What is the best water system to install?

[BNG]

I have the stock hand pump sink faucets. I see some go with the pressure system which is activated by turning on a faucet and the other system you hit a switch. Are there any disadvantages or advantges. Unfortunately the guy at WM wasnt too helpful. Which sytems have better pressure? Most of my trips are just a few days. Maybe 5 days at the most. I was planning on using the space under the seat forward of the dinette table.

Thanks
Brian

[vkmaynard]

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1104

This pump can run dry. The cheaper pumps will have to be replaced if they run dry (per Jabsco). I went with higher pressure (40 psi) so it could run a shower and push water thru a carbon water filter (Home Depot). The pump runs more than quite enough and the pressure demand is just like home.

I use the "dead space" under the cooler section. Works perfect.

Victor

[John McDonough]

For drinking. Bottled water, lemonade and beer.

[Terry]

You can buy those plastimo flexible water tanks and lay them down under the aft berth, a space that is not used by much else and can be utilized with water storage. I would recommend at least a 100+ litre bag because it is rectangular and can fit lengthwise down the aft berth and does not have to be completely filled. There is not enough verticle room to fill full anyway. I made the mistake of buying the 50 litre bag and we always run out after 3 days.

[Russ]

I've gone through several starting with the stock hand pump. Hated it because I couldn't wash hands and pump the thing simultaneously. Some people can, I can't.

First, realize you WILL use more water with electric pumping but that can be managed.

I tried a cheap electric pump with a switch on the faucet. Big mistake. It's not self priming (big PITA). There is no flow control, it's ON or OFF. It wasted a lot of water. I still have both pump and switched faucet. Piece of junk. Don't do this.

Finally, I replaced the fiberglass sink with a stainless sink and faucet (Lowes $80). Then I put two 5 gal water jugs in the v-berth. See this thread. I went with Duane Dunn's idea. A thin hose goes into the jug like a straw extending out the jug's valve. This then connects to a larger hose that feeds a pressure pump connected to the faucet. There is enough slop in the jug hose that passes through the valve on the jug that it doesn't need venting. I can regulate the flow depending on my needs. When it runs out (50% used up) I switch to the other tank. The stainless sink rinses out nicely and the larger drain is a plus.

Another advantage of this system is the space under the sink is usable. Previously the water "bag" sloshed around wasting all that space.

We bring water from home that has our familiar "taste" vs. local well water. So far this works very well.


--Russ

[BNG]

Thanks Russ. When you switchedn to the 5 gallon tanks did you switch the pump at the same time?

[Russ]

Thanks Russ. When you switchedn to the 5 gallon tanks did you switch the pump at the same time?

The stock lever manual pump comes out very easily. First I put in a switch/faucet combo. It was a cheapo pump and wasn't self priming. Never buy a pump that isn't self priming. The switch was on/off that simply powered the pump on/off either full on or full off. There was no trickle for say, rinsing a toothbrush.

This year I resigned to redo the galley. That included new (self priming) pressure pump, faucet, sink and the two 5 gal jugs for water. It really was very easy to do.

Our M sits low in the stern. Between our 70hp Suzuki, 24gals of fuel and my fat behind it's heavy in the cockpit and the bow is high. I considered the flexible pastimo tanks under the aft berth. That space is normally wasted, but I didn't want to add extra weight back there. Water @ 8lbs per gal is a lot of weight. I wasn't sure if I'd like the plastic Coleman jugs but they are CHEAP and simple. We generally take the empty home for cleaning and refill. Dropping it into the forward v-berth compartments isn't a big deal at all. If I need more than 10 gals of water, just bring more jugs. Easy to refill on the go if needed. It's easier to bring a jug to a water spigot than to bring my boat to the fuel dock to refill the tank.
The plastimo tanks are cool, but I don't know how you clean them if they get funk in them. This system has worked very well this year for us.


--Russ

[BNG]

Thanks for the feedback Russ.

[Catigale]

han to bring my boat to the fuel dock to refill the tank.

Moreover, you often dont want water from the fuel dock - you have to wonder where that hose has been...

[vkmaynard]

On the 26X we added the shelf mod under the sink (removed the useless black fascia). BIG improvement in storage. We also gained storage in front of the sink by removing the 5 gal water jug and other place where the 2nd flexible 5 gal water jug used to be when we added the 27 gal (maybe fill to 25 gal) flexible tank in one of the most unused spaces on the boat (under the cooler). We remove our tank and dry it when not in use. Minutes worth of work.

Like Russ said, having a pressure demand system is great. Just like home.

Victor

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

i used two of these in my X. comes w/ a pump, abt $50 (IIRC). everything else (waterbags and tubing) is stock.



no muss, no fuss, ez to use

Bob T.
"DāBob"
'02X w/ '04 90-TLDI (14" x 11 pitch)
Dinghy Motor: '06 2.5-Suzuki

[Gypsy]

The system I am currently building on our is a SS sink with a bar type faucet , a 40psi on demand pump , two plastimo tanks , for a total of about 39 gallons of water , and a thru hull deck fill .

The tanks are located on the port and starboard sides under the head of the V berth . A rectangular tank runs bow/stern while the smaller square tank sits on the starboard side . The tanks meet at the water ballast air vent.
The tanks are teed together for both fill and output .

I am building a stowage box to fit under the bow dinette seat and it will act as a bulkhead on the smaller square tank.

Except to get this box finished and installed , we are ready to test the new system out.

[DaveB]

Victor,
I use a 13 gal. Flexible tank (can fill to 10.5 gals) under the sink between the stringer and inner liner, this works great and is wedged in. I used a 1/8 inch rubber mat. on the bottom and sides to reduce chaffing.
I like your position for the 26 gal. tank under the cooler and will hook it up to Head sink and outside shower therefore having two separate water tanks.
I want to put a whale gusher foot pump in the galley sink but concerned about sticking out 2 inches, used them before on other boats and they are trouble free and one can use both hands at the sink. The head and aft shower I will hook up a elect. pump.
Keeping the water tanks at lowest part of bildge will also increase ballest.
Dave

On the 26X we added the shelf mod under the sink (removed the useless black fascia). BIG improvement in storage. We also gained storage in front of the sink by removing the 5 gal water jug and other place where the 2nd flexible 5 gal water jug used to be when we added the 27 gal (maybe fill to 25 gal) flexible tank in one of the most unused spaces on the boat (under the cooler). We remove our tank and dry it when not in use. Minutes worth of work.

Like Russ said, having a pressure demand system is great. Just like home.

Victor

[vkmaynard]

Victor,
I use a 13 gal. Flexible tank (can fill to 10.5 gals) under the sink between the stringer and inner liner

That's a great idea (more unused dead space). If we start to run out of water I will add the 13 gal one later and daisy chain them together.

Victor

[DaveB]

The only problem is weight, general rule is for every 100 lbs you add you need 1 to1-1/2 hp more. This means my Honda 50 can't cut the mustard and need a larger engine. Mine is 13 years old now and looking at the 60hp Merc. Big foot or 70 hp 2 stroke. I am bow heavy the way I am set up now with twin group27 batteries in Vberth and we store all our stuff in the Vberth.Also concerned with the two drain outlets at waterline with no seacock, may put in two brass ball valves for shut off or put a outer line over and clamp as a backup.Fully loaded I am at 3400 lbs boat and 1050 trailer.
The Idea of putting in the extra tank is for showers, our 10.5 gal easy lasts for 6 days or more. and we also carry about 5 gals in drinking water.Just would like to use more than 1/2 gal. per shower.
Dave

Victor,
I use a 13 gal. Flexible tank (can fill to 10.5 gals) under the sink between the stringer and inner liner

That's a great idea (more unused dead space). If we start to run out of water I will add the 13 gal one later and daisy chain them together.

Victor