Three circumnavigations

Three circumnavigations and 250,000 nautical miles: Enrico Tettamanti’s offshore experience with HP Watermakers

The applications of HP Watermakers desalination systems are always interesting, but understanding the choices and motivations behind those installations is even more valuable in explaining why certain models are preferred over others.

When a yacht owner decides to outfit a boat, they often rely on a consultant capable of interpreting their needs and optimizing them through practical experience. Enrico Tettamanti is exactly that kind of expert, drawing on 250,000 nautical miles sailed across every ocean in the world.

An adventurous life backed by extensive experience

Enrico Tettamanti is now 50 years old, and he spent 25 years living aboard his boats full
time pursuing the Kamana projects: reaching extreme or highly remote destinations by
sea. “Extreme made accessible” was the philosophy, with clients joining him in some of
the most remote and diverse locations imaginable.

Over the years, he has completed no fewer than three circumnavigations of the globe,
mostly through challenging waters such as the Northwest Passage and Arctic routes
connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Although he no longer sails full-time, it was a natural progression for him to put his
experience to work as a consultant for yacht owners and shipyards. Today, Enrico
Tettamanti specializes in project management for fully custom yacht builds, starting from
a blank sheet of paper to design and outfit vessels intended for long-range cruising and
remote expeditions. He also manages yacht sales and refit projects, while continuing to
sail aboard his robust Hallberg-Rassy yacht, naturally equipped with an HP Watermakers
SC 140 desalination system.

The importance of having a Watermaker on board

“You don’t need to undertake ocean crossings to appreciate the value of having a watermaker on board,” explains Enrico Tettamanti. “In the past, desalination systems were only installed on yachts of at least 70 feet. Today, they are increasingly requested even on 40-foot boats and smaller.”
“The reason is simple: more and more owners want to spend time away from crowded marinas, preferring peaceful anchorages and secluded bays. In these situations, access to fresh water becomes essential.”
He continues: “Modern sailing yachts, especially high-performance models, feature increasingly aggressive hull lines and shallower interiors, which inevitably reduces available storage space. Freshwater tanks are becoming smaller because interior volume is too valuable. The same issue applies to long-range motor explorers designed forextended autonomy.

That’s why having a watermaker on board is becoming less of aluxury and more of a necessity.

Why HP Watermakers Stand Out for Automation

“One of the most valuable advantages I see in HP Watermakers systems is their
automation,” says Enrico Tettamanti. “You don’t have to be an ocean sailor to appreciate
it. In fact, weekend boaters may benefit from RP-TRONIC and AMCS even more than
long-range cruisers.”

“Those owners typically use their boats intermittently and often without professional crew,
making maintenance easier to overlook. In my opinion, these two HP Watermakers
features are essential because they ensure the system continues operating correctly
even with limited supervision.”

RP-TRONIC is the only automation system for watermakers that eliminates the need for
manual pressure adjustments in the engine room by automatically maintaining constant
operating pressure. During navigation, seawater salinity and temperature can vary
significantly, affecting water density and therefore pressure inside the desalination
system. Stable pressure, however, is essential for efficient desalination.
RP-TRONIC solves this issue through a motorized, high-precision micrometric valve that
automatically regulates pressure to optimal levels, allowing the watermaker to operate
more efficiently and extend its service life over time.
RP-TRONIC works alongside AMCS (Automatic Membrane Conservation System), which
automatically preserves the membranes. When a watermaker remains unused for
extended periods, bacteria can proliferate on the membrane surfaces, clogging them and
reducing production capacity.

AMCS operates in conjunction with the automatic membrane flushing system and RP
TRONIC by automatically dosing sodium metabisulfite during the flushing cycle,
significantly extending membrane lifespan.

The Importance of After-Sales Service

“It’s widely recognized that the more a watermaker is used, the better it performs,” says
Enrico Tettamanti. “But the average leisure boat spends long periods inactive, typically
being used only during the summer season. Weekend owners often leave the dock with
full water tanks and have little need to produce additional freshwater during short
outings.”
“This intermittent usage can become a reliability issue. The automation systems help
tremendously, but unexpected problems can always occur. That’s why efficient, real-time
after-sales support from the manufacturer becomes crucial.”
“I’ve experienced this firsthand, and I can confidently say that HP Watermakers’ support
service has always been prompt and extremely helpful,” Tettamanti continues. “Even
without specific technical expertise, which is actually the norm among most boat owners,
their technicians were able to guide me remotely through troubleshooting, identify the
issue, and quickly ship replacement parts when necessary.”
“They have the ability to assist anyone, regardless of technical background. Over the
phone, they can guide even someone who has never held a screwdriver, thanks also to
the simplicity and accessibility of their systems, which are built using top-quality
components and materials.”

Choosing the right watermaker

“In general, production capacities between 150 and 300 liters per hour represent the
most common range depending on the size of the yacht,” explains Enrico Tettamanti.
“The 220 l/h model is currently the most requested, although on smaller boats other
considerations come into play, particularly space constraints and energy consumption.”
“No one likes running the generator overnight, so energy efficiency is always closely
monitored. That said, I generally advise against DC-powered watermakers, as they tend
to be less reliable.”
“Another important factor is the difference between declared production and actual
output. In my direct experience, HP Watermakers systems always deliver the advertised
production figures, something that cannot be said for every manufacturer.”
Everything under control from the helm
“An important step toward greener boating is optimizing energy consumption,” recalls
Enrico Tettamanti. “From this perspective, it’s essential that all onboard systems
communicate efficiently with one another.”
“My advice, both for the watermaker and the generator, is to maximize output in the
shortest possible time, which again highlights the importance of real production capacity.”
“To maintain constant control, it’s important to manage all this information directly from
the helm station. Thanks to Part-NET, the user interface compatible with Garmin,
Raymarine, Furuno, Simrad, B&G, and Lowrance chartplotters, HP Watermakers
systems connect directly to onboard displays, allowing users to monitor all system
parameters and operations from the chart table.”

“And needless to say, not having to go down to the engine room to check system
operation is an enormous convenience.”