The marine industry has seen a recent surge in interest for trawlers and long-range live-aboard boats and yachts. It’s understandable why perhaps right now more than ever, a long-range, off-grid, on-the-water lifestyle would be increasingly appealing. However it’s important to consider the most sustainable options when outfitting your boat for the long haul – and having an ample supply of freshwater is often overlooked. While most vessels in this category have built in freshwater tanks, they are often severely limited by the tank’s capacity.
Ventura 150c and 200c watermakers. Photo by Ventura and Katadyn Group.
Perhaps you are planning to stay close to docks, water lines, and shore power throughout your journey, but wouldn’t it be nice to have the added security of knowing you can make your own freshwater if necessary? Especially if you are interested in exploring areas that are a little more off the grid. Luckily, recent advancements in ever-evolving technology give you plenty of affordable options to outfit your boat with a watermaker that best suits your level of adventure. Here we’ll review the basics of how these systems work and take a look at some of the best products on the market right now.
The Basics of Marine Watermakers
Marine watermakers use the process of reverse osmosis to intake seawater and output clean, potable water suitable for any of your live-aboard needs. The newly made freshwater is then pumped into your vessel’s current water tank, while the leftover “brine” is thrown overboard. Most marine watermakers differ with regards to the method in which the water is pumped. Typically, the water can be either electrically driven (either AC or DC) or powered by your boat’s engine. Note that the colder and saltier the initial seawater is, the slower the purification process will be – so you hardy nor’east sailors may need to invest in a more high-powered system than those of us trawling down in the Carribean. Watermakers also come in all shapes and sizes, with modular options best suited for smaller boats, as the parts can be “stashed” in whatever precious extra cargo space is available.
Best Marine Watermakers
Let’s take a look at a roundup of some of the best boat watermakers on the market right now for your vessel.
The Ultra Whisper
The Ultra Whisper by Sea Recovery is best for small boats and sailboats, this super low power machine is specifically engineered for boaters with limited electrical options and can run on either AC or DC power, boasting a 75% reduction in power consumption over other models. It’s also very quiet (hence its name)so it won’t compete with your epic sound system, and operation is completely automatic with it’s simple start and stop controls. Sea Recovery also has another line with a wide variety of size and capacity options called Aqua Whisper – including a miniature version that measures only a mere 2-3 cubic feet, perfect for your day tripper vessel.
Village Marine – Little Wonder series
Village Marine also has a great line of watermakers targeted especially for trawlers and small sailboats, some with very impressive capacity, as well as considerable options for the mega-est of the mega yachts. The Little Wonder series weighs only 69 pounds yet has the ability to manufacture up to 180 gallons of freshwater per day. It also has a low RPM high pressure pump which is both economical and efficient, with the convenient modular design so you can store it in separate compartments if necessary – no “wonder” it’s so popular, right? We actually had the pleasure of adding one of these to our 38 foot family yacht on a journey down the ICW for the winter and it made such a difference for us because we had 5 people aboard and a limited freshwater supply. The installation was quick and painless, much to the relief of my father. Also, as it was peak tourist season over the holidays, there were definitely some times when it was difficult to find (or too expensive to stomach) an open slip for the night, and having the Little Wonder aboard enabled us to anchor where we pleased without having to worry.
Village Marine – LW Watermaker Series
Village Marine also has something for the big dogs – the LW Watermaker Series can accommodate boats up to 100 feet in length. A practical and reliable source for long fishing voyages or ocean charters, this feat of engineering can provide you with absolute water independence. Would you believe this series possess the capability to produce up to 1800 gallons of freshwater per day? It has a manual operating system that is both durable and fail safe, and also has a modular design which still gives you some flexibility in terms of installation options. This line is perfect for that person we know that always seems to be island hopping in Greece on their 96 foot super yacht yet never seems to invite us.
Spectra Katadyn PowerSurvivor
Titan of the industry Spectra Watermakers has a variety of great options ranging from a small hand powered pump, to commercial grade hi tech gear. The Katadyn PowerSurvivor 40E/12 V is one of the smallest marine watermakers out there. It runs on a mere 4 amps at 12 volts DC, and is the only machine of its kind that can revert to manual power if necessary – making this one a great model to have aboard in case of emergencies. The PowerSurvivor pumps 1.5 gallons an hour, weighs in at only 25 pounds, and with it’s space saving design, can fit in even the tiniest of compartments.
Ventura 150 Watermaker
The Ventura 150 is one of the most versatile and popular watermakers on the market. Not only is it rigged for low power consumption, but it can also run on solar or wind power if you have the capability on your vessel. Like it’s name, this system can deliver up to 150 gallons of purified water per day, and possesses analog controls with an instrument panel containing a feed water pressure gauge and a product flow meter. This watermaker runs quiet, and is surprisingly compact and modular given it’s capacity. There’s also the Ventura 200T, which is the same size and configuration as the Ventura 150, but uses a higher displacement Clark Pump to produce more water, allowing it to operate in warm waters above 50F (wimps).
Conclusion
With all of the recent trends in boating leaning toward self sufficiency and sustainability, it’s easy to see why adding a marine watermaker is an intelligent investment for your vessel. Modern advancements in technology and modular parts have made these systems easy to install and incorporate into any on board setup – it’s all about deciding what is right for you and your particular boat. Consider how much time you spend on your live-aboard, where you spend your time, and where you wish you spent more time. Working to create a completely independent boat system will ultimately give you more freedom. Additionally, when coupled with solar panels or power, you have the ability to not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also to remain off the grid indefinitely – no longer having to rely on shore power or water. Imagine the possibilities.
Written by:
Related
Matching the right generator to your boat’s needs is one of the biggest decisions a yacht owner can...
