Cruising and showering

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David W

David W

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Jun 1, 2004
412
Catalina 27 Victoria BC
We are leaving on Sunday for two weeks in the San Juans. I am looking for a means of "showering" in the cockpit or on the foredeck. I have seen the black collapsible poly solar shower units but have heard of folks painting a small pressure sprayer black and then using that. I even heard of replacing the wand with a kitchen sink spray handle... but I can't for the life of me recall where I saw or read that... Any advice or alternate suggestions? Thanks David
 
P

Peter

showering

We've used the poly showers for years. We just hang it from the boom and we're good. We found though that the water only got really hot when it was less than half full. On a full bag we would add a kettle of hot water. I've heard of the pump pressure washers too, but haven't seen one in use. Peter
 
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rsn48

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Jun 7, 2005
257
- - Sewell Marina - West Vancouver
Or you can try....

The best pressure sprayers are the larger ones used to spray insecticides from your local garden center. I'm just above you on coastal BC and I can tell you relying on the Black colour with your solar shower unit, or the black on the sprayer won't work that well. I used my smaller solar shower when back packing and it took for ever to become "luke warm." Instead I heated some water up on the stove and added it to the solar water, and didn't bother with waiting hours and hours for non-existent "warm" water. Personally go for the pressure sprayers and forget the black paint. The reason I recommend these is that when you add water, if its too hot, the solar bag can almost burn your hand. If you use the pressure sprayers, the plastic is thicker and you are less likely to burn yourself. Also when adding hot water from the stove, make sure to do a test "spray" before you shower in case the water you added is too hot.
 
David W

David W

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Jun 1, 2004
412
Catalina 27 Victoria BC
Thanks RSN

I pretty much figured that adding hot water to the sprayer was the best plan, now wondering about changing the sprayer to something more like a kitchen sprayer so the spray is a bit less "industrial"
 
R

Reudi Ross

solar shower

We used a poly solar shower during a 3 week cruise in the sea of cortez. It got hot enough, but that was Mexico. Had to leave it in the sun for a couple of hours and it occasionally got in the way when under way. We ended up filling it with water heated in a pot on the stove and hanging it from a halyard after anchoring for the evening. Thats when you want a shower anyhow, plus it cleaned the cockpit. The nice thing about the poly bag is that it folds up small for storage.
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

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Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
You can do the 'Caribbean shower' too.

Get naked, stand on the transom and jump in. Get out on the stern ladder and lather up with liquid Joy. Jump back in and slosh. Climb back out and rinse with fresh. Mostly cruisers do it this way. Only the barebaoters notice. :) Was that a pun?
 
David W

David W

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Jun 1, 2004
412
Catalina 27 Victoria BC
Not sure I would be good for the second jump...

based on how cold our water is... even the first would be a challenge! :)
 
Tsehum Pete

Tsehum Pete

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Apr 26, 2005
286
Beneteau Oceanis 390 Tsehum Harbour, BC, Canada
Mutual Crew-Washing Arrangement

David W, After motoring around the Gulf Islands all day(!! with a warm hot water tank) there is nothing more delightful than having your female crew member pour a bucket of warm water over you as you recline and soap off in splendour on the swim grid. Then you can prove what a romantic guy you are by reciprocating. Doing this at about ten at night if there are no bugs might lead to other things..... Who needs a bug sprayer.....? Takes up room... For those unfortunates with male-only crew, I will not comment. Captn Pete S/V Tula
 
Seattle Scott

Seattle Scott

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May 6, 2004
916
Hunter 37C Seattle
Take a $10 shower at Rosario Resort

and they throw in a free swim in the pool overlooking the moorage field. Check your book, but I recollect there were showers at Spencer Spit Park, where there was also a water spigot at the beach so you could spash off or haul 100 yards back to the beach. If you go with Fred's idea, jump off the bow, you'll be doing 8 knts through the water to get to the stern ladder and be all rinsed off.
 
frmreilly

frmreilly

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Jun 3, 2004
78
Pearson 323 Staten Island
Coleman

makes a good hot shower that's portable & cheap -- it runs off propane
 
R

rsn48

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Jun 7, 2005
257
- - Sewell Marina - West Vancouver
Also - take "Hollywood" showers

In the Navies of the world, "Hollywood" showers are the norm. You turn the water on, soak yourself, turn it off, lather up, then turn it back on to wash off the soap. This system uses less water, important when you have hundreds of men and women on board ship.
 
D

David Williams

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Jun 4, 2004
29
- - Abilene, TX
Solar Shower

I am not terribly fond of my solar shower, even though I always take it and fill it with water. I lash mine on top of the cabin, and at the end of the heat of the day, wrap it in a towel and pit it in a empty ice chest. It will stay warm till you are ready to shower. I like the concept of the bug sprayer. I am going to try this soon. When I cruise in the winter, I heat water in a pot and sponge bath. During the summer, I often do the soap up and swim...warm climate in fresh water. The propane heaters look like they would be great, but I usually spend my play money on other toys. David
 
S

Sherry

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Jun 1, 2005
212
Hunter 30 Pickwick Lake, TN River
running a hose to the transom

I've been thinking it would be really nice to have a shower on the stern for a freshwater rinse. Take the Caribbean Joy bath, then get out and rinse with clean, fresh water. But I don't know how to tap into the fresh water supply on the boat. I am not a plumber at all. Ideas for how to do this? Hunter 30.
 
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Louis Holub

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Jun 17, 2005
197
- - Kemah, Texas
HOW 'BOUT this IDEA....HA...

...PLUG THE COCKPIT DRAIN...FILL WITH NICE WARM WATER...HOP IN !!! WHO SAID SAIL BOATS DONT HAVE A JACUZZI ??? I havent tried it..but sounds fun if the cushions are removed.
 
M

mrbill2

Anyone Tried one of these? ZODI

Zodi shower http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Consumer/zodihottaptravelshower.html
 
J

jcalhoon

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Jul 19, 2005
1
- - Friday Harbor
San Juan showers

There are shower facilities in Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor, Deer Harbor, Fisherman's Bay and Rosario. I usually try to get back to one of these spots after a couple days out to freshen up. Have a good time in the San Juans, we finally having summer this week :)
 
E

Ernie

ZODI works for me

Up here in New England, I have tried the "solar bag" showers. They get warm, but not hot. I then tried the ZODI propane heater. It can sometimes be a little clumsy to set up and operate, but it can really belt out the hot water!
 
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