stock.

Consumables Ultra Whisper

Spare parts Ultra Whisper

For additional information please contact our Sea Recovery consultant:

Marcel Vink

[email protected]

+31 (0)24-3667473

Marine and portable watermakers

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Innovative watermakers since 1998.

Established in 1998 Schenker is a leading manufacturer of high quality watermakers based on an energy recovery system . Our company owns 4 patents for unique small scale energy efficient solutions.

Schenker Benefits

Why choose us.

80% less power consumption

Energy consumption can be reduced up to 80% compared to conventional systems.

Maximum space saving

An ultra thin design is ideal for space restrictions and provides easy access for maintenance.

Battery power supply

Our watermakers are powered directly from batteries without the need of a generator, our products, marine watermakers.

Schenker watermakers are simple, quiet, compact, efficient and fully automatic. A Schenker watermaker will allow you – whether you own a yacht, a sail boat or any vessel – to extend your cruising duration and increase your independency from marinas, thus enjoying more time at sea. Schenker’s three-years warranty is backed up by our international network of sales and service representatives.

Wiki RANGE: GAL/H 7.9"> RANGE: 30 LIT/H

Portable marine watermaker

Zen RANGE: GAL/H 7.9-13.2-26.4-39.6-53-79"> RANGE: 30-50-100-200-300 LIT/H

Quiet, small, efficient, inexpensive

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Rainman Watermaker Review: Best Sailboat Watermaker

Rainman watermaker review – Rainman naked 12V system (economy)

We’ve done a full review of the Rainman watermaker to help you make an informed decision before you purchase.

What is a watermaker, and why do you need one?

A watermaker is a piece of equipment you can install in your boat, or any off-grid situation, to make crystal-clear drinking water from undrinkable, salty sea water and electricity.

A lot of people want a sailboat so they can travel independently and visit remote locations. A watermaker essentially removes your reliance on shore support for fresh water; drastically increasing your range and independence while making life on board a lot more comfortable to boot.

Watermakers can seem complicated at first, but they’re actually remarkably easy to install and operate – although some more than others!

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn from other affiliate programs. This means we may receive a small commission on products purchased through our links at no extra cost to you.

In this article we’re going to explain why we decided to buy watermaker in the first place; how we went about choosing a make and model; how we installed it in our cruising sailboat, and why we ultimately decided on a Rainman watermaker as the best watermaker for full-time liveaboards on a sailboat.

How does a watermaker work?

How to choose the best sailboat watermaker

Rainman watermaker review

• Power options
• Size and quantity
• Portable or permanent
• Documentation review
• Installation

How does a Rainman watermaker work?

There are a lot of different watermakers to choose between, but they mostly work in a very similar way – they’re basically pressure-washers configured to force salt water through a very fine filter at high pressure.

The filter, or “membrane”, is specially designed to remove all of the things you don’t want in your drinking water – like bacteria, viruses and salt – and only allow clean water to pass. You can drink the resulting water (it’s usually cleaner than tap water on land!), and naturally you can also use it for all your other domestic needs like cooking and cleaning.

The watermaker needs two things to work: a raw water source, like the sea, and a power source, which on a sailboat is typically your batteries and solar panels. You can get watermakers that run directly off the 12VDC / 24VDC your batteries provide, or from your inverter at 120VAC or 240VAC depending on where you are in the world.

You can also run a watermaker from a generator if you have one, which is a popular approach for boats that consume a lot of water (e.g. charters). A select few manufacturers, Rainman being one of them, even offer units that run directly off petrol – a sort of generator-and-watermaker in one. But which is the best watermaker for a cruising sailboat, and how can you choose between them?

Like anything in sailing, the absolute best sailboat watermaker for your boat depends on your needs and intended cruising pattern – but we’re going to talk you through the criteria we decided were the most important, and how that process ultimately led us to buy a Rainman watermaker.

There are a few thought-exercises we ran through before committing, such as “how much water do we currently use”, but also “do we want to use more than that after we install the watermaker”?

We thought about what we really wanted to achieve by installing our Rainman (read more on this in the Rainman watermaker review section!) – were we looking to cover our existing needs and remove our reliance on shore support, or should this represent a significant quality-of-life upgrade at the same time? And having calculated all that, did we have enough power to back it up? Here’s the thought process we went through.

Step 1: calculate your water needs

Before our Rainman watermaker review – how much water do you actually need?

If you’re reading this article, it’s likely that you don’t currently have a watermaker… and if you don’t, it’s equally likely that you have learnt how to eke out the water in your tanks for weeks or even months at a time!

Prior to installing our Rainman, Emily had perfected the art of taking a full shower in less than one litre of water (0.2 gallons). She would draw it into an empty bottle and often come out with water left over! I however am not known for my restraint and delicacy, and as such was relegated to washing in the sea. As a result of her aqueous austerity, Emily also became the underwater ceramics technician onboard Hot Chocolate (i.e. she does all our washing up, because I waste too much water). All of the above came from our tanks, while water for drinking and cooking came from shop-bought bottles.

And for us, that was the #1 thing – we wanted to remove our reliance on bottled water, because it’s horrible for the environment. It’s also super inconvenient – water was the main thing limiting our range and tying us to shore support. Water weighs 1KG per litre (8.3lb / gallon for our friends across the pond). We drink about 3L each, per day, in the heat of the summer; so we’re looking at hauling 42KG of water per week (6.6 stone) from the supermarket just to cover our basic hydration.

We often cooked in bottled water, too, because a lot of countries have heavy metals like lead and mercury in the tap water and you don’t really want your pasta with a side of poison. We calculated that we were actually getting through about 8L per day combined in food and drink alone, which meant hauling 56KG of bottled water a week under the blistering Greek sun (nearly 9 stone)… and no doubt further inflating our water requirements as a result!!

Then there’s the cost of the bottled water, which is small but does add up, and the added inconvenience of having to make regular bin runs to deal with all that plastic (~38 bottles a week). Bear in mind we’re just two people – if you have a family or regular guests, you’ll need to increase those accordingly.

A close second was the ability to shower whenever we wanted (run away to sea, they said… it’ll be romantic, they said…) – so that’s an extra litre every day or two for Emily, and an extra 10 or 20 for me! Truth be told I was quite happy washing in the sea, but it’s very nice to be able to shower in fresh water for special occasions, or be able to rinse equipment in fresh water after it’s been in the sea (e.g. knives, spearguns…).

A stretch-goal was to have enough water on tap (pun intended!) for me to become assistant-second-in-command underwater ceramics technician, and take my fair share of the washing up. We also quite liked the idea of being able to soak lines, clean the salt out of deck hardware, etc. because that’s something we typically only get to do at the start and end of the season, but that was very much viewed as a bonus. Washing the salt off your gear extends its life dramatically which can be a good way to offset the cost of a watermaker if you’re on a budget.

So in summary, we didn’t just want to cover our existing needs – we wanted a little more to play with as well – but we didn’t go as far as treating it like water on land (showers every day, washing clothes, etc). If you have a washing machine, heads that flush with fresh water, teenagers that seem to be waging war on their microbiomes with endless soapy showers… you’ll need to account for those as well.

We estimated our water needs to be:

Drinking: 3L / person / day;

Cooking: 0.5L / person / day;

Personal hygiene: 5L / person / day (e.g. a 10L shower every other day);

General needs, e.g. cleaning: 1.5L / person / day;

Total: approx. 10L / 2.2 gallons per person, per day – meaning 20L total per day.

Step 2: Calculate your power needs (and how you’re going to meet them)

Some brands of watermakers are more efficient than others, but from our own experience and from talking to others, it seems like it takes around 10 Watt-hours to make a litre of water – i.e. about 0.8 Amp-hours from a 12 volt battery. Your mileage will vary based on things like the chemistry of your battery bank, the length of your cable runs, and even the temperature of the sea, but that seems to be a pretty usable yardstick.

Our Rainman watermaker draws about 28A when it’s running, and makes about 34 litres per hour.

Because we’re full-time liveaboards, and working remotely from the boat as well, we already have quite a lot of solar – for a monohull, at least – 360 Watts of mono panels. In theory they should push a good 30 Amps into the batteries in full sun, but in practice it peaks at more like 20A and we make a total of 2.2kWh (2200Wh) in an average day.

We need to make 20L of water per day to keep up; that means we need to allocate 200 Watt-hours from the 2200 we make in a day; i.e., installing our Rainman increased our overall power needs by about 10%.

For comparison, Emily’s laptop draws about 90W an hour and mine draws 120W, so running our Rainman watermaker for an hour a day is about the same as running both our laptops for the same period. A 12V fridge often draws about 3 amps, so about 36W – meaning keeping the fridge running consumes ~850Wh per day, about 4 times more than our watermaker.

Honestly, I imagined it would take a lot more!

Of course, our solar output drops drastically as the Autumn / Fall rolls in, but then so do our water needs… so it’ll be interesting to see how that pans out and whether we’ll need to augment it with fossils fuels, e.g. making water after motoring.

⚡ Note: We have recently upgraded our battery setup to lithium marine batteries from the wonderful BattleBorn. We highly recommend them. You can find out more here . ⚡

See the FAQs at the end for more information.

Step 3: Your cruising pattern

Everyone’s needs are different, and it’s important to factor them in when choosing a watermaker.

One of the main reasons we were drawn to Rainman watermakers is that they use all off-the-shelf, standardised parts. If your Rainman breaks down, it almost doesn’t matter where in the world you are – you’ll likely be able to get standardised spares in the nearest major city. We won’t name any names, but in our quest to identify the best watermaker for our sailboat we discovered that a lot of manufacturers use proprietary parts – ones you can only get from the manufacturer.

We considered this to be extremely undesirable, because

(i) as a cruising sailboat, we want to be able to service our watermaker anywhere in the world

(ii) it can lead to price-gouging, i.e. they can charge whatever they want for spares because you can’t get them anywhere else; and

(iii) – it demonstrates an astonishing lack of awareness on the part of the manufacturer.

Your mileage may vary, but we bought a watermaker for the independence. In fact, we more or less bought the whole boat for independence! Trading a reliance on bottled water for a reliance on obscure, single-source, non-standard parts completely defeats the object.

I have worked in technology all of my life, and for every instance where proprietary parts were truly necessary I could show you 20 more where it was simply an attempt to create a “walled garden” and force you to buy overpriced spares from the manufacturer themselves. In a further handful of cases, it’s to force planned obsolescence and make you throw away an old unit rather than repairing it – which again, is the opposite of how we try to live.

In a non-watermaker example, this is exactly the reason we were forced to replace our windlass in our first season. A simple, $5 helical gear stripped, but because it was proprietary and the manufacturer had long since gone bust, we had no option but to replace it in its entirety – at a cost of about $1500, and all the needless waste accompanying it. We found a machine shop who could copy the stripped gear, but it would have cost nearly $1000 anyway after set-up costs. Not everyone will agree with us but we found that a horrible waste and just an awful design philosophy, and we cursed that manufacturer in a way that would make Blackbeard blush as we hauled up 80M of muddy chain by hand…!

So try to think about your intended cruising patterns and how awkward it would be if you needed spares. If you typically cruise the same grounds, it’s unlikely to affect you that much. If you’re planning an expedition or a circumnavigation however, you’re likely to want to look for manufacturers with a practical design philosophy like Rainman.

Ask around in forums and social media groups and try to gauge what it’s like to deal with the manufacturer. How self-serviceable are the units? How reliable are they? Again, this is something that led us straight to Rainman watermakers. The units have a reputation for being absolutely bulletproof; the pre-sale communication was outstanding, you can get spares anywhere in the world and (nerd alert) the documentation is outstanding too.

Although we eventually went for a fully-installed unit, we also loved the fact you could get a portable version that stows away in a locker or can even been taken in a bail-out situation if you have a 12V source to run it from. You can use the same Rainman watermaker in salt water or brackish (mixed salt and fresh) just by adjusting the pressure level, where some manufacturers require you to purchase a specific unit for each. While we didn’t actually need a lot of these features we appreciated that Rainman was grounded in real-world use cases and had given us that flexibility.

You should also consider if you really need a watermaker. Yes, they are wonderful. Yes, they are basically magic. Yes, it would be nice to be able to stand downwind of your significant other without a peg on your nose. But they also cost about $5,000, and you do have to keep using them every 2-3 days or fill them with pickling solution, else they will foul up and ruin the membranes (Rainman has an “autoflush” unit that makes this a lot easier, see below). If you don’t live aboard full time, you might actually find it an inconvenience!

Rainman Watermaker Review: Rainman 12V Naked

Having considered all of this, let’s talk about the Rainman Naked 12V unit we eventually bought, and why – although the reasons should already be becoming apparent! Here is our honest Rainman watermaker review – warts and all.

Rainman Watermaker Review – The Parts

A Rainman system comes in a few separate parts, which you can configure to suit your needs.  

The pressure supply unit, aka. PSU. This is the pump that draws water from the sea, and then pressurises it ready to be forced through the membrane.

The RO unit. RO stands for reverse osmosis, which is the process a watermaker uses to filter the water. The RO unit therefore is a long tube containing the specialist filters that let it separate clean drinking water from salty sea water. The PSU pressurises sea water and sends it into the RO unit. Out of the other end, you get a small amount of pure, clean, drinking water, and the waste product – brine.

Control panel. Rainman make an optional control panel that lets you start and control the unit remotely from somewhere else in the boat. We installed our Rainmain in a pretty awkward location (in a lazarette under the cockpit), so we were very grateful to be able to mount the control panel somewhere rather more accessible! The control panel has instruments that tell you the pressure the system is operating at, how much water you’re making, and even the quality of the water (via a traffic-light system). You can also use it to control the autoflush function (see below).

Autoflush. Another optional extra, but one we would highly recommend. As detailed earlier in the article, you have to run a watermaker very regularly else marine life will grow on the filters and ruin them. The best antidote is regular, even daily, use, but you can also fill the unit with “pickling” solution that stops the fouling from growing. Generally speaking, that means you run the watermaker 2 – 3 times a week while living aboard, and then pickle it in the off-season when the boat is on the hard standing or home berth. It’s a bit of a pain, but not nearly as annoying as lugging 50KG of water from the nearest supermarket and / or chronic dehydration.

Enter the autoflush. Once a week, or at another interval of your choosing, the autoflush will open a valve and take fresh water from your tanks to flush the membrane and prevent fouling. This extends the life of the membranes significantly and removes human error from the equation. Considering an average sailboat has north of 10,000 moving parts to worry about, we’re big fans of anything that essentially maintains itself! You’ll still need to pickle if you don’t run the unit for 30 days, but if you’re like us and can stretch a tank of water to 14 days or more it’s really convenient.

Rainman Watermaker Review – Your Power Options

When specifying a Rainman system, you have three basic choices to make :

• Power source
• Portable (cased) or permanently installed (naked!)

Power source. When buying a Rainman, you can choose between three different power sources:

• AC electric . An AC electric unit runs off mains power, i.e. 120VAC or 240VAC depending on where you are in the world. That mains power in turn can come from a few sources: if you have an inverter, like many cruising sailboats, you’re already making mains power from the 12VDC / 24VDC supplied by your battery bank. You’ll need an inverter that can supply 1250W, although 1500W is recommended. You can also get mains power from the shore, via your shore power connector – although if you spend a lot of time on shore power you might not need a watermaker at all! If you have a generator on board, there’s a high probability your generator is also outputting mains power as well. AC electric units are much faster than DC, and can produce about 4X as much water per hour – while consuming about 3X the power, so they’re more efficient as well. The best option for boats that meet the power requirements, particularly larger boats, boats with power to spare, boats with high water consumption (e.g. charters).
• DC electric . This is the option we chose, for reasons we’ll explain. DC electric means the unit runs directly off your 12VDC batteries. At the time of writing, I don’t believe Rainman make a 24VDC unit, but 24VDC boats can just use the AC version above via an inverter.

The DC version makes a lot less water per hour than the AC version, because of nerdy reasons related to DC and current. A DC system tops out at 34 litres per hour, where an AC can make up to 140. They’re also somewhat less efficient, although if you’re using an inverter to make AC you should bear in mind your inverter is typically wasting 10 – 20% in the process so the numbers aren’t quite as clear-cut as they seem.

It’s marginally quieter than the AC system, but you need to be able to position it fairly close to your battery bank because again, nerdy reasons to do with DC.

We chose the DC unit because:

• Our inverter is only 1200W, and we didn’t want to have to upgrade it to meet the requirement.
• Our generator is also only 1000W, and we prefer not to use it unless we have to.
• Our water needs are only ~20L a day, so we didn’t really care about making water slowly. One hour a day would easily cover out needs.
• We could easily install the Rainman 3ft from the battery bank, so the cable run wasn’t an issue.
• Petrol. Rainman also make a unit that runs directly off dead dinosaurs. Essentially, it’s a suitcase generator like the popular Honda EU-series with a pressure supply unit bolted on (the genset inside is actually a Honda GXH50 4 stroke). It’s a great idea, particularly if you’re using a Rainman in a non-boat scenario (bugout cabin, disaster relief, etc). You can burn fossil fuels directly to make water without the need for a separate generator. I can definitely see the applications, and although it wasn’t relevant for us, it’s another example of how Rainman’s design philosophy seems firmly grounded in the real world. If you liked the sound of the control panel or the autoflush unit, bear in mind you can’t use them with a petrol unit. Rainman says the unit burns about 600ml of petrol per hour, which at today’s gas prices is about EUR 0.70 per hour, or one Euro of fuel for 200L of water.

Rainman Watermaker Review – Size and Quantity Options

Once you’ve decided on a power source, you can then choose the size and quantity of RO membranes to go with it:

• The AC and petrol units can both take two full-size membranes for maximum output – and you’re encouraged to go down that route, because the increase in water output far outstrips the increase in power consumption. Alternatively, you can fit one full-size membrane if you’re really on a budget, or there’s a cute compact unit with two half-size membranes if you’re seriously short on space and/or weight! For 90+% of boats the first option is the best and there isn’t much reason to consider the others. With two full-size membranes you can expect to make 100 – 140 litres of water per hour. With a single membrane, or the two half-size units, you’ll make 50 – 70.
• The DC unit only supports a single full-size membrane – there are no other options. You’ll also make less water than an AC or petrol unit using the same membrane – about 30 litres per hour. If you’re a family, or you have high water needs for some other reason, you’ll likely want to try to get up to an AC unit with two membranes as you’ll make up to 5X as much water per hour. For us, that wasn’t really relevant – it was the difference between making water for 20-30 minutes a day, or an hour. It didn’t seem worth upgrading our inverter or buying a larger genset.

Rainman Watermaker Review – Portable or Permanently Installed

And finally, decide whether you prefer a portable (cased) or permanently-installed (naked!) system:

• If you want petrol, it only comes in the portable, cased form factor. Note that you can’t use the control panel or the autoflush with portable form factors.
• AC or DC electric units can either be portable or permanently installed. The same caveats apply regarding the autoflush and control panel. The cased form-factors come in a rugged, blue plastic case that seems like it will stand up to a lot of abuse.

Portable systems are good if you simply don’t have space to permanently install the unit, and they offer the flexibility of being able to stow your Rainman in a locker when not in use. The PSU needs to stay quite cool while in use, and operating the unit in the open air is a pretty solid guarantee that it will. They’re also great if you don’t have a spare through-hull and you don’t fancy cutting a hole in your boat – you just dangle the hose over the side, making sure it’s good and deep but not amongst any fouling. However, you add a lot of man-hours to your watermaking operation (setting up, packing down, manually flushing…), which should definitely be factored in. You can’t autoflush, and you’re more likely to make a mistake – sucking up air or fouling can damage the unit, and the more times you manually dangle a hose over the side the greater your chances of doing so.

On Hot Chocolate, we already had two perfect, spare through-hulls from where the engine-driven fridge compressor used to be. One of them is deep down in the keel, allowing for a clean bite of water with near-zero chance of fouling or air bubbles. We can make water while underway without needing to watch the hose. The latter was perfectly positioned above the waterline so we can observe the brine output and check it for bubbles (part of the procedure for making water). This made choosing a naked system a no-brainer for us, but I think even if we didn’t have the spare holes in the boat we would probably have made the same decision.

And that’s it – that’s your three basic choices . If you went for a naked system you have a further two optional extras in the form of the control panel and autoflush, both of which represent pretty significant quality-of-life upgrades if you can afford them – but it’s still a fantastic piece of kit if you can’t!

Rainman watermaker review of the installation documentation

I know we’ve already mentioned this, but the documentation is really excellent and it’s clear there has been a lot of thought put into the product. It’s evident Rainman expect people to self-install, whereas when we spoke to one of their competitors (who we won’t name!) they stated “if you need to ask us any questions you shouldn’t be installing it”! Again, this shows a level of pragmatism, forward thinking and just common sense on Rainman’s part that we sometimes found lacking in competitors.

If you’re a manufacturer reading this, please understand that cruising yachts absolutely are going to install and maintain their own electronics, and we’ll desert you in droves if you try to lock us out!

Reviewing the Rainman watermaker installation process

We were pleasantly surprised to find that the unit came with almost everything we needed to install it. We were expecting to supply our own hoses, sundries, etc. but Rainman supplies everything you need – hoses, jubilee clips, hose splitters, T-valves… while we were installing it our local chandlery told us a horror story about a boat who had been waiting eight weeks for a replacement hose for their non-Rainman watermaker, so we greatly appreciated the completeness of the kit! I believe the only items we had to add was a splitter to tee the fresh water output into our tank, because we have the flexible plastic variety and the supplied fittings assumed a conventional solid tank. We happened to have one on board, so our additional material overheads were exactly $0.

Installation was really very straightforward. End-to-end it took me two days to install and test the unit, plus an extra day to get the autoflush set up.

We had a tiny teething problem in that one of the hoses was supplied with an adaptor, and we needed to remove it to screw it in correctly. We raised a ticket with Rainman, they replied in about 2 hours, and had already followed up to see if we were sorted by the time we read their first email!

Only basic hand tools were required to complete the installation, and in fact most of the connections are toolless (e.g. push-fit connectors). We’re now about three weeks into our ownership, and so far, I can honestly say we don’t have a bad word to say about either the company or the unit itself. Our intention is to update this in 6 – 12 months once we’ve had our Rainman for a season and let you know how it shapes up!

Our Rainman arrived from Australia to Greece in a little under 3 weeks, although Greek customs took a further 3 weeks to clear! We ended up having to pay a total of EUR 1100 in VAT and import duties, which was about what we expected. We’ve heard of people not getting charged anything, so it seems to be a bit of a lottery. The biggest hurdle we faced importing it was getting an EORI number (a Greek tax code for imports worth more than EUR 1000). We ended up using our boatyard’s EORI number, meaning they paid customs and we paid them back.

If you have any questions about Rainman or watermakers in general, feel free to use the comments section below and we’ll do our best to help. We’ve also tried to compile some answers to the questions we had when we started this journey and some of the most common ones you see online ( find this section below ). If this review was useful to you, please consider sharing it or joining our newsletter for more quality content and awful puns!

Check out Rainman products here.

Can I run a watermaker off an alternator?

Yes, you can use the power from your alternator while motoring to run your watermaker. Just be aware that if you’re underway, you might be creating bubbles… and if you suck up a bubble it can damage your membranes. Make sure the intake hose is good and deep and your wake is free of bubbles, or just bank the power and make water when you get to the other end.

Can you drink water from a watermaker? Is it good / bad for you?

Absolutely. When your watermaker is functioning correctly it should make water with around 300PPM (parts per million) of contaminants. Safe drinking water is usually 500 – 800, so in most cases, it’s actually cleaner than the water you usually drink!

How to take care of a sailboat watermaker

The number one enemy of watermakers is fouling. When you suck up sea water, it contains billions of microorganisms like plants and algae. Your watermaker filters them out, but some of them get caught in the membrane and can start to grow. The best way to take care of a watermaker is to run it very regularly to flush the microorganisms out before they get a chance to take hold. Run your watermaker every 2 – 3 days minimum, pickle it when not in use, and strongly consider getting a system with an autoflush function like a Rainman – it will make your life a lot easier.

How much water does a Rainman watermaker produce?

It varies, but between 30 litres an hour for a smaller unit or up to 140 litres an hour for a larger unit.

How much electricity does a sailboat watermaker need?

It depends on the size of the watermaker, but basic units consume around 400W, and bigger units around 1.2kW.

Can I run a watermaker off solar power? Do I need a generator if I have a watermaker?

Absolutely, you can run a watermaker off solar power. We have a 400W unit that we run from our 360W panels, via our 12V battery bank. We rarely need to generate in order to make water.

12V vs mains-powered watermakers

Mains-powered watermakers are generally more efficient, producing more water both per Watt and per hour. However, you need a fairly large inverter or generator to use a mains-powered unit. We opted for a 12V system because we didn’t need the speed of a mains-powered system, and we didn’t want to have to upgrade our inverter to accommodate one. You can find more information about why we chose a DC system in the body of this review.

Can you use a watermaker to make water from a river?

Some watermakers can make water from brackish water as well as salt. Some manufacturers require you to specify at the point of purchase, whereas others (like the Rainman) can handle it with a simple pressure adjustment. Just be sure to read and follow the manual carefully or you can damage your membrane.

Solar still vs boat watermaker?

A solar still is a device that makes clean water by evaporating sea water. It’s a great piece of kit to have in a grab-bag, particularly if you’re attempting a longer passage. You can get inflatable solar stills that fold down to the size of a pack of cards. Solar stills are excellent emergency gear but not a replacement for a watermaker, because they typically only make 1-2 litres per 24 hours – vs 2,000+ litres per 24 hours for a watermaker. Their principal advantages are portability and the fact they don’t need any electricity to operate. Both have a home on an ocean-going sailboat!

DIY watermakers

A number of plans circulate online for DIY watermakers. Watermakers are essentially pressure washers that force sea water through a membrane or filter to produce clean drinking water. It’s reportedly possible to build your own using off-the-shelf components (like pressure washers!), and save perhaps $1000 vs buying a pre-configured watermaker. While we’ve heard a lot about the concept over the years, we’re yet to meet a sailor who has built one themselves. Let us know in the comments if you’ve built one and how it’s working out for you!

Watermakers VS Brita filters, filter jugs, lifestraw, etc.

What’s the difference between a water filter jug and a watermaker, and why does one cost $10 while the other costs ~$5000?

Filter jugs use filtration and something called “ion exchange”, meaning the water trickles through a pad made of something like cotton to remove large particles, and activated charcoal or ion exchange resin which reacts with and “grabs” semi-volatile organic compounds out of the water. Sometimes they also use silver, which is antimicrobial, or UV light to kill out bugs. Filter jugs typically can’t remove heavy metals like lead and mercury, and they certainly can’t desalinate water (remove the salt and make it safe to drink). For that level of filtration you need to pressurise the water and use a much more sophisticated filter called a “reverse osmosis” membrane, hence the cost and complexity of a watermaker. The closest cheap equivalent is a solar still (see above).

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13 comments.

Thanks for the detailed review and analysis of the various pros and cons. I plan to get a Rainman for my boat – also in Greece and am weighing up the options. Good practical advice about the autoflush option! Also, I notice you didn’t buy it from the Greek distributor – is there a reason?

Hello, thanks for the comment, and glad it was useful. We have to admit that out of all the upgrades we’ve made to the boat, this is the one that has run the smoothest – the whole process. We’re very, very happy! The reason we didn’t buy from Greece was as simple as price. Adam actually emailed Rainman with a whole bunch of questions (he likes to do his research!) and they cut us a very good deal that made it cheaper to buy from them. It was marginal though so if we hadn’t been out of the water all winter and had been in a rush to get our hands on it we would have bought from Greece. Hope that helps!

This is the best watermaker review I’ve read, haha! I was going to buy Spectra but now I’m seriously considering Rainman.

Thanks! Honestly would recommend it. Let us know which you go for and how you get on!

A very comprehensive and informative review, I’ve been researching these products for some time and can find very little to help me make a decision, can you also let me know how long you’ve had yours and if this has been reliable? I really want to make the right decision when I get one.

Hello, thanks for the comment. Glad we could help! We’ve had ours for a year now and it’s one of those bits of boat equipment that we just don’t think about because it works so seamlessly. Probably the best thing we’ve invested in for the boat (it was expensive but worth every penny!) Let us know if you go for the Rainman and how you get on.

Will do. I follow your blog closely, I’m a big fan of your lifestyle and your honest writing style.

what a great article, I love how honest and balanced this is. 5 stars

Thanks Rachel, really glad you found this useful and hope you do go for a Rainman watermaker. It’s one of the best purchases we’ve made for the boat!

So, you don’t g the specifications for the 12 volt model, what is the AMP versus gallon output ?.

was sent this article by a friend and it did not dissapoint. very thorough and clear explanation. can you review spectra next? ty

Thanks for your feedback and so pleased you found the watermaker review useful. If we ever go a different route in the future we will definitely give some honest feedback on whatever watermaker we opt for!

Comments are closed.

• 12 Volt DIY Watermaker ZERO 50 l/h
• 12/24 Volt Watermakers (60-80-100 l/h)
• 230 Volt (0,75 kW) Watermakers 60-80-100 l/h
• 230 Volt (1,1 kW) Watermakers 75-120 l/h
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• 230 Volt (2,2 kW) Watermakers 180-300 l/h
• DC and AC Motors
• Feed Water Pumps
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• €  0.00 0

12 Volt Marine Watermaker for Sailboat 50 l/h DIY Kit

€  3259.00 – €  4447.00 + 20% VAT (if due)

excl. VAT plus Shipping Costs

Great value for money sailboat watermaker supplied as a DIY Watermaker Kit . In the Blue Gold ZERO series Watermakers you will find only the essential components of a well-functioning reverse osmosis desalination plant.

The required power is very low, only 450 Watt (less than 40 Amperes) and you can produce freshwater without the need of a generator or a big alternator on the engine of the boat.

The Blue Gold ZERO Watermaker is intended for use by recreational yachts, small leisure boats and sailboats where purchase and maintenance of the desalination plant on board need to be economical. Around this simple, inexpensive and very reliable watermaker for nautical use, you can install additional components according to the specific needs of the boat.

Delivery time: 10 working days

• Description
• Additional information

DIY 12V water maker kit – 12 Volt watermaker desalinator

In the Blue Gold ZERO series Watermakers you will find only the essential components of a well-functioning reverse osmosis desalination system.

The required power is very low, only 450 Watt (less than 40 Amperes at 13 Volt) and you can produce freshwater without the need of a generator or a big alternator on the engine of the boat.

The Blue Gold ZERO Water maker is intended for use by recreational yachts, small leisure boats and sailboats where purchase and maintenance of the desalination plant on board need to be economical. Around this simple, less expensive and very reliable marine watermaker, you can install additional components according to the specific needs of the boat.

This small watermaker for sailboat unit is built to last and comes with 1x 2540 or 2x 2521 high rejection and high productivity seawater membranes. A new vessel rack made in composite, strong and very lightweight, is supplied as standard.

Its modular design allows an easy handling of the components even in the narrow spaces of a boat .

This sail boat water maker is equipped with the UDOR  PSC (AISI 316L head) or the UDOR PNC (Brass head) high pressure pump. The use of an oversized pump, combined with the use of a timing-belt and pulley drive system, reduces the speed of the pump and makes this machine very quiet (only 70 db at one meter distance) and vibration-free. In addition, the life of the mechanical components and valves is greatly increased.

An appropriate feed pump, is supplied as standard for carrying the seawater to the high pressure pump.

Installing a desalinator for seawater onboard significantly increases the level of comfort of your boating life.

So, even if you are looking just for a portable water maker or portable desalination kit for your boat, Blue Gold small marine water maker ZERO 12V 50 l/h is an alternative option worth considering.

Of all the water makers for sailboats available on the market, the Blue Gold ZERO sailboat watermaker stands out as very good value for money – excellent 12V watermaker price!

NOTE: ‘All in One’ touch screen water maker control panel is not included in this DIY Watermaker Kit Blue Gold ZERO.

NEW on our Blog: Learn why traditional boat watermakers with the high pressure water pump (like our Blue Gold Watermakers) win over Energy Recovery System water makers .

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