Cooler for Water Bladder

[ROAD Soldier]

Tired of using flexible water bladders that eventually leak, cant clean completely , and can't fill all the way to the top. I can't believe how much a hard shell water bladder system runs so that is out of the question. So I am thinking about adding a 12 refrigerator of some type and mounting it on the bow side of the galley. Then I will get rid of the water bladders under the cooler compartment and make the cooler into a hard shell water storage area. I will add good quality latches to the top cooler cover to hold it closed and a bottom quick disconnect valve connection that will tie into the water system. What do you think? GO or NO GO. Do I need to add a vent to the top?

[restless]

I guess you're tallking of the big boxy thing on under the port aft dinette seat?
If so.. you'll want to make sure the thing doesn't buckle under the weight as that much water will be heavy... and you'll want a very tight fitting lid! I'd check that it doesn't throw the balance of the boat too much either as the weight is above the waterline and depending on where you sleep it could put you on a slope. Vent? try without and if you need it add one later.
Cunning thought.. I sort of quite like it.. maybe just the bottom half?
I'm in the process of designing some tanks myself at the moment.
Nice one
or ??

[Hardcrab]

Great idea.
Perhaps the lid seal will need improvement so you don't leak water on heel with a full water load, and perhaps a few baffles to limit sloshing.

Your cooler idea brings to mind some brand new 6 or 9 gallon fuel tanks to do water duty?
Built in pickup tube, vent, and handle seems all to be good things.
Painted a different color and well marked.
Hmmm, it just might work also.

[KayakDan]

Consider putting that much weight to one side of the centerline of the boat,as it may cause the boat to list. You may have to reorganize heavier items in the boat.
Will you use an electric pump or hand pump,and how will the tank vent?

[ROAD Soldier]

I already have a electric pump setup system with my flex bladders. I don't know if you would vent hard bladders or not with electric on demand system. If I had to it would be no problem that is what I could use the former fill plug openings for. Now as far as being off center don't worry about it, I already am have the flex bladder out there plus I have 3 Batteries on the port side and now I would be adding a frig/freezer plus do all kinds of mods to the galley all on the port side. I more worried about when the water is low I will be listing to port. Now as far as using baffles I could use several smaller cooler that I have laying around. The point about supporting the weight also would not be an issue because I would get rid of the insert and build a rack down there for the coolers to sit on, and maybe make the insert very shallow to sit on top and use as a dry storage area for stuff. So basically the only issues I have is whether I can make the coolers seal tight enough and do I or don't I need to vent the cooler tops for the pumps to work since the bladders are not going to compress like my two flex bladders do.

[Highlander]

wally mart sell 6 and or 9 gal. blue hard water jugs that could be used I think for hard water storage containers plus they could be made removable for the times you would need to go ashore to get water make them a quick connect system so they can be removed when not required they are easy and quick to clean out with houshold bleach ! thats the way i would go or something simular

J

[ROAD Soldier]

Ok a lot of good ideas here but the one remaining question left regardless of what hard container I would use is do I have to vent it? If I make the connection at the bottom of a sealed container that does not compress?

[nedmiller]

IMHO (if it is a sealed tank)you will have to vent it. The water will not be able to move in unless you move the air out. If you have an external fill and fill with a hose, your vent needs to run up as high or higher than the fill or you will fill your boat with water out the vent hose.
SILK

[nedmiller]

If you go to Ebay and search for RV 10 gallon water tank you will get choices for brand new plastic water tanks for less than $25. (you can leave off the 10 gallon and you'll get bigger tanks too!) Add shipping and you;ll have maybe $40 in it. I bought one and it came with 4 threaded openings. I took the top two fittings and made the fill one of them and the vent the other one. I took one of the bottom fittings and made it 'water out'...the fittings were 3/8" instead of 1/2--which was a bit of a pain since I wanted to run 1/2" lines.
SILK

[K9Kampers]

IMHO you will have to vent it. The water will not be able to move in unless you move the air out. If you have an external fill and fill with a hose, your vent needs to run up as high or higher than the fill or you will fill your boat with water out the vent hose.
SILK

And it also needs to be vented to be able to draw water out. Like with a fuel tank vented to ambient air, the pump, manual or electric, will work easier.

[ROAD Soldier]

Now we are talking. Nedmiller you must have been reading my mind because just before you posted about those tanks I found them on Ebay. I think there are some psychic vibes going on here on this website. Now what size to choose? EBay dilemma of being bombarded with choices strikes again. Also how does that 3/8" fitting working out for you Ned? Did you just use a reducer to connect to the rest of your system or did you make the whole system 3/8"? Any supply problems?