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Mechanical & electrical
Find local marine watermaker supply, installation, servicing and repair help for Australian boats and yachts. Compare 37 reviewed businesses, local coverage and customer feedback.
A marine watermaker turns seawater into drinking water on board using reverse‑osmosis desalination and associated pumps and filtration. For many sailors a reliable watermaker is the difference between cruising independently and having to rely on expensive or scarce shore water. This page explains what a watermaker actually does, when you need one, and what to expect from supply, installation and routine servicing around Australia.
Watermaker systems vary in size and complexity — from compact, low‑power units made for weekenders to large, high‑capacity systems for liveaboard cruisers, charter boats and commercial vessels. All systems share common components: a raw‑water intake and strainer, multi‑stage prefilters, a high‑pressure pump to feed a reverse‑osmosis membrane, control valves and a freshwater collection arrangement. Performance depends heavily on feedwater quality (turbidity, algal load and salinity), power availability and how well the system is set up and maintained.
If your boat spends time in Australian tropical or temperate waters you’ll face additional risks such as marine growth, plankton blooms and heavy sediment in some anchorages. Regular servicing — cleaning prefilters, flushing membranes and checking the high‑pressure pump and valves — keeps a system producing as expected and prevents costly membrane loss. Use this page to understand what trades and services do, what steps a proper job includes, and which questions to ask before you book a watermaker technician or installer.
Reviewed directory
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Marine electronics
Marine Solutions Australia - MSACoomera, QLD5.0 · 25 Google reviews
Marine Solutions Australia is a multi-discipline marine engineering business with licensed marine electricians. Its current electrical service includes rewiring, lithium systems, switchboards, shore power, electronics and mobile fault response.
View profileMarine electronics
Ocean Phase Marine Electrical SolutionsMona Vale, NSW5.0 · 10 Google reviews
Ocean Phase is based at Bayview on Pittwater and has operated since 2013. The current business focuses on marine electrical and electronic design, installation, repair and vessel upgrades for yachts and powerboats.
View profileMarine electronics
BME - Barrenjoey Marine ElectricsNewport, NSW4.9 · 10 Google reviews
Barrenjoey Marine Electrics was founded in 1981 and is one of Sydney's long-established specialist yacht electrical companies. Its current services cover in-house engineering, electrical design, diagnostics, complete refits and marine electronics.
View profileYacht brokerage
R Marine JacksonsSandringham, VIC4.3 · 6 Google reviews
Family-owned motor-yacht dealership and brokerage based at Sandringham Yacht Club, offering new Riviera and Belize motor yachts for Victoria and Tasmania, a full pre-owned brokerage, and a service division that handles handovers, tuition, maintenance coordination, haul-out and hardstand work.
View profileMarina service
Spot on MarineEast Point, NT3.7 · 12 Google reviews
Rainman's current dealer network lists Spot On Marine in Fannie Bay as an Australian dealer. Spot On Marine operates a Darwin boatyard and maintenance facility.
View profileEngine service
South Pacific Marine GroupCoomera, QLD3.0 · 4 Google reviews
South Pacific Marine Group is from Coomera, QLD (37/76-84 Waterway Dr) and lists services and trades relating to marine electronics and electrical work, GPS supply, engineering and welding. The record includes a phone number (+61 7 5502 7111) and weekday opening hours (Mon–Fri 7:00–15:00).
View profileMarine electronics
Sydney Marine ElectricalDrummoyne, NSW2.0 · 4 Google reviews
Sydney Marine Electrical advertises a broad marine-only electrical service covering complete rewires, AC and DC distribution, charging, shore power, renewable generation, pumps, thrusters and navigation electronics.
View profileChandlery
AMI SalesO'Connor, WAAMI Sales is the Australian distributor for Parker Sea Recovery, HRO and Village Marine watermaker products. The current support network includes offices across multiple Australian states and watermaker service, repairs and spare parts.
View profileOther marine service
CITORWangara, WACITOR is a Western Australian family-owned reverse-osmosis manufacturer established in 1987. It explicitly supplies seawater desalination systems for private and commercial vessels as well as remote and industrial applications.
View profileChandlery
CROFTECH Marine and MotorGold Coast / Coomera, QLDCROFTECH Marine and Motor states it is a Rainman Watermaker dealer and supplies and installs Australian-made Rainman systems along with spare parts and consumables.
View profileOther marine service
DesalworksPerth, WADesalworks describes itself as Perth's marine watermaker service and repair specialist and services both off-the-shelf and custom-built desalination systems. This is a strong category fit because watermaker installation, servicing or desalination support is a core part of the business rather than an incidental marine service.
View profileMarine electronics
eMarine SolutionsMooloolaba, QLDeMarine Solutions is based at Mooloolaba Marina and provides mobile electrical and electronics work across a large section of the Queensland coast. It also works with watermakers and high-output charging solutions.
View profileChandlery
LEDI WatermakersSouthport, QLDLEDI designs and builds reverse-osmosis watermakers on the Gold Coast for marine and off-grid use. Current products include compact Scout and higher-output Nomad systems.
View profileChandlery
Local EngineeringRosehill, NSWRainman's current dealer list identifies Local Engineering in Rosehill. Recent customer material also documents a 140 L/h Rainman installation completed by the business.
View profileChandlery
M Water Marine & RVMarian, QLDM Water Marine & RV explicitly specialises in servicing new and used watermakers and lists Blue Water, Rainman, Eco-Sistems, Sea Recovery, HRO and Village Marine among the brands it supports. This is a strong category fit because watermaker installation, servicing or desalination support is a core part of the business rather than an incidental marine service.
View profileChandlery
Manna MarineMandurah, WABlue Water Desalination's current South Pacific dealer page identifies Manna Marine in Mandurah as an Australian dealer.
View profileChandlery
Manta MarineCairns / Portsmith, QLDRainman's current dealer network lists Manta Marine in Cairns as an Australian Rainman dealer.
View profileMarine electronics
Marine Tech ElectricsAirlie Beach, QLDDessalator's current Australian agents page lists Marine Tech Electrics in Airlie Beach as an official Australian agent.
View profileChandlery
Nash MarineNewport, NSWNash Marine currently has a dedicated Rainman Watermakers page describing modular systems, control panels, autoflush and watermaker operation.
View profileOnline sailing store
Nautical SuppliesDarwin, NTNautical Supplies is an established Australian marine retailer with an online store and waterfront branches in Darwin, Cairns, Rivergate (Brisbane) and Fremantle. The company combines a broad chandlery catalogue with on-site services including a sail loft, rigging and splicing, marine electronics sales and life‑raft service. Expect practical cruising kit, electrical and navigation equipment from recognised names such as Raymarine, Simrad, Zipwake and Vicinity brands listed on the site, plus Australia‑wide shipping and trade support.
View profileChandlery
Pleisure MarineCentennial Park, WAPleisure Marine explicitly advertises Rainman desalinators and Rainman watermaker installations, and also operates a Rainman hire service.
View profileChandlery
Port Douglas Marine EngineeringCraiglie, QLDRainman's current dealer network identifies Port Douglas Marine Engineering in Craiglie as an Australian Rainman dealer.
View profileMarine electronics
Port Macquarie Marine Services (PMMS)Port Macquarie, NSWPort Macquarie Marine Services is the on-the-tools installation partner associated with Shotgun Marine. It is operated by a qualified marine electrician and carries out electrical and electronics installation and service across the Mid North Coast.
View profileOnline sailing store
Quadrant MarineAirlie Beach, QLDWhitsundays marine chandlery and online store supplying sailing hardware, safety gear, electronics, plumbing, maintenance, rope, anchoring and cruising equipment.
View profileThe full picture
A watermaker produces potable water from seawater by forcing the seawater through semi‑permeable membranes that reject salt and most contaminants. The unit includes prefiltration to remove solids and protect the membranes, a high‑pressure pump that creates the necessary pressure for reverse osmosis, and controls for flow, pressure and flushing.
You need a watermaker when you want to reduce dependence on shore water, carry less heavy stored water, or cruise remote coasts for extended periods. Owners of liveaboard boats, long‑distance cruisers, charter operators and commercial vessels commonly fit watermakers. Even infrequent cruisers find them useful in regions where potable water is costly or inconsistent.
A competent installation or service will deliver steady production at the system’s rated output, low salt content in the product water (verified by a conductivity or TDS test), no leaks, correct operation of pressure and safety devices, and easy access for routine maintenance. Technicians should leave clear notes about any replaced parts, membrane condition and recommendations for continued operation.
Indicators of quality work include:
Installation typically includes selecting an appropriate location (engine room, lazarette or dedicated locker), mounting the unit, plumbing raw‑water pickup (through‑hull or sea chest), installing prefilters and membranes, routing product water into the freshwater tank and integrating electrical power. Electrical work often needs a marine electrician because of AC/DC conversion, inverters or generator interfaces and battery loads.
Other installation tasks include fitting a seawater strainer, setting up an automated flush or manual flush system, and planning service access so prefiltres and membranes can be changed without lifting heavy gear.
A standard service visit will usually cover inspection, prefilter changes, membrane flush and performance testing. The technician should record production litres per hour, feed pressure, brine flow and product water conductivity. If membranes are degraded, they may recommend cleaning or replacement — membrane lifespan varies with use, feedwater and maintenance. Repairs commonly involve replacing seals, impellers, valves, hose clamps, sensors or repairing the high‑pressure pump.
Good service practice also includes advising on anti‑fouling and stabilising procedures for seasonal layup, and safe disposal of cleaning chemicals or spent filters in line with local environmental requirements.
Before you call a watermaker technician, gather basic information and be ready to answer these questions to speed up diagnosis and give the technician what they need:
Also ask the service provider what tests they will perform and whether they will provide a written report with production numbers, TDS/conductivity readings and recommendations. Ask how they handle chemical cleaning and disposal, whether they will need a shore power hookup or to run your generator, and whether any haul‑out or hull work is likely.
Tropical and temperate Australian waters can cause rapid fouling — if you cruise the Great Barrier Reef, Kimberley or northern coast, insist on regular inspections and consider a scheduled monthly flush during extended stays. In turbid harbour or river mouths where sediment is high, replace prefilters more often. Never run a watermaker on poor‑quality feedwater without additional prefiltration.
Finally, plan for routine checks: keep spare prefilter elements, an approved cleaning kit and a calibrated conductivity/TDS meter aboard. A well‑installed and serviced watermaker gives confidence offshore; a neglected one can stop producing when you need it most. Ask the right questions before you book and expect clear test numbers and maintenance records after every service.