More fresh water: Inexpensive & simple solution

localboy

I have contemplated adding an additional water tank to the void under the V berth on our ‘07 25 Cruiser. Water, fuel & ice are always our limiting factors when out on longer trips and we enjoy being on the hook vs always in marinas. I added a solar panel system for the same reasons.

After contemplating the labor, expense and complexity of adding one, I came up with a much simpler & less expensive alternative. KISS after all . 5.3 gallon collapsible water jugs. I can easily store 2 under the Vberth storage. The weight is then more forward and along the center line. Once emptied they collapse into a fraction of space, unlike our rigid 6 gallon water can we used to carry. I got them from here: https://smartbottleinc.com/

ssobol · Posted: Wed May 24, 2023 6:30 pm Post subject:

I have used collapsible water containers too (5 and 2.5g). IMO, they are ok. They get a little less user friendly to use as they collapse. Most camping supply places have them.

I took the 20 gal tank out of the aft dinette compartment for the storage space.

I have been meaning to add a water tank to the bow compartment on my 22 for some time now. Might actually get to it this summer.

-Waypoint- · Posted: Thu May 25, 2023 8:31 am Post subject:

Thanks for posting these water containers. I'm definitely going to be getting some of these to replace the ones I have now. Inexpensive, made in the USA too!

Salmon Fisher · Posted: Mon May 29, 2023 6:10 pm Post subject:

Thank you Mark! I'm getting some, too.

smckean (Tosca) · Posted: Mon May 29, 2023 7:26 pm Post subject:

I've used up to 4 of these 5 gallon jugs. I found 4 overkill and ended up using just 2....giving me 10 extra gallons of water to supplement the 20 gallon tank. A couple of great things about using these are:

1. I have no gauge to see how much water is in the 20 gallon tank; so I used to worry all the time about how close I was to running out of water. Now I just allow my use to run wild knowing that I have 10 additional gallons, and by carefully estimating use after that, I can figure how many days I can go before I have to get water.

2. I keep the 2 containers on the 2 "quarter seats" on either side of the transom on the CD25 (which I never otherwise use), or strap them up on the bow. That's 80 pounds of mobile "ballast" I can use to trim the boat (a 160 pound delta). Works great especially on longer trips when the boat is heavily loaded. (I can even effect side to side trim if I move them across the beam.)

P.S. I find the collapsibility of the jugs a benefit in terms of storage since if you use a large funnel (which I have anyway), I can sit on the foredeck and easily pour the water from the jug as it sits on the upper part of the deck into the tank fill pipe. No need to provide air into the jug either since it naturally collapses as the water pours out. I can even control the flow rate by how hard I "squeeze" the jug as it pours.