Airhead and potable water capacity

[The Masons]

My wife and I just got a new R27 and plan on installing an airhead on her as we did on our previous sailboat. We spent too many nights on boats with that old familiar aroma of "eau de holding tank" wafting through the cabin to ever want another boat with one again. On our sailboat i replaced the holding tank with an exact copy and plumbed it as another fresh water tank which increased capacity by 25 gallons. I intend to do the same on the Tug (new boat - new unused holding tank) and wondered how those of you who have done this joined the two fresh water tanks? I think a 3 way valve just prior to the fresh water pump makes sense, but want to know others insight. A valve would keep the supplies separate in the event of conatmination. Thanks much

 

[Microship]

(NOTE: I'm new here, and don't know if random input from folks is welcome in the "Ask the Factory" forum. If not, mea culpa!)

I have 2 fresh water tanks on my sailboat, and they are separately valved (simple stopcocks) into a manifold that then feeds the pressure water system. I use an ancient (and still very effective) Tank Tender to monitor their levels.

In the R-27, I will be running all fresh water through a single "choke point" that has a flow sensor, then dedicating a little microprocessor to integrating tank levels, filter media life, and other data based on that and observed valve positions. Here is the design, which I did for the current boat and will pretty much transfer over (with a bit of simplification, like skipping the dangerous shore pressure water connection) when I make the switch to the tuglet. The valves I mentioned above for handling the two tanks are "Port" and "Starboard" at the lower left. Again, this drawing is NOT the Ranger system...

http://microship.com/bilge/waterworks.jpg

 

[knotflying]

My wife and I just got a new R27 and plan on installing an airhead on her as we did on our previous sailboat. We spent too many nights on boats with that old familiar aroma of "eau de holding tank" wafting through the cabin to ever want another boat with one again. On our sailboat i replaced the holding tank with an exact copy and plumbed it as another fresh water tank which increased capacity by 25 gallons. I intend to do the same on the Tug (new boat - new unused holding tank) and wondered how those of you who have done this joined the two fresh water tanks? I think a 3 way valve just prior to the fresh water pump makes sense, but want to know others insight. A valve would keep the supplies separate in the event of conatmination. Thanks much

The three way valve is exactly how I did it. I use the rear tank first and let it run dry and then switch over to the front tank, which has the gauge. Also, for a real nice installation I added a hole at the rear of the Airhead and ran the exhaust hose out the back and through the wall. I then snaked it out through the port cockpit locker and then up between the hull and liner on the starboard side by the cockpit speaker. The fan is mounted up in the corner near the cockpit door post and then exits out the stern with a large stainless steel clamshell.
We use the marina heads when at marinas and get well over 6 months use before we have to empty it. Our lilac bush blooms nicely every year 😀

 

[The Masons]

Thanks Microship for the great illustration and details. I actually meant to post this question in regular old technical discussion and it was after I reread what I had written that I realize it was under Factory Support - sorry for the faux pas 🙂

Thanks also to Knotflying for the insight. I was curious about the exhaust hose routing and your experience will help, plus the info on plumbing the tanks.