HOW A WATERMAKER WORKS

Watermakers, or desalinators, convert salt water into drinking water using reverse osmosis.

The seawater is pumped through a semi-permeable membrane at high pressure to filter out the large salt molecules, creating a small amount of fresh water and discharging the rest as a brine.

Traditional watermakers use DC- or Ac-powered high-pressure pumps, whereas new generation types use a low-pressure pump and achieve the added pressure via hydraulics. These require less power and installation space, albeit for a lower output.

Watermakers should be installed low down in the boat, with a forward facing scoop kept as close to sea level and the pump as possible. The supply of salt water needs to be uninterrupted on either tack.