How much freshwater do I need?

[Frank C]

Just an observation re tankage on the Mac 26X ... both Tempo and Moeller offer a tall, side-saddle style fuel tank (18g or 25g) that would fit along the hull sides, aft of the head, and aft of the galley, 5 inches wide @ bottom and 9" @ top, 18" tall ... (Linked here, scroll 1/4 page down, black Tempo tank @ 18 or 25g, $175 or $200 each).

It would definitely be one way to squeeze 50 gals of fuel into this hull, assuming you'd determined that HAWAII is a goal. Then I suppose you could pack one 26 gal water tank forward somewhere, and refill it with a Waterlog watermaker ... now gimme an alphabet of acronyms (SSB, VHF, EPIRB, GPS) plus a Honda 1000w genset, a fishin' pole and a liferaft - Aloha!

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I put the 26 gallon Plastimo forward of the dinette. You can't really fill it completely without it pushing up on the seat. You can get close though.

There is nothing that says you have to fill it up all the time. Just put in what you want.

I have the same tank in the same place and I find I can fill it up all the way. The fill hose is just barely touching the seat at that point, but its not pushing up on it. I wonder what would be different in our set ups?

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I never liked the soft 5 gallon bags, but these hard 5 gallon ones are great. You can grab the empty one and easily take it to where the water is, no messing with fill hoses. We spend quite a bit of time on moorings and at anchor so we need a way to top up when away from a faucet and hose. You can take the 5 gallon containers to shore in the dingy with no problem for filling at any convienient faucet.

Although I have the 26 gallon plastimo (I like having too much water), I left the original 5 gallon bags on the boat in case I ever want to use those to fill up the larger tank. The larger tank makes it possible to use a washdown hose which comes in handy after the cockpit gets full of sand during a beach stop.

[dclark]

I put the 26 gallon Plastimo forward of the dinette. You can't really fill it completely without it pushing up on the seat. You can get close though.

There is nothing that says you have to fill it up all the time. Just put in what you want.

I have the same tank in the same place and I find I can fill it up all the way. The fill hose is just barely touching the seat at that point, but its not pushing up on it. I wonder what would be different in our set ups?

I don't know. How do you know when it's full? My fill for it is on the starboard side forward of the Genoa track. I figured it would be full when water backed up out if that. But it starts pushing against the seat before it gets that far. It does look like it must be close.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I put the 26 gallon Plastimo forward of the dinette. You can't really fill it completely without it pushing up on the seat. You can get close though.

There is nothing that says you have to fill it up all the time. Just put in what you want.

I have the same tank in the same place and I find I can fill it up all the way. The fill hose is just barely touching the seat at that point, but its not pushing up on it. I wonder what would be different in our set ups?

I don't know. How do you know when it's full? My fill for it is on the starboard side forward of the Genoa track. I figured it would be full when water backed up out if that. But it starts pushing against the seat before it gets that far. It does look like it must be close.

Maybe yours fills up a bit more than mine because I have the fill opening at the galley which is lower than the deck. I use a pretty good stream of pressure and when it starts backing up, I figure I'm full. But never really measured it to see if I'm really getting 26 gallons or not.

[risky]

Risky back at ya. Frank C., I'll bet your a pretty good fisherman. I'm getting a little sore from all this poking in the side but I can take it. I installed an 18 gallon tank in my V-berth ( hint: Frank that would be 24 gallons). I had to cut the top to get it in but the need is there. I put the foam back and then spray foamed it in tight. I also added a 12 volt pump to the sink. I also have a hose set up to run an out side shower. The fill is through a 2.5 inch hole in the fiberglass which is cover by the cushions in the V-berth. I carry the fold ups also and pour the left over into the big tank when water is available. I also have a rain catch system to fill the tank as when your far from land every drop counts. Make sure you pump the tank before freeze up and run a little antifreeze through the pump.

[Frank C]

Risky back at ya. Frank C., I'll bet your a pretty good fisherman. I'm getting a little sore from all this poking in the side but I can take it. I installed an 18 gallon tank in my V-berth ( hint: Frank that would be 24 gallons). ...

Risky, never had an appropriate role model, so I regret never having become interested or proficient at fishing. I do love Salmon and Ahi though, using the standard "green lures" at the local grocery. And sorry, don't quite understand the 18-to-24 gallons you mentioned.

Sorry about those sore ribs, but it's not really so much poking by me. You can certainly upgrade the 26X with fuel, electronics, generator and spares enough to make a fair probability at making Hawaii safely.

You probably could stow a 30-days water supply, and do without the watermaker. You need extra fuel to hopefully scoot from trouble and to keep the electronics alive, but I think the 50 gallon tankage mentioned above is reasonable. And I'd want some basic reinforcement of hatches and ports, and probably add bulkheads at v berth and companionway. I doubt there are very many professionals who would commend the attempt, but I don't think it's impossible. They thought Columbus was crazy too, right?! I'll prefer to remain coastal with less upgrading, but I'll be happpy suggest some reinforcements, and to cheer you along!