[PUP] watermaker recommendations

[Truelove39 at aol.com]

Hi  David-
 
My  personal recommendation is for Village Marine or Spectra. We have a 
Little  Wonder on the sailboat and it has been fine. I would stay away from PUR 
(now  Katadyn). These are based on personal experience - see SSCA data below for  
others' opinions.
 
I  would also suggest not getting the "automatic" functions other than a 
scheduled  flush, which is great for those long times between uses. But unless you 
run it  every few days it will be trouble. We  have a 30 GPH Spectra unit 
which came with Seahorse and we used it when  cruising the Lesser Antilles two 
years ago. Despite having fresh water flush  heads, our 600 gallon capacity 
meant we didn't need it for the 9-day  rhumbline passage from Beaufort NC to St. 
Maarten or the passage back from  St. Thomas - only as a convenience and hedge 
against expensive water in the  islands. We certainly don't need it here in 
the States - is has been filled  with FDA-approved antifreeze for 2 years.
 
Satisfaction  per the latest SSCA survey data (3 years old) is as follows:
 
Spectra
Aquamarine
Village  Marine
Sea  Recovery (big machines)
Little  Wonder (aka Village Marine)
PUR  (now Katadyn)
Power  survivor (aka PUR)
 
No  connection.
 
Regards,
 
John
"Seahorse"
 

> People, I have read this list with great interest and it has so  many 
experienced people here I would wish to ask you opinion on the best overall  
watermaker, many people seem to have trouble with watermakers and some  watermakers 
seem to work better than others there are even manual ones which  drag behind 
eg the Waterlog Watermaker.
Your opinions and experiences  would be appreciated.





************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com