Although I take great pains to keep my fresh water system properly cleaned, maintained, and treated; I have heard varying opinions on the advisability of actually DRINKING the water from the onboard fresh water system on my Cat 30 from other sailors. Some people drink it and others carry bottled water using their onboard systems for washing and cleaning only. Please share your thoughts/opinions on the advisability of actually DRINKING from the onboard fresh water system.
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Allen
You can, but I wouldn't
I drank the water from my fresh water tank, but it tasted horrible....lots of plastic tastes. I didn't get sick from it, but it wasn't pleasant.
I drank the water from my fresh water tank, but it tasted horrible....lots of plastic tastes. I didn't get sick from it, but it wasn't pleasant.
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners
You can
Read Peggie's article on fresh water system maintenance. As she points out, the water might not taste great but there shouldn't be anything in it to make you sick cuz our (U.S.A.) water is so purified. I suppose it depends on how much you use your boat. If you use it a lot and lots of water gets flushed through the system, it'll taste better than if it sits. I just recently recommisioned my water tank after 3 years of disuse. Replaced all the tubing, etc. Tastes pretty bad so I've been trying to wash lots of stuff with it to eventually wash that taste out. LaDonna
Read Peggie's article on fresh water system maintenance. As she points out, the water might not taste great but there shouldn't be anything in it to make you sick cuz our (U.S.A.) water is so purified. I suppose it depends on how much you use your boat. If you use it a lot and lots of water gets flushed through the system, it'll taste better than if it sits. I just recently recommisioned my water tank after 3 years of disuse. Replaced all the tubing, etc. Tastes pretty bad so I've been trying to wash lots of stuff with it to eventually wash that taste out. LaDonna
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Peter Hine
Probably, but why?
I have a C27, with (about- I guess) an 8 gallon internal tank. I use the internal tank for doing dishes, cooking (boil the water!), and general cleaning, but keep a separate 5 gal "jerry can" of H2O to do my "heavy drinking". Have never had a reason to believe that the internal tank is "dirty" (I flush it with about 1/4 cup of bleach every spring), but why take the chance if you're only out for a few days?
I have a C27, with (about- I guess) an 8 gallon internal tank. I use the internal tank for doing dishes, cooking (boil the water!), and general cleaning, but keep a separate 5 gal "jerry can" of H2O to do my "heavy drinking". Have never had a reason to believe that the internal tank is "dirty" (I flush it with about 1/4 cup of bleach every spring), but why take the chance if you're only out for a few days?
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Dean Bachelor
nasty in the tubing
I recently bought a 1985 C30 and I love it. While I had my head down in the storage area just looking around at the fiberglass areas attached to the hull I got a shock. The clear tubing from the fill port down to the tank is black on the inside!! The tubing with water in it all the time is fine, just above the tank. Needless to say now I don't drink the water either, we keep a jug just for drinking. I may replace the tubing but like the one response, we only go for 2-3 days at a time, a jug will do fine. It's probably not really bad but it's just the tought of it. Check it out. Dean
I recently bought a 1985 C30 and I love it. While I had my head down in the storage area just looking around at the fiberglass areas attached to the hull I got a shock. The clear tubing from the fill port down to the tank is black on the inside!! The tubing with water in it all the time is fine, just above the tank. Needless to say now I don't drink the water either, we keep a jug just for drinking. I may replace the tubing but like the one response, we only go for 2-3 days at a time, a jug will do fine. It's probably not really bad but it's just the tought of it. Check it out. Dean
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Peter
Water
I've got a C27, and it seems that no matter what I do the water tastes pretty bad, but I'm confident it's clean. I've done the bleaching idea, and let me tell you that the lines are now fantastically clean, but the water still tastes awful. But I drink the water on my friend's boat...it tastes just fine, and I have no idea why.
I've got a C27, and it seems that no matter what I do the water tastes pretty bad, but I'm confident it's clean. I've done the bleaching idea, and let me tell you that the lines are now fantastically clean, but the water still tastes awful. But I drink the water on my friend's boat...it tastes just fine, and I have no idea why.
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Rodney Kidd
Don't Forget
Don't forget what you fill the tank with! I had a rough time with the water in the tank of my C-38 tasting like plastic until I filled the tank after washing the boat. Turns out that the water left sitting in the hose picked up the plastic taste from the hose. That plastic tasting water was then introduced into the onboard system when filling the tank. Running the water a few minutes before filling the tank completely cured the problem. Later, I learned you could buy hoses rated "food quality" and found those hoses to be much better. Rodney Kidd C-38 #297, Flying Bear
Don't forget what you fill the tank with! I had a rough time with the water in the tank of my C-38 tasting like plastic until I filled the tank after washing the boat. Turns out that the water left sitting in the hose picked up the plastic taste from the hose. That plastic tasting water was then introduced into the onboard system when filling the tank. Running the water a few minutes before filling the tank completely cured the problem. Later, I learned you could buy hoses rated "food quality" and found those hoses to be much better. Rodney Kidd C-38 #297, Flying Bear
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Rick
Filter it.
West marine, Home Depot, and several other places sell in-line filters with replaceable charcoal cartridges that will sweeten the taste of your water. Install it before or after the pump and before the water heater. I have one from west marine on my boat (about $35) and it was easy to install. I didn't install it until after I had completely cleaned the whole water system first. I also bought the "drinking water safe" garden hose to attach to the shore-side water supply.
West marine, Home Depot, and several other places sell in-line filters with replaceable charcoal cartridges that will sweeten the taste of your water. Install it before or after the pump and before the water heater. I have one from west marine on my boat (about $35) and it was easy to install. I didn't install it until after I had completely cleaned the whole water system first. I also bought the "drinking water safe" garden hose to attach to the shore-side water supply.
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