BoatKit communicates with supported Spectra Connect controllers over the vessel LAN for live state, faults, service context, and administrator controls. Each controller appears as a watermaker in Equipment settings, where it can receive a friendly name or be hidden from ordinary controls. When multiple watermakers are enabled, the Watermaker tool provides a live selector. Each controller needs to be reachable on the boat’s main Ethernet or Wi-Fi network. If one only has wired Ethernet, inexpensive client bridges such as the VONETS VAP11G-300 or TP-Link TL-WR802N can put it on the vessel Wi-Fi. These are consumer devices, so give them protected mounting and stable power appropriate to the installation.
The integration connects each watermaker to the rest of the boat through common start, stop, fresh-water-flush, quality, production, and output-disposition controls. The first Spectra integration also retains the detailed HMI and tank-aware automation: select the relevant freshwater tank and BoatKit can display its level during a run and stop production above a configured target. Additional Spectra units remain selectable through the common watermaker surface. A generic Start command requests a bounded 12-hour run; the detailed primary controls continue to support hour, gallon, and tank-percentage targets.
The same watermaker operating card appears in the tool and in saved dashboards. A small corner card shows Off and the next observed fresh-water flush; during a run it shows remaining time and adds target, progress, quality, pressure, and production as space allows. Details opens all readings, while the tool keeps the controller mirror and service data below the card. When the unit is powered off for seasonal storage, mark it Winterized in Equipment. Its card and history remain available without an expected connection warning or remote controls until it returns to service.
What BoatKit retains
Available run status, acceptance state, pressures, filter condition, production rate, product-water quality, water temperature, and voltage are normalized into BoatKit’s sensor model. Those values can be retained as history and placed in dashboards with tank and power state, making it possible to review a completed cycle rather than relying only on the controller’s current screen.
A tablet can operate the integration while its BoatKit runtime is active on the same Wi-Fi network. A dedicated device is the appropriate host when tank-aware monitoring and stopping must remain available continuously. Support is independently implemented and does not imply endorsement by Spectra Watermakers.