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Boat Water systems
Considering water systems and equipment for boating may seem unusual when you consider that you are surrounded by water, however for obvious reasons it can be important that you invest in adequate systems for your own safety. This is especially important if your boating trips last for more than a day or two, realistically if your trip is going to last longer than a two days you will not be able to bring enough water to allow for any eventuality. If this is the case then you should investigate water systems and equipment to ensure that you can cater for the needs of yourself and anyone who is on your vessel for everything from a normal trip to an emergency situation.
Generally speaking water systems and equipment for boating fall into three categories, storage units, fresh fluid units and salt water units. Storage units are precisely as the name suggests, they allow for safe storage of fluids without worry of contamination or leaking. These water systems are most commonly seen in use when boating on waterways, rivers or when staying close to the coast. They vary wildly in size, quality and price, and you should consider your needs and do some calculations to ensure you take more than enough water than you will ever need on a journey. The rule of thumb tends to be “double it and add a bit”, i.e. you should ensure you take at least twice as much water with you in storage plus a small reserve.
For longer journeys or larger vessels it may be wise to invest in more sophisticated water systems and equipment to ensure you can stay adequately hydrated. A number of systems exist that will filter and clean liquids automatically no matter what source it is taken from. Fresh water models tend to be cheaper than salt water models and many also feature redundant backups and a storage tank that is filled to ensure that should the water systems break down you have a sensible amount of water in storage to be used to get to a safe harbour. Salt water systems for boating tend to include sophisticated desalination equipment to ensure that the salt content of the liquid can be filtered and removed and you will be left with completely pure water that is safe for drinking. Most of these systems include filters that need changing at regular intervals so ensure you bring spares on any voyage.
Many water systems for boating also include recycling facilities. With water at a premium recycling is actually not as bizarre as it sounds and can save you a lot of money in the long run. The simpler systems for boating can filter and clean liquids that have been used for drinking that can then be used for other things such as flushing the toilet, general cleaning and scrubbing and even cooling the engine. More sophisticated boating water recycling systems allow for the liquid to be completely cleaned and purified many times over until it is completely safe for drinking. When choosing the right design for you ensure that you take into account the size of your vessel and your own unique requirements.
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