water bottles vs. jugs

[Little Otter]

I prefer Jerry cans because they hold alot but they a compact if need be you can drain a few and make a raft by tying them together, (and they can also be use for armor) JK. seriously though i use them mainly because they are a tried and true way to sfley store water and they are conveinent.

[nautical62]

My first pocket cruiser had a 30-gallon tank, I chose to carry water containers both to carry a larger volume of water and because I questioned the water quality from the very old inaccessible main tank.

I built a new shelf unit near the galley with a fiddle that held a 5-gallon coleman water container with spigot. I kept five additional containers under a dinette seat which was fairly central and low in the boat. What I liked about this system was: 1. always knowing exactly how much drinking water I had left, 2. Having the drinking water compartmentalized, so that it was very unlikely I'd ruin, contaminate or spill all of it at once, 3. Being able to take the jugs to any water source in the dingy to fill up. (Sometimes I even used them first to fill the main water thank then filled them again with drinking water).

What I didn't like was that it either took up storage area below, or could cause a potential weight distribution , safety or loss issue if stored on deck. Hefting 5 gallon water containers around is also hard on the back as one gets older....

[AnchorageGuy]

Jack, If I understand correctly you carry 25 gallons in your tank. You will find in short order that this is no where near enough especially in remote areas. Look at the bladder tanks and try to set up a water catchment system. Nothing is better than filling your tanks with good rain water.

[Jack Long]

Hey Chuck,

I've got 40 in tankage (a 15 and a 25) then three 6 gallon jugs right now. I might add one more jug. So I am at 58 and thinking of going to 64.

I've got some stuff on board intended to make a catchment system too. Actually, I had a plan for this but then read a little gem in one of the Pardey books about using the main cover inside out... I might try that too.

Do you have an opinion on the 58/64 thing?

Thanks,
J

[imagine2frolic]

You will save drastically by using saltwater for nearly everything, EXCEPT COFFEE, and using fresh to rinse. Do you have a saltwater foot pump?

You will be surprised how little water you can get away with. I am back to work in a muffler shop, and at night. I use 1 1/2 gal of fresh water to shower, and that's under pressure.

[AnchorageGuy]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

You will save drastically by using saltwater for nearly everything, EXCEPT COFFEE, and using fresh to rinse. Do you have a saltwater foot pump?

You will be surprised how little water you can get away with. I am back to work in a muffler shop, and at night. I use 1 1/2 gal of fresh water to shower, and that's under pressure.

And salt water will rust and corrode you SS sink, your pots and pans, eating utensils and anything else you wash with it no matter how well you rinse, and if you rinse well enough you might as well use fresh water. We tried that our first year of cruising and after that all of the salt water pumps in the galley and head were immediately removed.

[speciald@ocens.]

Despite what you carry in tanks, you should carry at least 1 gallon/day/crew for passages. Our tankage is 200 gallons but a blown hose with the water pump on will run that down the drain quickly. I turn the pump breaker off when offshore to keep that from happening.
A friend of mine lost his entire water supply one day out with no watermaker. Split tankage is also a good idea. Speaking of watermakers, they are the most unreliable piece of equipment on a boat.