Comments on: DIY Watermaker

By: Edward

Edward — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 23:24:55 +0000

Not quite ready to pull the trigger on building one of these myself, but I wanted to check current costs (prices as of Jan 2024):

High Pressure pump (revised item): $816.32
https://www.sprayerdepot.com/products/pumptec-pumptec-107ss-105-m925-12v-pump-motor

Pulse Hose: $40.65
Membrane: $150
Housing: (need to contact for price, use your $300 figure for now)
Needle Valve: $35
Pressure gauge: $9.88

Primer pump (revised item – link above to a dead listing- I think this one has similar specs?): $33.79
https://www.amazon.com/TenNuoDa-Structure-Submersible-Brushless-Engineering/dp/B0BRB5GB5G

Pre-filter housing: $28.57
Pre-filter (2pack): $16.19
Hose: $27.99
Thru-hull (page linked above had smallest size 5/8″ – did you use 1/2″?): $5.49
Fittings (link above is dead, let’s say $100 for now)

That’s an estimate of $1563.88. I think pre-built watermakers have also gone up, so the savings are probably similar.

I’m also considering what it would take to motorize a Quenchsea watermaker. It’s a manual watermaker for $150, but only 1.6 Gal/hr, and some filtration is done in the membrane package, so it needs to be replaced every 6 months or 1000 liters – they cost $60 for 2.

By: AE

AE — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 19:49:12 +0000

Any updates on your water maker? Did rebuild the pump or buy a new one after the failure from your post in March 2023? After rebuild/replacement, how many extra hours/gallons of water did you get?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 03:16:01 +0000

Just curious, what is the point of the cam with the .105 travel? How does that relate…maybe I should watch the video and find out…

Thanks
Jeff

By: Jason

Jason — Sat, 19 Aug 2023 18:57:25 +0000

Just wanted to drop this here as I build one:
Alternative for pressure regulator (not tested yet)
https://www.highpressurepumpsandparts.com/p-44567-general-100998-13-gpm-3-8in-x-1-2in-pressure-regulator-250-1000-psi.aspx

By: Masatomo Zaizen

Masatomo Zaizen — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 10:18:15 +0000

Hi,

I’m thinking to replicate your work and got two questions.

1) Which boost pump you use? I believe you replaced your original primer pump with some sort of pressure pump.
2) Where to use pressure dampening hose? Between pump and membrane?

Thank you very much for your help in advance.

Regards,

Masatomo Zaizen

By: Xavier Pilsudski

Xavier Pilsudski — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 14:23:54 +0000

In reply to Jerry English. I have the same question regarding the second filter

By: Grant

Grant — Sun, 14 May 2023 05:13:39 +0000

Hello Great video! I too am headed down the DIY watermaker route. do you know the pumptec model number for your pump? the link to the pump seems to be dead. Thank you for your contribution to the cruising world.

By: George

George — Tue, 09 May 2023 03:07:09 +0000

Am I right that the salt water is pumped into the membrane and the fresh water accumulates on the outside of the membrane ? Or is it the other way round ?

This was my question about the maximum pressure that the membrane vessel should be able to withstand.

By: George Hydrosails

George Hydrosails — Mon, 08 May 2023 04:01:31 +0000

Hi Gwen, I have a question concerning the membrane vessel.. is it really necessary to get a membrane vessal that can withstand 800 to 1000 PSI ?
What I understand is that the 60 bar pressure only builds up inside the SW RO membrane and the water that is pushed through is outside the membrane and flows out from the membrane vessel… therefore the pressure there must be very low right ?

So a much cheaper membrane vessel with 250 or 300 psi should do the job or not ?

By: phil smith

phil smith — Thu, 04 May 2023 01:17:28 +0000

Does pulse dampening hose go between the pump and the membrane? That seems to make the most sense but I wasn’t sure.