From RO Water to Revive: A Yacht Captain’s Journey to Better Hydration Onboard The Moment It All Clicked

Founder - Kieran Bown at the helm.

I still remember the first time I saw a yacht produce its own fresh water. I had just joined my first boat as crew, wide-eyed and eager to learn, when the chief engineer pointed out a machine humming away in the engine room.

“That’s the watermaker,” he explained. “It pulls in seawater, runs it through filters and

membranes, and—boom—we’ve got fresh water.” It felt like magic. The idea that we could take the ocean and turn it into something drinkable

fascinated me.

I wanted to understand every part of the process, from the mechanics of reverse osmosis to the chemistry behind filtration. It was the beginning of what would become a decade- long obsession with water. But back then, I didn’t question what we were drinking. RO water was clean, pure, and readily available onboard. That was good enough for me—until I started to notice something was off.

The Problem with RO Water

For years, I drank straight RO product water, just like the rest of the crew. It was the same water we used for everything—drinking, cooking, making coffee, filling up our reusable bottles before heading on deck for a shift.

At first, I didn’t think much of it. But over time, I started to feel dehydrated, even when I was

drinking plenty of water. My energy levels fluctuated more than they should have, and I often

found myself reaching for electrolytes to compensate. Something wasn’t adding up.

I started researching the effects of reverse osmosis water and quickly found what I had been

missing: RO water is stripped of essential minerals.

Magnesium, calcium, potassium—all the good stuff that naturally occurs in water—was being

removed in the filtration process. What we were left with was clean, but essentially empty, water. Not only that, but RO water is slightly acidic, which can throw off your body’s pH balance over time. The more I read, the more I realized that drinking pure RO water long-term wasn’t the best choice for hydration.

That’s when I decided to experiment.The Bottled Water Dilemma. The logical solution seemed to be switching to bottled mineral water. I stocked up on my favorite brands every time we pulled into port and immediately noticed the difference—I felt better, more hydrated, and more energized.

But the downside was obvious. Every time we restocked, I couldn’t ignore the sheer amount of plastic waste we were creating. Even though we tried to recycle, the reality is that a lot of that plastic would eventually end up in landfills or, worse, back in the ocean.

For a yacht crew that prides itself on respecting the sea, this was a major problem.

There had to be a better way. Building a Better Water System

Installation of the XL System onboard a new Lagoon 65

I became obsessed with finding a solution. If bottled water was better because of the minerals, then why couldn’t we add those minerals back into our own onboard water supply?

I started experimenting with mineral cartridges, testing different ways to reintroduce essential elements into our water. I bought filter housings online, swapped out different combinations of minerals, and kept fine-tuning the process.

By the fourth or fifth iteration, I was finally happy with the results. The water tasted better, had a balanced pH, and actually kept us hydrated. The crew loved it, and we quickly realized we no longer needed to buy bottled water. That was the moment I knew we were onto something. Fast forward a few years, and that system has evolved into Revive Water Systems, a solution now used by yachts around the world to create high-quality, mineral-rich water onboard.

How Revive Water Systems Works

Revive isn’t just another water filter—it’s a missing link in yacht water systems.

Most yachts rely on two primary water sources:

1. Dock Water – When in port, yachts connect to municipal water supplies, which often

contain chlorine, heavy metals, and other impurities.

2. Desalinated Water (RO Systems) – At sea, yachts use reverse osmosis watermakers to

create fresh water, but this removes all the natural minerals along with the contaminants.Revive is designed to work with both.

✔ It integrates seamlessly into existing yacht filtration systems.

✔ It restores essential minerals that RO removes.

✔ It balances pH, making water healthier and more bioavailable.

✔ It enhances taste, making it crisp and refreshing.

With Revive, yachts can produce their own premium drinking water—no bottled water

needed.

S/V Twin Flame - One of the 1st yachts to integrate the system onboard.

Why Every Yacht Needs to Revive Their Water

If you’ve been relying on RO water alone, you might not realize how much better your onboard water could be.

Here’s why every yacht should consider upgrading their system:

💧 Better Hydration – Mineralized water is absorbed more efficiently by the body.

🌱 Sustainability – Eliminates the need for plastic bottles, reducing waste.

🏆 Premium Water Quality – Guests and crew get the best-tasting, healthiest water possible.

As yacht crew, we spend our lives on the ocean—it only makes sense that we take care of it.

With Revive, we’ve found a way to stay hydrated, cut waste, and improve onboard water quality in one simple step.

The future of yachting is sustainable, smart, and self-sufficient—and that starts with what’s in your glass.

Revive your water. Revive your health.

Next Steps

I’d love to hear from other yacht crew out there—have you noticed the effects of drinking RO

water long-term? Have you tried alternatives? Let’s talk water, hydration, and how we can make the industry better.

If you’re ready to upgrade your yacht’s water system, check out Revive Water Systems and start making the switch today. 🚤 💦