water bottles vs. jugs

[Jack Long]

I've heard several times about people using the Alhambra style bottles and planned to adopt that strategy. I was thinking I would track down the square ones (once I had an office with an Arrowhead that used square bottles) because they would store more efficiently.

I've come up dry.

If I go with the jerry jug style water containers will I be laughed out of the cool kids club?

[GordMay]

I wouldn’t recommend “Alhambra” style bottles, if you mean those commonly used on top of water coolers; nor would I use any plastic with a “7" in the recycling triangle.

For deck storage, I always used “Jeep Style” plastic jerry cans - Blue for Water, Red for Gasoline, & Yellow for Diesel.

Scepter Marine - Jerry Cans

[Jack Long]

Oh good! Maybe I misunderstood.

What does the 7 mean?

[imagine2frolic]

Plus these can tie easily to your lifelines with some board........i2f

[Jack Long]

Actually I think they will go under the v-berth. I've got a ton of space down there but its hard to access. These are the "what if my tankage has a problem" jugs so they can go deep.

[skatastrophy]

Originally Posted by Jack Long

Oh good! Maybe I misunderstood.

What does the 7 mean?

#7 Polycarbonate contains Bisphenol-A. There are non-definitive studies linking BPA to a number of maladies, so it's best to avoid it even though the FDA hasn't yet restricted #7 Plastics from being used in food and beverage containers.

BPA: Not Exactly a Clean Bill of Health - Staff Blog - The Green Guide

[Reality Check]

I also use the jerry can... well so much for being cool I guess....

One thing I have been looking for is a bellows type hand pump that screws directly into the jerry can so you can pump water out with out having to lift the whole damn can... it is heavy!!! well I guess the rest of my macho cool is gone...

I typically secure one in place in or near the galley and in it I keep fresher water than in the house tanks... generally better tasting and less mental wonder about quality. All I find are chemical hand pumps that deliver too small a volume or bulky pumps that cost a lot. I recall spending about $5.00 a few years ago at a West Marine type store but they don't seem to be available anymore.

[jackiepitts]

We carry 50 gallons of water in the jeep style containers on deck.

[Jentine]

Originally Posted by Jack Long

Actually I think they will go under the v-berth. I've got a ton of space down there but its hard to access. These are the "what if my tankage has a problem" jugs so they can go deep.

If you have the space why not install a bladder made for the purpose of storing water and a small pump to transfer the water to the main water tank?

[Jack Long]

I don't yet have a solid knowledge of what my needs really are. I think I have plenty of tankage as it is but it seems reasonable to have some spare water just in case and jugs to cart water out to the boat in... Also I might discover that I need the space for something else once I am out and about.

Also, your suggestion sounds expensive. :P

[rebel heart]

Careful about putting hundreds out pounds of water in the bow; it can affect your balance.

[Jack Long]

I will put 18 or 24 gallons in addition to the 25 in built in tankage. At the moment I am back heavy so I think it will be okay. I am struggling with wanting ready access to everything so all my tools, hardware, and god knows what else is towards the back of the boat right now.

[Robertcateran]

Avoid having plastic tanks in the light as the can develop algae build up. At least they do in Oz

[maxingout]

We always carried water jugs on board Exit Only, and we did it for many different reasons.

1. Jugs are back-up water supply just in case our main tanks become contaminated.

2. Jugs are back-up water supply just in case our watermaker fails.

3. Water jugs are necessary in remote locations to transport water because you can't pull your boat up to a dock, or water is not available at the dock.

4. Water jugs are good to put rainwater in that you catch off your sails so that you can inspect it before you put it in your main tanks.

5. Water jugs float, and in an emergency, you can tie a line to a water jug and tie it to your life raft if you have to abandon ship. The water jug full of fresh water won't sink, and you will have emergency water that you can ration until you can catch more or make more with with a small portable reverse osmosis device that you pump by hand.

6. We ran our watermaker every day when sailing offshore to top off our tanks. If our watermaker went down, we immediately knew that it was down, and we had nearly full tanks because we had run the watermaker the day before. We often used the water in jugs for deck showers. We would only use the water jugs for showers if the watermaker was working. If the watermaker went down, then the jug water was our reserve supply.

[Pblais]

Dave,

That does a good job of outlining a complete water strategy. It's not just the tank or the jugs but the bigger picture. It's hard to imagine having too much water.