The Upgrade That Changed How We Live on Our Boat. We Finally Replaced Our Watermaker — Here's How it went.

We finally got off the dock to commission our brand new Blue Water watermaker, and honestly, it felt like one of those classic boat days where everything is happening at once. If you want to see exactly how it all went down, we filmed the whole thing — you can watch the full video on YouTube.

The boat had broken out in mold. We were both getting over a nasty flu. Every compartment seemed to need cleaning. The inside of the boat was ripped apart for the install. There was a whole crew onboard running wires, mounting pumps, and plumbing hoses. We couldn't even really stay on the boat while the work was going on, so we grabbed a condo across the street for a few days and tried to roll with it.

That's life on a boat. It's always something. But sometimes "something" is a really good upgrade. This time, that upgrade was a completely new watermaker setup, and after the trouble we'd had with our old Spectra system, we were more than ready for a win.

Why We Replaced the Old Watermaker

Our new unit is a Blue Water watermaker, and it's supposed to be one of the best systems you can get. After dealing with the old setup, we wanted something that could actually keep up with our needs and do it reliably.

The biggest difference was obvious right away. The old Spectra, when it worked, produced far less water. This new system was making water at a rate that would have taken the old one roughly three hours to match.

That matters a lot when you live aboard and cruise. Water is freedom. The faster you can make it, the less time you spend managing tanks and the more flexibility you have when you're out anchoring, moving, or staying away from marinas.

Installation Day on Calypso

Back on Calypso, the install was in full swing. We captured all of it on camera, so if you want to see the actual installation process, head over to YouTube for the full video.

The crew had already mounted the watermaker unit itself. Wires were being run, hoses were going in, and the system components were starting to come together. The setup included:

• A new AC pump

• A seawater pro AC pump

• A carbon filter for the product water

• A freshwater flush filter

• 5-micron and 20-micron filtration

• The membrane, which had already been freshwater flushed
  

The membrane had been pickled for storage, so before we could send any water into the tanks, it needed to be run long enough to clear all of that out.

One nice part of the install was that we were able to keep using the same selector switch setup we'd had before, just in a different location. Small details like that make a boat system feel a lot more integrated instead of like one more random add-on.

Why We Didn't Commission It in the Marina

We specifically chose not to commission the watermaker in the marina. That was intentional.

Marina water can be nasty. Between fuel, oil, and all the junk that tends to collect in still, enclosed marina basins, it just didn't make sense to risk a brand new watermaker by running it there for its first real operation.

So we pulled off the dock and headed a couple of hours away to a nearby inlet where the water was cleaner. That gave the system a much better environment for commissioning and gave us a little more peace of mind after our issues with the previous unit.

A Quick Reality Check on Boat Power

Before getting the watermaker underway, we were also dealing with another very boat-like issue: the solar wasn't doing what it should.

At first glance it looked like the panels might not be charging at all. The panels were absolutely caked in pollen, so we cleaned them off, hoping that would solve it. But the bigger problem turned out to be simpler than that. The solar charger had been shut off at the breaker while other systems were being worked on. Once that breaker was turned back on, the charging kicked in again.

At the time, Calypso had about 800 watts of solar, which really isn't much anymore for a cruising boat with modern electrical loads. We were seeing around 25 amps of draw sitting there with normal onboard systems running. With solar back online, that load dropped significantly, but it was still clear we needed more generation.

So we booked a major solar upgrade, taking the boat from 800 watts to over 2,500 watts. That upgrade will include a stainless solar rack on the back and multiple MPPTs, and it should put us in a much better position to run systems like the watermaker without stressing the batteries. That's for another post at a later date...

How We Commissioned the New Watermaker

Once we got to the inlet, it was time to bring the system to life. We walked through the entire commissioning process on camera — check out the full video on YouTube if you want to follow along step by step.

The startup process was pretty straightforward in theory. One person stayed on the controls and the other monitored the bilge and plumbing for leaks. On a new install, that second job matters. A lot. The raw water enters the system through a strainer, then a small low-pressure pump sends that water into the watermaker. That's where the first issue showed up.

The First Problem: A Leak and Low Pressure

At first, the low-pressure side wasn't getting above about four, and the system kept faulting out.

That sent us into troubleshooting mode right away. The fix ended up being a combination of:

• Tightening filter housings and fittings

• Swapping out a small air valve

• Tracking down minor install-related leaks

Once those issues were corrected, the system finally settled in and started making water.

Priming the Boost Pump

The other tricky part was getting the boost pump primed.

That took some persistence. The solution was basically to keep working it over and over until it finally caught, while cracking a line slightly to let air move through the system and get everything flowing properly. Once it primed, it ran great.

That's one of those frustrating little steps that can make a new install feel broken when it actually isn't. Sometimes a system just needs the air worked out before it behaves normally. We show exactly how we worked through it in the full YouTube video, so if you're commissioning your own system, it might save you some headaches.

Performance Numbers From the New System

As soon as the watermaker was up and running, the difference was obvious.

The new unit started producing about 27 gallons per hour, almost 30 gallons per hour right out of the gate. That is a huge improvement. Compared to the old setup, this is the kind of output that changes how you use the boat. Instead of making water all day, we can run the system for a relatively short window and fill the tanks quickly.

The pressure readings were looking solid too:

• Low pressure: around 6

• High pressure / inlet pressure: around 150 and bouncing there
  

Power draw was also very manageable for the boat's system. The watermaker was using roughly 47 to 48 amps. With the electrical upgrades we've made, especially the new Victrons and the coming solar expansion, that's completely workable.

Put another way, we can run the watermaker for about two hours, use roughly 100 amp-hours, and make around 50 gallons of water, maybe a little more depending on conditions. For a cruising boat, that's a fantastic tradeoff.

Why the First 30 Minutes Matter

Because the membrane had been pickled, we didn't send the initial product water straight into the tanks. Instead, we ran the system for 30 minutes and dumped that water overboard. That flushing period clears out the preservatives and anything else you don't want ending up in your freshwater supply.

After that initial run, the plan was simple:

1. Run the watermaker for 30 minutes

2. Discard the product water during that period

3. Recheck the system for leaks and stable operation

4. Then switch over and start filling a tank
   

That initial flushing step is not one to rush. If the membrane was stored pickled, you want to give the system time to purge properly before trusting the output.

Leaks We Found and Fixed

In total, we found about three leaks during commissioning.

None of them were catastrophic, and they were easy enough to fix, but this is exactly why first-run monitoring is so important.

The leaks included:

• A connection on a small line that wasn't fully seated

• A blue product-water line that needed to be pushed in more securely

• Another minor fitting issue tied to the new install
  

That's actually a pretty reasonable outcome for a fresh installation. Fittings settle, lines need to be reseated, and tiny leaks show up once there's real pressure in the system. The key is catching them immediately before they turn into a bigger mess.

After those fixes, everything looked good, and the system kept producing water steadily.

The Upgrade Is Bigger Than Just Water

One thing that stood out right away is how much this watermaker changes the rhythm onboard. When you have a unit that actually works well, you stop planning your day around water shortages. You stop babying the system. You stop wondering whether running it is worth the hassle. That's a huge mental shift on a cruising boat.

It also works well with the other upgrades we're making. More solar means more freedom to make water off battery power. Better power management means shorter generator dependence, or no dependence at all for this task. Faster production means less wear on everyone's patience. For us, this wasn't just replacing one broken thing. It was building a better system around the way we actually use the boat.

Boat Life in the Middle of All This

Of course, while all this was going on, regular life kept happening around us.

We were still sick. The pollen was everywhere. The bugs were out in force. The baby was napping. Rhys was in his room doing his thing during quiet time. We had a little gecko onboard as a temporary crewmate. And once the system was stable enough, it was time for the most important technical step of all: sitting down and having a well-earned cocktail.

Some upgrades feel especially good because they come after a rough stretch, and this one definitely did. We caught all of it on camera — the chaos, the troubleshooting, the cocktail, and everything in between.

Heading Back to the Marina

After the commissioning run, we weighed anchor and motored back down the ICW to the marina. Getting Calypso moving again always feels good, but this trip had another highlight. Rhys took the helm more, and it was one of those moments that reminds you why all the work is worth it. He was steering, watching for crab pots, dodging traffic, and doing a great job. Seeing your kid grow into boat life like that is something special. One day he'll probably be the one running the boat, and we'll just be the old people talking about how it used to be.

What's Next for Calypso

The watermaker commissioning was only one part of a bigger push to get the boat ready.

Next up is a scheduled haul out, where Calypso is getting some much-needed attention along with several exciting upgrades. The big one is the solar expansion:

• Going from 800 watts to about 2,500 watts of solar

• Adding a stainless steel solar rack on the stern

• Installing additional MPPTs and panels
  

That should pair beautifully with the new watermaker and make the whole boat more self-sufficient. We'll be documenting all of it, so make sure you're subscribed on YouTube so you don't miss what's coming next.

Final Thoughts on the Blue Water Watermaker

So far, this new Blue Water watermaker feels like exactly the kind of upgrade we needed.

It makes water fast. It runs off battery power. It performs dramatically better than the old system. And after a little troubleshooting during commissioning, it settled in and did what it was supposed to do.

That first run wasn't perfect, but honestly, perfect isn't usually how boat projects go. What matters is that we worked through the leaks, got the boost pump primed, flushed the pickled membrane properly, and ended the day with a system that was making close to 30 gallons an hour.

That's a good day on the water.

Now we keep moving. Haul out next. Solar next. More boat work, more upgrades, and hopefully a lot more cruising.

Because if all goes well, the boat stops fighting back for a minute, and we finally get to enjoy the reason we do all this in the first place. And we'll have the whole thing on YouTube — so come along for the ride. Disclosure: We are not affiliated with Blue Water or Spectra. We paid full price, nobody sponsored this, and every opinion here is entirely our own.