How much water do you have?

[Nereid]

Hey folks!

We have been kicking around the idea that it would be nice to know how much water we have at a given moment, so we can stop over filling or randomly running out of water.
What water level monitors do you guys have? (aside from guesstimating what is in the tank by looking)
So far i'm not sure I have found a system that I like yet.

Suggestions?
Thanks!

P.S. the forum seems awfully quiet recently.

[brian chalk]

We never really felt the need for a tank monitor or gauge. We've used our boat primarily for cruising and think of our water in terms of days as opposed to gallons. We figured out that a tank lasted us 5-6 days. On day 5 we'd start listening for the sound of the pump sucking air. When that happened, switch to the next tank. We always knew within a day or two how much water we had left, and could plan ahead accordingly.

[Jim S]

We only cruise in Texas bays and the ICW for maybe three weeks at a time.

We alternate using the port and starboard tanks every two or three days (so noted in the log).  When that source is consumed (which has never happened on a cruise), we would have the 30 gallon bow tank remaining.  That is sufficient for us to get to a water source.

Water conservation is practiced, but is not rigidly draconian.  150 gallons of water has always been plenty for our cruises.

[Nereid]

Thanks folks,
So how long do you a typically cruise for? Three weeks or so?
Also, do you guys collect rain water or have a watermaker?
Thanks!

[SVTheEdge]

I was wondering the same thing.  I hate not knowing the status of the water.  The tanks are not totally square so it would be hard to get a level gage to accurately determine the total amount of water left in the tank based on how many inches are left in the tank.  I dont know the answer.  Also, its very hard to fill the tanks without looking through the tack access opening.  A flow meter can be installed on the outlet to measure used water.  Thats far fetched, I know.

[Jim S]

To answer the question, we do not have a watermaker or collect rainwater, they do not add to our safety or comfort.

Maybe we are trying to be more precise than the situation requires.  Foreign and multi-week passages will require more monitoring and awareness of the water tankage.  Cruises in populated areas do not.  We would always know when it was time to seek a water source when we switched to the bow tank.  The 5-6 day estimate is a good rule of thumb and we plan our cruise destinations around that time frame.

As to watermakers and catching rainwater, I leave those techniques (equipment) to those who are really in situations where there is no easily accessible water.  Just because watermakers are available does not mean they are supposed to be installed on every boat.  It is easy to continue to add equipment because it would be nice to have, but what is the real benefit?  Any item on board must justify its presence, and a watermaker does not fit that category with us.

Catching rainwater can be jury-rigged as needed with awnings and tarps that are already aboard (note: the two or more purpose rule  )

[SVTheEdge]

Benefits of a water maker? I'm no expert or a seasoned round the world sailor, but I love a shower every day.  Seems like a sleep better after swimming in salt and diving all day.  Not too mention the sweat and stickyness.   One of the main reasons I choose the 365 was the water capacity.  150 gallons is pretty good for a 36ft boat.  I just would like to monitor it more and plan a little better.  Maybe a 12v passive water maker wouldnt be too bad to have, if it werent so expensive.   

[Nereid]

Thanks for the input guys..
I guess to me I am looking for a solution to monitor and manage the boat's water system. I am planning another crossing coming up and figured it would be good to find a good way to keep track of water or get it, since it would most likely take 10-15 days between ports.
So far I have gotten my renewable energy system working great between the panels  and wind turbine, so now it is just getting the water sorted.
On that note, having never had to ferry a 100gal of water to the boat in a dinghy, I am not that well versed in this matter but I would imagine it would really suck to do every 5 days.
What have you all done before? Do you usually say at marinas when out and about or anchor and ferry water?

[Jim S]

Ten (or 15) gallons of water a day is a lot of water.  Barbara and I use about 3 to 5 gallons a day, including showers.  With our tankage, that would be about 30 days.... longer should we severely conserve.  The family unit composition and their habits drive the water consumption: more people means more water.  Perhaps a watermaker would be appropriate in a situation that needs more water. 

I could suggest that you ferry water to the boat on each, or most, dinghy trips...5 to 10 gallons per trip.  That would not be that onerous a process.  Carrying water in 5 gallon containers is doable and not that much room in the dinghy.  Most places do not mind if you get a few gallons, they might object/charge if you were to get 100 gallons.

A watermaker installation is an expensive, energy consuming, space occupying and maintenance requiring system.  I have no objections to one and when the benefits outweigh the cost they are certainly beneficial.  We like to sleep squeaky clean too!

[Nereid]

Thanks for the input Jim,
Do you guys have a separate salt water system for the galley or throughout the rest of the boat? I was thinking on adding a foot pump and plumbing specific for a salt water faucet in the galley.
(just thinking of ways to cut on use)
Thanks!

[Jim S]

 We do not have salt water plumbed into the boat. We never needed to access salt water, nor would we access the waters we cruise in. 

We only have one foot pump in the galley to access the water.  I do have a separate, clean sealed-up small bilge pump to access the tanks should the electrical system (or pump system) fail.  I would hate to have to dip my hand into the tanks with a small cup for a drink of water  .

The Pardeys had a below waterline faucet they accessed salt water on Talesyn.   I do not know how I feel about that system, I do not need to access salt water like they must have.

[Nereid]

Jim,
Im a tad confused how your plumbing is run.. Do you only have a foot pump to pressurize your fresh water line or the foot pump is just a backup for the electric one?
Also, what do you use to wash your dishes with (in my case a pile of dishes ha)? I feel like washing dishes is the highest water consuming activity (aside from filling up the hot tub on the foredeck.. well if i had a hot tub that would be the case) that is why i was thinking of putting in a salt water faucet..

[SVTheEdge]

I just completed a passage from St. Maarten to Ft. Pierce, Fl. on a Pearson 44 countess.  1100 miles and 9 days.  What a cadillac of a boat.  The sink was plumbed with a salt water foot pump and press water fauset.   Using salt water to wash is a must.  rinsing with only a very small amount of fresh water.  when we had our hatteras, we washed dishes in salt water that we brought in with a 5 gal bucket.  I currently have a foot pump in the sink as well as press water.  Guess we will use the bucket method and see if it works for a while.  The foot pump on my friends boats was a great ting to have plumbed to salt water. 

[Jim S]

My plumbing appears to be the standard Pearson 365 pressure activated electric pump system.  In addition, Phantom has a foot pump at the galley sink to pump fresh water as well.  We have no provisions to pump salt water into our sinks.

The manual bilge pump is reserved to access the water tanks should there be a malfunction in the electrical system, the electrical pump or the foot pump in the galley.

We do not use salt water because we are not in salt water that is clean enough to wash our dishes ( our water can look like cafe au lait ).  There is good reason to wash dishes in the salt water when offshore or in clean inshore water.  Certainly some of the inshore and coastal waters in Florida would be clean enough.

Sorry I was not clear.

[SVTheEdge]

Oh yes,  most salt water I wouldnt use to wash dishes.  Well, if you are close enough to the coast to have dirty salt water, you really should be close enough to get water from a marina.  I think most people could stretch out 150 gal for at least a few weeks.  We plan on going to the Bahamas this fall and maybe onward to the Carib.  I would like to have salt water plumbed into the sink though.  It was very helpful on my last trip with my friend on his 44 countess.