Size a marine watermaker to your crew, not a generic per-person formula: Dessalator, the line MAURIPRO carries, bands its own units by crew size — 2–6 people for the D30/D60 Freedom and D60 Duo (30–75 L/hr), 4–6 people for the D100 Cruise and D100 Duo (100–105 L/hr), and medium-to-large yachts or commercial vessels for the D160–D300 Pro line (160–340 L/hr). Power source — DC off the alternator, AC off a generator, or dual-energy — matters as much as output for a 30–45 ft cruiser deciding whether to add a watermaker at all.
On a mid-size cruising sailboat, jerry cans and marina hose-downs work fine for coastal weekends, but they stop scaling the moment you start anchoring out for a week at a time or planning an offshore passage. A watermaker turns seawater into drinking water on demand, which is what lets you choose an anchorage for its shelter or its reef instead of its water dock.
Dessalator has been building marine watermakers for more than 35 years, with over 8,000 units in service worldwide, and is the OEM factory choice for builders including Amel, Beneteau, Discovery, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Oyster, X-Yachts, and Wauquiez — a track record worth knowing before you compare specs line by line.
Marine watermakers at a glance
The full Dessalator range MAURIPRO carries, from the smallest DC unit to the largest three-phase Pro system.
| Model (SKU) | Output | Power | Weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D30 Freedom (DES-D30FREEDOM) | 30–38 L/hr | DC 12/24V (alternator) | 35 kg | 2–6 people, smallest DC footprint |
| D60 Freedom (DES-D60FREEDOM) | 60–75 L/hr | DC 12/24V (alternator) | 38 kg | 2–6 people, higher DC output |
| D60 Duo (DES-D60DUO230V) | 60–75 L/hr | Dual-energy: DC + 230V/120V AC | 45 kg | Boats that want engine AND generator power options |
| D100 Cruise (DES-D100CRUISE230V) | 100–105 L/hr | AC 230V (120V on request) | 45 kg | 4–6 people, generator or capable inverter aboard |
| D160 Pro (DES-D160PRO) | 160–190 L/hr | AC 230V/50Hz standard (120V/60Hz, 400V 3-phase on request) | 71 kg | Medium-to-large yachts, long duty cycles |
| D300 Pro (DES-D300PRO) | 300–340 L/hr | AC 400V 3-phase only | 80 kg | Large yachts, superyachts, commercial vessels |
How much output does my boat actually need?
Size by crew, not by a generic per-person-per-day formula: Dessalator’s own sizing guidance bands each model to a crew count rather than publishing a single water-per-person figure, and that band is the most reliable starting point because it comes straight from the builder. The D30 and D60 Freedom, plus the D60 Duo, are built for boats with 2–6 people aboard; the D100 Cruise and D100 Duo step up to 4–6 people; and the D160–D300 Pro line is built for medium-to-large yachts, superyachts, and small commercial vessels running long duty cycles. If you routinely host guests, run daily showers, or plan extended offshore passages, size up within your crew band rather than down — a watermaker that runs a shorter cycle each day lasts longer than one worked at its limit.
DC, AC, or dual-energy — which power type fits my boat?
Match the power type to how you actually run your boat. The Freedom line is DC-only: it draws off the engine’s alternator, or off a battery bank kept charged by a generator feeding a suitable charger, so it needs no separate AC circuit and installs simply. The Cruise and Pro lines are AC-only, built for boats with a generator, shore power, or an inverter sized to carry the load — the trade-off for higher output per unit is that AC draw. The Duo line is Dessalator’s patented dual-energy design, described by its dealers as the only dual-energy watermaker on the market: the same unit runs its DC motor off the alternator while motoring and its AC motor off the generator at anchor, so you are not locked into one power source.
Modular Freedom, Duo, and Cruise units vs the framed Pro line — what changes?
The Freedom, Duo, and Cruise models share a compact, modular design: their individual components are small enough to tuck into locker space that would otherwise go unused, which is what makes them practical to retrofit into a 30–45 ft cruiser without a major refit. The Pro line trades that footprint for duty-cycle strength — it uses larger electrical motors run at de-rate specifically for long, continuous production runs, which is why it is the choice for medium-to-large yachts, superyachts, and small commercial vessels that need to fill big tanks fast rather than fit into a tight locker.
What maintenance does a watermaker actually need?
Less than most owners expect, according to Dessalator’s own service guidance: the line has automatic and manual fresh-water rinsing built in as standard to protect the membranes, and the CAT-style pump carries built-in run-dry protection that Dessalator says is good for thousands of operating hours with no routine servicing beyond an occasional pre-filter change. For laying the boat up, Dessalator sells a sterilizing dose cartridge and a reusable sterilization cartridge specifically for pickling the system between uses — both stocked alongside the watermakers themselves.
Which should I choose?
- Coastal or weekend cruiser, engine runs often, wants the simplest install: D30 Freedom or D60 Freedom — DC-only, off the alternator.
- Wants the option to run off the generator at anchor too: D60 Duo — the dual-energy DC/AC line.
- Has a generator or a capable inverter and a fuller crew: D100 Cruise — 100–105 L/hr on AC power.
- Medium-to-large yacht, long duty cycles, or professional/charter use: D160 Pro, stepping up to D200 or D300 Pro for the largest platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a watermaker on a 30–45 ft cruising sailboat?
Not for coastal weekending, but it becomes genuinely valuable once you start anchoring out for extended stretches or making offshore passages — it lets you pick an anchorage for its shelter rather than its water dock, without planning voyages around marinas.
What’s the difference between the Freedom and Duo lines?
Freedom units are single-energy and DC-only, drawing off the engine alternator. Duo units add a second AC motor so the same watermaker can also run off the generator at anchor — Dessalator’s dealers describe it as the only dual-energy watermaker on the market.
Does a DC Freedom watermaker need the engine running to work?
Not strictly — Dessalator’s own guidance notes the Freedom line can also run off a battery bank kept charged by an on-board generator feeding a suitably sized charger. In practice, most owners run it while motoring, since that is when the alternator is already turning.
How much does a watermaker weigh, and where does it mount?
Weight runs from 35 kg for the D30 Freedom up to 80 kg for the D300 Pro. The modular Freedom, Duo, and Cruise units are designed to split across small, otherwise-wasted locker spaces; the larger Pro units are frame-mounted and need a dedicated equipment space.
What maintenance interval should I plan for?
Dessalator states there is no specific servicing requirement beyond an occasional pre-filter change, thanks to built-in automatic and manual fresh-water rinsing and run-dry pump protection. For lay-up, use a sterilizing cartridge to pickle the membranes rather than leaving the system dry.
Shop watermakers
Explore the full Dessalator range — DC Freedom, dual-energy Duo, AC Cruise, and framed Pro models — sized from daysailers to superyachts.
A good starting point for a 30–45 ft cruiser adding DC-only capability is the Dessalator D60 Freedom.