Howdy, not that I am planning on transatlantic crossings, but I was wondering how much fresh water you would need to bring in order to make a transatlantic crossing, say I dunno 20 odd days at sea? How much water would you calculate as being needed per person 24 hour period? What about food , and fuel...assuming that most of the time you will be sailing, how often would you need to charge your batteries...on average? Just curious is all, so just rogh estimates would be suffiecent. Also, wouls a 41' sailboat (Hunter DS 41) be large enough for a couple to live aboard, all year?
Fresh water consumption per person
- Thread starter dwayne13628
- Start date
- Status
What have you estimated?
Have you ever tested how much water "YOU" use per day? Have you ever gone on an extended cruise and measured exactly how much water you use? For drinking, washing, brushing teeth, cooking, washing dishes? If you haven't done that, you should. Everyone's water usage is different, so other people's estimate is of no use to you. To measure it is not difficult. Just use a gallon jug. Fill it with the water from your water tank, and only use the water from the gallon jug for everything. Every time you have to refill the gallon jug, log it. And you should do that for a few days. If you do it for only 1 day, then you will subconsciously defer things until the test period is over. Like taking a shower or washing clothes. There are also a lot of things you can substitute use salt water for, like washing dishes, then just a quick rinse with fresh water. You can use salt water for cooking too. The same answer applies for food, batteries. There is no such thing as “on average”. Only average for “YOU”. As to living on a 41’ all year around? Of course you can. So can someone living on a 25’. There is a family at our marina doing just that, with 3 kids on a 25’. I sure wouldn’t want to do that. So what are you comfortable with? 25’, 35’, 45’, 55’? No one can really answer these questions for you. Sorry.
Have you ever tested how much water "YOU" use per day? Have you ever gone on an extended cruise and measured exactly how much water you use? For drinking, washing, brushing teeth, cooking, washing dishes? If you haven't done that, you should. Everyone's water usage is different, so other people's estimate is of no use to you. To measure it is not difficult. Just use a gallon jug. Fill it with the water from your water tank, and only use the water from the gallon jug for everything. Every time you have to refill the gallon jug, log it. And you should do that for a few days. If you do it for only 1 day, then you will subconsciously defer things until the test period is over. Like taking a shower or washing clothes. There are also a lot of things you can substitute use salt water for, like washing dishes, then just a quick rinse with fresh water. You can use salt water for cooking too. The same answer applies for food, batteries. There is no such thing as “on average”. Only average for “YOU”. As to living on a 41’ all year around? Of course you can. So can someone living on a 25’. There is a family at our marina doing just that, with 3 kids on a 25’. I sure wouldn’t want to do that. So what are you comfortable with? 25’, 35’, 45’, 55’? No one can really answer these questions for you. Sorry.
water
If you're talking about drinking water, then I'd say not less than one gallon per day. Then there is a need for washing. Dishes, clothes, body. The dishes and shower will require at least three gallons. But you don't have to shower everyday, do you? Clothes washing seems foolish on such a trip. Several bags of white t-shirts, and a dozen pairs of shorts per person does the trick. If you must, then two quick washings have to be enough. Remember, you're talking about an Atlantic crossing on a sailboat, not a seven day cruise on Majesty of the Seas.
If you're talking about drinking water, then I'd say not less than one gallon per day. Then there is a need for washing. Dishes, clothes, body. The dishes and shower will require at least three gallons. But you don't have to shower everyday, do you? Clothes washing seems foolish on such a trip. Several bags of white t-shirts, and a dozen pairs of shorts per person does the trick. If you must, then two quick washings have to be enough. Remember, you're talking about an Atlantic crossing on a sailboat, not a seven day cruise on Majesty of the Seas.
120 gallons barely last a week for 2....
added 45 xtra gallons to our H36. Shower everyday (specially the mrs.). Thank God we only have a 6gal water heater or the 120 gallons would't last 2 days. Agree with previous posts.... we all have different needs.
added 45 xtra gallons to our H36. Shower everyday (specially the mrs.). Thank God we only have a 6gal water heater or the 120 gallons would't last 2 days. Agree with previous posts.... we all have different needs.
Good grief! You're talking wants, not needs...
Y'all need to learn how to conserve water! And not just while aboard either...'cuz in many areas water is becoming in shorter and shorter supply as population increases put more demand on it. It can be done without hardship...you just need to learn a few tricks: NEVER let water just run. Turn it on to wet the toothbush, turn it off till you're ready to spit and rinse. Fill the sink with water and detergent to wash dishes...stack 'em soapy...then drain and refill the sink with clean water to rinse 'em instead of rinsing 'em under running water. That much alone can save you more than 10 gallons a day. Learn to take "navy showers"...get wet, turn the water off while you lather up and shampoo your hair. Turn it back on to rinse off. That can save two people 25-40 gals or more a day! (Ok, this one IS a bit of a hardship...but worth it if you have a finite supply of water to last a while). I didn't shower on my boat, but I did have an icemaker and toilets that used onboard fresh water. 50 gallons--with a 20 gal water heater--easily lasted two of us through a 4 day weekend without coming close to running out. With a little thought and effort, you could make 80 last a week--without having to resort to "navy showers." Or, install a watermaker.
Y'all need to learn how to conserve water! And not just while aboard either...'cuz in many areas water is becoming in shorter and shorter supply as population increases put more demand on it. It can be done without hardship...you just need to learn a few tricks: NEVER let water just run. Turn it on to wet the toothbush, turn it off till you're ready to spit and rinse. Fill the sink with water and detergent to wash dishes...stack 'em soapy...then drain and refill the sink with clean water to rinse 'em instead of rinsing 'em under running water. That much alone can save you more than 10 gallons a day. Learn to take "navy showers"...get wet, turn the water off while you lather up and shampoo your hair. Turn it back on to rinse off. That can save two people 25-40 gals or more a day! (Ok, this one IS a bit of a hardship...but worth it if you have a finite supply of water to last a while). I didn't shower on my boat, but I did have an icemaker and toilets that used onboard fresh water. 50 gallons--with a 20 gal water heater--easily lasted two of us through a 4 day weekend without coming close to running out. With a little thought and effort, you could make 80 last a week--without having to resort to "navy showers." Or, install a watermaker.
Good Gawd ! that is 8-9 gallons a day per person !
Are you kidding me? *yks *pop When we are trying to conserve during a long cruise, my wife and I use about 1.5 gallon per person per day. We can even get it down to 1 gallon per person per day if we had to. Taking a shower using a Sunshower takes about 1/2 gallon per person per shower, maybe even less if we tried hard. Looks like you have never taken long cruises. Even here in the Northwest, land of rain and clouds, up in some of the islands in Canada, the marina won't give you more than 20 gallons at a time, or 5 minutes of fill. And they stand by their faucet ready to turn it off, especially if it overflows. And.... you are in Southern California, right? Hmmmm.... that's where our Washinton + Oregon water is going to. Sorry. You ain't gonna get invited for a cruise on our boat.
Are you kidding me? *yks *pop When we are trying to conserve during a long cruise, my wife and I use about 1.5 gallon per person per day. We can even get it down to 1 gallon per person per day if we had to. Taking a shower using a Sunshower takes about 1/2 gallon per person per shower, maybe even less if we tried hard. Looks like you have never taken long cruises. Even here in the Northwest, land of rain and clouds, up in some of the islands in Canada, the marina won't give you more than 20 gallons at a time, or 5 minutes of fill. And they stand by their faucet ready to turn it off, especially if it overflows. And.... you are in Southern California, right? Hmmmm.... that's where our Washinton + Oregon water is going to. Sorry. You ain't gonna get invited for a cruise on our boat.
Fresh water
R U nuts? Do you know what fish do in fresh water? Better to see to your wine storage. Bet you won't be flushing with that. Regards, jim.
R U nuts? Do you know what fish do in fresh water? Better to see to your wine storage. Bet you won't be flushing with that. Regards, jim.
We're getting 5 days or more out of the 13
gallon tank on our boat, take showers ashore or with salt, carry separate drinking supply, most offshore boats still have a saltwater tap for dishes & such. When in the San Juans a few years ago drinking water was dear because of the drought, it was hard to picture cause it seemed to rain at least once a day. We'd be having mudslides but even the trees were dry. I'm not using imported water at home cause I'm drinking from a well, and apologize for any I might pick up in my travels on the boat. Can I come back if I promise just to visit and not move there ?
gallon tank on our boat, take showers ashore or with salt, carry separate drinking supply, most offshore boats still have a saltwater tap for dishes & such. When in the San Juans a few years ago drinking water was dear because of the drought, it was hard to picture cause it seemed to rain at least once a day. We'd be having mudslides but even the trees were dry. I'm not using imported water at home cause I'm drinking from a well, and apologize for any I might pick up in my travels on the boat. Can I come back if I promise just to visit and not move there ?
Hey, at least we are the cleanest couple out there
We feel refreshed in the mornings. Nothing we like less than meeting someone who smells like they haven't taken a shower in days. For those conservationist, that amount of water is a drop compared to what people use on their lawns....we just use our water in different ways.....smelling clean is nice. I guess I should have been a motor boater with a 50 foot guzzler and two water makers instead.
We feel refreshed in the mornings. Nothing we like less than meeting someone who smells like they haven't taken a shower in days. For those conservationist, that amount of water is a drop compared to what people use on their lawns....we just use our water in different ways.....smelling clean is nice. I guess I should have been a motor boater with a 50 foot guzzler and two water makers instead.
- Status