The LEDI Scout watermaker is a portable, 12V reverse-osmosis desalination system made on the Gold Coast, Australia. Drop the stainless intake over the side, connect the supplied hoses, and you are making clean drinking water in minutes, no plumber, no installation, no generator. If you are researching the Scout and want the full picture, this guide covers everything: how it works, what it produces, who it suits best, what it costs, and where it falls short.
What Is the Scout Watermaker?
The Scout is a self-contained, carry-on-style reverse-osmosis (RO) system. Everything you need to turn seawater or brackish water into drinking water is packed into an 18 kg case that one person can carry. There is no permanent installation involved. You do not need to cut holes in your hull, run new wiring through a bulkhead, or book a boatyard.
It is built around a Pumptec 107SS pump, made in the USA and rated to around 800 PSI, using 316 stainless steel internals. That is the same class of pump used in commercial marine installations, which is why the Scout produces reliable output without the price tag of a fixed system.
You can see the full product listing here: LEDI Scout 12V Watermaker.
Output and Specifications
The Scout is available in two output versions:
- 10 LPH (litres per hour)
- 20 LPH (litres per hour)
Running the 20 LPH model for two hours gives you 40 litres, which is a reasonable daily allowance for a couple on a coastal passage. For context, most people use 5 to 10 litres per day for drinking and cooking, and up to 20 to 30 litres if you add basic hygiene.
Other key specifications:
- Power: 12V DC, 16 to 18 amp draw
- Input water: seawater up to 35,000 ppm TDS, plus brackish or river water
- Output quality: 99.4% salt rejection, typically 250 to 300 ppm TDS (under 800 ppm TDS, which meets Australian drinking-water standards)
- Built-in UV steriliser for an extra layer of biological protection
- Pre-filter: 5 micron cartridge
- Weight: 18 kg
For a deeper look at what drives real-world output, this article is worth reading: How Much Water Can You Really Make at Sea? Output Ratings vs Real-World Performance.
How the Scout Runs on Solar and Battery Power
At 16 to 18 amps on 12V, the Scout draws roughly 192 to 216 watts. A standard 12V house battery bank with 200 to 400 watts of solar handles this comfortably without a generator. Most trailer sailers and cruising yachts already carry enough solar to run the Scout during the day while topping up the battery bank at the same time.
This is one of the key practical advantages over generator-dependent fixed watermakers. If you have reasonable solar on board, the Scout effectively costs nothing to run beyond consumables. For more on this, see: Sail Further on Solar: The 12V Watermaker for Small Cruisers.
Who the Scout Suits Best
The Scout is a strong match for:
- Trailer sailers and cruising yachts from 20 to 50 feet where a permanent watermaker install is impractical or undesirable
- Catamarans that want a portable backup or a primary system that moves between vessels
- Smaller crews of one to four people with moderate daily water needs
- Campers and 4WD travellers accessing rivers, dams, or coastal water sources off-grid
- Coastal passage makers who want water independence without a boatyard visit
If you have a larger crew, run showers underway, or need 40 to 80 litres per hour consistently, the Scout may not keep pace with demand. In that case, the LEDI Nomad (from $8,299, available very soon) is worth looking at, or the LEDI Modular if you want a permanent below-deck install.
What the Scout Costs and Why
The Scout starts from $4,799 AUD. That price includes everything you need to start making water: the unit, intake hose, output hose, and pre-filter.
For comparison, a professionally installed fixed watermaker typically runs $10,000 to $25,000 once you factor in parts, labour, and the boatyard. The Scout delivers the same commercial-grade RO membrane and pump technology at a fraction of the cost, for three reasons:
- Made on the Gold Coast, not imported from Europe or the USA, so there is no overseas distributor markup or international freight cost built into the price
- No installation labour cost passed on to you
- Non-proprietary, off-the-shelf parts that are cheap to replace and serviceable anywhere in the world
For a full breakdown of lifetime running costs, see: The True Cost of Owning and Maintaining a LEDI Scout Watermaker.
Honest Trade-Offs Worth Knowing
The Scout is not the right tool for every situation. Here is what it does not do:
- It will not keep up with heavy daily use for large crews (four or more people running showers). For that, look at the Nomad.
- It runs manually rather than at the push of a button. That is actually a reliability advantage (fewer things to fail), but it does mean you need to be present to operate it.
- Like any RO system, it needs basic upkeep: pre-filter changes, freshwater flushing after use, and membrane pickling if stored for extended periods. Every part involved in this maintenance is field-replaceable and available from LEDI, including the 5-micron pre-filter cartridge, RO membrane, and maintenance chemicals.
- It draws 16 to 18 amps, which is not the most efficient watermaker available, but it is well within what a modest solar setup can handle and far more affordable than high-end low-draw systems.
Browse the full range of Scout spare parts and accessories to see how straightforward the maintenance ecosystem is.
Warranty, Servicing, and Support
The Scout comes with a one-year warranty, extended to two years when you register the unit. Membranes are covered on a pro-rata basis. LEDI offers lifetime in-house servicing from their Gold Coast workshop, and spare parts are posted Australia-wide and internationally, usually within one business day.
When you contact LEDI, you deal with a real person, not a call centre. That matters when you are anchored offshore and need a quick answer on a maintenance question. You can reach the team at info@ledi.com.au or on +61 494 562 668.
Ready to Get Started?
The Scout is the most practical entry point into water independence for most Australian boaties and overlanders. It is portable, affordable, made from commercial-grade parts, and backed by a team you can actually talk to.
If you are ready to take a closer look, visit the LEDI Scout product page for full specs and ordering details. Australian shipping is calculated at checkout. If you are ordering internationally, contact the team directly for a shipping quote.
Not sure whether the Scout or another LEDI system is the right fit? Have a read of Watermaker Selection: What Actually Makes Sense on a Small Cruiser, or get in touch and talk it through with someone who knows the product inside out.
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