It is quite common but is not recommended to use the seawater in the sink except in open waters for obvious reasons.

I sailed on one yacht where the only fresh water access was at the basin in the shower and head.

We have been living on board for two years and use the salt water tap at the sink for all washing up etc. Only a couple of harbours in Indonesia were that polluted that we avoided using the sea water.
We don't have a water maker so fresh stuff is precious.
We boil veges with 1/3-1/2 salt water.

Funny I fitted the salt water hand pump next to the fresh when I built my galley....I have always wondered what the hell it is for!!

The bucket is fine, although a crewmember lost one for me one night doing over 6 kts when he didn't catch it in time. My favourite bucket too.
I was on a mates Beneteau 37 recently, in the order of 12 sea cocks. He had owned it for a few weeks and didn't have a clue where they all went.
I have 7, heads inlet and outlet, heads sink, engine inlet, galley sink and 2 for the cockpit drains. I don't want more.

Who would be stupid enough to step outside the safety of the cockpit during an overnight passage whilst in 20+ knots of breeze to fetch a pale of salt water......

C'mon all you egos....
I'm a sailor, thanks very much, and I have plumbed raw water to my sink!

People come on here for advice, not stories of your manlihood with a bucket.

Before you get on your high horses again. I don't need to know how windy it has to be to get your yacht to 6 knots.

Dunedinite said...
I don't need to know how windy it has to be to get your yacht to 6 knots.

If it ain't windy enough I haul up the iron top sail. anything less than 6 knots is usually a misery.