Fuel, Water & Storage

As it happens one of the things that gets some attention on the boat is fuel and where to put it. There are those great jerry cans that are some sort of plastic that are fairly inexpensive that solve the initial question but then if they are left to sit somewhere on a rocking or underway boat will crash around with a large potential to do damage or split and spill their contents all over the place. One of the things that we took out of the boat before we left Portland was a bladder tank that was installed originally to feed the heater that we now have no need for. You would think, perhaps, that we would have converted it to serve as an extra tank for the diesel since that is what it held for the heater? Well, truthfully, it is a matter of too much rerouting of fuel line to have done that and it was also interfering with the reconstruction of the aft head hoses. The extra 38 gallons it held would have been good but to-date we have managed in other ways.

If you see many pictures of cruising boats you will notice right away that there is a board along the rail. If the boat is for sale then there will just be the board (in all likelihood) but if the boat is in use then there will be a series of fuel and/or water cans tied to it. The boat can carry pretty much whatever will fit along the board(s).

We have one such board on the port side on Faith and it carries three 5 gallon diesel cans and one gasoline can. On a stanchion on the starboard side you will find two 5 gallon water jugs, while an extra five-plus gallon gasoline can is attached to an aft stanchion. This little bit of additional storage serves us well. Thus far we have planned our diesel so that we have not had to dip into the diesel cans. This raises one of the less considered issues… how often should we refresh the 15 gallons of diesel stored on deck? You see, diesel grows little bugs eventually and leaving it in the tank for too long a time will lead to issues later, like clogged filters and injectors.

We have used more of the gasoline in these carry along tanks because both the generator and the dinghy run on it and they have very small tanks. As a result we are constantly refilling those jerry cans. Even with a fuel dock close by we have need of a steady refill schedule.

Faith carries 210 gallons of water and we don’t have a water maker. This last is something that has become very big in the last ten years!! I didn’t fully realize just how big an issue this is before this trip. So many boats have a water maker these days that it is almost taken for granted that, of course, we would have one too. Well, we don’t. What we do is get water in 5 gallon bottles delivered tot the boat and laboriously pour them into the tanks. Our last delivery involved 30 bottles and it took about 45 minutes of emptying them one at a time into the proper tank. We had an incident on an earlier fill (in San Diego) where a crew member mistook the aft waste tank cap for the water tank and it was filled from the dock hose with fresh water!! That was ok because it wasn’t the diesel tank but we did have to empty the waste tank before we could use the aft head again!! We all laughed over that one since it could have happened to any of us and, after all, water and waste both start with “w”, “a”. In any case, we are very cognizant of how much water we use and find other ways to wash things in sea water when practical. That proved to be a challenge in the Barra de Navidad lagoon because we felt it was fairly polluted.

Storage in general is a whole ‘nother subject on this boat. I think, in part, that is because it was built initially for the charter trade. As such it was meant to be occupied for a week or two by vacationers and that meant room for food and cooking items is generous while other storage is considerably less. We also have lots of room for hanging and folding clothes compared to some other boats I have been on but that’s where the fun stops. What we don’t have is room for fenders, generators, extra sails, guitars and so much more. So far there have been some creative solutions for this but we still have the normal concern for putting each thing back where it belongs… exactly. Keep in mind that everything has to be set for rolling radically while we are under way. Sailing means living on your ear some of the time and even at anchor you can have the random panga wake that rolls the boat from side to side (as it is while I write this). We have the “Garage” behind the Nav station over the larger of the two water tanks to keep the tools that keep the boat running and a lazarette under the settee where we keep the parts for various projects that have yet to be completed.

The rails also carry a variety of things that are used regularly. The dinghy motor recently had an improved crane installed to pick it up and store it on the aft rail while we are sailing. The all important BBQ is attached there as is the Lifesling. There is a set of hanger brackets for a spare anchor (currently stored in a hanging locker) and our dock cart is there as well. Fenders are typically tied aft and some fishing gear finds a home there too. Hmmm, perhaps I should reconsider some of that!!! Anyway, things like the floating library that we are (everyone aboard likes to read and that creates a storage issue too) and the bug capture and saving equipment along with snorkeling gear and such takes up special places. The dinghy, of course, hangs over the stern of the boat and earns us a larger slip in a marina (think a small extra expense). Did I mention the second dinghy stored on the fore deck over yet another spare anchor? The area under the cabin table is currently Sandy’s “office” in plastic tubs and the someday-to-be-installed new inverter/charger. One space behind a seat in the salon has nothing but line, rode, rope and the like. One of our favorite places here is to dig down in the top accessible refrigerator/freezer boxes. I have often joked about holding someone by their heels and lowering them into the things to find a beer or a round of cheese. These things are deep!!

So, by now you are getting the idea that everything has its place on a boat and keeping it all organized is the key to a happy life.