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AQUAbibe Watermaker

Support

Premium All-in-One Watermaker

Desalination system for fresh drinking water on board, featuring a compact design, easiest installation, and uncompromising industrial-grade quality.

AQUAbibe Watermaker

Support

Premium
All-in-One Watermaker

Desalination system for fresh drinking water on board, featuring a compact design, easiest installation, and uncompromising industrial-grade quality.

AQUAbibe Support

AQUAbibe Support

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Which NAVA series is right for my boat?

NAVA CORE

The premium all-in-one system
• Compact pump unit with feed and high-pressure pump
• Particularly easy to install
35–250 l/h fresh water output
• Also available as a COMPACT version for limited space
• Modular, powerful, and highly flexible
Ideal for bluewater sailors and larger boats with high water demand

NAVA PURE

The classic watermaker solution
230V high-pressure pump + 12V feed pump
• Integration into 12V onboard systems via inverter possible
35–125 l/h fresh water output
• Also available as a COMPACT version
Ideal for boats with classic installation and moderate water demand

→ How do I choose the right AQUAbibe watermaker for my boat?

Before choosing the right AQUAbibe watermaker, you should consider the following factors:

- What power source is available on your boat to operate the watermaker? (DC or AC?)
- In which area do you primarily operate your boat? (Coastal cruising or bluewater sailing?)
- What is the size of your onboard freshwater tank, and how quickly do you currently consume this water? Keep in mind that water consumption usually increases once a watermaker is installed – as water becomes easily available.

Based on your answers, we will be happy to help you find the optimal AQUAbibe watermaker for your boat.

→ Where should I install the watermaker on my boat?

Thanks to the modular design of our AQUAbibe watermakers, you have maximum flexibility when installing the system on board.

There are virtually no limitations – with one important exception: a seawater intake (seacock) must be installed at the lowest possible point in the hull. This ensures that the low-pressure pump is continuously supplied with seawater without air entering the system, as air can damage both the membranes and the high-pressure pump. Ideally, the low-pressure pump should be installed below the waterline.

Another important consideration is to keep both low-pressure and high-pressure hoses as short as possible, as excessively long hose runs will increase the required energy consumption.

→ What power supply do I need?

AQUAbibe watermakers operate with 220 V AC / 50 Hz for the high-pressure pump and 12 V DC for the low-pressure pump.

The systems are designed to run on small portable generators, such as the widely used Honda EU22i (formerly EU2000i). With such a generator, the watermaker can be operated reliably while simultaneously charging the onboard batteries.

Alternatively, operation via onboard batteries in combination with a properly sized inverter is also possible, for example with a Victron Energy Phoenix Smart 12/3000. This configuration has been successfully tested by us.

Modern LiFePO₄ battery systems are particularly well suited, as they can easily provide the required power.

As with all high-power consumers on board, the electrical installation should be properly dimensioned and professionally executed to ensure reliable operation.

→ How much water do I need?

As a general guideline, one person on board consumes approximately 30 to 50 liters of water per day. This includes drinking water as well as water for showering, cooking, dishwashing, and other uses.

A crew of four therefore requires at least 120 liters of water per day.

However, experience shows that after installing a watermaker, this same crew typically consumes around 200 liters per day. Previously measured water usage almost always increases, as water becomes virtually unlimited.

→ Is the fresh water drinkable?

The fresh water produced by an AQUAbibe watermaker is safe to drink.

Through the reverse osmosis process using a semipermeable membrane, only pure drinking water passes through, with a TDS value* of approximately 100 to 270 ppm.

According to the WHO, water with a TDS value of up to 1000 ppm is safe for consumption. Countries such as the UAE and the Bahamas are supplied entirely with water from desalination systems (watermakers).

A common question concerns essential minerals, which are largely removed during the RO process. This is not a concern, as most of the required minerals are obtained through food intake.

* TDS: Total Dissolved Solids – a measure of the mineral content in water

→ What size should my watermaker be?

Several factors play a role here. In general, a seawater desalination system should be operated regularly. At the same time, it requires energy during operation and generates noise.
The goal is therefore to run the watermaker at regular intervals, but for the shortest possible duration each time.
Ideally, it is sufficient to operate the system every two days for one to two hours to refill the water tanks.
If a crew requires around 100 liters of water per day, a watermaker with a fresh water output of approximately 100 liters per hour is the ideal choice.

→ What power supply is required?

All AQUAbibe watermakers require a 230V AC power supply for the high-pressure pump.

The NAVA CORE series does not require any additional electrical installation.
The NAVA PURE series additionally requires a 12V DC connection.

Due to the combination of feed pump and high-pressure pump, the NAVA CORE series has a higher startup current and can be easily operated with the specified generators, provided they deliver the required starting power.

Thanks to the separation of high-pressure pump and feed pump, the NAVA PURE series has a lower starting load and can therefore, in certain cases, also be operated via 12V DC inverters. For smaller units, inverters from 2 kVA are recommended.

Many modern sailing yachts are already equipped with generators, allowing AQUAbibe NAVA watermakers to be operated reliably at any time.

→ Why choose a modular watermaker?

The modular design of AQUAbibe NAVA CORE and NAVA PURE watermakers allows installation even on smaller boats and in very limited spaces.

Instead of installing one large, compact unit, the individual components can be distributed flexibly within the hull (within certain technical specifications).

This design, combined with the high level of pre-assembly of all modules, enables a fast and straightforward installation of your AQUAbibe watermaker.

AQUAbibe Support

Installation

Typical Installation of a Watermaker on Board

Position
of the Watermaker

AQUAbibe NAVA CORE

Both the AQUAbibe NAVA CORE and NAVA PURE Watermakers should ideally be installed below the waterline so that the pre-pumps do not have to draw water (although they can to some extent) and the intake lines do not run dry when the system is stopped.

The NAVA PURE is more flexible in this respect due to its separate pre-pump, as only this component must be installed below the waterline.

In special cases, the high-pressure pump of the NAVA PURE can also be installed below the waterline, allowing the pre-pump to be omitted. Please consult the AQUAbibe Watermaker team in such cases.

Do I Need
a New Through-Hull Fitting?

AQUAbibe NAVA CORE

Two through-hull fittings are required to operate the watermaker: one for incoming seawater and one outlet for brine.

In principle, the intake can be shared with an existing inlet and consumer, but it must be ensured that sufficient water reaches the watermaker.

It is also important that this intake is installed at the lowest possible point in the hull to ensure a constant water flow.

For the outlet, a through-hull fitting above the waterline is recommended.

For all through-hull fittings, the diameters should be generously sized.

Can I Install
the Watermaker Myself?

AQUAbibe NAVA CORE

AQUAbibe Watermakers are pre-assembled into modules, making installation quick and easy.

The AQUAbibe NAVA CORE Watermaker is particularly easy to install due to the integration of the high-pressure and pre-pump.

For electrical installation, we recommend consulting a qualified professional.

For all other questions, the AQUAbibe Watermaker team is available at any time by phone or WhatsApp.

AQUAbibe Watermaker

About Us

Founded in 2021, AQUAbibe has stood ever since for fresh drinking water produced by modern and robust seawater desalination systems.
The Latin expression “Aquam bibens” can loosely be translated as “drinking water” and is the origin of our company name.

All AQUAbibe Watermaker desalination systems are built using German or European components, providing a solid and reliable foundation for long-lasting systems.

Our Mission

The ocean, with its seemingly limitless expanse, appears to offer an inexhaustible source of water. However, for sailors and yacht owners, obtaining drinking water on long voyages has always been a major challenge.

Carrying large quantities of fresh water requires storage space and increases weight. Relying on external water sources is not always practical or safe.

Anyone who has seen the vast garbage patches in our oceans no longer wants to store plastic bottles on board. With one of our AQUAbibe Watermakers, these can be avoided on board and ultimately also in the ocean.

The Solution

AQUAbibe Watermaker offers state-of-the-art desalination technology with user-friendly components specifically designed for maritime environments.

Thanks to advanced reverse osmosis, the AQUAbibe system efficiently filters out salt, bacteria, and other impurities, turning seawater into perfect drinking water.

The compact design requires minimal space, making it a practical solution even for smaller vessels.

Do you have any other questions?

In case of further questions, do not hesitate to contact us directly on our Contact page.

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