cod
Active Member
I am considering installing a Water Maker and started my preliminary research. Many choices and different set-ups but here is what I have so far. Looking for input.
General reason for a Water Maker:
We hold 140 gallons. I would guess we use 35-40 gals./day (typically wife and I) without trying to conserve water. Typically, we can go about 4 days. Certainly we could stretch that but never needed to as we normally don't stay on the hook more than 4 days at a time and then hit a marina. However, now that we made a couple of trips to the Bahamas and plan to continue to discover different islands, there are many islands that are remote without any marinas or facilities. The water maker would be a nice option to have. Even if you are at the dock in the Bahamas, the cost of water can be as much as $0.60/gallon.
Sizing of Water Maker
There are many options available and I would say the minimum size is about 8 Gal/hr. or 192 Gallons /day. Now that sounds like it would be enough but you have to consider if I have guests or my kids on board, we will use much more water. I would also like being able to pretty much use the water as if I'm at the dock, washing her down as needed. From what I've read, there is a noise associated with the pumps running. There is a primer pump and a high pressure pump. Naturally, different mfg's. will have different pumps at different noise levels. Something to look into.....But in conclusion and speaking with other people, I think I would want to be able to produce a minimum of 30 gals./hr. I also understand there isn't much cost difference if you are at the 30 gal./hr. and then increase to approx. 40 gals/hr.
Type of Water Maker
Water makers come as a complete unit or modular. I have a great spot for a complete unit to be installed under my swim platform inside the engine room. There is a big empty shelf. The hydraulic pump for my davit is located here on one side and the other side is empty. The problem with this is solution is I don't like the access to it. I prefer to go modular and locate the different components throughout the engine room and cockpit for ease of use and maintenance. I have a compartment in the cockpit that I only use to store cleaning products. I would like to place the control panel in this compartment, similar to the opposite side being used for the generator guages and fuel tank selector panel. I still need to find a convenient spot to locate the filters for ease of changing.
Features/Options
These systems require fresh water flushing/pickeling. I believe it can be manual or automatic. My first thought is to go with automatic. Worth it? Maybe someone with personal experience can offer an opinion on this. I also want some type of digital display for operation.
Manufacturers
There are more than several manufacturers including: Sea Maker, Horizon Reverse Osmosis (HRO), Cruise RO, Sea Clear, Water Makers Inc., Spectra Watermakers and Sea Recovery. Probably others too. Right now I like the Spectra and the Sea Recovery products. They seem to have a nice product and I like the control panels. I now have to compare cost and actual features of each.
If anyone has installed a water maker, I would love to know what mfg./model, if you a happy with it, what you would do different, glad you installed it or is it more maintenance than its worth (think I know the answer to that) Thanks for any advice
General reason for a Water Maker:
We hold 140 gallons. I would guess we use 35-40 gals./day (typically wife and I) without trying to conserve water. Typically, we can go about 4 days. Certainly we could stretch that but never needed to as we normally don't stay on the hook more than 4 days at a time and then hit a marina. However, now that we made a couple of trips to the Bahamas and plan to continue to discover different islands, there are many islands that are remote without any marinas or facilities. The water maker would be a nice option to have. Even if you are at the dock in the Bahamas, the cost of water can be as much as $0.60/gallon.
Sizing of Water Maker
There are many options available and I would say the minimum size is about 8 Gal/hr. or 192 Gallons /day. Now that sounds like it would be enough but you have to consider if I have guests or my kids on board, we will use much more water. I would also like being able to pretty much use the water as if I'm at the dock, washing her down as needed. From what I've read, there is a noise associated with the pumps running. There is a primer pump and a high pressure pump. Naturally, different mfg's. will have different pumps at different noise levels. Something to look into.....But in conclusion and speaking with other people, I think I would want to be able to produce a minimum of 30 gals./hr. I also understand there isn't much cost difference if you are at the 30 gal./hr. and then increase to approx. 40 gals/hr.
Type of Water Maker
Water makers come as a complete unit or modular. I have a great spot for a complete unit to be installed under my swim platform inside the engine room. There is a big empty shelf. The hydraulic pump for my davit is located here on one side and the other side is empty. The problem with this is solution is I don't like the access to it. I prefer to go modular and locate the different components throughout the engine room and cockpit for ease of use and maintenance. I have a compartment in the cockpit that I only use to store cleaning products. I would like to place the control panel in this compartment, similar to the opposite side being used for the generator guages and fuel tank selector panel. I still need to find a convenient spot to locate the filters for ease of changing.
Features/Options
These systems require fresh water flushing/pickeling. I believe it can be manual or automatic. My first thought is to go with automatic. Worth it? Maybe someone with personal experience can offer an opinion on this. I also want some type of digital display for operation.
Manufacturers
There are more than several manufacturers including: Sea Maker, Horizon Reverse Osmosis (HRO), Cruise RO, Sea Clear, Water Makers Inc., Spectra Watermakers and Sea Recovery. Probably others too. Right now I like the Spectra and the Sea Recovery products. They seem to have a nice product and I like the control panels. I now have to compare cost and actual features of each.
If anyone has installed a water maker, I would love to know what mfg./model, if you a happy with it, what you would do different, glad you installed it or is it more maintenance than its worth (think I know the answer to that) Thanks for any advice
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