Water filters

[pmagowan]

Has anyone thought about the addition of an in-line filter to their water filler hose? I was thinking that if you had a good mechanical rather than chemical filter on the hose then you would only be putting perfectly clean water in the tank and thus you wouldn't need to add chemicals. You could get one of those automatic cut-off pump handles that you have at fuel pumps and then you just leave it to fill up and you don't have to worry about spillages. It is not important the delay the filtration will add as you can be off doing something else and leave it to its own devices. It means you can leave filtration out later in the system and thus avoid restriction of flow.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I fitted brass strainers to the inlets both water tanks and my 3 fuel tanks. The ones in the fuel inlet also stops anyone putting a hose down the filler to pump out fuel.

Like these

https://www.google.co.za/search?q=b...v&sa=X&ei=2LxPVI6KDoSv7AaY54HgDw&ved=0CC8QsAQ

 

[MoodySabre]

You are assuming that the tank is clean and sterile. Mine isnt. An inline filter helps a bit.

 

[pmagowan]

I am thinking about it from scratch so with a new water tank. My current water arrangements consist of 10l bottles from Tesco which I refill regularly. I was also looking at the ability of silver to sterilise water. The Indians used to keep water in silver vessels. probably a bit expensive to build a tank out of but could be used as a mesh.

 

[KellysEye]

>You are assuming that the tank is clean and sterile. Mine isnt.

Empty some water out of the tank and add a quarter cup of bleach per forty gallons and fill the tank, run the taps to clean the pipes. Leave for 12 hours, empty the tank and flush twice and fill. We also had a filter under the sink for the fresh water tap.

 

[johnalison]

I can't think that it would be possible to put a filter in line with the inlet that was both effective and not liable to slow the flow, though some kind of stariner might be useful. The advantage of having my filter only on the sink cold outlet is that the shower and hot water outlets don't shorten the filter's life. We gave up using bottled water after I fitted a filter. The only place I have acquired gunk was in the flexible pipe leading from the deck to the tank, where the builders had allowed a section to sag and water to pool. As we have no need usually to save water, we are fairly profligate with it and this helps to keep things fresh.

 

[Jabs]

On my previous boat I decided to check out the inside of the tank.
It worried me greatly! Long dangly things hanging off the top.

Now I use bleach every few months and have a great filter feeding a separate faucet in the galley.

The water is clean enough to really enjoy.

Tony

 

[NickRobinson]

You've just reminded me I have an inline cartridge filter. Never changed it, though one cold tap on a small yacht will take a while to exhaust it as it's a largish domestic type. Water always sweet up to now, I've not dosed the tank unlike the last boat.

 

[sailorman]

The Whale bean counters suggest changing ever year :suspicion:

 

[NickRobinson]

The Whale bean counters suggest changing ever year :suspicion:

Fin or blue...

 

[neil1967]

I saw a cruising yacht a couple of years ago that connected the hose from the marina water supply to a jabsco cartridge filter and then had another hose from the filter to the water filler, so all water going into the tank had a basic filter. I am minded to follow their example - I scooped handfuls of sand/silt (and possibly other stuff) out of our water tanks after we bought Vivere. We also have a 'Pure' filter feeding a separate tap for when we want drinking water - much better than carting water around in plastic bottles and no bottle disposal issues either.

Neil

 

[sarabande]

I was also looking at the ability of silver to sterilise water. The Indians used to keep water in silver vessels. probably a bit expensive to build a tank out of but could be used as a mesh.

I am a great believer in the power of silver. I have a little gadget which produces a litre at a time, at pennies per litre, and we use it for scratches, sheep foot rot, etc.

You could whizz round a few second-hand furniture shops, and check out their cutlery for a genuine silver spoon or fork, then beat it out flat and dangle it in the tank. Boat's motion would swirl it around perfectly.


This is my silver ion gadget.View attachment 46610

http://www.silvergen.com/

 

[dslittle]

The advantage of having my filter only on the sink cold outlet is that the shower and hot water outlets don't shorten the filter's life. We gave up using bottled water after I fitted a filter.

We had a Brita tap and filter fitted FREE (well the fitting was free!!!). It uses replaceable filters and has transformed our drinking water usage. Whilst carrying bottles of water back was a pain, they are not too expensive at the moment - it will come into its own as water quality gets worse and bottled water becomes more expensive... The tap itself is brilliant, it has exactly the same footprint as the old galley tap with an additional control so only drinking water is filtered. Hot and cold water are not filtered, obviously saving the filter (and money)

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I am a great believer in the power of silver. ...... You could whizz round a few second-hand furniture shops, and check out their cutlery for a genuine silver spoon or fork, then beat it out flat and dangle it in the tank. Boat's motion would swirl it around perfectly.

So, what are the quantities and how does it work? You mention a spoon beaten flat, which suggests not that big a quantity and your wee machine doesn't appear to produce ingots of silver. Were you serious about a spoon volumes worth beaten flat, which I assume is to increase surface area? Would the silver sheet deplete? Curious!

Okay apparently it is dubious, is used in colloidal form to in some laboratories where heat can not be used, quacks claim it's benefits and you can turn blue http://www.bavariascotlandcharters.co.uk/yacht/bravado

I guess a beaten flat silver spoon wont cut the mustard.

 

[pmagowan]

So, what are the quantities and how does it work? You mention a spoon beaten flat, which suggests not that big a quantity and your wee machine doesn't appear to produce ingots of silver. Were you serious about a spoon volumes worth beaten flat, which I assume is to increase surface area? Would the silver sheet deplete? Curious!

Okay apparently it is dubious, is used in colloidal form to in some laboratories where heat can not be used, quacks claim it's benefits and you can turn blue http://www.bavariascotlandcharters.co.uk/yacht/bravado

I guess a beaten flat silver spoon wont cut the mustard.

There are lots of metals which are known to have antibacterial properties. Silver and copper are the common ones used. I am not sure how it would apply to the tanks though. Perhaps the wisest idea would be to have a primary filter on the inlet hose which simply gets out any crud or macroscopic parts and then have a proper filter on the cold water galley tap. I was just thinking that if you go to the trouble of getting a nice new tank installed then it would pay to keep it clean. I don't like the chemical taste in water purification as I am used to untreated well water at home.

 

[Chris_Mardon]

Most pontoons have their own hoses. I'm not sure I'd want to bother with connecting a filter to AN Other's hoses of various diameters nor to replace the pontoon hose with my own - it's too much bother compared to my own solution.
All mains water in the EU is potable; the only risk to health is the bugs that might be lurking in the pontoon hose. I give all hoses a good flush through before filling my tank and I also wash an Aquatab in at the same time to make double sure any bugs can't breed in the tank. Aquatabs are very effective but taint the water with a taste of chlorine so I have a Jabsco Aquafilter between the tank and my taps; its cartridge (£25) lasts a season and has a carbon filter that removes chlorine and other odd tastes. Most chandlers stock Aquatabs and Aquafilters. We've used this method for 20 years and it has been very successful.

 

[Tintin]

I cannot find it now, but there was a recent test in one of the mags on filters. Can anyone remember which one came out as best buy?

 

[Deleted member 36384]

There are lots of metals which are known to have antibacterial properties. Silver and copper are the common ones used. I am not sure how it would apply to the tanks though. Perhaps the wisest idea would be to have a primary filter on the inlet hose which simply gets out any crud or macroscopic parts and then have a proper filter on the cold water galley tap. I was just thinking that if you go to the trouble of getting a nice new tank installed then it would pay to keep it clean. I don't like the chemical taste in water purification as I am used to untreated well water at home.

I actually think that an inlet filter is a good idea. There no reason why flow rate should be too restricted either. If space allowed one could have a large volume filter, say L2' x W1', H2', with 2" inlet and outlets. It could be made easily removable so that layers of stuff could be added from fines at the bottom to coarse at the top.

 

[charles_reed]

I am thinking about it from scratch so with a new water tank. My current water arrangements consist of 10l bottles from Tesco which I refill regularly. I was also looking at the ability of silver to sterilise water. The Indians used to keep water in silver vessels. probably a bit expensive to build a tank out of but could be used as a mesh.

Buy silver chelate tablets - sold for water sterilisation everywhere in Europe except UK.

 

[vyv_cox]

The majority of superyachts in the Med treat the water they use for boat washing purposes before it comes on board to avoid streaks down the topsides. Many use a two stage process, with a filter followed by chemicals. They all use watermakers for drinking and showering of course. Quite a few more modest yachts use a similar filtration system for drinking water, I was looking at one for a Swiss boat last week. The filters are usually on the pontoon or quay.

We use a General Ecology Seagull IV filter on the drinking water tap, which I found to be extremely effective by comparison with the unfiltered tap.