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Watermaker installation places

  • April 21, 2013 6:34 PM
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    Reply # 1274193 on 1263501
    Deleted user
    Hey Tate,
    On our mutually followed blog site ( http://www.windtraveler.net ) they have discussed their water maker (RO Watermaker) in depth and seem quite happy with it.

    Last modified: April 23, 2013 6:30 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • April 21, 2013 11:07 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1274300 on 1263501
    Deleted user
    I knew a couple of cruisers who have the village tech 150 little wonder and were satisfied with them.  But when selecting a water maker take a good look at power consumption, unless it's not important to you, but to most cruisers it is.

    Here are some examples.

    Village tech 6gal@13 amps 2.2gal/amp hr.
    Spectra 150 6.3gal@9amps 1.4gal/amp hr.
    Spectra 200T 8.3gal@10amps 1.2gal/amp hr

    Our watermaker
    Spectra Catalina
    300 12.5gal@15amps 1.2gal/amp hr.

    When running a water maker the amp hrs add up fast.  If you don't mind running your motor or a generator for hours at anchor then it's not a problem.  We credit the Spectra as one of the major reasons we were able to NEVER run our motor to charge our batteries, rarely if ever be down more than 10% (450 amp hr bank), and fully charged almost ever day on 210 watts of solar panels and a wind gen although wind was usually to light. It's not that hard to set a boat up to be efficient with a little thought and doing some homework. Running motors can get to be expensive with fuel at 4$-$8 in most cruising areas not to mention wear and tear.

    Jim






  • April 22, 2013 9:01 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 1274878 on 1263501
    Anonymous
    Guys, 

    I really appreciate all the feedback and thoughts on which watermaker to get, what makes them efficient, how to operate them, and generally all the other nuances of the machines... 

    But...  What I'm really trying to understand isn't any of that.  Its just where to put it in a W32 that doesn't have a quarter berth.  

    ;)

    Thanks, 
    Tate
  • April 22, 2013 1:33 PM
    Quote
    Reply # 1275140 on 1263501
    Deleted user
    Tate,  In a 32' boat there are not many options for large pieces of equipment.  You're just going to have to fit a water maker to a cabinet or the cabinet to a water maker. I saw a boat similar to a Westsail in Mexico where he had the water maker on the upper settee and built and cabinet around it.  If we didn't have a quarter berth  I don't know where we'd put it.

    Jim
  • April 22, 2013 5:44 PM
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    Reply # 1275301 on 1263501
    Anonymous
    Tate, do you really need a watermaker? Seems like just one more expensive "thing" to worry about. Buy new sails and a feathering prop instead :)
  • April 22, 2013 7:23 PM
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    Reply # 1275348 on 1263501
    Deleted user
    Hey Tate, 
    What I was getting at in regards to my comment wasn't necessarily the brand of water maker, but where & how they had routed theirs. I realize that their boat is not a westsail but they did have some good ideas?? Depending on the make/model/size you could use the area (if you have it?) in the nav table in the aft compartment; close to the engine rm/batteries but not in  the engine rm, or modify the area in the bottom drawer of the nav table in combination with the wet locker??
    Rob
  • April 22, 2013 8:16 PM
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    Reply # 1275378 on 1275301
    Anonymous
    Gary Burton wrote:Tate, do you really need a watermaker? Seems like just one more expensive "thing" to worry about. Buy new sails and a feathering prop instead :)

    Its certainly not a need, but my wife doesn't ask for much and she wants a watermaker.  So if I can give her one within reason I'll do it.  She promises to always smell nice if I do. 
  • April 22, 2013 8:17 PM
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    Reply # 1275379 on 1275348
    Anonymous
    Rob Harmer & Sophia Granchinho wrote:Hey Tate, 
    What I was getting at in regards to my comment wasn't necessarily the brand of water maker, but where & how they had routed theirs. I realize that their boat is not a westsail but they did have some good ideas?? Depending on the make/model/size you could use the area (if you have it?) in the nav table in the aft compartment; close to the engine rm/batteries but not in  the engine rm, or modify the area in the bottom drawer of the nav table in combination with the wet locker??
    Rob

    Now that is a pretty interesting idea.  I was also considering seeing if I could fit it beneath the starboard settee, though that is really giving up some prime space.  
  • April 23, 2013 10:35 AM
    Quote
    Reply # 1275898 on 1275378
    Anonymous
    Tate McDaniel wrote:
    Gary Burton wrote:Tate, do you really need a watermaker? Seems like just one more expensive "thing" to worry about. Buy new sails and a feathering prop instead :)

    Its certainly not a need, but my wife doesn't ask for much and she wants a watermaker.  So if I can give her one within reason I'll do it.  She promises to always smell nice if I do. 
    :) 
  • April 24, 2013 11:13 AM
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    Reply # 1277684 on 1263501
    Anonymous
    We had one that had been installed under the sink (=even had a nice filter). We subsequently removed it and gave it away.

    Keep things simple:  the simpler, the better.
    Last modified: April 24, 2013 11:45 AM | Anonymous