portable watermakers for sailboats

7 Best Sailboat Watermakers For Liveaboards 2024

If you’re a liveaboard sailor looking for the best sailboat watermaker then you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best watermakers on the market and show you how they can help make your sailing experience more enjoyable.

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of sailing on the open water. If you’re a liveaboard sailor, though, you know that keeping your boat stocked with fresh water can be a challenge. That’s where sailboat watermakers come in handy.

Not only do they produce fresh water for drinking and cooking, but they also help keep your boat clean by providing water for showers and dishes.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the best sailboat watermakers available on the market today. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each model so that you can make an informed decision before purchasing one for your boat.

So, whether you’re looking for a compact unit that is easy to install or a high-performance model that can handle large volumes of water, we have something for you. Keep reading to learn more.

How do marine watermakers work?

What are the benefits of having a watermaker on your sailboat.

How do I choose a sailboat watermaker?

How big a water maker do I need?

How much does a sailboat watermaker cost, how much power does a watermaker use, how much space does a marine watermaker take up, maintaining your sailboat watermaker, the best sailboat watermakers for liveaboards.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn from other affiliate programs. This means we may receive a small commission on products purchased through our links at no extra cost to you.

Marine watermakers are devices that convert salt water into fresh water, making them an essential tool for sailors and boaters. But how do they work?

At the heart of every marine watermaker is a reverse osmosis membrane. This is a thin, semi-permeable film that allows water molecules to pass through, but blocks out larger molecules like salt.

To create freshwater, salt water is forced through the membrane under high pressure. This process is known as reverse osmosis, and it leaves the salt behind in the brine stream. The freshwater that comes out of the other side is then collected and stored in tanks.

Marine watermakers are powered by either electricity or a diesel engine, depending on the size of the unit. Some small portable units can even be powered by a car battery.

You will probably want a pretty decent battery bank and solar or wind setup to power your watermaker. By far the easiest solution is to get a reliable, drop in battery. We highly recommend BattleBorn’s lithium batteries which is what we use to power our watermaker.

⚡ Check out BattleBorn batteries here

a tap with running water from a sailboat watermaker

If you’re thinking of outfitting your sailboat with a watermaker, you’re in for a treat. Adam and I put off buying one for two years, as we weren’t sure it would be worth the big investment. But after a year in the Cyclades where finding free town quays with water was near impossible, we decided to bite the bullet and commit.

It’s the one thing we wish we’d done sooner. A sailboat watermaker has literally changed our lives at sea and we couldn’t be without one now.

Not only will you have a reliable source of fresh water, but you’ll also be able to enjoy extended stays at sea. Here are just a few of the benefits we’ve found of having a watermaker on your sailboat:

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of having a marine watermaker is that you’ll never have to worry about running out of fresh water. Whether you’re sailing around the world or just spending a few weeks cruising the coast, a watermaker will give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have an unlimited supply of fresh water.

Obviously, fresh drinking water from the watermaker is great, but it also means we don’t worry about taking a shower or the huge amounts of washing up caused by certain meals or having people over for dinner!

In addition to providing an endless supply of fresh water, a watermaker can also help extend your cruising range. By making your own water, you won’t have to make as many stops to restock your tanks. This means you can stay out on the open water for longer periods of time and explore more distant ports. It also saves a lot of money on marinas and a lot of trips to beach showers!

Finally, having a watermaker onboard can be a real lifesaver in an emergency. If your boat is disabled and you’re stuck at sea, having a way to make fresh water can mean the difference between life and death.

How do I choose the best sailboat watermaker?

the parts of a watermaker for a sailboat

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a watermaker for your sailboat. There is no one size fits all when it comes to choosing the perfect watermaker for you, so take some time to read the pros and cons of each model before you commit!

a man filling up his sailboat with water

If you’re just cruising around the local waterways, you can get away with a smaller unit and top up your tanks with water from the dockside. But if you’re planning on venturing out into the open ocean, you’ll need a larger unit that can produce more water.

You’ll want to take into consideration the amount of people you’re likely to have onboard. Adam and I find out Rainman naked 12V system keeps up with our needs just fine, but after taking on two more members of crew we quickly ran out of water and struggled to keep up with the new demand.

You should also track your water usage habits for a bit to see how much water you use on a daily basis. If you can’t live without daily long showers, or you need fresh water to wash down the boat regularly, or you have fresh water flushing toilets then you’ll obviously be using a lot more water than others.

The amount of water you use when you have a watermaker is likely to increase a little from your needs now, as you’ll be a little less careful with it. Factor this into your decision!

Like everything in sailing, you can spend as much or as little as you want on a watermaker. There are even some people who have successfully made their own watermaker and only spent money on the parts (some of which you can source second-hand).

If you aren’t a wizard with things like that though, you’re going to be looking at spending a decent amount of money on a sailboat watermaker. On average, they cost around £3000-£5000 for a watermaker for a cruising sailboat (around 40ft).

You can spend more like £10,000 on a watermaker for a larger boat, and you can spend less on a second-hand marine watermaker or a DIY one.

We’ve put together a guide to help you work out your needs based on what you use aboard.

Different brands of watermakers are more efficient than others, but from our own experience and that of others we’ve talked to, it takes around 10 Watt-hours to make a litre of water – i.e. about 0.8 Amp-hours from a 12-volt battery.

Things like the chemistry of your battery bank, the length of your cable runs, and even the temperature of the sea, can all make a difference to the amount of power you’ll need to make a certain amount of water, but this is a rough average.

We’ve got a guide on working out how much power you’ll need.

A marine watermaker is a very useful tool, but it’s not exactly small. In fact, depending on the model, a watermaker can take up quite a bit of space.

The average unit is about the size of a small freezer, and some models are even larger. Given that most boats are fairly limited in terms of space, this can be a bit of a problem.

The good news is that there are now several manufacturers who offer compact watermakers that are designed to take up less space. These units are often smaller than a standard coffee maker, making them much easier to find a spot for on your boat.

We’ve included some great options for smaller boats below.

a sailboat watermaker installed in a sailing yacht

Like any piece of equipment, a watermaker requires regular maintenance. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that you can take to keep your watermaker in good working condition.

First, be sure to check the filters on a regular basis. Not only will this help to ensure that your water is clean, but it will also help to prolong the life of your watermaker.

Second, be sure to check the seals and o-rings for leaks. These are essential for keeping your watermaker operating efficiently, and any leaks can lead to costly repairs.

Finally, be sure to perform a yearly “spring cleaning” by flushing the system with fresh water.

By following these simple tips, you can keep your watermaker in good working order for years to come.

You should also account for the fact that parts are bound to break and need fixing or replacing. Most watermakers come with proprietary parts which make them a pain to fix in remote places, but there are a few that take non-proprietary parts. We would recommend these to anyone planning a larger cruising ground.

#1 Rainman naked 12V Marine Watermaker

The Rainman naked 12V watermaker is a great option for anyone looking for a compact, efficient way to produce fresh water.

The unit is simple to set up and use, and it produces up to 30 litres of fresh water per hour for a smaller unit, or up to 140 litres per hour for a larger one.

One of the main reasons we were drawn to Rainman watermakers is that they use all off-the-shelf, standardised parts. If your Rainman breaks down, it almost doesn’t matter where in the world you are – you’ll likely be able to get standardised spares in the nearest major city. For any liveaboards hoping to circumnavigate this should be an important consideration.

Installation was really very straightforward. End-to-end it took two days to install and test the unit, plus an extra day to get the autoflush set up.

We were pleasantly surprised to find that the unit came with almost everything we needed to install it. We were expecting to supply our own hoses, sundries, etc. but Rainman supplies everything you need.

Whether you’re sailing around the world or just weekends on the lake, the Rainman naked 12V watermaker is a great way to ensure you have access to fresh, clean water.

Check out our full Rainman watermaker review for everything you need to know.

#2 Spectra Newport 400c Watermakers for Sailboats

Spectra watermakers have an excellent reputation among the sailing community and you can’t go wrong with one of their marine watermakers for your sailboat.

They make a range of different sailboat watermakers to suit different needs and sizes of boat, from hand-operated desalinators that can make 6 gallons a day to their largest system that produces 20,000 gallons of fresh drinking water per day.

The Newport 400c model operates on as little as 4 watts per liter, so you can run it on a small generator, solar, wind, or even just straight off the batteries. It’s a great option

The Spectra Connect system means you can operate and monitor your watermaker from a remote device, and it has lots of other clever features including a fill tank mode and suggested maintenance intervals.

You can choose the speed operation on this sailboat watermaker for maximum flow or maximum efficiency depending on your power management onboard. This is a great ‘all bells and whistles’ watermaker that takes the guesswork out.

#3 Spectra watermaker Ventura Series

As with the Newport 400c, Spectra ensure these watermakers are built to last and they have a really great reputation.

The Spectra watermaker Ventura series is designed to be energy-efficient and lightweight and is the perfect watermaker for smaller spaces.

It produces 24 litres an hour, which is less than the Rainman model but still enough for a couple living aboard a small sailboat if you’re conservative with water usage.

You can also opt for a warm water model that will produce slightly more water per hour and is the same size (but you’ll need to be sure your cruising area is only warm water!)

#4 The Ultra Whisper

The Ultra Whisper by Sea Recovery is one of the best watermakers out there for smaller boats, or boats not set up with adequate power to run one of the larger units.

It can run on either AC or DC and claims a 75% reduction in power consumption compared to the other products listed here. It’s also super quiet, which if you’ve run a watermaker before, is actually a huge bonus!

This is a small but perfectly formed piece of equipment that will enable you to make water with the smallest power setup, but obviously, on the downside, you won’t produce as much water so you’ll need to be careful with your consumption onboard.

Sea Recovery has more watermaker models on offer in a wide variety of size and capacity options. There’s even a really tiny version that measures only 2-3 cubic feet for sailboats that can’t compromise on space.

#5 Village Marine – Little Wonder series

Village Marine is another of the most popular marine watermaker brands and has a reputation for making reliable and efficient sailboat watermakers in a range of different models to suit different needs.

The Little Wonder series is one of the smallest (the reason for the name) and weighs only 69 pounds with the ability to produce 180 gallons of freshwater per day.

It has a low RPM high-pressure pump in a modular design, which means you can install it in different parts of the boat to maximise your space. This is really handy for smaller sailboats.

Installation is quick and easy, and a competent DIYer can do it. It is anti-corrosive and as a bonus, is also quiet to run!

This is one of the best watermakers on the market for smaller sailboats, and should last a long, long time.

#6 Village Marine – LW Watermaker Series for bigger boats

For anyone out there looking for a serious sailboat watermaker for a bigger boat, Village Marine has something suitable. The LW watermaker series caters to boats up to 100 feet in length.

This watermaker can produce up to 1800 gallons of freshwater a day, which is a crazy amount and will give you complete water independence on board.

It’s a much larger unit, obviously, so you’ll need to make sure you have space on board. It’s also a lot more expensive so it really is only suitable for larger boats and commercial vessels.

#7 Rainman Portable Sailboat Watermaker

Rainman make a portable watermaker that has many benefits over an installed version. it won’t suit all sailboats but it’s a great option to have for the following reasons.

You don’t need to install the system. You can cut out a lot of the faff and make fresh drinking water within minutes of receiving the product.
You don’t need any extra holes in your hull to use the watermaker.
If you race your sailboat you can store the watermaker ashore to save on weight.
It’s a great option for smaller sailboats as it can be moved to accommodate for extra guests.
You can take it with you from boat to boat.
You can share the watermaker and potentially the cost!
You can use it for all your trips away from water supplies. Take it on road trips, fishing trips etc.

the rainman portable watermaker for smaller boats

A portable sailboat watermaker might make a lot more sense for your needs, and it’s great to have the option to choose between the two. This watermaker comes with all the benefits of the Rainman installed version, so you can check out our Rainman review to help with your decision.

Conclusion for the best sailboat watermakers

If you’re in the market for a watermaker, we hope our review has helped you narrow down your choices. We believe that the best sailboat watermakers are those that are reliable, powerful enough for your needs, and easy to maintain. So if you’re looking for an efficient and durable watermaker, be sure to check out the options on this list.

If you’re looking for more liveaboard tips or want help with planning your move onto a boat then check out our ‘ How to run away to sea ‘ guidebook for everything you could possibly need to know about living on the ocean.