Stella Marine Group

About Stella Marine Group

Stella Marine Group is an Australian marine manufacturer established in 2003. Its current manufactured product range includes Stella watermakers and fully automatic Aquarius systems.

## Watermaker Products And Services

The relevant systems or brands are Stella Gen 3 Watermaker; Stella Aquarius Watermaker; modular Australian-made desalination systems. The business advertises or is verified for Design; manufacturing; watermaker supply; technical support; marine engineering; installation and refit support. Its principal location for this directory is Unit N1/D, The Boat Works North Yard, 199 Beattie Road, Coomera QLD 4209, with practical coverage described as Gold Coast, Australia-wide and international dealer support.

## What Sailors Should Know

A marine watermaker is a reverse-osmosis desalination plant, not simply a filter. It draws seawater through an intake and pre-filter system, raises the pressure sufficiently for the RO membrane to separate fresh product water from concentrated brine, then sends the usable water toward a test point or tank. Production depends on seawater temperature, salinity, membrane condition, feed pressure and system design, so advertised litres per hour should be treated as a rated figure rather than a guaranteed output in every anchorage.

For a manufacturer, the most useful questions are output, power draw, pump architecture, membrane size, control method, installation footprint and how easily consumables can be sourced. Cruising owners should also ask how the system is flushed or pickled, what happens if a proprietary control component fails, and whether common filters, membranes and fittings can be purchased away from the original supplier.

## Sizing A Watermaker For A Cruising Boat

Output should be chosen from the crew's real daily water use rather than from boat length alone. Drinking and cooking may require relatively little water, while regular showers, washing machines, deck rinsing and liveaboard use can multiply consumption. A higher-output unit can shorten run time but may demand more AC or DC power. A low-energy DC system can suit a solar-heavy yacht but may need to run for many hours to fill the tanks. Owners should compare litres per hour, watts consumed, daily energy required and the capacity of the boat's battery, alternator, solar, inverter or generator system.

Installation space is equally important. Modular systems allow the membranes, filters and pumps to be separated around a machinery space, while framed systems can be easier to install and service when enough room exists. The intake should be located where it is unlikely to draw air or contaminated harbour water. The brine discharge needs a reliable route overboard. Filters, pressure gauges, flushing valves and membrane housings should remain reachable for routine maintenance rather than being buried behind permanent joinery.

## Maintenance And Long-Term Use

Watermakers reward regular use and correct shutdown procedures. Seawater left stagnant inside a membrane system can create biological fouling, so freshwater flushing is important when the unit will sit unused. Longer lay-ups may require preservation or pickling using the manufacturer's specified process. Prefilters need routine replacement and should be checked more often in silty, plankton-rich or polluted water. Product-water quality should be monitored before water is diverted into the main tank, particularly after servicing or a long period of storage.

Owners planning remote cruising should ask which spares are sensible to carry. Typical items may include sediment filters, pump service parts, O-rings, belts or impellers, hoses and preservation chemicals, but the correct kit depends on the specific system. Membranes often last a long time when operated and maintained correctly, so replacing them simply because of age is not always necessary. Diagnosis should consider feed flow, pressure, temperature and water quality before assuming the membrane has failed.

Services and expertise

• Watermakers
• Other marine service

Service area: Gold Coast, Australia-wide and international dealer support

Confirm availability, scope and pricing directly with the business before making arrangements.

A closer look