clareb 1 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 We're slowly gearing the boat up to head to the islands in 2018 and not sure if a watermaker is really needed. On the one hand they give a level of security and automony. On the other hand they're another thing that could break, they use a bit of power, and they're a pretty big expense. We could certainly use the money elsewhere. Anyone had experience with/without a watermaker while in the islands for a cruising season? We're thinking Tonga and Fiji and no clue as to whether water to easy and cheap to come by. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 No, you don’t NEED one. We don’t have one, but we do hold about 1000 ltrs of water. Getting water has never been an issue, in the pacific, SE Asia, wherever. People need water, and we have always been able to get good water for very little. I think the most we ever paid was $10, for about 800ltrs, and that was carried out to the boat in 19ltr (5US Gal) filtered water containers, AND lifted onto the boat for us (I poured it in!). Mostly if has been from town supplies, from a tap and hose though. A water make is a nice to have, but also the 2nd most problematic thing on a cruising boat, next to refrigeration! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zozza 293 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 No, you don’t NEED one. We don’t have one, but we do hold about 1000 ltrs of water. Getting water has never been an issue, in the pacific, SE Asia, wherever. People need water, and we have always been able to get good water for very little. I think the most we ever paid was $10, for about 800ltrs, and that was carried out to the boat in 19ltr (5US Gal) filtered water containers, AND lifted onto the boat for us (I poured it in!). Mostly if has been from town supplies, from a tap and hose though. A water make is a nice to have, but also the 2nd most problematic thing on a cruising boat, next to refrigeration! IT, in the Islands and Asia, did you have to "treat" the water before you drank it? Edit: I read your post again and see you had filtered water containers. So, no need for an additive as well to make doubly sure the water had no nasties? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
marinheiro 352 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I suggest it comes down to what your wáter capacity is and how long you are prepared to be between fill ups. Consumption wise when coastal cruising 200-250l/week including washing dishes in fresh wáter and brief showers is generous for a couple and maybe small children. If your crew includes teenage daughters then the biggest watermaker you can fit will still not be enough. I like having a watermaker to feed the ultimate cruising luxury - a washing machine! Agree with IT they are a maintenance headache, maybe worse than refrigeration You also need to consider how to power it, if you are condemned to engine driven refirgeration and have the space then an engine drive unit makes sense. Otherwise better to go DC but be aware even with the energy saving watermakers the power draw can be quite significant, meaning additional batteries and solar/wind generation, or otherwise you could be back to running the engine to charge the batteries 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Nope, we never felt we needed to treat the water we got. We did chlorinate, just to be on the safe side, including shock dose every now and then, and we have a chlorine removing water filter at the sink for drinking. Two of us can do about 6 weeks on a tank - more if it rains, we catch rainwater. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DrWatson 375 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I like having a watermaker to feed the ultimate cruising luxury - a washing machine! MH, what and how did you fit it? This is a crucial "winner" to ensure happy crew, and I'm willing to go to quite great lengths to ensure its existence. I've found that even a normal smartdrive will run 2 loads easily from 24v 200Ah through inverter. Of course a top leader's not really the ticket on a boat, but a smaller front loader. Any specialist marine versions? Also, anyone collect rain water while cruising? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Yep, we collect rainwater. Bimini has gutters and hose connections, and we have a larger rain catcher for use at anchor. Record is 700 ltrs in 5 hours.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B00B00 310 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Good topic, and a question we have been asking as well. With our planned trip from Europe to NZ we will (hopefully) have a watermaker. I dont want to be chasing water sources around the world.... Most of the boats we are looking at already have them installed. Most likely we will need to replace the membrane but thats a pretty small cost in the grand sceme of things and substantially cheaper than buying and installing a watermaker. Our prirority is watermaker and solar power, I think thats probably really all we need. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tuffyluffy 76 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Yep, we collect rainwater. Bimini has gutters and hose connections, and we have a larger rain catcher for use at anchor. Record is 700 ltrs in 5 hours.... I've also seen canvas gutters made that catch all the rain off your mainsail while sailing. Basically a long rectangle of canvas that domes onto the boom and main that collects the water and sends it down a pipe to your tanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Just for everyone's info - we never had to chase down a water supply - it was always easy to get. Good quality, filtered water, or a proper chlorinated town supply. The more complex you make a boat, the more issues it has. I've fixed quite a few water makers.... even though I don't have one!! It is nice though to have, being able to hose the boat etc like at home is great. It is not essential, but a luxury though, IMO. If I had one, it would most likely be an open ocean, engine driven unit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I've also seen canvas gutters made that catch all the rain off your mainsail while sailing. Basically a long rectangle of canvas that domes onto the boom and main that collects the water and sends it down a pipe to your tanks. If you have a stack pack - this can usually be made into a water catcher for use while sailing - in the manner above. Works pretty well. With our catchment system, I think we only bought water 5 or 6 times in 3 years - that makes a water maker damn expensive - say $1 a litre!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
raz88 96 Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 I've only been through the islands on a boat with a watermaker, but we were certainly glad we had it. Places like the tuamotus in French Polynesia availability of water for cruising boats wasn't great, so to not have to worry about it was gold. IT is right about the stack pack. Mine does a great job of collecting rain and then tries to get you wet each time you come to pull the main up after it's been raining. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkside 61 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I wouldn't bother for the Pacific. We had a 12v Shenker but only because we were living on board for five years and yes we had a washing machine. It isn't in anyway necessary and they break down a lot. I would also go engine driven next time or better yet 230v. That way you can have the whole thing somewhere nice to work on it because you will have to. We did supply water to a couple of other yachts that had run out but that was in the Red Sea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clareb 1 Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 Thanks, really appreciate the advice and looks like we have just saved $10K and a possible maintenance headache - at least until we go further afield. From the sounds of it we can see how we go for a season in the Pacific. We don't have a washing machine or space to put one and we're going to try and set up some rain catchment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John B 106 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 We just fitted one for our winter cruise, local design , young guy with a good idea. Low RPM DC pump, its a nice bit of kit , no idea how reliable it is except for others endorsements but it has a few people smarter than me very interested. Although we've been really tight on water for a few decades I just don't want to have to budget the stuff and I hate docking up my boat as well as the usual concerns about giardia etc. Even locally we keep out of the Fitzroy/ Opua /Assassination cove bunfight,One big launch filling up and its all over. The buoy at Whangaroa was the best but that got ripped up by some eejeet a couple of years ago( its up and running I hear, haven't been there for a while.) So we're doing it , let you know how it goes in a year or two. In the meantime.. want a shower? knock yerself out. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clareb 1 Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 Nope, we never felt we needed to treat the water we got. We did chlorinate, just to be on the safe side, including shock dose every now and then, and we have a chlorine removing water filter at the sink for drinking. Two of us can do about 6 weeks on a tank - more if it rains, we catch rainwater. Is the filter built into the tap? We don't have one at present but can see we should get one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
clareb 1 Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 We just fitted one for our winter cruise, local design , young guy with a good idea. So we're doing it , let you know how it goes in a year or two. Yes, keen to hear! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southernman 73 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 If you have kids and not a lot of storage you will need one. Totally depends on how you live on a boat. The problem I have with them is that when you have one you simply use more water then the water maker does not keep up. On our last Catamaran we had a 30 litre/hour one. We found the biggest part of living aboard we changed was the morning and night showers. Just so nice to rinse off in the tropics all that salt water etc. Current boat has a 30 litre/hour one and very tight water storage of 300 litres so it's needed. New boat we are building has 2 x 30 litre /hour ones, one for each hull. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkside 61 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Pictures of the project Southernman? Sounds like it has the correct number of hulls which is a great start. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,235 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Is the filter built into the tap? We don't have one at present but can see we should get one. nope, standard under sink model - you can buy them at bunnings.... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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