There
are machines that make fresh water from the sea, which would seem to be the
answer, but they’re beyond the resources of most of us, simply too expensive to
buy and maintain.
Many
long-distance cruisers manage to catch enough rain to keep their tanks topped
up. Some collect rainwater in a bucket where it runs in a stream off the
mainsail at the gooseneck. Others plug the cockpit drains and siphon the water
into the tanks below. If you carry a dinghy upright on deck it could also be an
extra catchment area.
You
should let the first few minutes of a rainstorm wash away the dirt from sails
and decks before you start collecting, of course, if you need drinking water.
Otherwise, you can use slightly tainted water for showers or washing clothes.
And,
incidentally, you can often scoop fresh water off the surface of the sea after
really heavy rain in calm conditions. It floats on top of the denser salt
water. Just don’t dip too deep.
Today’s Thought
Rain hangs about the place like a friendly ghost. ... if
it’s not coming down in delicate droplets, then it’s in buckets; and if
neither, it tends to lurk suspiciously in the atmosphere.— Barbara Acton-Bond, “The Anglicization of Me,” CSM 21 Jul 82
Tailpiece
I’m
told that Orville and Wilbur Wright, those pioneers of flight, were notoriously
diffident about speaking in public.Nevertheless, at one lunch they attended, the master of ceremonies called upon Wilbur to say a few words.
“There must be some mistake,” he stammered. “Orville is the one who does the talking.”
Orville dutifully rose and announced: “Wilbur just made the speech.”
(Drop by every Monday,
Wednesday, Friday for a new Mainly about Boats column.)
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