My Boatcando guy is suggesting I add 2 nine gallon fresh water tanks in the forward storage bin area of my MACX,balanced across the beam and assuming he can get them to fit, then piped with a deck mounted fresh water intakes.
They would be replacing the standard 11 year old water bladder (5 gallons?) same location starboard side. I hope to be adding a hand wand shower shortly in the head and another one on the transom. Hot water at some point, but for now just to rinse off the salt water and I already have 2 electric faucets installed.
Reading about other Mods and looking under the head a shower pumped out through the bilge should be fairly do-able?
Any thoughts or suggestions?
Twin 9 Gallon Water Tanks?
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Night Sailor
- Admiral
- Posts: 1007
- Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2005 4:56 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: '98, MACX1780I798, '97 Merc 50hp Classic, Denton Co. TX "Duet"
I installed two 9 gal. Todd rigid semi transparent plastic tanks on my X in the location you describe. One on each side of the boats center line. I used carpeting underneath and between the back side of the tanks and the bulkhead. They each have two galvanized plumber's straps holding them to the bulkhead, padded with carpet between the straps and the tanks.
I have them plumbed independently for reduncancy in case of leak a leak in one system. I'd rather not lose all the potable water on board in one leak. Both are filled however with one common fill line which ends at a thrufull water fitting in the starboard side of the stern area about the same height as the rub rail. Both are vented with one hose gong aft to the same place as the fill port. I have an inline filter installed on the hose I use to fill. Both fill and vent hoses have a loop that goes higher than the rub rail before going outside.
One tank is dedicated to the manual pumped Raritan II marine head which is connected to a 13 gallon holding tank aft of the head compartment. The water supply hose has a antibackflow device in the hose.
The other is dedicated to the galley, via a shurflo 22lb.pressure on demand pump.
I like the weight distribution forward the tanks provide when filled, as we use the v berth forsleeping and the aft area is for the holding tank and gear storage, where I've removed the cushions and installed carpet instead.
The method I use for singlehanded filling is to fill the tanks until the water runs out the vent hoseoutlet, which is just under the fill inlet.
Hope this helps. I recommend the rigid tanks as they have never given me any trouble or odor or taste in the water after it has been filtered.
I have them plumbed independently for reduncancy in case of leak a leak in one system. I'd rather not lose all the potable water on board in one leak. Both are filled however with one common fill line which ends at a thrufull water fitting in the starboard side of the stern area about the same height as the rub rail. Both are vented with one hose gong aft to the same place as the fill port. I have an inline filter installed on the hose I use to fill. Both fill and vent hoses have a loop that goes higher than the rub rail before going outside.
One tank is dedicated to the manual pumped Raritan II marine head which is connected to a 13 gallon holding tank aft of the head compartment. The water supply hose has a antibackflow device in the hose.
The other is dedicated to the galley, via a shurflo 22lb.pressure on demand pump.
I like the weight distribution forward the tanks provide when filled, as we use the v berth forsleeping and the aft area is for the holding tank and gear storage, where I've removed the cushions and installed carpet instead.
The method I use for singlehanded filling is to fill the tanks until the water runs out the vent hoseoutlet, which is just under the fill inlet.
Hope this helps. I recommend the rigid tanks as they have never given me any trouble or odor or taste in the water after it has been filtered.
Thank you Night Sailor for the advice!
I will forward on your description and hopefully he will be able to duplicate your success.
Currently I have a Porta-potty and seen new ones with the exact same form but with a pump-out. I have thought about a more elaborate head but if I could pump what I have out I'd probably be happy as it fits the space well.
Still 13 gallon holding tank beats the five I have and I haven’t came up with a good way to retrofit mine like the factory with a built-in out.
Probably easier to replace it but then I might as well go and put in a real head!
I will forward on your description and hopefully he will be able to duplicate your success.
Currently I have a Porta-potty and seen new ones with the exact same form but with a pump-out. I have thought about a more elaborate head but if I could pump what I have out I'd probably be happy as it fits the space well.
Still 13 gallon holding tank beats the five I have and I haven’t came up with a good way to retrofit mine like the factory with a built-in out.
Probably easier to replace it but then I might as well go and put in a real head!
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Chinook
- Admiral
- Posts: 1730
- Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:20 pm
- Location: LeavenworthWA 2002 26x, Suzuki DF60A
You might want to consider installing the 31 gallon Plastimo triangular bladder tank in the bow area, under the Vee birth. Gazzman did this and has a description posted in the Water System Mods section. It gives you more volume than two 9 gallon tanks, in a nice central/forward position. You also don't give up any precious storage space. Plumbing for fill and delivery lines is quite practical. Most of the floation styrofoam that is in the area where the Plastimo installs can be replaced there by cutting it into custom, tightly fitting pieces. Remaining pieces can be slipped elsewhere, such as under the king berth floor. I also did this installation, and am very happy with it.
Hi Chinook
Hmm I thought I wanted a solid tank as the bladder I am replacing got nasty after 10 years. Still I will read the Mod you mentioned and see if it makes more since.
Troy my Boatcando guy is a little hesitant about cutting into the boat and tends to want to make something fit as is. Some how he thinks a lot of designing effort went into the boat and should not be changed lightly!
Storage is less of an issue for me but still counts. We have spoken about how to utilize the left over space. Me I am big on foaming it in with closed cell expanding foam as I wonder just how “unsinkable” a MAC really is.
Especially with a full load of gear and a 50 HP Yamaha at the stern! He thinks it might make things worse as the boat needs it room to flex or it might break. But then again he is a "Sailor" and thinks I need to look at getting a "real" Sailboat!
I keep telling him "If it can't run" I don't want it!
Any thoughts?
Hmm I thought I wanted a solid tank as the bladder I am replacing got nasty after 10 years. Still I will read the Mod you mentioned and see if it makes more since.
Troy my Boatcando guy is a little hesitant about cutting into the boat and tends to want to make something fit as is. Some how he thinks a lot of designing effort went into the boat and should not be changed lightly!
Storage is less of an issue for me but still counts. We have spoken about how to utilize the left over space. Me I am big on foaming it in with closed cell expanding foam as I wonder just how “unsinkable” a MAC really is.
Especially with a full load of gear and a 50 HP Yamaha at the stern! He thinks it might make things worse as the boat needs it room to flex or it might break. But then again he is a "Sailor" and thinks I need to look at getting a "real" Sailboat!
I keep telling him "If it can't run" I don't want it!
Any thoughts?