Cruiser Advice for Pacific Isles Liveaboard

[wolfenzee]

I would rather put in the extra water tanks so I know I have enough water to make the passage comfortably than put in a water maker so I know I have enough water to make the passage comfortably...if the water maker doesn't break down.......and thanks to this thread I have started looking around for places to put extra water tanks. BTW a nice little water saving device is to have a gravity feed "day tank"......pressurized water can be very wasteful.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by wolfenzee

There appear to be two major trains of thought here. Those that trying to escape "civilization"

Not trying to escape 'Civilisation'...... just trying explore/experience as many of the diverse and different 'civilisations' as I can.....

[SurferShane]

Originally Posted by wolfenzee

I would rather put in the extra water tanks so I know I have enough water to make the passage comfortably than put in a water maker so I know I have enough water to make the passage comfortably...if the water maker doesn't break down.......and thanks to this thread I have started looking around for places to put extra water tanks. BTW a nice little water saving device is to have a gravity feed "day tank"......pressurized water can be very wasteful.

The real problem with my boat is that there is nowhere to put those extra tanks. At the moment I have a 20 l jerry as backup. A good idea from another thread is to leave it just full enough so it still floats. I would also consider using an orange jerry with WATER in big letters, the boats name, some reflective tape and a shark clip on a lanyard.

As stated, the pressurised water issue is also where I waste the most water. I like Markj’s idea of using pump bottles. In one of their books the Pardey’s recommend using one of those big pressurised gardening bottles with a hose and nozzle for showering. Good thing about this is you can ration exactly how much water is used. I saw the same for $10 at the supermarket.

Another option is showering under waterfalls. Unfortunately few anchorages give you this option, but they are out there. Last time I did the same was a nice sunny winter day a few months back at Refuge Bay near Sydney. After I got over the ice cream headache it was a wonderful experience. (see photos of location in my album). On the same trip I never used the pressurised cockpit shower and was amazed how little water I had used.

[SurferShane]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Not trying to escape 'Civilisation'...... just trying explore/experience as many of the diverse and different 'civilisations' as I can.....

That’s really the crux of having a boat. Getting despondent about what you see around you, you can just pull up the anchor and sail off into the sunset on a search for paradise? It’s not that we are entirely anti-social. More to the point there is a whole globe waiting to be explored?

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by SurferShane

Another option is showering under waterfalls. Unfortunately few anchorages give you this option, but they are out there. Last time I did the same was a nice sunny winter day a few months back at Refuge Bay near Sydney. After I got over the ice cream headache it was a wonderful experience. (see photos of location in my album). On the same trip I never used the pressurised cockpit shower and was amazed how little water I had used.

Beuatiful spot Shane. You haven't had a cold shower until you've showered in a BC waterfall. Nice fresh glacial water pouring over you while you hit High C.

[wolfenzee]

I have a 5l container with a spigot on it ($5)...it is narrow and doesn't take up much room and works on gravity. My "pressurized" system is an old bronze hand pump. A day tank serves two purposes, it makes sure you don't use too much water and lets you monitor your water intake so you drink enough.

[SurferShane]

Originally Posted by wolfenzee

I have a 5l container with a spigot on it ($5)...it is narrow and doesn't take up much room and works on gravity. My "pressurized" system is an old bronze hand pump. A day tank serves two purposes, it makes sure you don't use too much water and lets you monitor your water intake so you drink enough.

A lot of people like me just use the solar shower type bags over here. The bronze hand pump sounds interesting. I would really like to get rid of the modern pump on my galley sink and install something similar that matches the boat.

[Steve Pope]

we have whale foot pumps in the galley, 1x fresh water and 1x salt water and a small fresh water hand pump in the head. All body washing is done with a solar shower if the sun is out or with a garden spray pressurised container if the sun lets us down, boil the kettle, and add cold water to the desired temp. we carry 400 ltrs of F/w and to date have never run out. We always fill up wherever possible but we keep away from chlorinated / fluoridated town water supplies.

[wolfenzee]

I did find a "tankless" hot water heater, runs on propane, has a hand held shower head and attachement for garden hose input...min water flow is 1 qt/ min, slow enough to use gravity feed. $112 from the factory

Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater - Lowest Prices GUARANTEED!!

[wolfenzee]

I actually found a pretty decent water maker for $2000 Katadyn PowerSurvivor 35 from an industrial surplus in Perth replacement mebranes are $350 and all the stuff you need for servicing is about $250 the newer version the PowerSurvivor 40 is $2800 retail......that I might consider

[First Mate]

Originally Posted by hummingway

Beuatiful spot Shane. You haven't had a cold shower until you've showered in a BC waterfall. Nice fresh glacial water pouring over you while you hit High C.

hmmm I just thought Canadians had thicker blood. Didn't know you were singing High C! We keep seeing pics in Waggoners of cruisers under the waterfalls and swimming in the rivers - not in wet suits but bathing suits. Thought maybe these were hot springs. now I know - you are cold but singing makes it all aok!! ha ha.

seriously, BC is so beautiful I want to change my nationality. Only place prettier I have seen personally is Milford Sound in NZ - maybe not prettier - just as pretty - don't flame me!

oh sorry - this is a boat recommendation thread...

shoal versus deep draft - right - depends on your cruising grounds entirely. If you aren't going to be in shallow waters, get at least 5' draft. The deeper the draft the more comfortable the sail in nasty seas and high winds. Shallower gets you a closer anchorage to shore where you can hide on the lee side of land to avoid being tossed around while you sleep at anchor. It's a trade off. In the Bahamas where you won't be - 4' is better than 5'

[Brent Swain]

Those 20 litre stainless pop cans make good showers. Put them on your woodstove until it feels the right temperature, pump them up to 40 lbs and take them in the head, or in the cockpit with you.

[First Mate]

Originally Posted by seachange

Hi All

We (mainly me - yep I'm chicken little) are not jazzed about having to bring the boat across the Pacific from the States. I have looked at & talked to some specialist boat freighters with indicative pricing being around US$30k (big ouch). So the other options I have read are getting a container shipper to move the yacht if we organise a cradle - if anyone has done this can they let me know how it went & what it cost. Last resort - hire a professional skipper & crew for him to bring it across ourselves, can anyone give me a ball park figure on what this would cost? also, is it truely safe in one of these boats???

Sorry for being so long winded but am hoping to get some specific advice for our situation. Many many thanks

found this incredibly complete marine link - actually just about everything a boater needs can be found on this link

The Mother of All Maritime Links: Page 46 of 47

but the above is just the delivery. go to homepage for contents for this site

[BlueWaterSail]

I don't understand why watermakers are such a touchy issue in the context of living efficiently for extended periods. We use every other resource as efficiently as possible - wind to propel our boat and charge our batteries with a wind gen, sun to charge our batteries via solar, each one of these requires an initial investment, so why not make a reasonable investment in drawing a realistic amount of potable water from the ocean that carries us on our journey. It's really quite simple, and not worth all the heated discussion.

seachange, you are doing what most of us did, comparing the relative pros and cons of late model yachts to their forerunners. This is very important, since no matter what you bolt on, you need to feel confident in the foundation of your new living environment. After that, the more equipment that's already on the boat means a saving of thousands versus you having to add it. Good luck,

BWS

BWS

[Brent Swain]

Watermakers are basically a couple of filtres, a pressure washer pump and a few valves , quite simple .
The last trip to the South Pacific and back , I never took water ashore, got all I needed form rainwater catchment.
I'm surprised more boats are not planned for catchment