Taking fresh water on ferry to Spain

[Wanders from Glos]

Hi all. We travel to Santander soon on the ferry and can’t decide whether or not it is wise to have some fresh water in the tank on the ferry. I guess we are worrying about potential damage in the event it is a rough crossing. Not so much leaking as the consequence of the weight of the water moving around. On the other hand it would be so much easier at the other end to be able to just go when we dock.

Any thoughts? What do others do?

 

[Googlebot]

Full tank, driving will be worse so it’s fine.

 

[two]

The Bay can get rough, but it won't chuck you about as much as when travelling on the road.
Even so, I'd travel with as little as necessary to keep the payload;oad down.

 

[Coolcats]

Hi all. We travel to Santander soon on the ferry and can’t decide whether or not it is wise to have some fresh water in the tank on the ferry. I guess we are worrying about potential damage in the event it is a rough crossing. Not so much leaking as the consequence of the weight of the water moving around. On the other hand it would be so much easier at the other end to be able to just go when we dock.

Any thoughts? What do others do?

Have you thought about how the water moves about when your driving? The common recommendation it to have 20 litres in the tank.

Just to add customs are only concerned about dairy produce etc.

 

[BillyKontiki]

If you’ve no concerns with payload full tank all the way.happy travels.

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[cmcardle75]

For stability, full tank or empty tank are the best. Half full sloshes around, especially without baffles. The 20 litre recommendation is just so manufacturers can sell 6 berth 3500kg motorhomes and pretend they have enough payload.

 

[Folkranger]

Full tank. I haven't been able to measure any differnce in fuel consuption and it's much more convenient.

 

[Northernraider]

I always travel with a full tank.

 

[nicholsong]

The Bay can get rough, but it won't chuck you about as much as when travelling on the road.
Even so, I'd travel with as little as necessary to keep the payload;oad down.

Oh, I think the ship can manage an extra 80kg on top of 28,000 tonnes

 

[bobnick]

And English water tastes better

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[Coolcats]

And English water tastes better

I hear the water is so hard in the Southend on sea area the local water treatment plant adds something akin to Calgon to the water

 

[Reallyretired]

Always travel with a full tank unless your payload is marginal. Half a tank sloshes about when driving though it would have to be a very rough crossing to have much effect on a ferry.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Many thanks all, I wasn’t so much worried about the ferry as damage to the motorhome. Useful advice, the view seems to be travel with water subject to payload. Fortunately we have the capacity there.

 

[two]

Some tanks may have baffles inside, to stop large amounts of water moving about and upsetting the balance.
When I had 250litres capacity it was shared between three interconnected tanks.
Even so, i preferred to carry the weight as something more useful than water, which is freely available.

 

[Trevor Wbm]

Even in rough seas the movement of the water will be slower and more gentle than going over speed bump.

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[Stealaway]

Be careful of your payload. Modern vans are not designed to travel with full tanks and any way there is no shortage of water in Spain.
You only need enough to get you where you are going. Quarter tank?

 

[EuroTrotters]

20-30 litres in the main tank.

We take a separate carry with drinking water in.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We always travel with full tank

 

[chaser]

Always when possible we travel with full water and empty toilet and grey as we never know when or where we will be stopping next.

 

[two]

A full tank will last for at least two days.
If you're travelling, you're bound to be able to top up along the way so no need to carry dead weight.

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[Folkranger]

Always travel with a full tank unless your payload is marginal. Half a tank sloshes about when driving though it would have to be a very rough crossing to have much effect on a ferry.

Always travel the last leg home with half a tank as it cleans the tank.

 

[TOT]

Always with a full tank.

 

[two]

And English water tastes better

... then your trip to Spain will be a brief one.

 

[Richard n Ann]

... then your trip to Spain will be a brief one.

Why? 90 litre tank = 90+ days or more if you mix some beer in with it

 

[Bucket]

The Bay can get rough,

I agree, eBay is cowboy country, but there are some bargains....

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[bobnick]

... then your trip to Spain will be a brief one.

Am i going to Spain oh goody. (bottled is acceptable)

 

[Vipar]

I hear the water is so hard in the Southend on sea area the local water treatment plant adds something akin to Calgon to the water

So that’s why Jesus was able to walk on water

 

[Wanders from Glos]

Love some of the answers, made me smile. It sounds like quarter of a tank is best to me. We do have payload capacity for more, but that will give us enough to have freedom on arrival and head south without worrying about facilities. The half tank to clean sounds interesting too, could even add some tank cleaner.

 

[eddie]

My maxim has always been if it should be full, fill it, if it should be empty, empty it.

Having arrived many years ago after a long single day drive from Spain to Roscoff with fumes in the tank, a full loo, no water, no food on board and three little boys to be told the ferry was delayed by at least 12 hours, so delaying it till the Monday morning, forged my moto!

 

[Wanders from Glos]

My maxim has always been if it should be full, fill it, if it should be empty, empty it.

Having arrived many years ago after a long single day drive from Spain to Roscoff with fumes in the tank, a full loo, no water, no food on board and three little boys to be told the ferry was delayed by at least 12 hours, so delaying it till the Monday morning it forged my moto!

Sounds very wise

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