Free water at the pumpout station?

[Cherise]

Sweet, thanks for the details everyone.

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[Huey2]

We have city water at our marina & the health dept. checks all marinas for 1) a commercial back flow preventer on each main water line inspected yearly plus 2) check valves on end of each hydrant/spigot. I use a brown hose for the pump out........but you never know.

[hamburking]

Just cause its a hose, doesn't mean it potable (drinking water).
I'll never make that mistake again.

[svJasmine]

sometimes those water supplies are from "reclaimed" water also.

rich

[JPA Cate]

Especially where water is scarce or made by RO units, it is not unreasonable to charge a small fee if people taking on water block access to the fuel purchasers.

I'm afraid it is the way of the future -- and a return to the past. Remember reading about water wars in grade school?

Ann

[lesterbutch]

I once was in the water quality business and I would not even use a spigot that's associated with the waste water system. Bacteria know no bounds.

[GPSocal]

Cherish

Call ahead to the marina and ask. Bring your own hose and bottled water.

[Cherise]

I get why to use your own hose. But tell me this, cruisers who never go into marinas (okay maybe 4-5 times a yr) and do not have a watermaker, where are they refilling their tanks for free?

We only drink and cook with water from refilled (bpa-free) gallon jugs which I refill at water stations at grocery stores, we have about 20 on board, been doing it for over a decade. Quite the chore. But I care too much for the earth to go the easy route and just buy cases of bottled water.
I have a background in commodities investing and trading. Water wars have begun and will continue. Thank gosh most of us sailors know how to be independant, resourceful and good to mother nature.

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[JPA Cate]

Cherise, a whole lot depends on how much water you actually use.

I'm inclined to think Jim and I are water misers, we carry 900 l. in our tanks, and fill at marinas or public docks that have water taps.

If you are where the sea water is clean, you can use sea water for pre-washing the dishes, and yourselves, then a small fresh water rinse saves quite a lot, as well.

Another possible answer is a watermaker, but that comes with the downsides of where and how to plumb it, where to store the spares, and of course, the expense.

Perhaps you could negotiate a brief mid-day stay in a marina for the purpose of taking on water, only. Here, fuel docks have water connections, and one uses (of course) one's own hose.

[jkindredpdx]

Originally Posted by CREX

Also most dock hoses are not of drinking quality, usually basic garden hose which leave a nasty taste. I often, when time permits, screw on an rv filter. It does double the filling time but well worth the cleanliness. Always always your own hose!!! Have fun...

And I always screw the two ends of my hose together when not in use to avoid contamination.

[sailorchic34]

In the delta, I use straight delta river water for dishes and showers. Being fresh water, you could filter it and boil it and it would be good enough to drink. Or filter and add a touch of chlorine. It's where much of central and Socal water comes from.

Myself, I pull into a marina once every week or two and top off the water tanks, dump trash, pump out, groceries, and take a long shower.

[AKA-None]

If you're not making fresh water from salt water you can use a household/rv RO system with uv. For less than $300 it'll clean pretty much anything not contaminated with hydrocarbons. It is though pretty slow.

If I had multiple tanks then I'd let the system run from the unknown to the RO cleaned tank. all depends if you want to take forever to have only guaranteed clean water or maintain water at multiple levels of cleanliness.

Sine I'm inland with plenty of access to fresh water it's a moot point for me at the moment. YMMV


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[Cherise]

Ann, I think you and Jim have the largest amount of water tankage on a sailboat that I have ever heard of.

I did what Sailor Chic does in the delta, when I was cruising there. Gotta love the Delta!

Maybe we can get the second tank repaired in time and we will stick to a slip water refill.

I will check out clipper cove and gashouse dock, get the opinion of those operators and update with my findings.

Thanks again.

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[Tellie]

Originally Posted by Cherise

Ann, I think you and Jim have the largest amount of water tankage on a sailboat that I have ever heard of.

I did what Sailor Chic does in the delta, when I was cruising there. Gotta love the Delta!

Maybe we can get the second tank repaired in time and we will stick to a slip water refill.

I will check out clipper cove and gashouse dock, get the opinion of those operators and update with my findings.

Thanks again.

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Just an observation, but actually around 900liters/240gallons of fresh water is becoming fairly common on newer sailboats. On newer 38'+ Cats that's almost an entry level amount. More and more people are demanding more convenience and comfort on their boats and water capacity figures high on that list.

Halden Marine Services | Marine Watermakers, Solar Panels, Wind Generators

[Cherise]

Thanks Tellie, I was just noticed the liter abbreviation when rereading....I am a little slow this morning....oh this nasty cold January weather onboard is no bueno.

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