Watermaker for Boats: Compare Output, Power and Price

A watermaker for your boat should match your daily fresh-water use, onboard power and available installation space. Compare output, battery draw, portability and the complete installed cost before choosing a marine reverse-osmosis system.

LEDI builds and supports watermakers on the Gold Coast. Use the comparison below to shortlist Scout, Nomad or Modular, then ask an engineer to check your boat and power setup.

Compare boat watermakers: Scout, Nomad or Modular

Prices checked 12 October 2026, excluding shipping and any installation work. Output varies with water temperature and salinity. Confirm the selected model's electrical requirements before purchase. Compare the portable range in detail.

Size the system from litres per day

Divide the water you need each day by the hours you can run the unit. Replacing 40 litres in two hours requires approximately 20 L/h. Replacing 80 litres in two hours requires approximately 40 L/h. Add a margin for feed-water conditions, and retain a fresh-water reserve for times when watermaking is unavailable.

For a small yacht with a limited house bank, read our 12V watermaker guide to output, battery use and pricing. Higher output can shorten run time, but compare the energy required to make your daily water volume.

Why the "best" watermaker depends on your boat, not a review ranking

Most "best watermaker" lists rank units by brand recognition or raw output. What actually matters is whether the unit produces enough water for your crew each day, whether your batteries and solar can run it, whether it fits your space, and whether you can service it anywhere. Match those four factors first, then look at price.

• Daily output: How many litres per day do you genuinely need? A couple needs roughly 10 to 20 litres a day for drinking and cooking. Add showers and a larger crew and that figure climbs fast.
• Power budget: Do you run 12V DC, 24V, or 240V? Do you have solar, a generator, or both?
• Space and weight: Can you dedicate a locker to a permanent install, or does the unit need to come out and stow when not in use?
• Serviceability: Can you replace wear parts yourself at anchor, or do you need a workshop?

The LEDI Scout: a portable option for modest daily needs

The LEDI Scout is a portable 12V reverse osmosis watermaker producing 10 or 20 litres per hour. At approximately 18 kg, check that the unit suits your lifting ability and stowage access. There is no installation: drop the submersible feed pump over the side, connect the supplied hoses, and you are making water within minutes. It draws 16 to 18 A at 12V, so check your usable battery capacity and actual charging against your planned run time and other onboard loads. A generator is not required when a suitable 12V battery supply is available.

Key specs at a glance:

• Output: 10 LPH or 20 LPH
• Power: 12V DC, 16 to 18 A draw
• Weight: approximately 18 kg; check lifting and stowage access
• Product-water TDS: rated below 500 ppm; check output quality during operation
• Built-in UV steriliser; follow the operating manual and check product-water quality
• Handles seawater to 35,000 ppm and brackish or river water
• High-pressure pump: Pumptec 107SS (USA), 316 stainless, Scout 20 recommended operating pressure: 750 PSI
• 5-micron pre-filter, internal hour meter for servicing
• Price: from $4,899 AUD

The Scout suits trailer sailers, cruising yachts from 20 to 50 ft, catamarans, and smaller crews. Because it is portable, it also goes ashore for 4WD trips or camping. If you want to run it further from the water source than the standard 5 m feed hose reaches, the Scout Auxiliary Feed Pump covers moderate runs, and the Nomad Auxiliary Feed Pump handles the longest runs, roughly 20 to 30 m horizontally and up to 5 m of vertical lift. Both use the same SP13 2-pin connector, so either plugs straight in.

The LEDI Nomad: a higher-output option for larger daily needs

When a crew needs showers underway, when you are on a long passage, or when you run a charter, the LEDI Nomad is the right answer. It produces 40, 60, or 80 litres per hour and runs on 12V or 24V DC (240V via a mains adapter; 48V BLDC available as a custom premium upgrade). The Nomad weighs approximately 50 kg (46–52 kg dry) and is designed for a dedicated locker or below-deck space aboard larger boats.

Standard inclusions on every Nomad:

• Integrated control panel with TDS monitor and flow meter
• 2-stage pre-filtration
• Internal hour meter for servicing
• 316 stainless DEFLOK fittings, autoflush-compatible
• Cat Pumps 2SFSEEL 316-stainless high-pressure pump, fully serviceable
• Hoses and fittings, instructions
• Price: from $9,899 AUD (single membrane) or $10,899 AUD (double membrane)

The Nomad suits liveaboards, blue-water passage makers, charter vessels, and larger cruising catamarans where daily water demand is high and a semi-permanent install makes sense.

When to consider the LEDI Modular instead

If you are doing a refit or a new build and want the watermaker mounted out of sight below deck with a remote control panel and automatic freshwater flush, the LEDI Modular installed watermaker range is worth considering. Output is configurable from roughly 10 to 80 or more litres per hour. Pricing depends on configuration, so contact the team for a quote if this is your route.

What makes a marine watermaker genuinely good, not just marketed well

The parts inside matter more than the brand on the outside. Both LEDI units use commercial marine-grade components: the Scout runs a Pumptec 107SS high-pressure pump, the Nomad runs a Cat Pumps 2SFSEEL, and both use standard marine-grade RO membranes. Every part is non-proprietary and field-replaceable, so you are not locked into a single supplier for consumables.

On the Scout, the routine consumable is the 2.5 x 5-inch pre-filter cartridge, replaced roughly every 10 to 40 hours depending on water clarity. The RO membrane is not a regular consumable; with correct flushing and pickling it lasts several years. The Scout is also compatible with an add-on 2.5 x 10-inch pre-filter for dirtier conditions. All spare parts post Australia-wide and internationally, usually within one business day.

Both units are built on the Gold Coast by LEDI. You deal with a real person, not a call centre. Warranty is one year, extended to two years on registration, with lifetime in-house servicing available on the Gold Coast.

How much does a good boat watermaker cost?

A portable reverse-osmosis watermaker for a boat starts at $4,899 AUD for Scout 10 LPH and $5,799 AUD for Scout 20 LPH. Nomad starts at $9,899 AUD. These listed prices include GST and exclude shipping. For a permanent installation, also budget for mounting, plumbing, electrical work and any configuration-specific accessories. Ask for a complete quote so you can compare systems on the same basis.

For a detailed breakdown of what to budget beyond the unit itself, see The True Cost of Owning and Maintaining a LEDI Scout Watermaker.

A quick decision guide: Scout or Nomad?

• Boat under 50 ft, crew of 1 to 4, modest daily use: Scout 10 or 20 LPH
• Boat 40 ft and up, larger crew, showers underway, long passages: Nomad 40, 60, or 80 LPH
• Refit or new build, out-of-sight install, remote panel: Modular
• Need roughly 30 LPH: Nomad 40 run fewer hours, not two Scouts
• Off-grid trips ashore as well as on the water: Scout, because it is portable

If you are unsure of your daily water budget, How Much Water Do You Actually Need? and How to Size a Watermaker System Properly are worth reading before you buy.

Plan the installation, passage and spare-parts kit

• Sailboat watermaker sizing and daily run-time examples: work out production hours, battery demand and tank reserves for a passage.
• Marine watermaker guide: understand the onboard system before choosing your installation.
• Watermaker spare-parts compatibility checklist: identify filters, membranes, pump kits and fittings before ordering.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best watermaker for a sailboat under 40 ft?

Start with daily water consumption and available run time. Scout 20 produces approximately 40 litres in a two-hour run at rated output, which may suit a smaller crew. Boat length alone does not determine suitability; check battery capacity, lifting access and locker dimensions. Scout 20 is listed at $5,799 AUD including GST, excluding shipping.

Can I run a boat watermaker on solar alone, without a generator?

Yes. The Scout draws 16 to 18 A at 12V, so a two-hour run uses approximately 32–36 Ah before charging. Solar can support the battery supply, but check actual solar yield, usable battery capacity and your other loads. See Running a Watermaker on Solar Power for detail on sizing your setup.

How often do I need to service a marine watermaker?

The main routine task is replacing the pre-filter cartridge, roughly every 10 to 40 hours depending on water quality, and performing a freshwater flush after each use. The RO membrane is not a routine consumable and lasts several years with proper care. An internal hour meter on both the Scout and Nomad tracks running hours so you know exactly when service is due.

Does LEDI ship watermakers outside Australia?

Yes. LEDI ships worldwide direct from the Gold Coast. Freight is calculated case by case, so contact the team at info@ledi.com.au or +61 494 562 668 for a quote. Import duties and taxes are the responsibility of the customer in their destination country.