I purchased a 3' x 10' Steamaway from Leader Evaporator 10 or 12 years ago. (Back then the list price was $6,945. and now it is $8,996.)It was an extremely good investment. I would not go without it now. The Steamaway increased my evaporation rate by 60 gallons an hour, increased the incoming cold sap temperature to 195 - 200 degrees and produces a lot of hot water.
The only draw back of a Steamaway is that it is another piece of equipment to keep clean and you should clean it daily.
Joe
2004- 470 taps on gravity and buckets
2006- 590 taps on gravity and buckets 300 gph RO
2009- 845 taps on vacuum no buckets, 600 gph RO
2010- 925 taps on vacuum new 2 stage vacuum pump
2014- 3045 taps on vacuum, new 1200 gph RO
2015- 3104 taps on vacuum
2017- 3213 taps on vacuum
3' x 10' oil fired evaporator with steamaway