Do You Need a Watermakers & SSB?

Robert Fulton of Vancouver, B.C. is preparing to take his Tayana 37, Tropical Dreams, south to Mexico this fall, followed by the Pacific Puddle Jump next spring. He was very interested is our recent piece about Chris and Anne-Marie Fox’s two year cruise aboard their Islander 36, Starship.

"When transforming a regular boat into a cruising boat, two of the most common expenses are installing a watermaker and a SSB radio with a Pactor modem," Fulton writes. "Together they can cost upwards of $7,500 with installation. I’m reaching decision time with regard to both of them."

Starship’s 100-gallon water tank and the Fox’s water-conservation measures made it possible for them to exclude a watermaker from their cruising upgrades —  which pleased them quite a bit. The Fox’s also noted the amount of energy required to run a watermaker can entail either adding an additional source of power or running the main diesel too often.

When Latitude 38 started, nobody cruising in the South Pacific had watermakers. Rain catchment systems and sometimes extreme water conservation were all the rage. And so, during dry times, there were saltwater showers. 

The possibility of saving more money on upgrading his radio to SSB has Fulton asking, "I know that most bluewater cruisers have SSB radios for safety and social purposes, but I’m wondering if any  cruisers go without. And if so, how they feel about it?"

We’d like to know too. If you’ve sailed across the Pacific, as Fulton hopes to in the near future, what’s your opinion on the need for watermakers and SSB radios? Please, send us your thoughts via email.