Is 50–100 l/hr enough for my boat?

Work from crew and habits, not boat length. Frugal cruising is 10 to 15 litres per person per day; daily showers and a washing machine push past 30. Four people at 25 litres is 100 litres a day, which a system in this band makes in 1.6 hours or so.

Should I buy more output than I need?

Usually yes, within reason: a higher-output system spends less time running, which means less noise and less wear per litre. The catch is that on a conventional pump, higher output normally means higher draw, so check the Wh per litre rather than assuming bigger is kinder to the bank.

By output · updated 5 September 2026

Watermakers from 50 to 100 litres per hour

The middle of the market: a family's daily water in one to two hours. Both pump technologies compete here, and the Wh/L gap between them is at its widest.

Most efficient in this bandSpectra Newport 400C4.5 Wh/L · 1.6 h and 450 Wh for 100 litres

Systems in this band14of the full table

System	Power	Output L/hr	Draw W	Wh per litre	Price
Newport 400C Spectra	12/24/48V DC	64	288	4.5	$14,500
Zen 50 Schenker	12/24V DC	50	240	4.8	$7,800
D60 Freedom Dessalatorreported	12/24V DC	60	550	9.2	on request
D60 DUO Dessalatorreported	12/24V DC	60	550	9.2	on request
Portable 24VDC 55L Rainman	24V DC	45–61	600	11.3	$4,898
Modular 24VDC 55L Rainman	24V DC	45–61	600	11.3	$5,053
Frame AC 100L, auto Rainman	AC 240V	70–110	1,250	13.9	$12,131
Frame AC 100L, manual Rainman	AC 240V	70–110	1,250	13.9	$8,642
Portable AC 75L Rainman	AC 240V	55–82	1,250	18.2	$4,402
Modular AC 75L Rainman	AC 240V	55–82	1,250	18.2	$4,522
Portable AC 70L Rainman	AC 240V	50–77	1,250	19.7	$5,296
Modular AC 70L Rainman	AC 240V	50–77	1,250	19.7	$5,299
Portable Petrol 75L Rainman	Petrol	55–82	—	petrol	$5,804
Portable Petrol 70L Rainman	Petrol	50–77	—	petrol	$6,699

Under 6 Wh/L · energy recovery

6–12 Wh/L

Over 12 Wh/L

Common questions

Is 50–100 l/hr enough for my boat?: Work from crew and habits, not boat length. Frugal cruising is 10 to 15 litres per person per day; daily showers and a washing machine push past 30. Four people at 25 litres is 100 litres a day, which a system in this band makes in 1.6 hours or so.
Should I buy more output than I need?: Usually yes, within reason: a higher-output system spends less time running, which means less noise and less wear per litre. The catch is that on a conventional pump, higher output normally means higher draw, so check the Wh per litre rather than assuming bigger is kinder to the bank.

Other output bands

More or less water per hour

Under 50 L/hr7 Over 100 L/hr14