How Much Drinking Water ?

[nial]

I want to sail my PSC Flicka from Beaufort, NC to the Virgin Islands non-stop. I'll try for as much easting as possible before turning right. I have no idea how long this will take but want to be sure I will have enough drinking water. The boat has a built-in 20 gal. tank and I can take another 20 gals. in jugs. I'll wash with sea water. I weigh 140 lbs. I'd appreciate any advice about the planned route and also will 40 gals. be enough water?
nial

[Mundinho]

I will let others reply on the water quantity. 40 gal. appears on the low side, but then again if you only will be using for drinkning water you should be ok. Depending the boat it should not take you more then 14 days at the most. Most likely 12 days and less if winds are favourable. Working with 14 days woudl give you 2,8 gallons. That is ok if you only use it for drinking.

With regards to the route, you are correct in just make easting till you find the good winds and turn south to the Virgins. Many boats go direct however the winds will be better if making first east and then turn south, making a more comfirtable ride and likley you total time on the water the same due to higher average miles per day. When do you leave? We will be departing November from Charleston, same route.

[roverhi]

We used about a gallon a day for two people. Had salt water pump in galley. Didn't use the pressure water system which is a real water waster. Washed in salt water, rinsed in fresh or rainshowers.

[boatman61]

A gallon a day of potable water should be quite adequate for one person... that should give you a margin of 40days... thats speaking from the 'small boat sailors' point of view....
most folks over 27ft will disagree very loudly..

[Lowcountry]

40 gallons should be more than sufficient for one person. Personally, I would take all 40 gallons, and I would also throw in a couple of cases of bottled water just in case.

[atoll]

and some beer,just in case.........

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by atoll

and some beer,just in case.........

A case is good... loose bottles roll around and break....
Although for this trip I reckon 3 or 4 case's would be more appropriate.... cuts down on a lot of 'water useage'...

[barnakiel]

1.5 liter per person a day. This is only drinking and cooking. No showers.

The more you can safely carry, the better.

b.

[teejayevans]

1-2 gal a day/person. Includes freshwater showers, depends on the temps.
I would say the water usage should be the least of your worries.
Tom

[atoll]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

1.5 liter per person a day. This is only drinking and cooking. No showers.

The more you can safely carry, the better.

b.

thats only 3 1/2 cans per day ,and definitely wouldnt shower in it,though have heard its good mixed with shampoo and for making bread.

good idea to carry some water as well if you run out of beer...........

[Hud3]

We did an 11-1/2 day passage from the States to Tortola and used 30 gallons. There were four guys on board, so that's 2/3 gallon per person per day. I don't think 1.5 liters per person per day for all uses is quite enough, especially when you reach the warm weather and lose more to perspiration.

On that passage, everyone had a liter bottle to fill, and drank two liters a day for personal hydration. The rest was used for cooking and giving the pots and pans a quick rinse after a saltwater wash. We took saltwater baths on the foredeck using a bucket in calm weather, and washed our hair when it rained. No water for brushing teeth. Our skipper was Captain Bligh when it came to water use.

BTW, it's a good idea to have some extra water stowed in gallon jugs or a 5 gallon jerry can. This same skipper lost all his fresh water on a trip to Bermuda when a hose connection let loose, draining his tank into the bilges. I wasn't along on that trip, thank goodness.

On subsequent passages on my own boat, we had 170 gallons in the main tank, plus a 6 gallon jerry can. We all took a couple of showers and didn't worry much about other uses. We still drank at least two liters a day, however. Less and you risk constipation, which can inflict collateral damage on the plumbing system!