Most of our trips are long weekends with one or two three-week cruises each year. We usually have marina access at the beginning and end, but we love staying at anchor. Did a watermaker meaningfully change how you cruise, or did the maintenance outweigh the convenience?
For your usage I would first calculate tank capacity against the longest realistic stay away from a dock. We loved our watermaker during a six-month season, but for weekend sailing it would have spent more time being preserved and serviced than producing water. A portable emergency option and careful tank management may be the better value.
The benefit is not just drinking water—it is the freedom to shower, rinse salt and remain in a favorite anchorage. If you install one, choose a system you can service where you cruise and learn the pickling routine. Neglected watermakers become expensive very quickly.
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