Poll on dock water supply failures

[cabo_sailor]

I've been giving this some thought and I wish to apologize not only to Jolly Roger but the members of CF. At first I considered sending Jolly Roger a PM until I realized my glib unwarranted post was not only an affront to him but to everyone.

There are no excuses, I don't believe in them. What you read was a classic case of poor judgement where I activated mouth before engaging mind. I've been posting here for quite a while but cannot ever recall where I screwed the pooch so badly.

I can't undo what's done. All I can do is try to never let that happen again. Apologies to Jolly Roger and to you.

I now return you what has developed into an interesting thread.

Rich


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[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

......had just had a massive flooding through the dock water supply.


Actually it’s no more dangerous than shore power which everyone uses without a second thought—often with very dubious connections—and which have been the source of numerous fires.

Shore power is not likely to sink a boat.

If it can fail it will eventually. Float switches are not exactly known for reliability.

[Jolly Roger]

Well said Cabo, apology accepted!


From Mitiempo: Shore power is not likely to sink a boat.

A fire will sink a boat faster than any flooding, and sink your neighbors as well.
My point is that everything has it's risk, and it is prudent to take as many precautions as possible.
Let's wait and see the results of a poll, about how many have shore water, without any protection.

[cabo_sailor]

Thank you Jolly Roger, it's been preying on my mind.

Rich


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[cabo_sailor]

As to your poll. No shore water. I hold 180 gallons. Seldom a need for more and my water goes through a charcoal filter between the tanks and faucets.

For the two of us there is plenty of FW. So much so, I'm considering installing a Raritan Elegance head with fresh water flush.



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[S/V Illusion]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

Let's wait and see the results of a poll, about how many have shore water, without any protection.

I can tell you now. Only those who had a problem, caused a problem or heard about a problem will respond. Problem?

[sailorboy1]

I read somewhere (BoatUS I think) that potable water leaks are a major cause of boats sinking at the dock. The problem appears worst for boats in warmer climates like California that occasionally experience a freeze, but for which people don't think about freezing.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I read somewhere (BoatUS I think) that potable water leaks are a major cause of boats sinking at the dock...

That just doesn't make sense. If the water tank leaks into the bilge, that doesn't affect the boat's buoyancy. Boat weighs the same--not like filling it with a dockside hose, that adds weight.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

That just doesn't make sense. If the water tank leaks into the bilge, that doesn't affect the boat's buoyancy. Boat weighs the same--not like filling it with a dockside hose, that adds weight.

Not when the potable water system is connected to a shore side supply, which is the topic of the thread.

[Terra Nova]

FYI the water tank has nothing whatsoever to do with a dockside water supply installation, where only the pressure side of the system is connected.

[blackcatscooter]

We don't hook up to dockside water, just fill our tanks, and turn off 12v water pressure when not needed and and when away from boat.


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[Cap Erict3]

Originally Posted by cabo_sailor

I've been giving this some thought and I wish to apologize not only to Jolly Roger but the members of CF. At first I considered sending Jolly Roger a PM until I realized my glib unwarranted post was not only an affront to him but to everyone.

There are no excuses, I don't believe in them. What you read was a classic case of poor judgement where I activated mouth before engaging mind. I've been posting here for quite a while but cannot ever recall where I screwed the pooch so badly.

I can't undo what's done. All I can do is try to never let that happen again. Apologies to Jolly Roger and to you.

I now return you what has developed into an interesting thread.

Rich


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

I have let the grog and a late night inspire me on more than one occasion.

Well said.

Cheers



------------------------------
Looking for another pretty place to work on the boat.

[Dockhead]

Everyone will form his own judgement, but I would never choose a very minor convenience (dockside water supply) which comes with a significant risk of sinking my boat. It solves a problem which doesn't even exist (for me, anyway).

If you are going to use something like this, make sure you (a) have a bilge alarm; and (b) shut off the water every time you leave the boat; and (c) keep the system maintained; and (d) beware of freezing.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger

First I want to refute Cabo Sailor’s ridiculous insinuation.
If I was looking for lawsuit material would I admit I forgot to turn the dock faucet off? Cap Erict3 said all that needs to be said.

On 21 April I started a thread “Urgent, Help!!” where I explained I had just had a massive flooding through the dock water supply.

I have now repaired the damage, and as part of my idiot-proof safety solution I installed a 12 volt solenoid water shut-off valve directly after the hose inlet. This is activated by a float switch just above the bilge float and incorporating a bell. It automatically shuts-off the dock water supply in the event of any rise in water level and rings the bell. In other words, a high water bilge alarm.

I therefore thought it would be interesting to do a larger survey, to find out how many boats use an unprotected dock water system.

A lot of responses talk about how stupid it is to have a dock water supply. But there are benefits—it just needs to be safe. If you live aboard it saves battery power and pump noise. It saves effort if you use a manual pump. It can also supply a more regular flow for say, a shower, than a small pulsating pressure pump. If you have small capacity tanks, it saves having to fill them frequently.

Actually it’s no more dangerous than shore power which everyone uses without a second thought—often with very dubious connections—and which have been the source of numerous fires.

Nobody replied how to set up a poll, (thanks Prosneek, for your astute observation), so I found out myself, and hope to have it up in a few days.

Thanks for everyone else’s observations.

I actually did report the OP to the mods, because I thought they could explain how to start a poll, 'cause I don't know how, either.

Maybe someone can still help out the OP by explaining that.

I sure hope one of the options is "Nope. Never have done that. Never will."

Ann

On edit: Ooops! I just saw there is now a proper poll. GOOD ON YA, whoever helped.

[svmariane]

We leave our 8 ft Walker Bay dinghy tied
right side up & forward of the mast -



and collect rainwater.