[UnionPacific]

I will be adding a 40 gallon tank to our yacht. The my plan was for diesel, but just curious if I should consider water.
We currently have 140 gallons of diesel, and an estimated 150-200 gallons of water.
The water last us 15 day at the dock, with showers, dishes, and no conservation at all. I think we could do an easy 30 with little cutbacks, and more with rationing.
So thats my thinking behind why 40 additional gallons of diesel would give us more options, including the option to make water

3rd option is to install 800AH of batteries in the same spot. we will have 800 when we leave the dock next time.

 

[tomandchris]

OK, where are you going that you need additional tankage? What you have is more than the majority of sailing vessels. I would vote for the batteries based on your new TV and other electrical needs.

 

[copacabana]

If I recall correctly, you want to head to Patagonia and the Chilean canals. You would be better off with the extra diesel there.

 

[Capnblu]

Diesel.

 

[TQA]

Doing what I do out in the Eastern Caribbean I would say water. I use about 30 galls of diesel per annum.

I have 150 galls of water and I suppose that an extra 40 galls would be OK.

If you are heading to colder climes I guess you might want to run the heater so extra diesel would be good.

 

[UnionPacific]

I was hinking diesel as well. I also have an option to add 100 additional gallons. If I did that it would make the lazerette a not fun place to be, so I may just stick with diesel. I also have one more spot for another 40 gallons once I install the new heating and cooling system.

Thanks for the input guys, I just wanted to make sure I was not crazy for wanting almost 200 gallons of diesel.

 

[Minnewaska]

The old saying is, "you can make water, you can't make diesel"

However, you really need to assess your plans to see if more diesel storage is necessary. Can't tell from the OP at all. For example, we carry 220 gallons of water and 110 gallons of diesel. That is terrific for the coastal cruising we predominantly do. For a Bermuda or Caribbean passage from New England, that diesel supply is low (we burn 2gph at 8.5kts). However, I would never give up our water supply for the few times I wish I might have more diesel. We can always add temporary diesel storage for a passage or two.

Good solar/wind gen and a ton of house battery capacity would significantly lower your need to burn diesel. Something to think about.

 

[aa3jy]

Watermaker..

 

[SVAuspicious]

Batteries.

 

[appick]

Unicorns, there are never enough unicorns on a boat! lol :laugher

I like the idea of a water maker, good solar/wind, and plenty of diesel.

However for where we are all we bring is a high capacity camping water filter and we are good to go! Gotta love those big beautiful Great Lakes! Some day I'll sail the salty seas, until then its the fresh water for me!

 

[UnionPacific]

Yes, we hope to visit Patagonia, NW passage, and the south pacific.
When the days hit 100, we will run the AC. When the days hit 50 we will run heat.
800AH should be enough for our freezer, a fridge, all electronics. We plan for about 750-1400 watts of solar, and 200-400 watts wind. We want to not spend our time seeking out diesel pumps, or fresh water. We will be as off the grid as we can. We will also have a dive compressor, so I think having as much diesel as we can is the right way to go.

 

[tomandchris]

When are you planning on starting this trip? Where are you sailing now?

 

[UnionPacific]

When are you planning on starting this trip? Where are you sailing now?

The current plan, and the plan is still fluid, is to leave next year in Julyish.
We are putting about Florida, doing our major refit. Its very major.:laugher
Our generator is in thou, and has 1 hour on it now.
http://svunionp.blogspot.com/2014/06/generator-updates.html

 

[Minnesail]

Skip the diesel and the water, put in a hot chicks room: Hot Chicks Room

My boat came with one, but it was built in 1974 so some of the chicks aren't as hot as they used to be.

 

[hellosailor]

If you don't know whether your priority should be water, fuel, or power, then you might seriously consider waiting until you are sure of which one is most important before installing anything.

Water and fuel can both be brought on in jerry cans or a blivet until then.

 

[Don L]

batteries, or install more locker space (I vote the locker really but that wasn't a choice)

you have enough fuel and water

 

[tomandchris]

I followed your earlier plans on CF and the reality of that situation. I just checked your blog to see what you had been up to, and I see lots of work being done and lots of stuff on deck.

Have you been practicing any sailing? I remember your comment, I think coming out of Charleston, about hitting your wifes fun quota with 8' waves. I really think that you need to sail that boat and see what it, and you and yours, can do before you invest more into your future plans. I assure you that the trip to Patagonia, no matter how you plan weather windows, will throw much more at you than 8' waves. The boat can probably take a lot if you have prepped it well, but without practice....can you?

 

[UnionPacific]

I followed your earlier plans on CF and the reality of that situation. I just checked your blog to see what you had been up to, and I see lots of work being done and lots of stuff on deck.

Have you been practicing any sailing? I remember your comment, I think coming out of Charleston, about hitting your wifes fun quota with 8' waves. I really think that you need to sail that boat and see what it, and you and yours, can do before you invest more into your future plans. I assure you that the trip to Patagonia, no matter how you plan weather windows, will throw much more at you than 8' waves. The boat can probably take a lot if you have prepped it well, but without practice....can you?

Its very true she was outside her comfort zone on that one. To be exact they were 8' breaking waves, that were breaking on deck in a very wet fashion.
Our next sail trip will be in about a month. (if we can get time off) Also our plans have changed and our first trip will be FL-NYC. Then we will continue onto UK.
We have a short list that needs to be done before our first new sail. Getting smaller weekly.

I heard a quote a few months back. It was from some adventure sailor, she was asked what weather scared her. She said "10 knots more then the biggest storm I have been in."

 

[tomandchris]

You are going to NY, then to the UK, then to Patagonia? And, your total sailing experience was the small bit you did from NY to St. Augustine, most of which was in the ICW?

I understand prepping the boat for whatever trip you plan, but I still believe that prepping yourself is more important. The boat can take a lot more than you, but in the wrong hands it won't handle half of what it should. 8' waves, breaking or not, are nothing compared to what you will find crossing the Altantic!

 

[UnionPacific]

You are going to NY, then to the UK, then to Patagonia? And, your total sailing experience was the small bit you did from NY to St. Augustine, most of which was in the ICW?

I understand prepping the boat for whatever trip you plan, but I still believe that prepping yourself is more important. The boat can take a lot more than you, but in the wrong hands it won't handle half of what it should. 8' waves, breaking or not, are nothing compared to what you will find crossing the Altantic!

We have not made a concrete plan where after the UK. We will be watching politics as we go, Africa could be on the list, if it is safe. but no, stop 3 will not be Patagonia.