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You are right... There is no such thing as a free meal - it has the following disadvantages :-
1/ You have to tow it to make water, so the output is variable & proportional to the speed of the vessel.
2/ It needs to be towed for about two to three times the length of time than when running an engine or battery driven old type installed watermaker to make the same amount of water, depending on the model and conditions. However, there is no electricity, plumbing or maintenance required.
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Note: If becalmed, or in an emergency, you can clip on the optional 12 Volt motor. For information, click Optional DC Motor accessory.
If you must abandon ship, it can be pumped by hand in a liferaft with the optional clip on emergency manual liferaft conversion kit.
Note: it is not possible to use manually aboard the vessel.
Yachting magazines around the world have stated that this is the ultimate solution for drinking water aboard a sail boat that has limited power or space available. See for example "Recent test reports"
When you wish to make water, plug the tow tube connecter onto the Waterlog, clip the inboard end of the tube carbine onto the rail, boarding ladder or any convenient fixture. Ensure that the tube is "outside everything" and cast over the rail. This should be done when the vessel is stopped.
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The drag penalty on the average cruising vessel of 40 feet is generally about 1 mile lost per 11 hours in use. This will be less for a large yacht and a more for a smaller or lightly built vessel or a vessel which is under-canvassed. If there is a reasonable breeze, the drag is not noticeable.
Between 0.05 and 0.4 of one knot depending on sea conditions and size of vessel. 0.09 of one knot is regarded as average overall, but this may not apply to your particular vessel. If ghosting along at 4 knots in light airs the drag will be more noticeable than in a stiff breeze at, say, 6.5 knots when the drag on most vessels will not be of consideration.
There are three models available which produce up to 79 gallons per day depending on the model and average speed of the vessel. These are maximum figures under favorable conditions, speed, and salinity levels. Note: they do not work below 4 knots.
Waterlog 100 which can produce 26 gallons of water per day
Waterlog 200 which can produce 48 gallons of water per day
Waterlog 300 which can produce 79 gallons of water per day
There are 3.
Waterlog 100 which can produce 26 gallons of water per day
Waterlog 200 which can produce 48 gallons of water per day
Waterlog 300 which can produce 79 gallons of water per day
Typically, 99.7% or better, of salt content is removed. In fact, Waterlog produces the best and most pure water in the industry. This is confirmed by a comprehensive chemical analysis done by an independent environmental laboratory which further describes the water as "completely devoid of any taste or flavor". This work was not commissioned by the manufacturers of Waterlog, but by a yachting magazine. This can be seen at "Laboratory reports"
There are numerous towed electric generator products that have been in use by the thousand for many decades covering countless ocean crossings over the world. Unlike a fish lure, these are spinning at high speed and are very heavy and large in comparison. They frighten sea creatures away rather than attract them. Waterlog is no different.
It makes a more interesting story in the yacht club bar to mention a shark attack than to say it was forgotten when coasting in and it got caught on a reef. Should this happen, in worst case scenario, there is a safety line fitting on a Waterlog to which one of the boats fenders is attached and in the unlikely event of the unit being parted from the vessel, it is just a matter of going about and picking up the floating fender and the Waterlog suspended below it.
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.
The towing tube is immensely strong and the safety link will break before the tube, which is much stronger. See next question below....... Rocks
No watermaker should be used inshore because of the danger of unknown chemical discharges from shore, excessive suspended particles of sand or weed and other considerations. Waterlog is intended for use offshore and should never have to contend with rocks or submerged obstacles.
However, there is no guarantee that we may not hit large floating objects at sea, such as logs or material lost overboard from cargo ships.
In this event, should the Waterlog get caught, than the safety link will break to save damage to the boat. You will have attached a link to one of the vessels fenders held in place with a piece of cotton which will part if the safety link breaks. Thus, it will be necessary to go about and retrieve the floating fender and its attached waterlog below it.
Model 100 - Clean out the filter slots. Last for ever.
Waterlog - The only watermaker in the world that you never need to buy replacement filters for. Unlike all others, instead of discarding a filter when it becomes fouled, with a Waterlog, just slide off the stainless steel filter, wash it out and use it again.
Model 200 & 300 Wash out the stainless filter mesh. Should last for ever.
If the Waterlog is well maintained, (no sand, algae, dirt or bacteria allowed to accumulate inside - i.e.,- kept clean) It should last for many years. Under ideal test conditions, this is about 7 years constant use. We must remember however, that the oceans of the world are not perfect bench test conditions. It might be reasonable to expect between 2 and 5 years life. It is easily replaced at sea by the owner and can be carried as a spare.
Membrane replacement can be done in 10 minutes and involves removing only 3 screws, slide out the old membrane, slide in the new, and replace the screws. The approximate cost of a replacement membrane is about US$180. £98. Euros 150.
Waterlog should last a lifetime with reasonable maintenance. Even the pressure containment vessel is stainless steel and not fiberglass as is customary with traditional watermakers.
Parts can be fitted by the owner without special knowledge or tools. Alternatively, the unit can be serviced by an approved Waterlog service center, or posted back to the manufacturer for servicing if the owner prefers. There is a 48 hour turn around service for complete factory overhaul.
If cruising in populated areas, no. Spares can be had within 4 days in most developed locations. If cruising isolated areas of the world, it may be desirable to carry a spare core membrane, impellor and filter for your waterlog. See "Cost of spare parts" below.
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Going on extended cruise to remote locations.
As a guide, in early 2000, the cost of common spares carried for long range cruising:-
Core membrane for any model $186
Filters:-
(Note: the 100 model 1-2 crew uses no filter element.)
200 2-4 crew filter $44 Stainless steel - only replace it if damaged - should never happen.
300 4-6 crew filter $61 Stainless steel - only replace it if damaged - should never happen.
Impeller for any model $155
High mileage overhaul if desired:- A complete mechanical overhaul kit $235 (Not including membrane)
Full details of up to date models & prices appear on the order form.
Postage & Packing are extra if spares are ordered and shipped as a stand alone mailing item. Cost of mailing to your part of the world will be advised when parts are ordered separately.
Plus Federal or State Taxes (if applicable).
For a replacement parts and prices contact:-
quoting the name of the owner to which the Waterlog was registered. This is required for security reasons. If a watermaker is stolen (they are portable and only weigh 6 kilo), the new `owner` will need to get a replacement impeller or tow tube as it is unlikely that a complete unit would be stolen. Requests for spares are checked against a database to verify that the purchaser of the replacement parts is the registered owner.
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From an approved Waterlog service center, your chandler, boatyard, or direct
from Waterlog:- 
waterlogsales@aol.com
or FAX 
(+44) [0]20 8501 2586
Flush the unit out in in accordance with the manual if you think you may have sailed through some material which may have clogged or partly clogged the filters (if applicable). Washing the filters takes about 6 minutes for model 200 and about 15 minutes for model 300. If going to be unused for some weeks or more, pour in a little biocide, plug in the supplied recirculation fitting and tow it for 30-60 seconds at about 4-5 knots before stowing away.
Cost of maintaining the watermaker ?
There are two different maintenance tasks for any type of watermaker.
1/ If it is not going to be used for many days, weeks or months, particularly in hot weather, it should be treated with a biocide to inhibit development of bacteria, as described above.
You can order specially prepared multi packs of convenient one-shot treatments at any time from Waterlog. The cost of each biocide treatment for sterilizing is about $3.
2/ Sea water can contain minerals, colloids, micro silt and other contaminants which over a period of time will deposit a glaze or film on the membranes. These need to be removed if optimum performance is to be maintained and get maximum life from the membrane element. These contaminants fall into two categories:-
A/ Metals, oxides, etc. which are removed with acid.
B/ Acid insoluble compounds which are removed with alkali.
The membrane is therefore treated in two separate steps and if the watermaker is in regular use it should be treated about every 12 months or less. The cost of each of these "pickling" treatments is about $8.
Therefore, average maintenance cost is about $30 per year. This is far lower than any other watermaker and you never have to buy new filters, as a Waterlog filter is stainless steel and you can wash them out to be used again.
The owner can. No skills are needed. Waterlog is designed to be simple, rugged and reliable. If the owner so wishes, an Approved Waterlog service center will be happy to undertake any maintenance required.
If desired, you can post your unit back to the factory for complete overhaul to zero hour condition and with a new membrane for $699 (£368) (Euro 533). For information click Factory Overhaul Service.
These figures are approximate, as rates of currency exchange and other factors can vary from time to time.
No special tools are needed. The unit is designed around one size screw for ease of maintenance - an 8mm allen capscrew. Either a 6 AF or 1/4" allen key will fit this and will be found in the toolbox of any cruising boat.
Any person who does their own routine maintenance on the boat can easily overhaul a Waterlog. Or the unit may be handed in to an approved Waterlog service center for overhaul or returned to the factory for a 48 hour turn around service. For information click Factory Overhaul Service.
The supplied owners (waterproof) operations card covers the care and operation of the watermaker. There is also an on-line comprehensive manual which gives full details on everything from washing a filter to pickling, to components, in the unlikely event it is needed.
A/ Any Waterlog service center
B/ or Internet:-
C/ or fax:- (+44) [0]20 8501 2586 Back to Top
Waterlog starts to produce water at about 3.8 / 4.0 knots upwards. However at this speed the output will be very small or just starting. Optimum efficiency speed is some 5.5 to 6.5 knots.
Above 7.5 knots the performance falls off or the output stops due to the unit starting to surface and suck in air. The maximum speed can be less in rough waters. For higher speed vessels and some catamarans it is necessary to add a weight to the tow tube to keep it submerged at higher speeds. A 3 kilo weight added to the tow tube (a shaft anode is usually used) can increase the speed to 17+ knots for faster vessels. A high speed impellor is available for faster catamarans when the maximum speed is circa 20 knots.
Use in heavy seas or storm conditions is not recommended.
Short answer:- About $30 per year.
Detailed answer:- There is no diesel fuel required to charge the batteries or drive a watermaking pump as is the case with every other watermaker. Waterlogs are, of course water powered, so no on-board power is required. So, there is no fuel or engine cost. (A watermaker cannot realistically be run on Solar or Wind energy - these devices do not produce sufficient power unless there is a very large array)
However, when any watermaker is going to be left unused for some time, it is necessary to treat it with biocide to inhibit the growth of bacteria. A watermaker is, in effect, a food container and it must be cared for as one would any kitchen utensil. Treating a waterlog with biocide takes about 6 minutes.
Also, over the passage of time, the seawater will deposit a fine glaze of colloids, micro silt, elementary sulphates and oxides which are present in the ocean. These deposits will reduce the performance of the membrane element. They can be removed by treating with special compounds. Circumstances vary greatly, but it may be reasonable to expect that if regularly in use, these deposits may need to be removed perhaps every 6 months. This takes about 20 minutes and the unit is then left for about 1 hour before returning to use or storage.
Therefore, we can see that there are two distinctly different hygiene tasks to be observed.
Waterlog produces a hygiene kit (Spare part No. 17). A kit comprises of tiny sealed containers of single shot treatments of compounds formulated to suit their own membranes. These kits last the average live-aboard cruising vessel about 1 to 3 years and costs about $151.
Accordingly, it can be seen that not only have Waterlogs the lowest purchase cost of any powered watermaker in the world, but running costs are also a fraction of any other. Just compare the cost of replacement filters (Waterlog models do not need replacement filters, they are stainless steel and should last a lifetime if not accidentally damaged), pickling agents and replacement membranes with any other manufacturer and it will be seen that Waterlog prices are typically about one half to one third the cost.