Since our M is the first boat with an on-board water tank, we have no idea how to maintain it.
Should it be emptied after each use? How long can the water be left in the tank? Should the water be purified with some of the water treatment chemicals I have seen?
We have the standard pump water faucet and a Platismo Flex ~13 gallon tank.
We have not used the water in the tank for drinking..we take a few store bought gallons out for drinking.
Paul
freshwater tank treatment
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Dimitri-2000X-Tampa
- Admiral
- Posts: 2043
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 5:36 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Tampa, Florida 2000 Mercury BigFoot 50HP 4-Stroke on 26X hull# 3575.B000
Paul, I don't drink from mine either so I'm not too concerned. I try to empty my tank out every few months and replace with fresh water. Without sunlight, not too much will grow in there. You can also add a small amount of chlorine (no more than a teaspoons worth I would think) to keep the water from growing algae. But you would also have to add this every couple months as well. I don't bother with the chlorine myself..unless I found something turning green.
If you were using the water for drinking, you would probably need to replace it every couple of weeks....which would basically mean emptying it after every voyage.
If you were using the water for drinking, you would probably need to replace it every couple of weeks....which would basically mean emptying it after every voyage.
Where is your tank?
Paul -
Where did you (or whoever installed it) put the flexible water tank?
The reason I ask is: mine is in the "V" all the way forward, with the fill tube inside the anchor locker. I have a single water pump (35 psi) and it provides water both to the sink faucet and the shower at the transom.
Now, this installation is very convenient and works great, but it really fouls up the trim of the boat. With the fresh water tank even half full (it is a 35-gallon tank) the boat is much more nose-down than most M's already are. Any time the weather kicks up, and I want to move more than about 4 knots, I have to pump all the fresh water out to let the nose come up, or else I have a VERY wet ride. This is true even when motoring with the ballast drained out.
So, I'm looking for options of where to move my fresh water tank - I'm thinking a pair of smaller ones might be good in the area under the aft berth if I could find tanks to fit.
As to disinfecting your tanks - I'd say yes, do it, it can't hurt. You can just use regular old clorox. For 13 gallons I think the amount would be about 1/2 cup or so. Fill the tank halfway, add the clorox, finish filling the tank. Run water from the spigot until you smell the chlorine, to make sure you have the chlorine thoughout the system, and then let it sit for at least 4 hours. Then pump it out and freshly fill the tank for use.
The clorox will not, however, get rid of the plastic taste/smell that the water will have from the tank. I haven't figured out how to do that yet, though I have seen forum posts about it several times in the past- perhaps a search here or over at sailnet or macgregorowners.com might turn stuff up.
- AndyS
Where did you (or whoever installed it) put the flexible water tank?
The reason I ask is: mine is in the "V" all the way forward, with the fill tube inside the anchor locker. I have a single water pump (35 psi) and it provides water both to the sink faucet and the shower at the transom.
Now, this installation is very convenient and works great, but it really fouls up the trim of the boat. With the fresh water tank even half full (it is a 35-gallon tank) the boat is much more nose-down than most M's already are. Any time the weather kicks up, and I want to move more than about 4 knots, I have to pump all the fresh water out to let the nose come up, or else I have a VERY wet ride. This is true even when motoring with the ballast drained out.
So, I'm looking for options of where to move my fresh water tank - I'm thinking a pair of smaller ones might be good in the area under the aft berth if I could find tanks to fit.
As to disinfecting your tanks - I'd say yes, do it, it can't hurt. You can just use regular old clorox. For 13 gallons I think the amount would be about 1/2 cup or so. Fill the tank halfway, add the clorox, finish filling the tank. Run water from the spigot until you smell the chlorine, to make sure you have the chlorine thoughout the system, and then let it sit for at least 4 hours. Then pump it out and freshly fill the tank for use.
The clorox will not, however, get rid of the plastic taste/smell that the water will have from the tank. I haven't figured out how to do that yet, though I have seen forum posts about it several times in the past- perhaps a search here or over at sailnet or macgregorowners.com might turn stuff up.
- AndyS
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Paul S
- Site Admin
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I put the tank under the port seat right next to the galley. Since most M's have a slight starboard list, I put it to port, along with the house battery.
Nothing fancy. The factory hose was the perfect length and right size. I fished it right under the small step in front of the dagger board. I just run a hose into the boat and fill it. I keep it covered by a couple zip lock bags over the fill, secured with a clamp.
I do have a real pump to install one of these days. But have a few other mods to do first.
How did you install the transom shower? What did you use? any pics of it. I have been toying with the idea of installing one.
Paul
Nothing fancy. The factory hose was the perfect length and right size. I fished it right under the small step in front of the dagger board. I just run a hose into the boat and fill it. I keep it covered by a couple zip lock bags over the fill, secured with a clamp.
I do have a real pump to install one of these days. But have a few other mods to do first.
How did you install the transom shower? What did you use? any pics of it. I have been toying with the idea of installing one.
Paul
We disinfect our Airstream's freshwater tank annually after purging the RV antifreeze from the plumbing lines.
The 4 hour contact time mixture is 0.13 ounces of regular Clorox per gallon of tank capacity. The new "Ultra" bleach only requires 0.10 ounces per gallon.
Make sure you pump the bleach water through all the plumbing and fixtures. Although it's a 4 hour solution, I usually let it stand overnight, and then rinse twice.
If you use a carbon block filter on the hose you use to fill the tank, it will remove most of the chlorine that protects the water in the tank and lines. Rather than that, you might prefer a filter at the faucet you'll be using for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, etc.
--
Moe
The 4 hour contact time mixture is 0.13 ounces of regular Clorox per gallon of tank capacity. The new "Ultra" bleach only requires 0.10 ounces per gallon.
Make sure you pump the bleach water through all the plumbing and fixtures. Although it's a 4 hour solution, I usually let it stand overnight, and then rinse twice.
If you use a carbon block filter on the hose you use to fill the tank, it will remove most of the chlorine that protects the water in the tank and lines. Rather than that, you might prefer a filter at the faucet you'll be using for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, etc.
--
Moe