HP Watermakers is proud to announce that the new Prestige M7 motor catamaran, created by the Beneteau Group, has been equipped with the HP SCA 260-2 watermaker, a solution designed to ensure reliability, autonomy and ease of use during long cruises.

Prestige, the flagship brand of the Beneteau Group, has once again chosen the technology developed by HP for one of its most eagerly awaited models: the Prestige M7, the second in the M-Line range entirely dedicated to luxury multihulls. Built in the modern shipyard in Monfalcone, a production centre of excellence for yachts over 18 metres, the M7 represents a new vision of the cruise motor yacht.

“It is a great honour for us to have collaborated with this major industrial group, and with the Monfalcone shipyard in particular, which represents one of the most advanced production units in the nautical sector, because of both the expertise of its workforce and the methodologies employed in the construction process,” said Gianni Zucco, co-founder of HP Watermakers.

The installed watermaker is the HP SCA 260-2 model, which produces 260 l/h, amounting to over 6,000 litres in 24 hours. Its installation is completed by RP-TRONIC, which includes the automatic pressure regulation system and the remote control panel, while the pre-feed pump is supplied separately from the machine and is mounted in an unusual vertical position. The HP SCA series includes eight models with an hourly production of 100 to 500 litres, from the compact and lightweight HP SCA-Kilo, ideal for small and medium boats, to the four-membrane HP SCA 440-4.

“The installation of a watermaker on a catamaran requires specific solutions because two hulls mean two engine rooms, and, in order to accommodate this unique layout, the pump is positioned vertically,” explains Gianni Zucco, co-founder of HP Watermakers. “In this case, the shipyard chose a basic set-up, with only RP-TRONIC, but, as often happens, it is then up to the shipowner to decide on the extras to add to their watermaker unit: for example, the HP SCA 260-2 model can be equipped with the BiBi connection system, the Part-NET interface and the Sea0Spot softening system.”

RP-TRONIC is the only automation system for watermakers that makes it unnecessary to go to the engine room to adjust the unit because the system adjusts it automatically while maintaining constant pressure, which is essential for proper desalination. When sailing, seawater can vary in salinity and temperature and this directly affects its density, and therefore the pressure inside the desalination plant. RP TRONIC solves these problems with a motorised, automatic precision micro-metering valve, which can automatically adjust the pressure to optimal levels inside the watermaker so that the machine will work better for longer. The system is supported by the AMCS (Automatic Membrane Conservation System) for the automatic preservation of membranes. When a watermaker is not used for some time, the bacteria in the water can easily proliferate on the surface of the membrane, clogging it and reducing its production capacity. The AMCS works jointly with the automatic membrane washing and with RP-TRONIC: it automatically dispenses a dose of sodium metabisulphite during the membrane washing phase, keeping the membranes functional for longer.

Among the possible options, BiBi guarantees Internet connection, allowing  control over every process in the watermaker and the verification of each parameter, while Part-NET is the user interface compatible with Garmin, Raymarine, Furuno, Simrad, B&G and Lowrance plotters. In this way, the watermaker is connected directly to the plotters that automatically recognise it; this allows operators to control every process and verify every parameter directly from the bridge.

The Prestige M7 catamaran aims to redefine the concept of cruise motor yachts. Here is small revolution that turned into reality some time ago in the world of sailing boats and that could, with a few additions, also be successful in the world of motor yachts. This catamaran’s spaces are close to the ones in a much larger monohull, with no less than 25 metres against the “almost” 18 metres of the Prestige M7 that, with a beam of 7.56 metres, is also “slimmer” than sailing catamarans, which makes finding a mooring space much easier. Just mentioning the over 200 square metres of total living space, or the 112 square metres of the main deck alone, is enough to understand the meaning of the “great habitability” used to describe this catamaran. The layout includes four cabins plus the crew cabin, so with 8 beds for guests. The engine is powered by a pair of Volvo Penta D8 550 hp engines, each with V-Drive, which reach a top speed of just over 20 knots and a cruising speed of 17 knots.