Fresh water

[Xstream]

I bought the Oceanis 281 that I have mentioned before and am currently going through it. It has a fairly large fresh water tank under the v berth with a couple of gallons of RV antifreeze in it. I opened the access port and looked around inside and there is a lot of mold on the walls and ceiling and I expect inside all the hoses. I am thinking of removing the large cover and power washing the inside of the tank followed by a bleach scrub and then a thorough drying and replacement of the hoses going to the head and sinks. However, I am more inclined to buy a 10-20 gallon "bladder" and secure it inside the tank to use for the limited amount of water we'll ever use. This boat will be used on a small reservoir for mostly day sailing and the occasional overnight.
What/how do other boat owner address their fresh water systems?

 

[Davidasailor26]

Since you have access to the inside of the tank you’re on the right lines with the power washing idea. After that you can probably follow the bleaching instructions at best way to clean a water tank? to sanitize things. If you want to replace the hoses I’d say go ahead, but I wouldn’t look to put a bladder inside the tank just because of its current dirty state.

 

[D Swanson]

The "fresh" water tank that was on my boat when I took ownership was neglected and rather unpleasant, necessitating a thorough cleaning. Due to it's location and size, removing the tank for cleaning at home was feasible, however the lines to the galley sink were neither easy to replace, nor suitable for use as is (lots of mold/mildew/gunk). My solution for cleaning the lines was novel, but worked well enough. After disconnecting at both ends (sink and strainer) I fed a thick monofilament line (from weed trimmer) through as a messenger line, followed by a thinner (easier to work with) monofilament fish line (about 15 pound test - plenty strong, but easy to work with) to which i attached a small bottle brush designed for cleaning re-usable straws. After a couple passes a LOT of gunk came out. After cleaning and sanatizing the tank and strainer assembly, I reinstalled everything and ran fresh water with diluted bleach through the system for good measure. Bottom line - I know have a functional sink with clean enough water for cleaning hands, dishes, etc... As for drinking, a jug of tap or spring water kept on board and provisioned as needed does the trick. On a related note, when going out for a couple days cruise - I fill and freeze drinking water in 1 gallon jugs to keep the ice box cold and to use for drinking and cooking as it thaws. Simple and effective.

 

[Tally Ho]

I have 2 30-gallon water tanks on my O’Day 322. I added some inspection ports so I can look in the tank and clean when needed. Mine have a baffle, so I can really only touch 1/2 of the tank.

I clean it with a bleach solution early in the season (let it sit in the tanks and the lines for a day or so) and then drain, and rinse with clean water. I usually add a splash of bleach to each tank of water….helps keep it from going skunky. I don’t drink the water out of the tanks, but use it for washing, cooking and even brushing my teeth.

A bladder is OK, but if it gets moldy, pretty hard to clean. I think I would stick with the hard tank.

Greg

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

I am thinking of removing the large cover and power washing the inside of the tank followed by a bleach scrub and then a thorough drying and replacement of the hoses going to the head and sinks.

That's what I'd do. A decent quality bladder is expensive but even the best only have an average15 yr lifespan, cheap bladders a lot shorter...while a good quality rigid tank will last forever unless it's abused (over-filled, fittings overtightened when replacing hoses, pressurized etc) and is a LOT easier to clean. Plus, you already own one!

D Swanson: Love your "novel" idea! Where did you find a bottle brush small enough to clean re-usable drinking straws?

Fresh water systems should be recommissioned at least annually...and if you do it correctly, the tank water will taste/smell at least as good as what comes out of faucets on land. Someone posted the complete instructions for doing it correctly in a very recent thread in Ask All Sailors:

best way to clean a water tank?

hey everyone, getting ready for splashing the boat, just changer the water pump/faucet to electric, and changed all the hoses at the same time, the old hoses were black from sitting for the last 7 years, what would be the correct way to sanitize the water tank and system? thinking about putting...

forums.sailboatowners.com

See post #5

-Peggie

 

[Justin_NSA]

I just added an inspection hole so I could scrub out the black crud on the walls in my 30 year old tank. The input screen on my pump was black too, Then I flushed the lines before I installed the carbon filter in my new inline filter housing.

 

[Xstream]

Okay, I took the lid off the tank and have cleaned all the black goo out and will be sanitizing it before I put the lid back on. This morning I was able to get the inlet hose and vent hoses off and out of the boat. The inlet hose is "corrugated" and was as black inside as the tank. I will try to replace it with a smooth one that will be easier to clean plus without the corrugations there will be fewer places for mold to start. The vent hose was only marginally cleaner.
It strikes me as sort of odd that folks say they might use their fresh water to shower with or wash dishes or hands in but not drink it. What's the difference?
At any rate, after I get the hoses on and the lid back down I will likely fill the tank with a sanitizing solution, open all the taps, fill the hot water heater and run them until the water is clear, then shut everything off and let the system percolate for a day or two, then run all the water out. I might do this a couple of times before proclaiming the system okay.

 

[Xstream]

I just added an inspection hole so I could scrub out the black crud on the walls in my 30 year old tank. The input screen on my pump was black too, Then I flushed the lines before I installed the carbon filter in my new inline filter housing.

Justin, I am more worried about the mold that has probably built up inside all the inlet hoses. I don't think I have enough "Polident" to treat them all.

 

[Xstream]

That's what I'd do. A decent quality bladder is expensive but even the best only have an average15 yr lifespan, cheap bladders a lot shorter...while a good quality rigid tank will last forever unless it's abused (over-filled, fittings overtightened when replacing hoses, pressurized etc) and is a LOT easier to clean. Plus, you already own one!

D Swanson: Love your "novel" idea! Where did you find a bottle brush small enough to clean re-usable drinking straws?

Fresh water systems should be recommissioned at least annually...and if you do it correctly, the tank water will taste/smell at least as good as what comes out of faucets on land. Someone posted the complete instructions for doing it correctly in a very recent thread in Ask All Sailors:

best way to clean a water tank?

hey everyone, getting ready for splashing the boat, just changer the water pump/faucet to electric, and changed all the hoses at the same time, the old hoses were black from sitting for the last 7 years, what would be the correct way to sanitize the water tank and system? thinking about putting...

forums.sailboatowners.com

See post #5

-Peggie

My issue with sanitizing everything is that it won't remove any mold built up on the surfaces. I can clean all the goo off the walls of the tank and I can replace the inlet hoses, but I can't do that with the outlet hoses. Often the hoses take a convoluted path through the floor to get to the various fixtures. It is pretty hard to pull hoses that have sharp turns to follow.