Why RVs are like boats.

As time goes on we continue to learn more about the world of RVing.  One thing we have learned is that, thanks to our boating experience, we already know a great deal.  Well, maybe not a great deal, but there are so many similarities (i.e., its best if water stays on the outside) and that gives us a leg up on total newbies.

There are plumbing systems.  First and foremost there is water - the stuff we need to live.  On Morning Star (MS) it is stored in tanks in limited supply.  Same with the motor home (MH).  In fact, the MH's tanks are smaller MS's.  Of course, if we are at a campground its pretty easy to resupply.  Anyway, a full tank will last us about a week if we are conservative.  Plus we can hook up to the hose connection in our site and have and unlimited supply of city water.  Otherwise, we have a 12 volt pump to keep the water flowing at the showers and sinks, just like on MS.

I said systems because there is the less pleasant side of the equation...sewage.  MS has its own treatment system which allows us to treat our sewage and pump it overboard, treated to exceed EPA standards.  We can use it in most of the places we cruise.  However the Great Lakes, Erie Canal and several other areas are strict No Discharge Zones.  When we were in Canada a couple summers ago we had to use our holding tank which meant that about once a week we had to go to the Pump Out station and, well, pump out the holding tank.  50 gallons of yuck!  The MH also has a holding tank and we have to visit the Dump Station about once a week.  Its a pretty slick system involving rubber gloves and 4" hose (the"stinky slinky").  Gravity does most of the work.  In addition to the black water tank just mentioned, there is also a gray water tank which captures and holds all of our water from the sinks and indoor shower.  The gray water tank is dumped in the same manner as the black water.  Much to our surprise, the gray water tank usually sets the pace for dump station trips.  It fills before the black water does.  Who knew?

Then there are electrical systems.  As on Morning Star, there are both 12 volt and 120 volt systems in the MH.  The 120 volt system, called "shore power" in both boat and MH parlance, is powered by a big thick cord plugged into a box at the dock or campsite.  When we are anchored out a bank of batteries provides us with all the 12 volt power for lighting.  We have an inverter which takes some of our 12 volt electricity and turns is into 120 volts for other uses.  Its a black-box-kinda-thing.  When we "anchor out" in the MH we use a similar 12 volt battery bank for lighting and an inverter.  On both the boat and MH we have a generator available at the push of a button when we need to charge the batteries or run the air conditioners.

Both Morning Star and the MH have refrigerators that work on either 120 volt electric or propane.

Satellite TV.  We watch DirecTV on the boat and the MH.  Except when the trees get in the way.  That's not a problem have had on the boat...yet!

Dinghies.  Yes, we have dinghy for the MH.  Not quite like the dinghy on the boat.  That one is inflatable and has a 15 HP motor on the back.  The MH has a Honda CR-V.  Its towed behind the MH much like Morning Star's inflatable.  In MH-speak, its called a "dinghy".  Or a "Toad" because it is a towed vehicle.

So really, there are lots of similarities between an RV and a boat...except the RV NEVER drags anchor in the middle of the night!