Do you fill your water tanks from 5-gallon containers – either jerry cans or purchased water?
If so, you’ll appreciate this idea for a funnel, from Dennis and Susan Ross of Ross Marine Services in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Dennis takes a one-gallon water bottle, cuts out the bottom, and screws the top into his deck fill.
“The size is perfect, and although the threads don’t match exactly, the plastic is soft enough that they cross thread easily.” The funnel stands up by itself without a second person having to hold it — yep, lots better than the “deck fill funnels” you can buy and the only expense is a gallon of water!
We used Dennis’ method a couple of times when we couldn’t use our watermaker and the local water was suspect. Yes, it really IS that simple!
We spent several months buddy-boating with Dennis and Susan aboard Two Can Play and they are both very knowledgeable cruisers. They taught us a lot about cooking seafood . . . and also introduced us to CSI (they had a few seasons on DVD).
Since then, we’ve crossed paths many times and they’ve begun Ross Marine Services in La Paz — Dennis is a surveyor, they provide boat watching services (we used them while Que Tal was up for sale) and will also manage major projects and repairs. They don’t have a website, but did give me a copy of their brochure detailing their services — see Ross Marine Services — La Paz (PDF including contact information).
I just love finding simple solutions like this to nagging little irritations!
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Candy Ann Williams on Facebook says
Another GREAT idea!! Thanks so much.
Sue Waudby says
Dennis and Susan are fabulous and I would not think twice about having them watch our boat. Book early if you know you are leaving your boat in La Paz. They are a wealth of information and just very nice. Great idea on the funnel.
Ken Arnold says
My water fill is almost the same size (makes it a perfect fit) as the 3 or 5 gallon jug I have and you only lose 1-2
cups when turning it over.
Walmart has the empty bottles w/ a carry handle for $5 (3 gal.) and $7 (5 gal..)
Mid-Life Cruising! says
Wow, what a simple tip! Some things are so easy that we just don’t think about it … thanks!
Sue says
/the drink bottle funnel is a good idea. Plenty of those around. If it breaks drink some more.
Hi there, to get water from shore (only when we are sure of the quality of the water) to our boat we use a bladder like they use in wake-boarding boats. It has a little pump and holds about 200 litres. We put it in the bottom of the dinghy and fill it up, back to the”mothership” and pump it into the tank filler on the deck. This saves the backbreaking work of hauling loads of jerry jugs of water to fill up our 1000 litres. We don’t have a watermaker. This was a much cheaper option.
Heather Reimer says
Been using one of these for years, and it’s held up with no issues. Better yet, is that if something does happen, it’s easy to find a replacement. Ours DOES screw in perfectly to our fill cap, funnily enough.
Rob says
We use a siphon. Then we’re not lifting and holding the bottle while it empties. To start the flow, we put the siphon in place, cup our hands around the neck of the bottle to make a seal, and blow between our fingers to bump up the pressure in the full bottle. As soon as it starts, relax and it self empties.
Jesse K On Smitty says
We have a shaker siphon dedicated to drinking water. I think I remember you writing about the shaker siphon for fuel before. We have one for that purpose too.
The Boat Galley says
Shaker siphons are great — love them for both fuel and water.
Robert Gray says
I just through one out…will save the next one!!
Carlos R. Escandel says
Vickie Tillman says
Even better get the jiggler—a fool proof siphon. No pouring needed. Just shake and wait for the jiggler to do the transfer. We have two, one for water and one for fuel.
Carolyn Shearlock says
I’ve written about the shaker siphons — — you’re right, they’re great. But sometimes you don’t have one . . .
Dave Skolnick (S/V Auspicious) says
I use the same general approach as Sue. I use Spectre 20l jugs. My spare fresh water pump (which incidentally is the same make and model as my shower sump) has long wire leads and I use it to pump water from the jugs (still in the dinghy) into boat tanks. It takes a while but its easy and I don’t have to stand there and stare at the horizon while the water transfers. I CAN, but I don’t HAVE to.
Ellie Ibel Smith says
We where off the coast of Virginia and had to fuel up our Desile in rather large waves when our funnel went over the side so I grabbed a Gatorade bottle cut it off and voila it screwed right in the the full cap. Totally worked perfect the threads matched exactly.
Vickie Tillman says
Or get a jiggler and let the siphon do all of the work
Ted Reshetiloff says
Yes there’s something called a shaker siphon or something like that. I don’t have one but have heard they are great just don’t use the same one for water that you use for fuel lol 😂
Cathy Brookhart Cartier says
It’s called a super siphon and is wonderful. I use it for fuel.
The Boat Galley says
Yes, a shaker siphon — I’ve written about them here: https://theboatgalley.com/17217-2/ We wouldn’t be without one — but we use it for fuel. When we suddenly had to pour water, we didn’t have one . . .
Diane Mercaldo says
Great idea!