FRESH WATER BLADDERS

[NiceAft]

johnnyonspot,

If the article rates tested products, or actually recommends any, it would be a help to those who are looking for the product, if you could post a list.

Ray

[Boblee]

We used the 150l Plastimo under the rear bunk and by blocking off the central filler hole and using the top end one for fill and empty we can utilise about 100l of water but it is a pain to remove all air and check while filling so that it doesn't overfill.
Have installed an outlet valve on the line near the tank to remove air locks but even with the problems it is a great space to store water and as for trim the boat sits dead level when full and ballast empty and probably 4" lower in the nose with ballast full.
Have always found with two people on board it is better to move one to the bow and speed picks up, ballast full or empty.
Want to install one or two bow tanks right up in the vee section where the flotation material is but as these tanks will only be used on long trips in remote areas I want solid tanks so that they can be used as flotation when empty.
Was going to manufacture aluminium tanks but am told they are not good for water.
The name of the the 24 gallon tanks would be appreciated especially if they have an oz agent.

[baldbaby2000]

Quote:
I looked at a photo of mine the other day sailing upwind with the Admiral below decks and it was definitely nose heavy

Daniel,

Don't tell her that

Ray

You're right. A slip up like that could definitely make life unpleasent for a while!

[Catigale]

Practical Sailor reviewed three roughly 13-15 gallon flexible tanks

Nauta FT911121
Plastimo 18031
Vertus V55

in Oct 2007.

Nauta had worst abrasion resistance, but best securing and valves
Plastimo cheapest, and had poor securing method
Vetus had good abrasion and securing, but poor valve architecture.

Looks like the long term solution would be to use the Nauta and make sure you dont let it abrade

[johnnyonspot]

Cat's got it.

I recall the abrasion test consisting of them dragging the tank, filled, down the dock and over some cement or something, which of course is not something one would ever purposely subject their tank to. So ditto on Cat's suggestion.

[Don T]

Hello,
I find the Nauta to be quite tough enough. As mentioned the fittings seal well. My install location is carpeted and I take the tank out for the winter. I use water treatment from WM and the water tastes fine.

[Catigale]

They dragged it 70 feet over cement...kindof extreme I agree.

No reason not to use the secured Nauta product imho

[Boblee]

Reckon I will fabricate a triangular tank in the bow and have it powder coated inside and out, so should be ok for water quality, especially as it will only be used for long trips.
Will be interesting to see how much water will fit in there and if the tank is divided shouldn't have a sloshing or trim problem.

[Andy26M]

I originally had my flexible water tank mounted under the V-berth but I found that it made the boat too nose-heavy. This was especially obvious when motoring in any chop above 6" as the cockpit was just a soaking ground.

So I moved the flex tank aft under the rear berth - it makes the boat much more balanced there, although as previous posters have noted, you cannot fill it full to capacity because of the narrow space. I have the 150L plastimo, I believe, so even one third full it has plenty of water for my solo sailing needs.

Rather than adding another hole to the deck, I just put a filling tube on it long enough to reach out the hatch and to the side of the cockpit. Once the tank is full, I just cap off the tube and roll it up under the bunk next to the tank. It's not really an inconvenience because I always lift the cover back there anyway when filling the tank to be sure I don't overfill it and crack the fiberglass supports under the V-berth by lifting them.

- Andy

[RickJ]

My has two Plastimo 50L bladders fitted by a PO. He had a novel approach to filling them, in that he sealed the inlets and tee'd a filler hose between the outlet and the tap.

The hose is coiled in the bilge space, but long enough to reach the cockpit, and has a hose adaptor on the end to connect a filler hose. When not filling, the hose in the bilge is sealed with a large cork

Ingenious, and seems to work. An advantage is there's never a problem of getting air in the bladder, which minimises any slop of the water. It has the original taps (sore point!) which are always open, so when the bladders are full water just comes out of the taps - you can't overfill.

The downside of the current arrangement is that the bladders feed the galley and head independently, so if you empty one you have to go to the other tap to get water. It's also, as I said, got the old wonky taps. I'm wondering whether to get new manual taps, or go the whole hog and do a pressurised system - in which case I can link the bladders.

I see Whale do a lever-pump tap and and a vertical plunger-pump tap. Does anyone have experience of either of these

Cheers, Rick

[Catigale]

I have a double action galley tap on my cant remember the brand -seem to recall it came from OZ for some reason

btw, RickJ, is it true that Asians have been buying up all the real estate on the Isle of Wight or just a rumour??

[kmclemore]

Geez... I had thought in order to own land on the Isle of Wight you had to be a caulkhead (born on IOW)? In fact, I had thought that they wouldn't carry any obviously pregnant ladies from the mainland to the Isle on the ferry because there wasn't any more land to grant! RickJ - do tell?

[RickJ]

is it true that Asians have been buying up all the real estate on the Isle of Wight or just a rumour??

I had thought in order to own land on the Isle of Wight you had to be a caulkhead (born on IOW)?

Geez, where do you guys hear this stuff (but well done Kevin on knowing the meaning of "caulkhead", not many people in the UK outside the island know the term!). Although some claim that to be a true caulkhead you not only have to be born here, but so do most of your traceable ancestry!

We've probably got a far lower proportion of Asian (and other non-British ethnic backgrounds) than the rest of the country. Property prices are generally lower than the mainland because there are fewer jobs. A lot of people commute to Southampton and Portsmouth, so property prices tend to adjust to allow for the commuting costs. If you're retired then you get more house for your money and can forget about commuting

Most of the Island's very rural (and pretty), not a lot of industry - hence limited jobs. Population density about 950/sq.mi. There's plenty of scope for property development, they could easily build far more houses than there's demand for. There used to be a thriving small shipbuilding industry in East Cowes but that's all gone (the Hovercraft was developed and built there by Saunders-Roe). OTOH there's now a company (forget the name) that has a large share of the market in wind turbine blades, and I read a while back that Sunseeker were planning to set up a factory.

At 147 sq.mi. it's almost exactly the same size as Rutland, long celebrated as England's smallest county (IoW only became a true separate county in 1974). To be precise, the island is smaller than Rutland at high tide, but larger at low tide The south-west coast is crumbling from erosion at quite a fast rate, so it must in fact be getting measurable smaller.

All in all it's a very pleasant place. with a somewhat more laid back pace of life than the mainland. It's easy to get on and off, there's 3 car ferry routes and 3 fast passenger routes, with crossings at least every hour on all routes, pretty much round the clock. Fares are high though, the Portsmouth-Fishbourne vehicle ferry is supposedly the most expensive crossing per-mile in the world. You can cross the channel to France for less than it costs to get off the island

For anything else see Wikipedia (and don't believe rumours )

Cheers, Rick

[Catigale]

is it true that Asians have been buying up all the real estate on the Isle of Wight or just a rumour??

Its not just a rumour...in Parliament there was a motion last week that they were going to have to rename it

Isle of Wong

My work here is done. Off to find another pocket to pick


TADUM!!!!!!

[Wind of Freedom]

All:

Thanks for all the info. I am just now deciding to install a fresh water bladder tank. I'm looking into the Plastimos, but am having trouble finding a good location.

Some friends and I are leaving for the Bahamas in a few weeks and I need to get this fresh water tank installed. All help is appreciated.

My 2000 26X has a very small spaces underneath the aft bunks on either side of the ballast tank (as discussed). My 3 options are: 1. the aft spaces., 2. under the seat cooler space (table bench seat) on starboard side or 3. at V-berth and take out the styro-foam. Which do all of you recommend?????

Also, I want to install and aft shower head (recessed) on port side of engine compartment near where you come thru from the swim ladder.

Therefore, I need a 12 VDC water pump from the bladder tank ... any recommendation of type of water pump would be a big help. What about a constant pressure / automatic pump? ... seems I could use if for the sinks ... but constant pressure seem it would pump the water all out if there was a hose / faucet leak. I think maybe it should be switched on when needed ?????