Fishing Boat Watermaker Selection

From amateur angler to factory ship — model and power matching

Water demand on a fishing vessel depends on crew size, trip length and how often you return to port for freshwater. Long fishing trips slow operations when you depend on shore supply — a watermaker reduces that dependency.

Our locations page recommends 350–500 L/hour systems for the fishing segment; small amateur boats use SCW-30/50, mid and large trawlers SCW-150/350 (230V), and factory-type vessels SCW-500/1000 (380V). Final model is confirmed after survey.

Selection Order
  1. Daily litres needed
  2. Generator / power (12V–380V)
  3. Trip length and crew
  4. Fishing area (salinity)

Model by Vessel Segment

Segment Typical vessel Suggested model Power Note
Amateur / coastal ~15–20 m, short trips SCW-100 / SCW-150 230V Small crew, weekend fishing
Commercial trawler ~20–30 m, multi-day trips SCW-350 / SCW-500 230V / 380V Long anchorages, high daily litres
Factory / large trawler 30 m+, fleet or factory ship SCW-500 / SCW-1000 380V Continuous production — commercial guide

Which watermaker guide: SCW-30/50/100 are undersized for commercial trawlers and factory vessels; SCW-500 or SCW-1000 should be considered.

Power Infrastructure — Which Voltage?

12V DC

SCW-30 / SCW-50

Small amateur boat, limited crew. SCW-100+ is impractical on 12V only — 12V vs 230V.

230V / 50Hz

SCW-100 – SCW-350

Standard fishing-boat generator setup. SCW-150 and SCW-350 need no three-phase supply — reference installs at ports such as Ünye and Sinop.

380V / 50Hz

SCW-500 / SCW-1000

Large commercial trawler and factory ship. Requires 380V three-phase (440V/60Hz supported). See SCW-500/1000 product pages.

Calculating Daily Water Need

Per-person consumption in our capacity guide (drinking 3–5 L, galley 5–10 L, shower 20–40 L) is a starting point for fishing boats too. Commercial trawlers may have larger crews; daily litres ÷ hourly capacity = run hours still applies.

Example — 8 crew, moderate use

~250–350 L/day ÷ SCW-150 (150 L/hour) ≈ 2–2.5 h/day. Capacity guide target 2–5 h/day — within range.

Example — 15 crew, long trip

~500+ L/day → SCW-350 or larger; if 6+ h/day is needed, review next model up — capacity guide.

Fishing Area and Salinity

Black Sea fishing ports ~1.7–1.8% salinity; Aegean/Mediterranean ~3.8–3.9%. Lower salinity usually runs closer to rated output — see seawater temperature and salinity.

Black Sea: Sinop, Ünye, Ereğli — SCW-150/350, low salinity
Aegean: Güllük, Milas — SCW-350/500, summer heat planning
Mediterranean: Erdemli, Mersin — long-trip capacity
Service: Turkey locations — on-site install

Scenario Cards

Weekend amateur

2–4 people, 1–2 nights. SCW-100 or SCW-150; 230V generator enough.

Which watermaker

Mid Black Sea trawler

8–12 crew, 5–10 days offshore. SCW-150/350; low salinity benefit.

Ünye port example

Factory ship

Continuous production, large crew. SCW-500/1000, 380V — commercial segment.

Commercial vessel watermaker

Season and Maintenance

Fishing season is intensive; filters may clog faster at anchor in particle-rich water. Apply the pre-season checklist at opening and the lay-up checklist at season end. FAQ: winterisation required if idle more than 4 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lower salinity (~1.7–1.8%) reduces membrane load; SCW output stays near rated capacity. For service and on-site installation see our locations page.

SCW-30 or SCW-50 may suit a small amateur boat. Commercial trawlers and factory vessels should consider SCW-500/1000 — SCW-30/50/100 are not suited to that segment (which watermaker FAQ).

No. SCW-500 and SCW-1000 require 380V / 50Hz AC (440V/60Hz supported). On 230V fishing infrastructure the practical upper choice is usually SCW-350. Power fit is confirmed at survey.

No. Seacraft provides on-site installation across Turkey; we come to your port. FAQ: installation is free for buyers — appointment and survey still required.

When daily demand needs continuous high output, you have 380V infrastructure and SCW-350 alone is not enough, see watermaker for commercial vessels. SCW-500 (500 L/hour) and SCW-1000 (1000 L/hour) serve this segment.

Related Guides

Commercial Vessel Watermaker · Which Watermaker · Salinity Effect · All Guides

Survey for Your Fishing Vessel

Crew, trip length and generator reviewed together

Book an Appointment Call: +90 252 412 90 78