If you are searching for a 12V watermaker for your boat, the honest answer is that the right unit depends entirely on your crew size, daily water use, available power, and how much space you can give up. This guide cuts through the noise so you can figure out which system actually fits your situation before you spend anything.
Why 12V? The Case for Low-Voltage Watermakers on a Boat
Most cruising and trailer-sailing boats already run a 12V DC house bank. A 12V watermaker slots straight into that system with no generator, no inverter, and no shore power. You run it off the same batteries that power your nav instruments and cabin lights, and a modest solar array keeps everything in balance.
The trade-off versus a 240V fixed unit is output: a compact 12V system typically produces 10 to 80 litres per hour rather than hundreds. For most crews up to four or five people, that is more than enough for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene. If you are running a charter operation or a large liveaboard with showers running all day, the maths changes, and you need a higher-output system.
The other advantage is servicing. A 12V system built from standard marine-grade parts can be repaired almost anywhere in the world. There are no proprietary black-box controllers that need a factory technician.
How Much Water Do You Actually Need Underway?
Before choosing an output rating, work out your real daily demand. A rough guide:
- Drinking and cooking only: 2 to 4 litres per person per day
- Drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene: 5 to 10 litres per person per day
- Full comfort use including a daily shower: 15 to 25 litres per person per day
A solo sailor or a couple doing coastal passages can comfortably manage on a 10 LPH system run for an hour or two each day. A crew of four on a longer passage with more comfort expectations will want 20 to 40 LPH or more. Getting this number right before you shop means you will not undersize or pay for capacity you never use. Our article on how much water you actually need walks through the calculations in detail.
The LEDI Scout: Portable 12V Output Without Permanent Installation
The LEDI Scout is a self-contained 12V watermaker designed to be used without any permanent installation. Drop the stainless intake over the side, connect the supplied hoses, switch it on, and you are making water within minutes. There is nothing to bolt in and nothing to plumb permanently into the boat.
Key specifications:
- Output: 10 LPH or 20 LPH (selectable model)
- Power: 12V DC, 16 to 18A draw
- Weight: 18 kg, single-person carry
- Pump: Pumptec 107SS (USA-made, 316 stainless, approximately 800 PSI)
- Pre-filter: 5 micron
- Built-in UV steriliser
- Salt rejection: 99.4%, output typically 250 to 300 ppm TDS
- Handles seawater to 35,000 ppm and brackish or river water
- Meets Australian drinking water standards
- From $4,799 AUD
The Scout suits trailer sailers, cruising yachts from 20 to 50 feet, catamarans, and smaller crews. Because it weighs 18 kg and needs no through-hulls or dedicated wiring runs, it can move between boats or go in the 4WD for a remote camping trip.
Because LEDI makes the Scout on the Gold Coast rather than importing a finished unit from Europe, the price is considerably lower than comparable fixed-install systems. Commercial marine-grade parts (the same pump and membrane technology found in high-end installed systems) without the overseas distributor markup or heavy freight charges on an already-assembled 18 kg case.
When You Need More: The LEDI Nomad
If your daily demand is higher, your crew is larger, or you want showers underway as a matter of course, the LEDI Nomad steps up significantly. It produces up to 80 LPH, runs on 12, 24, or 48V, and includes an integrated control panel, two-stage pre-filter, TDS and flow monitoring, and autoflush compatibility.
The Nomad weighs 38 to 42 kg, so it is suited to larger vessels where a semi-permanent or permanent position makes sense. It is the right choice for liveaboards, longer blue-water passages, charter boats, or any situation where a 20 LPH portable unit simply cannot keep pace with demand.
The Nomad is available from $8,299 AUD. Final pricing on higher-output configurations is being finalised, and the full range is available very soon. If you are interested, contact the LEDI team to register your interest and get details as they are confirmed.
Permanent Install: The LEDI Modular System
For a refit or a new build where you want everything hidden below decks, the LEDI Modular kit is designed to be configured for a permanent or semi-permanent installation. Output ranges from approximately 10 to 80+ LPH depending on configuration, and the system supports a remote control panel and auto freshwater flush. Pricing is configuration-dependent, so contact the team for a quote based on your specific setup.
Power: Will Your Solar Setup Handle It?
A common concern is whether a 12V watermaker will flatten your batteries. In practice, a normal 12V house bank with 200 to 400 watts of solar runs the Scout comfortably. At 16 to 18 amps, a one-hour run costs roughly 16 to 18 amp-hours, which most cruising solar setups recover easily during the day. You do not need a generator, and you do not need to run the engine to make water.
For the Nomad at higher voltage configurations, power requirements scale accordingly. The team can walk you through what your specific bank and solar setup will support before you commit. Our article on running a watermaker on battery power covers this in more depth.
Maintenance: What You Actually Need to Do
Every watermaker needs basic upkeep. For the Scout, that means:
- Replacing the pre-filter cartridge regularly (how often depends on water quality)
- Flushing with fresh water after each use or at least every few days
- Pickling the membrane with preservative solution if storing for more than a couple of weeks
Every wear part on the Scout is field-replaceable. The RO membrane is a standard seawater grade unit available from LEDI or through marine suppliers worldwide. Spare parts are stocked on the Gold Coast and posted Australia-wide and internationally, usually within one business day.
LEDI offers a one-year warranty on the Scout, extended to two years when you register the unit. Membranes carry a pro-rata warranty. In-house servicing on the Gold Coast is available for the life of the unit.
For a full breakdown of what maintenance actually involves and how much it costs over time, the article on the true cost of owning a LEDI Scout is worth a read before you buy.
Honest Trade-Offs to Consider
No watermaker is perfect for every situation, and LEDI would rather you buy the right unit than be disappointed with the wrong one. A few things worth knowing before you commit:
- The Scout produces 10 to 20 LPH. If your crew genuinely needs 50+ litres a day, you will be running it for several hours or considering the Nomad instead.
- The Scout is a manual-run system rather than a push-button automated one. That simplicity means fewer things can fail and every part is user-serviceable, but it does require you to be present during operation.
- At 16 to 18 amps, it is less electrically efficient than some high-end systems, but those systems cost significantly more and are harder to service outside a major port.
- Like all RO watermakers, it needs consistent upkeep. Skip the freshwater flush for too long and the membrane can be damaged. The maintenance routine is straightforward, but it must be done.
Ready to Choose?
If you are a solo sailor, a couple, or a small crew on a 20 to 50-foot boat and you want fresh water without a permanent installation, the LEDI Scout is the place to start. If your needs are larger or you want a fully integrated system, the Nomad or the Modular kit may be a better fit.
LEDI is a small Australian company. When you get in touch, you speak to a real person, not a call centre. Call +61 494 562 668 or email info@ledi.com.au to talk through your setup. Shipping within Australia is calculated at checkout. For international orders, contact the team for a shipping quote.
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