In a message dated 10/27/03 1:02:27 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: >What the heck is a "water maker"? A filter? I have a backpacker's water >filter that I keep on the boat, in case I forget to bring enough water. > It's the same one I take on backpacking trips -- saves you from having >to carry more than a liter or two with you. >Steve McClellan 1981 M15 Chicago
A water maker (in this case) is a reverse osmosis unit that forces (pumps) seawater through a semi-permeable membrane to remove the salt and most contaminants. The pores of the membrane are so small that salt cannot pass through. I think that for most M-boaters, a watermaker would prove either too large or too expensive to be practical. the smallest unit I am aware of is the PUR Survivor 6--a handheld unit intended more for emergency or liferaft use, and costing more than $500.00. Units intended for regular use are usually quite large, and often require substantial electrical power. Do not confuse these watermakers with the backpacking type water filters that employ ceramic, silver-iodine, activated charcoal, or other filtration methods to remove 'nasties'. They will not reliably remove salt from saltwater. I do carry one of these to purify fresh water from sources on shore while cruising in the Pacific Northwest. Scott Grometer, M15#478 'bebe' _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
