How to build your own watermaker: tips, tricks, review & reality checks // Ryan's live tech talks #2

[@RyanSophieSailing]

It's been two and a half years since we installed our SeaWater Pro watermaker, and it has been performing flawlessly. it has afforded us some well-needed and appreciated self-sufficiency throughout the Mediterannean (where marinas are super expensive), through ocean crossings (yeay for showers) and through covid lockdowns (where we had zero possibility to get water otherwise). We added a control panel in our galley which has been incredibly practical and have upgraded the membrane to the latest SeaWater Pro one. We've been buying filters and parts in hardware stores all over the World (way easier than having to order proprietary parts) and we produce 19-20 gallons (70-75 liters) of fresh water per hour. If you consider ordering a SeaWater Pro watermaker, we have just gotten an affiliate link, that allows us to receive a small commission on every purchase at no cost to you. We would be incredibly grateful if you considered using it! Thank you :) seawaterpro.com?sca_ref=1318773.3ThbpgMEbt

[@josephlarocca531]

Hi guys I have some good news for you I bought my water maker from the same guy that you did Mike / in Fort Lauderdale and he was great to work with as you said I was very fortunate I followed your directions about using 10 wraps of Teflon tapes on all the joints where it was needed and luckily put the whole thing together no leaks no leaks not even a towel to soak up anything work the first time right out of the box so to speak we must have got very lucky but watching all these videos on KZbin certainly helped with an ounce of prevention and 2 lb of planning and a lot of homework from your website there were no tears and no leaks we just finished last night at 8 p.m. and we were joyed when at work the very first time

[@simonross8596]

This format really suits the content and Ryan’s explanation is very clear, natural, and incisive.

[@johnasher6880]

As usual Ryan did a great job explaining something that is technical and complicated and made it simple! Great job!

[@look4terry]

I can't get to the video live, but wanted to mention how good they are even watching after. Content was well organized and you two make a great team presenting it. For me it is mostly a curiosity (old ex-sailor) but fun to watch and learn. Thanks.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks so much Terry! So glad it helps :)

[@ArcticSeaCamel]

Yep! I totally agree! Thanks for this information package!

[@600rrmike]

3 way valves are easily obtainable in domestic central heating plumbing merchants providing 22mm can be accommodated.. Used as a share valve distributing heat either to hot water or central heating radiators. Excellent explanation many thanks to Sophie and Ryan

[@jeffatoms1]

Hey guys,there was a question regarding how do you know when to replace the filters. On one of our water systems we have a low pressure gauge in the inlet and on the outlet side of the filter. When the differential is more than 5 psi we chase just the 20 micron filter. If the pressure on both sides doesn't equalize after replacing the 20, we then change the 5 micron. We generally get three uses on the 5 for every change of the 20. Your mileage may vary. Also low tds is low pH (slightly acidic) which is reactive. If you put that in the hot water heater, the increased heat makes it super reactive (speaking remineralization wherever it can find it) so the inline remineralization is super important for more than just drinking water purposes. Love your content! Jeff

[@paulbettenga6202]

Great explanation of how the watermaker works. Very informative!

[@krista7722]

Good job guys. Great video. Definitely looking forward to more in the future.

[@VolkovAnton]

This is great format!

[@debbiepowell8623]

Adding a second RO filter inline doesn't require a lot more flow or a large increase in amps used. It doesn't increase the fresh water by twice as much because the brine water salinity is greater. It will give you a back up filter that can be used should one filter fail. Love all your videos you both do a great job of educating and entertaining.

[@rumusic787]

Great tech talk. I learnt a lot and will follow your decisions when the time comes.

[@paulbettenga6202]

The presentation is awesome!

[@claussvensson7834]

Cost wise I am very much in favor of the DIY alternative. Could you advice type and manufacturer of the main components you used and internet source if possible. Thanks

[@gmoose777]

Thanks for a great video, Rain man also make kitform units that can be installed spread out to fit

[@bobbaldwin1749]

Bounce the rim light so that it is not so hard on Ryan's face. It will not bleed on to your face. Move it around behind Ryan.

[@Tomroozeprive]

Hello from Germany wisch you love , take care of you !.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Hi Tom! Thanks, Ryan and sophie

[@gretchenhartke2300]

Interestingly, John Kretschmer has been using a Rainman for a few years and has been happy with it... We've seen it in action on two passages and think it's a pretty slick solution if you don't want to go through the hassle of installing a system. It's a little spendy, but he's on the water for several passages a year and is still using the first one he bought in 2016.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

I think Rainman watermakers are pretty cool too! But yeah, they are on the more expensive side, which is why we ended up making our own :)

[@MudLogger]

Really good information on RO! Thanks I enjoyed it. Can you help me understand something? I have noted small and medium size units using the same membrane. Dow says it can except 6 gallons /min for a (SW30-2540) daily production @700 gal/day (29.1 hr). So the choice of a unit comes down to max output of a motor/pump combination (that does not exceed each parts Max (rpm or psi) and fits your power consumption requirements?

[@carsonnavigator4066]

Hi Guys. I enjoyed your vid a lot, liked the diagram also. How did you do the bypass for the feed pump? Does the bypass go overbord? How is that designed? I will build my WM next month. Thanks for the info

[@slick8086]

Question: how do you manage your water supply? Lets say (for easy math) you have 100 gallons of fresh water storage. Do you keep your tanks topped off, or do you run them down to 10% and then refill them? How do you want to size your storage capacity? Do you want to have ?x your daily usage?

[@iamsunnydude]

Can you provide the boost pump make and model? Thanks!

[@dougd.8925]

I was actually considering purchasing a brand new Amel 53 for around $1.5 million American dollars. But after watching this video I believe I have changed my mind. That and the fact that I do not have $1.5 million American dollars.

[@searscr1]

There are a lot of things that can effect the production of a RO unit. There is the temperature, TDS, Salinity, and hardness just to name a few.

[@christopherrochon9308]

Can you arrange for a printed parts list?

[@chrisbentley4718]

Hi Ryan & Sophie, I watched a video where a guy used a high preasure cleaner to run his water maker. Is that something you have checked out?

[@robertmccluskey1076]

What is the total footprint in square inches, cm Don’t high pressure hose connectors have torque settings

[@bobbaldwin1749]

Does the TDS meter require power.

[@kaskl5403]

Sorry I missed the livestream.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

That’s why there is a replay, and future lives planned! :)

[@christopherrochon9308]

What HP of electric motor is needed ( assume soft start motor). Thanks.

[@mahonepo315]

How about pickling and un-pickling (de-pickling?)? What is involved with that?

[@mahonepo315]

Sorry! Just made it to the part where you answered this. Thanks!

[@RogerWilco1]

Your AC vs DC efficiency argument really depends. You missed the efficiency loss in DC over cables. A good inverter loses %6 efficiency, but your 24V DC power cables are probably losing twice that, if your water maker is 10 feet from battery, and four times that at 20 feet... or you are running really heavy cables. At 12 volts it’s even worse. Rough figures, you can calculate the loss for your situation and if the water maker us right next to the batteries then very thick welding cables will result in very little loss. The voltage drops you’re talking about are reflecting efficiency loss. If you’re going to have an inverter anyway, then the location flexibility makes AC worth it for most. There seems to be an almost religious belief on forums that inverters are super inefficient. I think this comes from people who don’t understand what they are. They think cables are perfectly efficient because they aren’t doing any conversions. But they then use under sized cables, resulting in a worse situation. You have to do the math and if efficiency is your goal, size the cables up a lit or make them very short- ideally both.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Hello... Yes you are correct in your arguments there and talking about losses in the DC lines would have been smart. Though I'm only one guy and there was a lot to talk about. I do agree that the inverters are also somewhat efficient. When it came down to my decision I just did not want to have a other system (the inverter) in between the watermaker and the power source. Ryan

[@RogerWilco1]

Would be much better to do the presentation, then do a Q&A afterwards. Maybe fo the presentation as a separate video.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Thanks for the feedback! I think you’re right...

[@gretchenhartke2300]

I like the intermittent pause for Q&A. I would not wait until the end for Q&A, in case that is what Roger is suggesting... But, I do agree, having fixed presentation time, intentional pause, and then back to presentation. Great idea to have Sophie doing organization of questions while Ryan is presenting.

[@RyanSophieSailing]

Ah that’s great! Thanks Gretchen :) it gives us a good idea of how we’re gonna do it moving forward.

[@bobbaldwin1749]

Sophie needs to have her own mike. She is really down compared to Ryan.