Islamorada Watermaker installer?

[KarmaII]

Newbie here, want to purchase and have a new water maker installed on our GB47 while in the keys (January) before our 8 weeks in the Bahamas. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Mike & Claiborne Ryan
Karma
GB 47 Europa

 

[DavidM]

If you can't find a guy with that specific experience and have some mechanical aptitude yourself, do some web research like here- Cruising watermakers for sailboats & power boats | Sea Clear Watermakers, here https://www.spectrawatermakers.com/us/us, here
Village Marine Watermakers - The World's most trusted RO watermaker manufacturer, and especially here- Yacht & Boat Water Maker by Cruise RO Water & Power

This will give you a good introduction to watermakers, so you can make your own mind up about power, capacity, integration, automatic features, etc. Then the installation is just plumbing and wiring like anything on a boat.

Even if you do find a specialist, he will probably have his own prejudices and left to his own devices you may not get what is right for you. So become knowledgeable so you can have a better conversation with him about what fits your needs.

And finally, where will you be in the Bahamas. It has been quite a while but we spent 10 weeks in the Abacos about 15 years ago. Every 2-3 weeks we would take a slip in Marsh Harbor to do laundry, reprovision and fill the water tanks. Water was free at marinas in Marsh Harbor. Even if we didn't stay in a slip we would fuel up and water was then also free.

And finally, finally water won't be that expensive for 8 weeks in the Bahamas even if you have to pay for it. A couple, if frugal will use 5-10 gallons each day. That will cost no more than a few hundred dollars each month, a fraction of the $5-10,000 a water maker will cost to install.

Edit: Just checked Active Captain and water is available at a couple of Marsh Harbor Marinas for $5.00/day. Other areas- Green Turtle Cay, Abaco- 25 cents per gallon and Georgetown, Exumas- 40 cents per gallon.

David

 

[Deckape]

Here in marathon we have SALT devices. They install and advice water makers. Call them and ask for Bob Williams at305-289-1150. He is a great guy and his company is top notch. Tell him jim at HCC told you about him.

 

[Panacea]

If you are looking for a mechanic wearing blue nitrile gloves you will need to pay drive time from Fort Lauderdale/Miami. There are plenty of capable mechanics here in Islamorada, but they aren't the blue nitrile glove types. If you need some local numbers PM me. S.A.L.T. is another option as Deckape suggests.

 

[Codger2]

And finally, finally water won't be that expensive for 8 weeks in the Bahamas even if you have to pay for it. A couple, if frugal will use 5-10 gallons each day. That will cost no more than a few hundred dollars each month, a fraction of the $5-10,000 a water maker will cost to install.

As I posted in another thread, a water maker on board is almost a must for the long term cruising crowd. It is, however, an expensive appliance to purchase and maintain correctly. The judicious management of your water tank capacity is sufficient for most boat owners. (IMO)

 

[Capt.Bill11]

It is, however, an expensive appliance to purchase and maintain correctly.

I hear that from people but after running dozens of water maker units I've never really found that to be true.

What have you found to be so expensive to maintain on them?

 

[twistedtree]

Keep in mind that unless your GB was pre-plumbed for a water maker, installation will require that the boat be hauled and two thruhulls installed, one for the raw water intake and one for the brine discharge.

Sharing thru hulls with other devices is possible I imagine, but it is counter to all the manufacturer's installation requirements that I've seen, so I wouldn't do it.

I had a GB '47 and installed a Spectra Catalina 200. It was pre-plumbed so not too hard to install.

 

[Shoalwaters]

It is, however, an expensive appliance to purchase and maintain correctly.

Purchase price is significant, but acceptable to many for the advantages gained. I have found them to be reliable if well installed and used regularly or pickled. Leave one full of stagnant brine for a few months and you will surely start spending money to get it going again.

 

[Capt.Bill11]

Keep in mind that unless your GB was pre-plumbed for a water maker, installation will require that the boat be hauled and two thruhulls installed, one for the raw water intake and one for the brine discharge.

Not necessarily, underwater thru hulls can be installed pretty easily in the water.

And the brine discharge thru hull would be above the water anyway.

 

[KarmaII]

Thanks, fortunately it is pre-plumbed...