Water Tank Roulette

   Captain wifey and I like to play a little game aboard our sailboat. It involves the water tank. Maybe you play it too!

   As full-time liveaboards, we use freshwater on our boat to do dishes and take occasional showers. Our tank sits under the forward bed, with hoses running back to the galley, head, & cockpit outdoor faucet. At the dock, our 50 gallon water tank lasts us about a week. We're lucky to have water pressure (no foot pumps). The pressure system makes a predictable Chewbacca-like purr every 5 seconds or so when we're running the water.

   If you're using the faucet aboard when the water runs out, the water pressure purr gets a little louder and doesn't stop. With no water left in the tank, it is trying to pressurize water that isn't there. A quick flip of the breaker shuts it down and it's time to go outside and fill the tank.

   Rewind about a day and this is when water tank roulette begins! It's just the two of us aboard Kingsley (2 1/2 if you count the cat), and neither of us are that fond of filling the water tank back up (especially in the cold, dark, windy, dead of a Northwest winter). 

   As the tank indicator displays a low water level, the game begins. With every turn of the faucet, every dish rinsed in the galley, every toothbrush rinse before bed, there's a risk. If the water runs out while you're using the faucet, you lose & have to go out and fill the tank! It's husband vs. Captain Wifey in this risky game of water tank roulette!!!
   
   ~Paul & Amber   ETC