[TSOJOURNER]

Propellor driven watermaker – Help please
Last year when passing through Rio Brazil we saw a towed gizmo which turned sea water into drinking water by pumping sweet water up its towline. At the time, a watermaker was not on our list of priorities so we did not take details. Now that we are going to get one, predictably we have no info. Has anyone any advice on where they can be obtained ?

 

[TSOJOURNER]

Re portable towed watermaker-
Just come upon your query, its probably a "waterlog" you saw. We got one last year and about 3,000 miles later are fairly pleased with it. Well made and good value. Hope this answers your point. Fair winds.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

We are also interested is this watermaker and have asked the folks at West marine who know of it but no other info. No luck on the www either. If the previous contributer sees this he forgot to mention where he got his one. Thanks E.Hodges

 

[TSOJOURNER]

Water powered Watermaker
We are blessed with an excellent in-house IT department (i.e., our sailing & computer mad kids)who found this on the Internet at www.yachtwatermaker.com
Looks interesting.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

We have looked at this and it is certainly the answer to making water. It seems to have every advantage low price/no fitting etc., but dont know if we want to tow something on passage. Views would be welcome. Thanks

 

[TSOJOURNER]

We got one and no problem. One thing though, they do skip a bit in the water at about 7 kts or in big seas

 

[TSOJOURNER]

We were about to install a watermaker for $3840 when we saw this portable one here. It does all we want for one third the cost. This shows that it pays to watch the forums to know whats going on. Thank you Sailnet.

 

[ebs001]

I went to the websight they look very interesting. The only problem I have heard about these is that sometimes they get eaten by big fish or sharks. Anyone run into this problem?

 

[hellosailor]

Anything that is towed may get eaten by fish. Same problem has been reported by folks towing knotmeter impellers and water generators, anything that is trailing your boat may be mistaken for lunch. I guess the question is, how strong is the unit and how strong is the line attaching it?

And will they warranty it against being eaten?<G>

They do say:
"The typical Waterlog impellor weighs 3 Lbs (1.4 Kilo), is 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter, and spins at speeds up to 1,100 r.p.m. If a large shark were to bite it, its head would be removed. For example, a fish never takes on a boat propeller, which is not dissimilar in size and speed. Having done countless crossings of all the oceans of the globe, there are no reports of any sea creature attacking one.

Further, there is an unbroken continual load path of steel from the impellor right through the towing tube to the boat. (The towing tube has an internal matrix of woven steel mesh surrounding the smooth food grade central core tube). The design load is half a ton and ultimate breaking strain of more than three times that figure."

 

[sailingdog]

I've heard mixed reports, mostly negative, about the Waterlog watermakers. Practical Sailor is supposed to be doing a report on the Waterlog in an upcoming issue. I look forward to seeing what it says.

However, there have been quite a few reports about the Waterlog company not responding and not providing any customer service or support. Also, several of their distributors have stopped working with them, for the same reasons.

I also have to wonder about Tarran and Mumec. They are both new posters and seem to be advocating the Waterlog. It would far less suspicious if either of them had posts before and outside of this thread. Maybe, I am being too cynical, but given what I've heard about the company, I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to drum up business this way.

 

[Good old O'day]

I would say that Mumec is a troll, trolling for his to his towed (trolling) water maker, as he replied to his own initial post.

cheers.
steve

 

[sailingdog]

Replying to one's own post is generally considered strange behavior... Welcome to Sailnet btw.

 

[hellosailor]

"Replying to one's own post is generally considered strange behavior... "
Not really, newbies don't always realize there's an EDIT button, or how to use it.

Strange, is that those first five posts are dated 2001?!

If those guys haven't made any other posts in five years, yeah, I'd call the posts a bombing run. (Forumspeak for someone dropping in from the sky then leaving again and leaving something behind.)

 

[sailingdog]

True... One thing I'd say to EBS then is that buyer beware... The Waterlog's manufacturer has some serious financial problems. They have lost distributors due to unreturned e-mails, phone calls, and other such problems. The availability of parts seems to be an issue as well. There have also been reports of non-delivery of ordered hardware.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

interesting that Mumec had quite the conversation with himself the first four posts, which of course happen to be all 'glowing reviews' .. it does make me wonder if there is the slightest chance that Mumec is affiliated? hmm?

 

[camaraderie]

rrgane...those posts go back to 2001 and they are all froom the same IP address....same guy....just a phisher.

 

[Capstan]

Is there any news on these units, The concept looked like a Great Idea... but sometimes we have these great ideas and they are without merit.

I am looking for a Watermaker (preferably 12 volt since there is no room for either generator or Engine drive in my IP-35) We have a sea trip of 15oo milers planned for 2009 and then 6 months of gunkholing in the windwards. This thing might work for the sea trip but I think I need something that works while I am anchored.

Suggestions?

Also, has anyone here ever heard of "bahama Geroge" in North Carolina. He is touted to be a real expert on watermakers for small vessels?

 

[chucklesR]

90 percent of cruising time is spent at anchor somewhere, how's that towed watermaker going to make out then?
Ditto the towed generator (I can see a duo, but sole purpose towed, not on my weight restricted Cat.).
Outta water babe, gotta go for a day sail around the island !

 

[camaraderie]

Capstan...for any appreciably sized watermaker you will need a generator to make enough amps or recharge the batteries. Getting water in the windwards is easy and you do NOT NEED a watermaker for that trip. We were there for many months and for a 6 month cruise you will find the cost of buying water, or filling up when you take a slip, is thousands of bucks less than a watermaker AND all the stuff you need to run one.
Off the beaten path in remote places, they make sense...but not for a short duration cruise in a well traveled route.

 

[nonsailor]

hello I don't have a boat yet, I must rob a few banks first!

Can you not buy solar stills which float on the sea and use the heat of the sun to make water or don't they work?