Water Filter

[seadaddler]

I am thinking of making life easy for me and wife and when we go cruising like we bring a dozen gallon jugs of water from home mostly for me being addicted to coffee fix first thing every morning and also bring 2 cases of bottle water.
I do use a water filter when filling my 75 gallon water tank and never had a problem with bad water from the tank like smell or taste funny and just use for washing dishes and shower and the water is good and even brushed teeth with it.
But I am thinking of adding a water filter just for drinking and coffee.
So what systems have you installed and been happy with out spending lots of $$$$$$$,don't mind bringing bottled water but if I could not do the gallon jugs would be great.
Nick

 

[Tom J]

We installed a small in-line filter at the cold water faucet of the galley sink, with good results. Like you, we filter any water going into the water tank, also. When we are in our slip, we keep a couple of gallon water jugs on board, and refill them at a local "spring" water station.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

We added a double filter unit from Amazon. http://svsmitty.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/adding-drinking-water-filters/

It's been 5 months now and we love it. So great not having to lug gallon bottles of water.

My recommendation is to go with something that uses the standard house style filters. The eagle systems are nice but the replacement filters can be expensive and can be hard to locate.

 

[Sailm8]

I have a PUR that is screwed on the sink tap. You twist it one way for filter and one for bypass.

 

[seadaddler]

Faucet

I have one of those fancy pull out spray faucets that came
with the boat from Hunter and looking at one of those under sink
water filters with separate water spout systems.
So many to choose from but most likely will look in Ace hardware or HD
or maybe camping world.
Nick

 

[ben solomon]

I use a PUR filter on the galley sink, too. Just rotate the switch for filtered water. I also put 4 tablespoons of bleach in the water tank which is 75 gallons. I have found that if I keep the tank full when the boat is not in use, there is no air/water interface to facilitate growth. My family and I drink the water and brush my teeth with it, etc. Obviously, if I make coffee or cook the water is boiled anyway.

Ben

 

[thinwater]

Practical Sailor has a series on water filtration coming out this spring.

a. There are some tablets that give a longer lasting residual, are longer lasting, and less corrosive. Aqua Mega.

b. Look at FiltersFast.com. The Pentek slimline filters and the FlowPlus 10 make a very economical NSF 53 certified solution. WAY better than any faucet end solution (faucet-end and pitcher solutions are biologically unsafe unless chlorine is ALWAYS maintained in the tank; bugs grow in the filters, and the granules can't catch them). In general, what you should be looking for is carbon block filtration, not granuals.

 

[ben solomon]

That is great information.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Obviously the filtration needed depends on the water source. On a cruise we are often filling up our tanks from different water sources, sometimes out of a hose connected to ?? It can at times be RO and find we don't like the taste of it. We also add chlorine because of bacterial concerns and that makes the taste even worse. There are some bugs that have become resistant to the chlorine so I may be using more than really required.

If the filter could remove bacteria I could cut back on the chlorine.

From my days of working in a laboratory I know many water filters will grow bacteria after a couple of months and may make the situation worse. Some filters use a silver coating to prevent this from happening, this can account for why some filters are much more expensive than others.

We have used the filters on the galley faucet and found they improved the chlorine levels if they are not too high. They don't do anything for the RO water issue. I don't know if a filter can fix that or not. Some cruisers use lemon juice or other things to hide the taste of the RO water.

I'm following this thread with interest and looking at each filter suggestion presented.

Bob

 

[med2463]

I installed an under the counter filter to the cold water in galley. Filter & replacement cartridges are at Home Depot. Has clear case so you can see when to replace. Brand is GE

 

[ben solomon]

What about connecting the filter to the water system before the water pump and accumulator? That way, all the water is purified.

Ben

 

[Sailm8]

In walking the docks, I've seen whole house type filters sitting on the dock used to filter the water as the tank is filled.

 

[Benny17441]

I would consult with an RV guy.

 

[thinwater]

What about connecting the filter to the water system before the water pump and accumulator? That way, all the water is purified.

Ben

Won't work. The pump cannot pullthough the filter. Only push.

 

[thinwater]

In walking the docks, I've seen whole house type filters sitting on the dock used to filter the water as the tank is filled.

And it makes no sense:

A. Most of the dirt (algae) come from the hose (look inside the hose, or filter some through a pllow case).

B. Though it is a good idea to filter fill water for dirt you do nowant to remove the chlorine. You need to donthat near the tap.

C. Unless sanitiized and continuously chlorinated, the tank is where the bugs are.

So filter at the hose end, chlorinate, and filter before the tap. Thefilters are of different types.

Look for NSF 53 certs (cyst removal) as a minimum for tap filtration. Anything less willnot add safety.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Disagree with Thinwater...

I have a whole house filter between the tank and pump on my H34. There is no problem pulling water through it for the two sinks and the shower.

I also use the same kind of filter at the dock connection to any shore water tap and keep a dedicated hose for only fresh water filling in the aft deck locker.

Both filters use the same cartridge, readily available at Lowes.

See pix attached.

 

[thinwater]

I have a whole house filter between the tank and pump on my H34. There is no problem pulling water through it for the two sinks and the shower.

I also use the same kind of filter at the dock connection to any shore water tap and keep a dedicated hose for only fresh water filling in the aft deck locker.

Both filters use the same cartridge, readily available at Lowes.

See pix attached.

What cartridge?

There are 2 possible reasons this working for a you. A propper filter will require a 20-40 psi push to flow at 3-5 gpm.

A. It is a 10-20 micron particle filter, which really is serving no purpose. Particle filtration should be before the tank, to keep the sludge out. A strainer before the pump is better than a fine filter tha could cavitate the pump.

B. It is a granular carbon filter. These have no place on a boat. They will slowly pull the chlorine from the tank when locatrd near the tank, they grow bacteria unless chlorination is continuous, and they are not fine enough to catch bacteria or cysyts. Basically, a feel-good filter that may be harmfull.

I would move it down stream and use an NSF 53 element.

Home filtration and boat filtration have very little in common (boats are not cotinuously chlorinated). Home Depot does carry some useful items, but they are over priced and you need to know what you need.

 

[RichH]

In general, what you should be looking for is carbon block filtration, not granuals.

Agree and disagree ... sintered and extruded ('block') carbon filters are usually made with 'carbon' made from COAL and are typically used for 'decolorizing' of fluids and for GASEOUS applications.
Carbon made from 'botanic' sources (coconut shells, etc.) are better and more efficient for the adsorption of those things that create 'taste' problems; that type of carbon is usually either in powder or granule form ... the small powder and granules providing significantly more internal ß-surface area which is quite important to the efficiency of adsorption. Dual purpose carbon/particle filters using powder and granules typically will have overlaid filter media of approx. 5-10µM (nominal) to retain the carbon 'fines' that break loose when the carbon eventually swells from contact with water.

Here's a typical source and 'clear' definition for usage of the various forms of activated carbon: http://www.cabotcorp.com/solutions/products-plus/activated-carbon/contact-us

 

[Terry Cox]

We've been using a PUR sink filter that secures to the galley faucet spout. Easy to install and remove. I keep a few bottles of filtered water in the fridge for regular consumption. Al other water for cleaning, bathing, etc. we use from the tank. Works for us.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Has any one else looked at a ceramic filter like this,

http://www.doulton.ca/hip101.html

It appears they can be cleaned. I assume once the carbon portion is depleted it would need to be replaced.

Bob