MacGregorSailors.com

I just purchased an 06 and discovered that there appears to be no built-in drinking water storage. My boat has the galley with built-in water pump but it simply ends with a 1/2 inch plastic hose inside. I have searched the forum archives with no success. I will probably use collapsible 5 gallon jugs but what other options are there in terms of quantitites for extended cruising?

P.S.- pardon me if I don't reply to your reponses for a while but we are heading out on the boat shortly.

Dave Broughton
Calgary, Alberta

That's what we have. The factory tube that connects (via a hose clamp) to a 5 gallon water jug. It's kind of junky, but it does work and we can buy the jugs at Wal-Mart for $5 bucks and store extra elsewhere. We only use the galley pump for washing up. For drinking water we use bottled water in both single use bottles and 1 gal containers.

I also installed an electric pump which causes use to use a LOT more water. So next year I think we'll be installing a bladder type water tank. Search and you will see many have done this.

--Russ

I also use the 5 gallon plastic container (8$ in Canada).

I installed the aquasource water filter- Filters bacteria, chemicals, chlorine, lead, odor, taste and sediment-(30$).
To install I just insert the filter.......(it fits tight ,no need for collars)in the faucet connector and the other end of the filter is just jammed into the plastic tubing which goes to the water container. ....... on to the hand pump faucet (took the plastic connector off the hand pump system and installed a copper one 2$) and put taste pure water freshner 7$ in every time I add water. I can let the water stand in the plastic container for weeks and still drink it with no after effect.
The whole shebang cost less than 40$ a year
Off course this water is from potable municipal water systems available at any town faucet.
Q1

p.s. My boat tap water now tastes better than my home tap water

RussMT wrote:That's what we have. We only use the galley pump for washing up.

I also installed an electric pump which causes use to use a LOT more water. So next year I think we'll be installing a bladder type water tank. Search and you will see many have done this.

The original owner of Bossa Nova had a 20 (25?) gallon Plastimo bladder under the aft dinette seat, between the centerboard trunk and the starboard ballast tank. It filled from a water-fill deck plug on the ledge behind the seat, and the pump was on the head bulkhead outboard of the starboard ballast tank.

The boat had been neglected for quite some time ... I found the bladder leaked and was quite gross with mildew. I tried to clean it and repair it, but finally bought a new one (they aren't all that expensive). Even with a new bladder, and after clearing the pumps and hoses with Clorox, I'm not comfortable about drinking that water ... washing, though, OK.

Anyways, who wants to drink WATER??! Do you know what fish do in that stuff?

Rick Westlake wrote:

RussMT wrote: Anyways, who wants to drink WATER??! Do you know what fish do in that stuff?

-WC Fields told that joke and it caused him some censoring issues!

I put a 9 gallon potable water in the front of my - I replaced the stock galley handle with a dual-action pump handle that fills our kettle with 24 strokes. The mechanical handle does prevent you from wasting water.

With crew of 6 on board for 7 days, we ran out of water washing dishes on our last day

I moved my collapsible plastic jugs to under the galley. See mod: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/index.php?view=542. It seems like I've seen posts on putting a water bladder under the rear berth or under the V-berth.

Hi Guys...

I have a 26c and put a 120ltr Plastimo Flexi tank under the front V Berth with a deck filler and under the sink i fitted a Shurflo water pump to an electric tap instead of the pump one.
Total cost just under £200 english. now i have all the water i need. we just use a Milton Steralising Tablet with each fill and buy the time you boil it its fine for a good ole cuppa tea and for doin the washin up.. we do stay on ours for up to two weeks at a time so it is needed.

Hope its of use...

Thanks all for your replies. I think we're going to stick with the 5 gallon collapsible jugs for now. I tried hooking up to the manual pump but found it doesn't want to work and seems pretty junky. Just using the KISS principle and dispensing right from the jug.

Dave- Calgary

I originally had a collapsible 20 gallon bladder under the V-berth, but I hated the effect that had on the boat's trim (pushed the bow down too far). So, I moved it aft under the rear bunk - it is restricted in how full you can get it back there because the space is so shallow, but it is center line, low, and aft which is exactly where the M wants any extra weight imho.

Andy

Andy26M wrote:I originally had a collapsible 20 gallon bladder under the V-berth, but I hated the effect that had on the boat's trim (pushed the bow down too far). So, I moved it aft under the rear bunk - it is restricted in how full you can get it back there because the space is so shallow, but it is center line, low, and aft which is exactly where the M wants any extra weight imho.

Andy

That's where mine is too its a 25+ gallon and holds actually as you say due to the limited space .....about for me 20 gallons ... Thats good fo one week living on the hook, or more for me or on average 2 days for the wife hahahaha

Hi,

A tip is to look at camping suppliers - much cheaper than marine suppliers

I bought 2 x 25 litre water containers, when one is empty I swap to the other one (£8 each) . They fit under the V berth - could easily store more
A submersible 12v pump (£9)
7m of food grade water pipe (about £3)
A chrome & black loooking tap (faucet) with microswitch (£12)

The whole thing works a treat and is much better than the pathetic MacGregor pump faucet and leaking collapsable water container.

Cheers

Québec 1 wrote:I also use the 5 gallon plastic container (8$ in Canada).

I installed the aquasource water filter- Filters bacteria, chemicals, chlorine, lead, odor, taste and sediment-(30$).
To install I just insert the filter.......(it fits tight ,no need for collars)in the faucet connector and the other end of the filter is just jammed into the plastic tubing which goes to the water container. ....... on to the hand pump faucet (took the plastic connector off the hand pump system and installed a copper one 2$) and put taste pure water freshner 7$ in every time I add water. I can let the water stand in the plastic container for weeks and still drink it with no after effect.
The whole shebang cost less than 40$ a year
Off course this water is from potable municipal water systems available at any town faucet.
Q1

p.s. My boat tap water now tastes better than my home tap water

we actually use this stuff especially for camping..


_________________
Refrigerator water filter

The slime that builds up in those faucets makes me queasy.