Water consumption estimates

[whipper_snapper]

Would anyone like to suggest a suitable per person daily water consumtion rate for a small boat on a long passage in extremely hot conditions? The boat has sea water taps in the galley but coffin-like hulls and very little shade on deck.

Thanks

 

[Channel Ribs]

This page suggests a minimum of 1.8l/day:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/drinks_water.shtml

But then you have to take extras into account for cooking and cleaning, you could proabably double it up to around 3.5l per person per day and have a reserve in case the average works out higher.

To save waterbeing used as a coolant, look at using things like wet wipes to freshen up with and cooling 'spritz' sprays which moisten your face and other tender parts. Also if you have the power a small fan will work wonders, as will an air scoop in a forward facing hatch.

 

[Salty John]

At least 4l per day per person; we allowed 8l per person per day when cruising in the Caribbean.

 

[FAITIRA]

We used 150 ltrs total for two of us on a 30 day Atlantic crossing without any hardship, but for coastal cruising in the cooler waters in the North we use much more, hot showers etc, summer in the South produces a lower water consumption, swimming and a quick deck shower rinse. Here in Ireland we use about 400 ltrs a week, in the South that would easily do for 2 weeks.

 

[michael_w]

For our milk run crossing we budgeted for 2.5l per head per day. Had plenty of bottled water and beer too.

 

[Skents]

We were a crew of two adults and one 11 year old and used 40 gallons over a 26 day Atlantic crossing between Tenerife and St Lucia (one of two water tanks was untouched). Washed up in salt water (well, it's pretty clean), washed in salt with fresh water rinse and used wet wipes. Had plenty of cans of drink, cartons of juice to start with but ran out by the end of the trip. Ran out of wine and beer too...aarggh! But with 40 gallons of water we even had enough in the first tank to do all our laundry in fresh water the day before landfall.

 

[wanderlust]

For two of us onboard on an Atlantic circuit we used 5 gallons per day total, including having a solar shower each. We used a watermaker to make the 5 gallons per day we needed and carried 25 gallons in a tank/cans in case the watermaker bust

 

[Ariadne]

The old MN articles allowed you up to 5L per day per person for all needs.

I have worked ours out for crossing the Atlantic at 4L per person per day, but no washing unless needed! We also have salt water tap for washing up (just rinse off with fresh via a foot pump). We also carry 5 25L water containers and some bottled water.

We can cross the Atlantic OK, but will to think about a water maker before crossing the Paciffic.l

 

[Bajansailor]

Four of us sailing across the Atlantic 12 years ago used about 80 gallons of water during 20 days at sea - we had 2 x 60 gallon water tanks and broached the second tank about 4 or 5 days out of Antigua.

So that averages out to 1 gallon per person per day - yet we were very frugal and conscious of saving water. We did not have any fresh water showers, cooked taties in SW, rice in half salt / half fresh, and washed up in SW.

We did drink a lot of water though, but very little in the way of juices (cos we didnt have much juice!), and no wine or beer (dry ship!), although we did broach a bottle of red halfway across.

I would allow a minimum of 1 gallon of fluids per person per day for a passage, with at least a 50% safety margin added on beyond the expected passage time.