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How
To Choose a Marine Water Maker
Many manufactures guarantee
the performance of their marine desalinators, but there are
several upfront indicators that signal their claims may not
hold water. Here’s what to look for as you shop for a dependable
marine water maker.
• Open frame
• High-grade materials
• Nonproprietary parts
• Low RPM components
• Necessary parts and features are included
• Customized operation
• Solid warranty coverage
Your first clue will be how the
marine water maker system is packaged. Open-framed systems
are designed to facilitate visual inspections and routine,
onsite maintenance. Systems that are entirely enclosed
require complicated disassembly to allow shipboard inspection
or trouble-shooting.
Equally important are the construction
materials. High-grade alloys like industrial-quality stainless
steel and bronze should be used for all critical components.
Plastic plumps, for example can compromise system operation
and even jeopardize the vessel with flooding if the sub-waterline
pump is inadvertently cracked or stepped on. Motors should
be epoxy coated to help protect your system from corosion.
What’s more, water makers that use commercially available
parts mean less hassle and less cost for you, versus brands
that feature proprietary parts such as membranes, pumps
and fittings that are expensive and available only at select
locations.
Your marine reverse osmosis system should be
resilient to all water conditions that you encounter during
your travels. One way to assure that the performance of
your marine water maker isn’t compromised as it processes
different degrees of salinity and particulate is by utilizing
low RPM components. Pumps that turn at excessive RPMs (for
instance, over 3000 RPMs) are so susceptible to feed water
variances that they require special filtration (often a
proprietary component). This results in more frequent filter
changes and added cost of operation.
Determine if the price of the marine water maker is inclusive
of everything you need to achieve rated outputs and superior
performance. Often, necessary components are priced as
separate packages, accessories or upgrades. For example,
fresh water flush is required feature for your marine water
maker to perform properly, however, it is not always part
of the base price. Likewise, your marine RO system should
come calibrated and ready to run. You should not be required
to purchase additional accessories or calibration solutions
to complete the set up.
You should be able to customize
your marine water maker so it can be installed, run, modified
and monitored based on your minute-by-minute needs. For instance,
if your fresh water flush is pre-programmed to run every
seven days, this lack of flexibility may inhibit your ability
to WHAT? WHY WOULD YOU WANT A FRESH WATER FLUSH TO RUN MORE
OFTEN? In partnership with customization is watersmart intelligence.
A preferred system will present automatic audio and visual
alerts, finger-tip data and an onscreen help menu. With
today’s available technology, you should not settle for
anything less than a marine reverse osmosis system that’s
so easy and efficient you’ll think the entire water maker
consists of just a few buttons on your control panel.
It’s
important to review the warranty before you make your purchase.
Some warranties are complicated and contradictory, with terms
and conditions that apply to individual components. For example,
a warranty may be voided if you do not purchase the manufacturer’s
proprietary parts
Other questions you should ask are how extensively the
marine water maker has been tested. Under what conditions
and criteria did the manufacturer rate their outputs? Can
you operate the system remotely? How is the marine RO unit
designed to control noise — a pet peeve of many boaters.
Moreover, doing your research and comparing the engineering
and features of competing brands will reveal important
superiorities that will ultimately make the difference
in your boating experience. |
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