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Old 04-03-2013, 11:28 PM   #1
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Default Water maker in ditch bag

Can anyone tell me what most people do for water source in ditch bags or on life boat? The 995 US Dollars for a small RO from Katadyn seems steep but might not be so steep if you need it.
Anythoughts?
Bryan
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Old 04-04-2013, 12:54 AM   #2
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Dunno, I don't ever plan to abandon ship. The people who do that generally perish while their yachts keep on sailing. Just my $0.03 (adjusted for inflation).
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Old 04-04-2013, 05:02 AM   #3
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Small distilling bags are available. They depend upon the heat of th sun to evaporate sea water and can produce significant quantities of drnking water dependent upon the latitudes in which you sail.

I can't remember what they are called but generally they would be available from specialist outdoors adventure type shops.
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Old 07-01-2014, 08:01 PM   #4
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The solar stills I have seen (made for aircraft or mil-spec) ARE expensive (hundreds of dollars each) for units that produce about a pint a day (as I recall) IF they work well at that time (due to weather etc.). Steven Calahan (life raft survivor for 76 days in Atlantic) used TWO solar stills (military surplus style) and one failed him pretty soon (came apart). He had to depend on the other one (and it helped him survive), but after weeks of use it also began to fail (less and less output of water). Of course he was out there for a long time. Read his book "Adrift."

There are also some single use osmosis emergency desalinator "bags" that produce a flavored (like a "electrolyte" sports drink) but they are also expensive, only produce about a half liter per bag (as I recall) and are strictly SINGLE use. Use it once, make no more.

I would prefer to have a hand-operated Reverse Osmosis watermaker with me, especially if there are more people in the raft.
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Old 07-02-2014, 03:15 AM   #5
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I agree the best option is a small reverse osmosis water maker. The distillation bags were about $30 and merely required a little sunlight, or heat of the day, and some brackish water.

I used a similar method when traveling in the remote bush of Oz. All that is needed to create fresh water from a saltwater source is a bucket, a cup, a small rock or fishing weight and some cling film.

Here is a product which employs the same technology, but comes ready made Watercone® The Product

Of course if you are on the boat and your water supply becomes contaminated at sea, you can distil via condensation, a lot of water as long as your stove is working and you have a pot or pan with a concave lid.

I have tried to find the distillation bags I referred to above, but it seems the suppliers in Oz have stopped supplying them. However, the following is available on eBay HTI Seapack KIT Emergency Desalination Purification Filter Clean Water Htisp | eBay

Fresh water is vital to life and I can't imagine going to sea without a system, primitive as it may be, to back up water tanks in case of contamination, and in case my katadyn water maker fails.

For a lot of information on distilling water from the sea, Google or search YouTube for emergency desalination.
Cheers.
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Old 07-02-2014, 02:20 PM   #6
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I like to admit whenever I make a mistake. I was mistaken about one of my comment above.

Regarding the "single use" desalinator. (Seapack name), their marketing info says it can be used a few times within 10 days. I make no claims on this, as I have never used one. I did a quick search and that same product can be found on amazondotcom and even Homedepot online sites.
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Old 07-02-2014, 04:54 PM   #7
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Just checked on Amazon. I saw this Amazon.com : Aquamate Solar Still Emergency Water Purification Inflatable Kit : Camping Water Purifiers : Sports & Outdoors which is the desal bag I talked of in my original post. Honest, they used to be $30..now $200+. Yikes!
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