[tdw]

Whoops. I forgot to check this thread today after starting it myself yesterday.

We have a filter on our fresh water line (god knows when it was last changed though) and so the water from our tanks tastes pretty good. Even so If I'm going to drink it I'd prefer to boil it first. Sometimes i use bottled water for coffee and yes it does taste better but first thing in the morn everything tastes like crap so I don't bother.

One great advantage of bottled water is that you can monitor your intake. Being something of an old fart I need to drink plenty of water to keep away the gout. Trust me on this, if you've never had it you don't want it. It hurts. Lots of water (and for some reason celery) keeps it at bay. Oh, and don't eat spinach, boo hoo.

If travelling to somewhere that doesn't have bottled water then we'll carry a proper water filter thingy.

Regarding watermakers, I noticed at the Sydney Boat Show that there are now some not so expensive small units that would satisfy the needs of a couple of small rodents but I think that will wait for the next boat.

No matter how big your tanks are if you insist on this showering malarky it's amazing how much water you go through even though we 'navy shower'.

My only worry about bottled water is the storage. Having all those relatively thin plastic bottles stored away for weeks at a time I do wonder how long before the plastic would wear through.

Still and all as Freesail has noted 'just drink wine' (and beer too please.)

Oh yes, (he edited in), if you have milk in your tea or coffee and all you can get is UHT then the taste thing is moot. UHT milk makes anything taste strange. Not necessarily bad, just strange.