Want To Buy: Are you selling your watermaker in Europe

[SVI]

So all the Cat Pump and Spectra buyers are super-stupid )

stupid enough to make €8-9k for a good watermaker... and €400-500k for a decent boat )

Any used Cat Pump or Spectra will outrun 5 cheap pressure washers. When you pay peanuts - you get monkeys.

[Franziska]

No, not stupid, but they are fortunate to have a load of money and can buy the best stuff around.

Not everyone is in that situation.
If I'd had the money, I'd probably also get a Spectra.

Apart from that low budget cruisers have been in many nice places too and enjoyed the same anchorages and sceneries.
No, you do not have to have a 400 000$ boat for it.

But this is a viable solution which requires a little more manual work in operation. I'm happy to do that if it makes the desalination technology affordable to me.

The primary problem with the cheap pumps is corrosion and not operation.
They do not like to be wet or worse pickled all the time.

If you freshwater flush them and take them out of the loop thereafter, so that they are dry, that is unlikely to be an issue.
If you use them regularly so that the seals don't dry out completely I do not see why they should not last long.

Of course à stainless or bronze pump are nicer and you will perhaps not need to keep them dry, but that means you pay 8-10 times as much.
In that time I can buy 8-10 of the cheaper pumps if they would fail as fast, which I highly doubt.

If you have the cash, go for it.

Originally Posted by SVI

So all the Cat Pump and Spectra buyers are super-stupid )

stupid enough to make €8-9k for a good watermaker... and €400-500k for a decent boat )

Any used Cat Pump or Spectra will outrun 5 cheap pressure washers. When you pay peanuts - you get monkeys.

[SVI]

This is why you are a "theoretic" the pump is only a fraction of the total cost. You can always find a USED Cat pump at the cost of the powerful Karcher (yes, I have K7 aboard - €400).
Threre no shops to buy a new pressure washer offshore or on the remote island ) where you need your watermaker most!

[Franziska]

Did I say anything like that you only need a pump?
Of course not, I said the system costs between 1500-2000€ in total. Including a spare pump and some gaskets.

The part which is most likely to fail is the pump in any type of desalinator. For the price of these pumps you can easily carry a spare. These low cost washers are available in many places where one might travel. Maybe not in the places where you go. But in about 75% of places where cruisers go to.
Membranes tend to fail slowly not at once.

I never said that you have to use a pressure washer pump. Of course you can buy a CAT pump instead. Or an expensive ready made desalinator.
The only intention of my initial posting here was to make aware that there are cheaper options than to spent upwards of 4000$.

I do not have the cash to buy a 400000$ boat. Did it stop me from having a great time on the water? No.
Get a lower cost boat, use and upgrade along the way over the years is just one way to do it. Save up for years is another. Each to their own.
They may even end up floating next to each other.
Guess here is enough info now that everyone can make up their own mind as to what's the best solution for them.

Originally Posted by SVI

This is why you are a "theoretic" the pump is only a fraction of the total cost. You can always find a USED Cat pump at the cost of the powerful Karcher (yes, I have K7 aboard - €400).
Threre no shops to buy a new pressure washer offshore or on the remote island ) where you need your watermaker most!

[SVI]

Thank you for your detailed advice. That I never asked )

Now you can go and advise in the next thread. Try "You do not need to buy these expensive boats. You can build your own cheap, and carry two spare boats from a discount supermarket" ))

You are so funny...

[Franziska]

Blabla, and you can go on and try to sell your crappy two years old infinetly pickled watermaker.

Which you probably did not manage yet and why you are so snappy here.


Go, get a life.

Originally Posted by SVI

Thank you for your detailed advice. That I never asked )

Now you can go and advise in the next thread. Try "You do not need to buy these expensive boats. You can build your own cheap, and carry two spare boats from a discount supermarket" ))

You are so funny...

[SVI]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Blabla, and you can go on and try to sell your crappy two years old infinetly pickled watermaker.

Which you probably did not manage yet and why you are so snappy here.


Go, get a life.

J = jealousy )) burning hard ))

[Franziska]

You wish!

Originally Posted by SVI

J = jealousy )) burning hard ))

[Fore and Aft]

I am with Franziska on this. I have seen a few home made water makers using water blasters. One that sticks in my mind had been built using the cheapest no name water blaster in Australia and had already given two years service! They are so cheap you could afford to have a spare onboard.
SVI you need to calm down and realise that there are lots of people who have home made water makers.
Cheers

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by SVI

So all the Cat Pump and Spectra buyers are super-stupid )

stupid enough to make €8-9k for a good watermaker... and €400-500k for a decent boat )

Any used Cat Pump or Spectra will outrun 5 cheap pressure washers. When you pay peanuts - you get monkeys.

Ummmm, a cat pump is a pressure washer.

[SVI]

СAT Pump is a variety of pumps. Some used in industrial pressure washers ($$$$, not cheap plastic ones). These are not stainless.

Better to take special model for watermakers (2SF series).

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by SVI

СAT Pump is a variety of pumps. Some used in industrial pressure washers ($$$$, not cheap plastic ones). These are not stainless.

Better to take special model for watermakers (2SF series).

You are aware that a cheap pressure washer, if fresh flushed after use, can last for years in this service. Flow rate of even the smallest is sufficient for a batch watermaker.

It’s not my cup of tea, but it does work.

You don’t like it, but that doesn’t change the fact that this approach makes fresh water from sea.

[SVI]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

You are aware that a cheap pressure washer, if fresh flushed after use, can last for years in this service. Flow rate of even the smallest is sufficient for a batch watermaker.

It’s not my cup of tea, but it does work.

You don’t like it, but that doesn’t change the fact that this approach makes fresh water from sea.

Do they start to make pressure washers in 12/24V? then add the cost of the inverter or generator.

And look at the working cycle of the cheap pressure washers - they cannot work for hours. Not to mention the noise...


And this to save $200-300 not buying the normal pump. The rest of the components are the same.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by SVI

Do they start to make pressure washers in 12/24V? then add the cost of the inverter or generator.



And look at the working cycle of the cheap pressure washers - they cannot work for hours. Not to mention the noise...





And this to save $200-300 not buying the normal pump. The rest of the components are the same.

So...what your saying is it does work and you just don’t like it.

[GRIT]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

So...what your saying is it does work and you just don’t like it.

SVI seems upset about DIY on the cheap. Though it sounds like his is DIY too, just not as cheap.

To each his/her own.

We all do what we can afford, to get out cruising.

Cheers.
Paul.