Choosing the Best Watermaker for Your Boat, Part 2

Watermakers aboard make the cruising life far more enjoyable, allowing frequentshowers, lots of safe drinking water and also water to knock the salt off the boat daily.

You’ll also avoid the troublesome “water hauls”, lugging heavy water jugs from safewater supplies ashore to the tender and then to the mother ship.

But choosing one that suits your boat, your crew and your expected cruising waterstakes a bit of study. We covered the basics you’ll want to consider in Part 1. Here in Part 2, we look at some of the best currently on the market.

Echotec makes belt-drive high-output water-makers that operate off the main engine as well as AC and DC models in a variety of sizes. Their economy DC line has models producing 13 to 32 gph (49 to 121 L). Ceramic pistons and stainless valves assure extended service life, and the company claims to build the quietest electric pumps on the market thanks to the engineered vibration dampers used in the mounts.

Their largest models can produce up to 14,000 gpd (53,000 lpd); https://echotecwatermakers.com.  

Horizon makes both compact or unitized water-makers and modular systems, allowing easy fitting to nearly any engine room or other below-decks space aboard. Sizes range from 19 gph (72 to 284 lph). They make systems for 115, 220 and 440-volt feed, producing 2.5 to 3 hp and consuming between 6 and 30 running amps—lower voltage systems use more amps.

Weight of their compact one-piece systems is 118 lb (53.5 kg). Prices range from $8,800 to $13,000; http://www.hrowatermakers.com.au. 

Katadyn makes a variety of water-makers for recreational and commercial boats of all sizes. Models range from the Ventura 150—putting out up to 150 gpd (568 lpd)--up to the Farallon 2800, putting out 2,800 gpd (10,600 lpd). 

Many models can be controlled remotely, and several of the small and mid-size units have low-power settings that allow them to be run at reduced capacity from house batteries or solar power. 

Katadyn also markets the Spectra brand, with prices from as low as $1,200 for a basic emergency watermaker to $6,995 for systems capable of supplying the needs of a large yacht; https://www.katadyngroup.com. 

Open Ocean Water-Makers, a New Zealand company, builds a variety of complete systems, including engine-driven units like the one shown here. 

Water-makers like this can produce up to 240 liters per hour (64 gph) with no battery drain, but they do require the main engine to be running to function. They also make 12 and 24 volt models that can be run off large solar arrays or house batteries only; https://www.openoceanwatermakers.co.nz 

Rainman was originator in 2014 of the first commercially successful gasoline-powered portable water-maker. The 2022 unit is powered by a 2.1 hp Honda four-stroke. It weighs 58 pounds (23 kg) and can lift water a max of 6’ (2 m). The required RO unit adds another 51 lb (23 kg) to the package.

The company also makes AC and DC powered portable water-makers, with the base models producing 13 gph (49 lph), the largest producing up to 37 gph 140 lph). The company says the units can be run off a generator as small as 2 kW, or from solar panels with adequate output; https://www.rainmanusa.com 

Schenker makes DC powered water-makers the company says use up to 80% less power than some, allowing them to be run off house batteries. 

This Italian company uses low-pressure pumps, which are reportedly quieter and lighter than many systems, and the Zen models are compact and self-contained for easy installation on smaller boats. Their largest models have a 500 lit/h (132 gph) capacity; https://schenkerwatermakers.com.  

Sea Water Pro is a Fort Lauderdale company producing both AC and DC, 12 and 24 volt water-makers which the company says are more dependable than some because they have no electronics that can corrode in salt air. 

The 110-220 volt water maker system can desalinate up to 40 gph (151 lph) drawing 990 watts of power in a dual membrane or 20 gph (78 lph) in a single membrane configuration. They also offer fully portable models that run off lithium batteries, and that can be recharged with solar panels. Prices range from $3,495 to $3,995; https://seawaterpro.com. 

 Parker’s Aqua-Matic line includes small water makers for day cruising all the way up to jumbos suitable for commercial ships. The Model 450 produces up to 450 gpd (1703 lpd) and features automatic operation with a touch screen control panel that allows simple touch-and-go operations.

Regulation and monitor systems function without the need of an operator. The Model 1800 produces 1800 gpd (6813 lpd) and reportedly operates 8000 hours between required maintenances; https://ph.parker.com.