hello all , I was hoping you could point me in the right direction, I wish to add a "full" water system to my boat, but I have no idea how to do this. I was hoping there might be some refrances available but I can't find anything in depth.
I think my biggest concern right now is what type of pipe/ hose to use -- I mean clearly I am not running copper,. but pex? not that doesn't seem right either, .. seems flexible hose is the way to go but I don't know where to start.
thoughts?
how do I add water?
-
paul I
- First Officer
- Posts: 421
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2011 5:43 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Niagara Falls, NY 2000 26X w/Honda BF50 "NoneShallPass"
Re: how do I add water?
I just used 3/8" poly tubing, a 10 gallon poly tank, a small on demand water pump, and a few fittings. All the plastic was suitable for potable water (but I don't use it for drinking). The tank was pre-drilled for outlet fittings. Came from an E-bay seller. It went inside the forward dinette bench. I cut a hole in the top of the tank and installed a deck fill fitting so I can fill it with a hose or from a portable water tank. Then ran the poly lines from the bottom of the tank to the pump inlet, and from the pump outlet to the taps. All connections were slip fit with small hose clamps. I vented the tank from one of the top outlets. I bought two of the taps they use for RO systems and changed out the originals. The pump was a small cheap one from West Marine. It has a sensor so it goes on when it senses a pressure drop in the line.
-
Tomfoolery
- Admiral
- Posts: 6135
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:42 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Rochester, NY '99X BF50 'Tomfoolery'
Re: how do I add water?
Mine is the same as Paul's, but the tank (7 gallon I think) is under the port settee, and the pump is switched at the tap, and doesn't use a pressure switch. Mine has an external fill and vent, but that's a waste on a boat like this, and the hoses look terrible running down the inside of the cabin to the galley 'cabinet' side.
I usually just fill it from the clear deck plate with gasket the PO installed. I'm thinking about removing the fill and vent hoses, for cosmetic reasons. I have a tap in the head, but never hooked it up. It's just too small in there, and one step over and you're in the galley anyway.
https://www.amazon.com/SHURflo-94-009-1 ... ter+faucet
I usually just fill it from the clear deck plate with gasket the PO installed. I'm thinking about removing the fill and vent hoses, for cosmetic reasons. I have a tap in the head, but never hooked it up. It's just too small in there, and one step over and you're in the galley anyway.
https://www.amazon.com/SHURflo-94-009-1 ... ter+faucet
-
Stevenhigbee
- Engineer
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:15 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26S
-
Chopper Pilot
- Engineer
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:10 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Washington D.C. area 2013 Macgregor 26M 70HP Suzuki " The AirBender"
Re: how do I add water?
In the next couple of days, i plan on adding 8 inch diameter schedule 80 pipe along the length of the port side seat storage. I will run a fill port into it with a vent up next to the fill port. It will be higher at the bow end, than the stern end. I will suck the water from the lower stern end of the capped off PVC pipe. This should hold many many gallons at the water line. I will add an electric pump to it.
Going by Nominal OD, that tank would be 3.14 * 2 ^ 2 * 72 = 904.752 cu. inch. 904.752/ (12*12*12) = .5236 cu. ft. * 62.4 lbs/ cu. ft = 32.67 lbs H20 / 8.35 lbs/gallon = 3.913 gallons.
To get approximately a tank with a capacity of 15 gallons, you'd need:
8" diam. x 72"
10" diam x 48"
12" diam x 32"
I should get plenty of water along the entire length of the port side. I am thinking about several ways to baffle the pipe along the length. Not sure which way i will go with the baffling.
I was also thinking about a black water holding tank with large 12" diameter, the width of the seat under the mirror. But i will likely build a holding tank out of fiberglass and plywood. These are just a few ideas i want to accomplish before we head down to the keys the first two weeks of July!
Going by Nominal OD, that tank would be 3.14 * 2 ^ 2 * 72 = 904.752 cu. inch. 904.752/ (12*12*12) = .5236 cu. ft. * 62.4 lbs/ cu. ft = 32.67 lbs H20 / 8.35 lbs/gallon = 3.913 gallons.
To get approximately a tank with a capacity of 15 gallons, you'd need:
8" diam. x 72"
10" diam x 48"
12" diam x 32"
I should get plenty of water along the entire length of the port side. I am thinking about several ways to baffle the pipe along the length. Not sure which way i will go with the baffling.
I was also thinking about a black water holding tank with large 12" diameter, the width of the seat under the mirror. But i will likely build a holding tank out of fiberglass and plywood. These are just a few ideas i want to accomplish before we head down to the keys the first two weeks of July!
-
Herschel
- Admiral
- Posts: 1487
- Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:22 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Contact:
Re: how do I add water?
My freshwater tanks and plumbing were installed by the PO, but I have repaired the pump and head faucet and, of course, used the system the last 13 years. The two semi translucent plastic 9 galleon tanks were installed under the starboard side of the V berth with a valve between tanks so each can be isolated if desired. The fill is on the port side at the furthest aft access hatch close to centerline. I fill through the forward hatch with standard hose. Being able to see the water level rising while filling is helpful to avoid overfill or when only a partial fill is desired. Pump is located near the tanks with access through the forward dinette seat hatch. Water lines are flexible plastic tubing, which I have found is helpful in making repairs and not leaking with boat vibrations.
-
Russ
- Admiral
- Posts: 8299
- Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:01 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Bozeman, Montana "Luna Azul" 2008 M 70hp Suzi
Re: how do I add water?
This aint rocket science, nor are you building a house. So toss out copper and "home" eg: PEX plumbing solutions. This isn't residential plumbing.
We don't drink the storage water. We can if we want to, but prefer bottled water for taste. So we have 2 x 5 gal portable jugs and bring our water to the boat. Marina water is well water and sketchy. So we bring our known clean supply up and lug it onboard. 2 x 5 gals seems to supply all our needs for a few days.
Simple tubing from hardware store runs from my pressure pump to the v berth where I store the 2 jugs.
I have a smaller diameter tube into the jug to the bottom (see below). The "supply" line is larger and attaches (wraps around) this and sucks water to the pump supply line which is simple rubber tubing.
There are MANY methods of water supply. Bladder tanks, fixed tanks. I stole this idea from another Mac owner and it works extremely well for us.
--Russ
We don't drink the storage water. We can if we want to, but prefer bottled water for taste. So we have 2 x 5 gal portable jugs and bring our water to the boat. Marina water is well water and sketchy. So we bring our known clean supply up and lug it onboard. 2 x 5 gals seems to supply all our needs for a few days.
Simple tubing from hardware store runs from my pressure pump to the v berth where I store the 2 jugs.
I have a smaller diameter tube into the jug to the bottom (see below). The "supply" line is larger and attaches (wraps around) this and sucks water to the pump supply line which is simple rubber tubing.
There are MANY methods of water supply. Bladder tanks, fixed tanks. I stole this idea from another Mac owner and it works extremely well for us.
--Russ
