My biggest complaint about my Hunter 386 is the relatively low fresh water capacity. I am considering adding an additional tank, perhaps a bladder type tank. There is a compartment in the boat, just forward of the water tank in the bow and under the vee berth that seems to be fine for such a bladder or tank. I would like to hear from anyone who has tackled adding fresh water capacity and share lessons learned, advice, and thoughts on such a project. Thanks, Dan
Water Capacity
- Thread starter Dan Breitenbach
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Hi Dan, I thought I would weigh in here...
since your post has not drawn much of a response. Some questions: 1. How much does she hold now? 2. How much do you want her to hold? 3. What are your cruising plans that require additional water? A couple of comments. Another alternative to adding a water tank would be a water maker. Also, Karen Thorndike sailed solo around the world in a 36 foot cutter with a 32 gallon water tank. It took her two years with the longest period between ports of 93 days. Just some food for thought. Her reply about fresh water...as a society we're way over washed. She mostly bathed and washed in salt water. Terry
since your post has not drawn much of a response. Some questions: 1. How much does she hold now? 2. How much do you want her to hold? 3. What are your cruising plans that require additional water? A couple of comments. Another alternative to adding a water tank would be a water maker. Also, Karen Thorndike sailed solo around the world in a 36 foot cutter with a 32 gallon water tank. It took her two years with the longest period between ports of 93 days. Just some food for thought. Her reply about fresh water...as a society we're way over washed. She mostly bathed and washed in salt water. Terry
Terry,
I also heard that other boats stood about 100 yards off Karen's boat when she came into port.... We like to take real showers over here on the right side.
I also heard that other boats stood about 100 yards off Karen's boat when she came into port.... We like to take real showers over here on the right side.
Dan's water
I'm sure his 386 is a lot like my 376 with a 75 gallon tank. Dan, you should know that our boats aren't "Designed" for blue water use and that's why you don't have a large tank. That's not to say you can't take your boat into blue water, but don't complain about it not having blue water characteristics because it wasn't built for that. Now, as for adding more water to the bow, you should check with Hunter about that. Adding weight to the bow isn't a good idea usually. I think I would opt for taking extra water gallon bottles and storing them in the cabin then adding another tank in the bow. After all, there are only a few places where you would be at sea for more the 20 days when going around the globe.
I'm sure his 386 is a lot like my 376 with a 75 gallon tank. Dan, you should know that our boats aren't "Designed" for blue water use and that's why you don't have a large tank. That's not to say you can't take your boat into blue water, but don't complain about it not having blue water characteristics because it wasn't built for that. Now, as for adding more water to the bow, you should check with Hunter about that. Adding weight to the bow isn't a good idea usually. I think I would opt for taking extra water gallon bottles and storing them in the cabin then adding another tank in the bow. After all, there are only a few places where you would be at sea for more the 20 days when going around the globe.
We have 75 gal on our h37.5
We estimate about 2 gal per day per person, and that includes water for everything. So 75 gal should last 1 person 37 days, or 2 people 19 days. Now, that being said, I would love to have more water too. We have thought about adding another tank, but we really haven't found a good place for it. Maybe under the cabin soles below the seats or in the bilge. But the bilge is already taken up to store other things, and under the cabin soles would be a heck of a lot of work, mostly for me. I am the slave on our boat. Most of the places we cruise, there are marinas for us to tank up every few days, so it is not too much of a problem. We only have to watch our water usage when we are way way up north in Canada, or out out in the pacific, which is not too often. So, we have decided to stay with sun-showers. A 5 gal bag could stretch into 4 quick showers. Now, if we are in some bay with warm water, we jump in, get wet, get out, soap up, jump in again, get soap off, get out, rinse with fresh water, we could get 8 showers out of a 5 gal bag, along with 2 screams *yks per person per shower. Obviously we don't do that too often. Here in the Northwet, the water is a bit brrrrrr. I would also love to hear what others have done to increase water supply, not including water maker, too much trouble unless we are ready to stay out out there.
We estimate about 2 gal per day per person, and that includes water for everything. So 75 gal should last 1 person 37 days, or 2 people 19 days. Now, that being said, I would love to have more water too. We have thought about adding another tank, but we really haven't found a good place for it. Maybe under the cabin soles below the seats or in the bilge. But the bilge is already taken up to store other things, and under the cabin soles would be a heck of a lot of work, mostly for me. I am the slave on our boat. Most of the places we cruise, there are marinas for us to tank up every few days, so it is not too much of a problem. We only have to watch our water usage when we are way way up north in Canada, or out out in the pacific, which is not too often. So, we have decided to stay with sun-showers. A 5 gal bag could stretch into 4 quick showers. Now, if we are in some bay with warm water, we jump in, get wet, get out, soap up, jump in again, get soap off, get out, rinse with fresh water, we could get 8 showers out of a 5 gal bag, along with 2 screams *yks per person per shower. Obviously we don't do that too often. Here in the Northwet, the water is a bit brrrrrr. I would also love to hear what others have done to increase water supply, not including water maker, too much trouble unless we are ready to stay out out there.
My parents lived through the depression...
era. As a result mom was very thrifty. She could make a dollar last forever. I remember as we were growing up she taught us how to take what she called a spit bath. She would take her handkerchief with a dollop of spit and wash my face if she thought it needed cleaning. Just another idea for you guys with a limited water supply to help conserve on consumption.
Of course our boat carries 150 gallons; 65 in the forecastle and 85 in the main cabin. Since I'm usually out solo I seldom take spit baths, but I do take navy showers, FWIW. Terry
era. As a result mom was very thrifty. She could make a dollar last forever. I remember as we were growing up she taught us how to take what she called a spit bath. She would take her handkerchief with a dollop of spit and wash my face if she thought it needed cleaning. Just another idea for you guys with a limited water supply to help conserve on consumption.
Of course our boat carries 150 gallons; 65 in the forecastle and 85 in the main cabin. Since I'm usually out solo I seldom take spit baths, but I do take navy showers, FWIW. TerryOkay, what is a Navy shower?
Is it similar to the shower I described, except without the jumping in and screaming part? Instead, shut the water off during soaping?
Is it similar to the shower I described, except without the jumping in and screaming part? Instead, shut the water off during soaping?
Water supply
Dan, I never found a good place to add a bladder big enough to justify the trouble ob my 380. Probably best place is starboard aft locker. However I found a few tricks that let me stretch my freshwater supply on 3 seperate trips to the Bahamas. First I added flow savers on the faucets in the galley and head, about $15-20 each at WM. I also plumbed a raw water pump to the galley sink, about $120 for the pump, a Y-valve, hose, and fittings. With these I could stretch 75 -80 gallons of water for 2 women and 2 guys for about 4-5 days, or 4 guys for almost 10 days. Paul Bednarzyk La Vita Dolce H41DS
Dan, I never found a good place to add a bladder big enough to justify the trouble ob my 380. Probably best place is starboard aft locker. However I found a few tricks that let me stretch my freshwater supply on 3 seperate trips to the Bahamas. First I added flow savers on the faucets in the galley and head, about $15-20 each at WM. I also plumbed a raw water pump to the galley sink, about $120 for the pump, a Y-valve, hose, and fittings. With these I could stretch 75 -80 gallons of water for 2 women and 2 guys for about 4-5 days, or 4 guys for almost 10 days. Paul Bednarzyk La Vita Dolce H41DS
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