If you are looking for a 12V watermaker in NZ, LEDI ships direct from the Gold Coast to anywhere in New Zealand. There is no distributor in the middle, no local dealer markup, just a portable reverse-osmosis system built in Australia and posted straight to your door. Here is everything you need to know before you buy.
Why New Zealand sailors and cruisers choose a 12V watermaker
New Zealand waters stretch from the sheltered Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds to the exposed Tasman Sea and the open Pacific. A long passage, a remote anchorage, or a multi-week cruise around the Coromandel or Northland coast all share one problem: finite tank capacity. A 12V reverse-osmosis watermaker solves that problem by converting seawater or brackish water into clean drinking water using only the power from your boat's house battery. No shore power, no generator, no jerry cans.
The appeal for NZ boaties specifically comes down to a few practical points. Marinas and fuel stops thin out quickly once you head north of Whangarei or south of Wellington. Carrying enough water for a two-person crew for two weeks means sacrificing payload or making frequent detours. A compact 12V system removes that constraint and makes the voyage simpler.
Which LEDI system suits most NZ boats?
LEDI makes three watermaker families. Matching the right one to your situation matters more than picking the most powerful or the cheapest.
- LEDI Scout (10 or 20 LPH): the portable option built for boats roughly 20 to 50 ft. At 18 kg it is a single-person carry. Drop the stainless intake over the side, connect the supplied hoses, and it is making water in minutes. No installation, no through-hulls beyond the supplied submersible feed pump. Draws 16 to 18 A at 12V, runs comfortably off a 200 to 400W solar setup. Priced from $4,899 AUD. This suits the vast majority of trailer sailers, cruising yachts, and catamarans doing coastal or offshore passages around New Zealand.
- LEDI Nomad (40, 60 or 80 LPH): higher output for bigger crews, liveaboards, charter boats, or anyone who wants showers underway. Runs on 12V or 24V DC. Priced from $9,899 AUD for the single-membrane unit. Suited to larger vessels doing longer passages or carrying more people.
- LEDI Modular: a configurable kit for a permanent below-deck install on a refit or new build. Worth considering if you want the system completely out of sight with a remote control panel. Pricing depends on configuration; contact the team for a quote.
If you are a solo sailor or a couple on a 28 to 45 ft yacht doing the NZ coast or crossing to Fiji, the LEDI Scout is almost certainly the right fit. If you are running a larger vessel with four or more crew and need 80 to 200 litres a day without running the watermaker constantly, look at the Nomad.
How the Scout handles NZ conditions
New Zealand coastal water varies. The Hauraki Gulf and Marlborough Sounds can carry silt and tannins after rain. Open ocean around the Northland and Bay of Islands is clean blue water at 33,000 to 35,000 ppm. The Scout is rated to handle seawater up to 35,000 ppm as well as brackish and river water, so it covers the full range of conditions you are likely to encounter.
The high-pressure pump is a Pumptec 107SS made in the USA, running at around 800 PSI through a 316 stainless circuit. A 5-micron pre-filter catches sediment before the membrane. If you are regularly operating in silty water, the Watermaker Install Kit includes a larger 2.5x10" pre-filter housing that holds more dirt and extends time between filter changes.
Output quality is 99.4% salt rejection, typically producing water at 250 to 300 ppm TDS, well under the 800 ppm threshold that meets Australian drinking-water standards. A built-in UV steriliser treats the output water before it reaches your tank.
Noise sits around 65 dB, about the level of a dishwasher. That matters on a small yacht at anchor.
Running it off 12V solar in NZ
New Zealand gets good solar in summer, particularly in Northland and the Bay of Plenty. The Scout draws 16 to 18 A at 12V, which means a standard house bank of 100 to 200 Ah with 200 to 400W of solar panels runs it comfortably during daylight hours. You do not need a generator.
At 20 LPH, one hour of running produces 20 litres. A couple typically uses 10 to 15 litres per person per day for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene. Running the Scout for one to two hours in the morning while the sun is up keeps a two-person crew well supplied without touching reserves.
The Scout has an internal hour meter, so you always know exactly how many running hours are on the unit. That makes servicing straightforward: you know when to change the pre-filter and when the membrane is approaching its service interval, rather than guessing.
Shipping to New Zealand: what to expect
LEDI ships anywhere in the world direct from the Gold Coast. There are no overseas distributors or agents, including none in New Zealand. Freight to NZ is charged and calculated case by case. Contact the team at info@ledi.com.au or call +61 494 562 668 to get a freight quote before you order, or the checkout will calculate it for you.
Import GST on goods over NZD 1,000 is collected by NZ Customs and paid by the buyer on arrival. This is standard for any purchase shipped into New Zealand from overseas and is not something LEDI controls or adds to the price.
Every LEDI system is hand-built and tested to order on the Gold Coast. Allow roughly one week for manufacturing and testing, plus transit time. The team will give you a realistic estimate when you order.
Spare parts, including pre-filters, RO membranes, and maintenance chemicals, are available from the LEDI spares store and post internationally, usually within one business day.
Maintenance: what the pre-filter and membrane actually cost you
The main consumable is the 5-micron pre-filter cartridge. In clean ocean conditions it lasts roughly 30 to 40 running hours. In silty or murky anchorages it might need changing every 10 to 20 hours. A replacement costs $25 AUD and takes a few minutes to swap. That is the routine maintenance cost.
The RO membrane is not a regular replacement item. With a freshwater flush after each use and proper pickling for long-term storage, it lasts several years. A replacement membrane is $330 AUD if you ever need one, but most owners go years without replacing it.
LEDI carries a 1-year warranty on every unit, extended to 2 years when you register. Lifetime in-house servicing is available on the Gold Coast. Every part in the system is a standard, off-the-shelf component, which means a local marine engineer in Auckland or Whangarei can also help if something needs attention on the road.
NZ context: cruising the Pacific from New Zealand
Many New Zealand sailors use their boats as a base for Pacific cruising, heading to Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, or New Caledonia in the May to October window. These passages are exactly where a watermaker earns its place. Provisioning water for a week-long passage plus extended anchorages in remote island groups is genuinely difficult without one.
A Scout at 20 LPH gives a two-person crew comfortable water security for the entire Pacific season without rationing. For the crossing itself, the ability to make water in open ocean means you can leave with lighter tanks and carry more food, fuel, or safety gear instead.
If you are planning those passages, the articles on the true cost of bottled water in the Pacific and why backup desalination is critical in the South Pacific are worth reading before you go.
For anyone sizing their system, the guide on how much water you actually need gives a practical breakdown by crew size and use case.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a 12V watermaker in NZ from a local dealer?
LEDI has no distributors or agents in New Zealand. Every unit ships direct from the Gold Coast. There is no local dealer markup, which is part of why the pricing is more competitive than comparable imported systems. Contact the team directly for freight quotes and ordering.
Does the Scout work on New Zealand coastal water and not just open ocean?
Yes. The Scout handles seawater up to 35,000 ppm as well as brackish and river water. NZ coastal conditions, including the silty waters of the Marlborough Sounds or the Hauraki Gulf after rainfall, fall well within its operating range. You may need to change the pre-filter more often in murky conditions, but the system handles it.
Do I need to install it, or can I use it straight from the box?
The Scout requires no permanent installation. Drop the included submersible feed pump over the side, connect the supplied hoses to the unit, and connect to your 12V supply. It is making water in minutes. For longer hose runs or more distance from the water source, the Scout Auxiliary Feed Pump or the Nomad Auxiliary Feed Pump can extend that reach considerably.
What does shipping to New Zealand cost?
Freight to New Zealand is charged at cost and calculated case by case. The checkout will calculate it, or contact the team before ordering for a quote. LEDI does not offer free shipping. NZ Customs GST on imports over NZD 1,000 is the buyer's responsibility on arrival.
Ready to sort your water independence before the next season? Get in touch with the LEDI team at info@ledi.com.au or +61 494 562 668. You will speak to a real person, not a call centre. See the full Scout range at lediwatermaker.com.
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