Rainman Desalination Launches a Fully Automated Watermaker Control Panel
Rainman's new automated control panel brings app-based monitoring to its watermakers, with a retrofit path for current owners.
Rainman Desalination released a fully automated control panel on November 10, 2025, a major upgrade to its modular and framed watermaker systems. The Sydney, Australia-based company sells through more than 100 dealers worldwide, including several in the Caribbean, and the new panel adds full-featured automated controls, Bluetooth connectivity via a phone app, and manual backup operation to the brand’s existing lineup — with a retrofit path for current owners.
“This launch significantly strengthens our luxury product offerings for OEM partners, charter fleets, and aftermarket customers,” says Ron Schroeder, managing director. “We’ve listened carefully to our customers and created a solution that brings advanced automation to our watermaker systems without compromising the reliability and ease of use that marine operators depend on.”
Rainman’s reputation for simplicity traces back to its founding. Dave Goldie started the company after returning from James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge expedition, when he needed a watermaker for his own boat in Sydney Harbour and found the systems on the market too complex and expensive. Inspired by how straightforward his Honda generator was to run, he and sailing friend Ben Deacon built a self-contained unit that needed no permanent installation — the same philosophy Rainman has carried through its product line since, with Schroeder later joining as a third co-founder to help take the design to market.
The new control panel keeps that philosophy intact even as it adds automation. Boaters can monitor system performance and adjust settings remotely from the app, while the pressure-control architecture is built to fall back to manual operation if the electronics or sensors fail — so a software issue doesn’t leave a boat without fresh water offshore. All current Rainman users can retrofit the new panel onto their existing AC systems rather than buying a new unit outright.
More details are available at rainmandesal.com/rainman-auto-control-panel.
Carol Bareuther has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.
