Fresh water tanks and boat odors

[dpiano]

Recently there was a post regarding cleaning fresh water tanks. Here is a publication that gives clear directions on fresh water maintenance, winterizing, and waste tank maintenance. It's a great resource and still in print. The author was mentioned on this site long ago. I used her receipe for recommissioning our water tanks for years and there is no lingering bleach odor.

"Get Rid of Boat Odors" (A Boat owner's guide to marine sanitation systems and other sources of aggravation and odor)

Author: Peggie Hall
Publisher: Seaworthy Publications www.seaworthy.com

 

[Gin]

I purchased Peggy Hall's book and agree that she seems like the guru on these things. Our boat is new, but we look forward to following her advice to avoid trouble with the water and sanitation systems on Echo.

Gini

 

[JuliaAllan056]

Thanks for sharing! I found this great website to help you compare products and brands: http://www.nauticexpo.com/boat-manufact ... -1226.html

 

[knotflying]

So, don't keep us in suspense, what is the formula for cleaning the water tank?

 

[Bruce Moore]

We've followed Peggy Hall's advice since we took delivery of our first boat, and we still do. But nothing has improved the taste and smell of our potable water as much as a treatment which dates back to the 14th century.

Vodka.

Yep. On the advice of an old salt at the Anacortes Marine Hardware store, we add a 5th of cheap vodka to our tank every second or third fill up. We started with two successive treatments, after the usual conditioning routine failed to remove the last hints of undesirable taste and odor.

Now our water tastes and smells great. Highly recommended. But skip the vermouth and olives.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[Spinner]

Bruce, could you clarify the tank treatment: do you leave the treated water in the tank, or is it more in the nature of a rinse, i.e., put vodka in tank, then run all the water out?

If you leave the vodka in, how long before tank water is usable such that alcohol is not detectable?

I do have a supplemental filtered water tap in the galley, but would still like to keep the tank in good order...

 

[Bruce Moore]

The first fifth was poured in with a full tank and then pumped out the next day after a brief cruise. From then on we just add a bottle occasionally on fill ups. In our case putting 750 ml into 80 gallons of water results in no detectable taste or smell - just nice tasting and smelling water. That's the equivalent of about 1 oz of vodka poured into about 6 gallons of your favorite mixer - not a very stiff drink!

Cheers

 

[knotflying]

Does Bruce always seem happy? :lol:

 

[rporterfield]

As a RV-er for thirty years I just use the same stuff I get at the RV store. Cheaper than vodka, save that for my scewdrivers. The RV water treatment has regular treatment and a periodic shock treatment.