TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands How much water do you use?

On our last trip my wife and I couldn't remember how much water we use - I'm talking about drinkable water, not the tanks. Over 10 days we figured 1 gallon per person per day was about right. That would be for drinking and cooking/coffee. Is that about what others are experiencing?

From the tanks I think we do pretty good. This last trip the two of us, on a Sunsail 41 we never had to switch to the second tank. Not sure how many gallons we used but over 10 days I thought we did pretty good! I'm guessing we have gradually worked our way down to 8 gallons per day for two which is mostly showering off the stern and doing dishes. How's everyone else doing?

That's not bad. We did an 18 day ocean crossing from the Galapagos to the Marquesas on one 150 gallon tank after the watermaker got polluted with fish oil the night before we left.

We used the tanks just for showering and washing dishes, water for drinking and tea came from bottles of watermaker water stored before we left.

We could have used less if really required but that would have meant cutting out showers.

Don't forget you are on vacation. Filing up on water is easy.

As for drinking, we figure 1 gallon a day per person. I buy enough to cover us for the first 4 days or so and then we buy more as we go. Might change it up here and there depending on what boat we'll be on.

Wow Jeannius doing Galapagos to the Marquesas, I'm just envious! I've spent so much time on the internet dreaming about and reading about trips like that. While the admiral will probably never be talked into trips like that I have managed to do some reasonable island hopping with her - St. Lucia to Grenada and back and the Cyclades islands in Greece. She loves being on a boat but much prefers being there where I enjoy the getting there more. She was raised in Greece so is experienced with water conservation. As time has gone on we seem to use less and less water without making much of an effort.

Maytrix, we certainly could stop for water (most places) but I guess it's become a pride thing for us. No great hardship keeping consumption low. Now that it looks like we'll be going with larger crews in the future it will be interesting to see how well we do. Not saying we are somehow better than others just because we conserve water, it's just become a fun goal for us over the years.

We did a complete circumnavigation after we'd spent a year and a half living and working in the BVI. Story of the circumnavigation is in the blog - link below - starting in January 2010.

Don't give up on your wife doing long distance sailing, my wife wouldn't until we changed from sailing monos and bought a cat.

As far as I know I've not read your blog, I'll do that!

We chartered a small cat once, I thought it would be the ultimate solution (she doesn't like healing) but she likes to cook a lot on board and all I heard was there wasn't much storage space for food/cooking and it didn't have much counter space and I agree. No I won't give up on the dream but even if it never comes true it sure helped me get thru the last several years of my working life!

Beerme, not all cats are the same. Like monohulls there are good and bad. Some cats are just for charter others for living aboard. Like Mike, we won't go back to a monohull.

As for water usage, we let our guests use as much as they want. Water is cheap and easy to acquire in BVI, why add extra stress of water usage. Most men don't have the hair issues of the ladies and think every shower can be done in 2 minutes.

Drinking water, we often have people that drink no water, but although a gallon/day is prudent, I find it is a whole lot less in reality.

I agree with Mike, why the conservation project? Water is everywhere, we top off often, even when not empty.

We always add one gallon per person stashed away. If you ever have any issues with your water tank or pump. Hand each person their one gallon for whatever until you can sort out the boat's water supply, Really cheap insurance. We never worry about water usage anymore. If you do suspect a very heavy user on the boat. Just have them hold the hose on the next fill.

Yeah kneafseym and sail2wind I certainly see your point - water IS very easy to get in the BVI's. When we have guests I think we'll have to relax those rules.

Part of it is just our style which I'd call extreme seclusion. We can usually stock up on everything we need for at least 10 days and then get away from it all. Part of it is because my wife grew up in Athens and back then water was a scarce commodity at times; "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down" is her mentality. Part of it is just a game we like to play - like using less air when diving. Finally, part of it is we are sometimes in areas where water is not as readily available or cheap like in the windwards islands on the smaller islands in Greek Cyclades. But really, we don't feel like we're suffering or anything, just trying to maximize our fun time on board and minimize time spent docking and taking on water. Not for everyone but it works for us. As watermakers get more and more popular on charter boats I'm sure we'll come around...

StormJib, I like the idea of letting the heavy user do the filling! As the next two trips will involve guests I'll be working on the Admiral to loosen the rules a bit.

Currently on a cat with 7 other people. Usage is between 100-150gal/day. That water quantity includes drinking and cooking. Fortunately there is a watermaker on board or else the charter guests would need to be more conservative or stop every other day to top off. They should than CaptJay for the freedom that the watermaker provides!

Kimber - I sent you a PM.

The classic rule of thumb on water consumption (tank, not drinking) is : "Water lasts in inverse proportion to the amount of hair on the boat." A boat with a bunch of teens and young adults, esp w those who 'need' to wash their hair after every swim....well, good luck.

100-150 gal a day is a lot! Even when we've had 9 people we didn't use that much.

We (2) use about 5-8 gallons of boat water per day for all uses. This includes showers, dish washing, laundry etc. We plan about 1 gallon for drinking water. We always fill up when we switch tanks so as not to be limited in our itinerary.

We did a seven night charter with 8adults (Couples) and never filled up on a 43' Moorings cat. aprox 200gal. O/w from the Genedines, so not many options. Had abt 10gal to spare as we arrived in Greneda.

Normally in BVI we fill up at Leverick or Saba rock, and do just fine for the entire week.

Sung to the tune of "If I Had A Hammer"...

If I had a watermaker, I'd a shower in the mooorning.
I'd a shower in the evening, all over the islands.
I'd show on the stern deck, I'd show in the heeead.
I'd shower for the love between all my brothers and my sisters, all over the islands!

I just made that up.

A budding new artist <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Sometimes cleaning up in the galley, washing and rinsing in the sink, can use a lot of water, especially in the case of a helpful crew member allowing the water to run for rinsing when washing dishes, glasses, etc.

There are three adults, three 25ish year old girls and two 25ish year old boys onboard. All of the girls have very long hair. None of the kids have a clue as to what water conservation means. I forgot to add in my original post that the ice maker is running 24/7 as well keeping us with plenty of ice. In essence as long as this Saba 50 has fuel and food, there is no need to go ashore. Considering all the low hull number Fountaine Pajot cats I've been on, there is very little I would change on this hull #2 on her maiden charter!!

That's what I'm talking about Rita! Next two trips look like we'll be 5 and then 6 people. I guess we'll "just pull in somewhere and ask for" ... some water! Mangled Capt'n Ron quote.

beerMe...You HAVE to read the Jeannius blog! It's awesome!
As for water...We get about 16 gallons for 6 people for the week and never run out.

Love it. Now I'll have be that stuck in my head for hours...maybe even days.

I hate it when that happens, sorry!

We don't drink a gallon a day, unless you include beer!

Normally I budget 1/2 gallon /person /day and round up to the nearest case (multiples of 6 gallons).

We always have water left over.

I drink a lot of water. I don't drink beer or other alcoholic beverages and I don't drink soda. I can go thru close to a gallon a day myself.

Eating ashore and the level of physical activity can make a difference. Some crews may drink significant water ashore reducing the consumption on the boat.

When it comes to potable water we couldn't remember how much we used last time out. Between cooking, coffee and each of us telling the other to drink more water to stave off dehydration we were right at 1gal pp pd.

I'm still amazed how little water I need to rinse dishes or shower. We don't jump in after lathering up and still we use much less on board than we do at home.

seriously, have you looked at your water bill? Our last water bill was 2400 gallons in one month, still less than one hundred gallon boat fill. To my calculations thats 80 gallons a days. One washing machine cycle will use 1/2 a boat tanks water.