Create an account
online marine boat shop safety regulations
Worldwide Shipping
Cruising and racing yacht equipment and fittings
Outboard boat equipment, fittings, and accessories
Professional yachting boat equipment

Watermaker

Marine Boat Shop, specialist in nautical equipment for onboard water, offers a selection of Desalinators.

A desalinator for boats is equipment designed to convert seawater into potable freshwater by removing salt and other impurities. It is an essential solution for long voyages or boats that spend extended periods at sea without access to a freshwater source.

Why Choose a Desalinator for Your Boat?

Independence:
A desalinator allows your boat to generate fresh water from the surrounding seawater, reducing the need to carry large amounts of freshwater reserves.
Long Voyages:
It is crucial for boats on long trips where access to freshwater is limited, ensuring that you have a continuous supply of water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.
Cost-Effective:
In the long term, a desalinator can save you money and space by eliminating the need for regular water refills during your voyages.
Environmentally Friendly:
Since you are using the surrounding seawater, you are not consuming precious freshwater resources, making it a more sustainable option.

Subcategories

Types of Desalinators for Boats:

Reverse Osmosis Desalinator

Principle:
This system operates by forcing seawater through a semi-permeable membrane under high pressure. The water passes through, while salt and other contaminants are retained, producing fresh water.

Advantages:

Most common and highly efficient technology for producing large amounts of fresh water.
Some models can produce between 30 to 300 liters per hour, depending on the size and capacity.

Disadvantages:

Requires significant energy to operate, making it costly to purchase and maintain.
Requires regular maintenance, especially cleaning or replacing membranes.

Thermal Desalinator (Distillation)

Principle:
This desalinator uses heat to evaporate seawater. The vapor is then captured and condensed into fresh water, leaving behind the salt.

Advantages:

A reliable system that works using a heat source (sometimes the boat's engine).
Less complex than reverse osmosis systems.

Disadvantages:

Also consumes a lot of energy.
Produces lower amounts of fresh water compared to reverse osmosis desalinators.

Production Capacity

Desalinators vary in production capacity, usually expressed in liters per hour or day.

Small systems: Produce 30 to 50 liters per day.
Larger, more powerful systems: Can provide several hundred liters per day.

Energy Consumption

Electric Models: Require DC (direct current) or AC (alternating current) power, often directly connected to the boat's batteries or a generator.
Manual Models: Suitable for emergency situations, they operate by hand but produce only small amounts of water (a few liters per day).

Maintenance

Membranes: For reverse osmosis models, membranes need regular cleaning or replacement.
Pre-filtration: Seawater often passes through several filters before entering the desalinator to remove sediments and particles, extending the life of the device.

Popular Brands

Schenker: Known for energy-efficient desalinators.
Spectra Watermakers: Premium brand specializing in reverse osmosis systems for boats.
Katadyn: Offers portable models for small vessels and manual systems for emergency use.
Horizon Reverse Osmosis (HRO): A leading player in the marine desalination field.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Desalinator

Boat Size: Smaller, portable systems are best for small vessels, while larger boats and yachts will require high-capacity systems.
Energy Autonomy: Ensure the desalinator is compatible with your boat's energy production system.
Intended Use: Consider whether you need a desalinator for short trips or extended stays at sea to choose the right model based on frequency of use.