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Showers on Board

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B.Jones
1st Mate

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39 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/25/2002 : 21:30:37

How do those of you who spend more than a couple of nights on board take showers? Is a "Sun Shower" or a pressurized spray can used in the cockpit the best way? We have not spent more than 2 days aboard, but want to stay longer. Wife says "NO", unless we find satisfactory way to bathe.

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2002 : 22:00:15

B.Jones,

I've had good results with the bag of water style solar shower. I left it tethered on top of the cabin all day in the sun, and then hung it from the boom above the cockpit after dark for a warm shampoo and shower. Of course, you need to be frugal with your water usage.

Two women I know who have sailed for months at a time in the tropics swear by a pump up garden sprayer painted black. They shortened the spray nozzle by removing the rigid section of tube from the wand. The squeeze to dispense valve and adjustable mist spray head seem to give more control over the rate of water use. That setup also has the advantage that it's easy to heat water on the stove and pour it into the tank without spilling it on yourself.

In either case, between early evening and bath time wrap the hot water bottle in a big towel or two, to insulate it against premature heat loss. Whichever method you use, I suggest you resist the temptation to let the used shower water drain into your bilge. I hear it leads to a boat developing gym locker breath that's very hard to get rid of.

-- Leon Sisson

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2002 : 22:02:27

We've used a Sunshower in the cockpit, and it's better than nothing. Naturally, if you shower at the crack of dawn, it'll be a little cool... Lay it on the cabintop to warm up, and then hang it from the boom. The trick is moderating the temp. It can get really hot if you don't pay attention--weather and lattitude will vary the warmup time. Save a little to rinse the soap and shampoo out of the cockpit.

I never tried a pressurized spray can--I suppose you could heat some water on the stove and mix it with some cold in the can...

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette "Passage" in SW CT

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Ken Cave
Navigator

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USA
148 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2002 : 00:36:03

We just came back from six weeks of exploring the coast of Canada, from Desolation Sound to darn near Port Hardy-and used a 6 gallon sun shower when it came to washing hair, etc.

I got an unbelievelable wife who will do the spit bath thing for about five days before she insists on a shower. If we do not find a marina, she uses the sun shower (yes, we really do have some sunny days up in the northwest!).

We also have a four gallon spray unit that I can pressurize and have painted black. Unfortunately, it just doesn't get hot enough for a decent shower. However, a fellow sailer told me that if you cover the tank with a clear plastic bag, it will get real hot!

If you can convince your spouse that a shower is only five days away, you should have a great voyage, wherever you go!!

Ken Cave

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jellyfish
Navigator

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USA
171 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2002 : 10:03:01

I have heard that the garden sprayer gig works real well too. We are very lucky in that everywhere we sail within 100 miles has public showers all along the beaches. Of course this means bathing in your bathing suit. Small price to pay for a fresh shower though, and hey you dont have to wash your suit!<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

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Greg Jackson
1st Mate

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84 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2002 : 20:04:01

I've tried a sun shower, it works OK. Personally, I think it is a poor imitation of a shower, but I also think that Americans are much too stuck on their modern conveniences. 100 years ago nobody took showers but they managed to stay relatively clean.

I've taken to sponge baths while cruising. You can close the door in the bath and fill the sink. Get naked, use the head as a seat, and use a wash cloth all over. I normally clear the sink and then do it again with clean water for a rinse. It's all very easy, quick, and much less hassle than screwing around with the solar shower.

G. Jackson

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John V.
Admiral

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USA
559 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2002 : 23:49:51

Just finished a 9 day cruise of the north channel. We keep a big container of baby wipes under the sink in the head. If I want real luxury I'll toss a couple in a ziplock and toss it in the Microwave for a few seconds and have a warm PTA. (the oven is on a 1000 w inverter) washing up in the clear water is frowned upon since the water is pristine and the canadians would like to keep it that way. There are many marinas with excellent laundry and bath facilities. if you are a registered guest they are free and if you anchor out you can shower for a small fee on the honor system.
sailing on a C25 though not exactly roughing it like kayak camping or backpacking it is still more rudimentary cruising and requires creativity to provide the little nicities. There is a baker who comes to the Meldrum Bay marina every day a 5pm in a rusty station wagon loaded with fresh pies and tarts, bread and sweet rolls. No matter what size boat you come in on things like that and the people you meet while waiting your turn at the tailgate is worth going wihtout a shower every day.

John V. Aboard Nin Bimash II Neebish Island MI
77 C25 sk/sr # 153

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BCain
Navigator

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USA
103 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2002 : 10:23:41

When I had my C22 we used a pressurized sprayer painted black and kept in a black plastic bag secured to the mast on the cabin top for a few hours in the afternoon. To shower I made a square frame out of PVC, hung from the boom with a shower curtain attached with curtain rings. Longer hose on the sprayer and the frame and curtain fold up to almost nothing. Although, when we would go out for more than a weekend, we would spend every third night at a marina to use their showers and facilities.

Bruce, Wind Shadow

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n/a
deleted

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62 Posts

Response Posted - 08/05/2002 : 16:18:15

Using either a sun shower or garden sprayer is fine depending on when you like to shower. An easy, comfortable, private shower arrangement is to inflate a child's pool below and place it between the settees. It will take on the shape of a bathtub and using the ss or sprayer you can lather up and rinse in comfort, European style. If you're short on water use salt water and Joy detergent to wash yourself & hair and fresh water to rinse with using 2 sun showers. If you have a "big' group the garden sprayer filled with water heated from the stove works best.
If you're in swimming temps jump overboard, climb back aboard, lather up with Joy and rinse with fresh sun shower or sprayer water. We would use our dinghy as an au natural showering location because it was so easy to bail out. (You can keep your suit on!)

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jguyot
1st Mate

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USA
97 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2002 : 10:02:52

For those of you who like a little bit more "comfort" for their shower, I noticed that quite a few people (on another board that I used to suscribe to)were recommending these portable showers. I have not tried them, but they do look awfully interesting! Their website is:www.zodi.com. I also understand that you can get them quite a bit cheaper through some of the "Hiking/RV" cataloges.

Jerry Guyot
250WK #586
"Sail La Vie"

Edited by - jguyot on 08/06/2002 10:10:59

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ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2002 : 10:13:51

Have used all methods posted in past and also used expended two liter soda bottles left in sun with water within, formerly some brands of these had a black base which gave a nice limited shower after swimming, I adapted a garden watering can head to screw on the plastic bottles, just a thought, Ron SR SK SW FL Orion

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2002 : 13:30:11

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
In either case, between early evening and bath time wrap the hot water bottle in a big towel or two, to insulate it against premature heat loss. Whichever method you use, I suggest you resist the temptation to let the used shower water drain into your bilge. I hear it leads to a boat developing gym locker breath that's very hard to get rid of.

-- Leon Sisson <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Hard to get rid of but easy to prevent...put a 2000 flushes (white not the dyed blue) with bleach in the bilge...

But instead of that try one of these ways,

Use Leons hot water sun shower bag method. But start by using the topping lift to hoist the boom above head height. (head meaning your melon, not the can) Then, with some thought, you can rig up a shower curtain that would even allow access from the cabin. Maybe a piece of rod from the bimini or somehting similar so you don't have to grab additional equipment Wet, lather, rinse...don't repeat. The water will run right out of the cockpit. I do just about the same thing , except no curtain...but I make sure I am plenty far enough away from civilization so that I can't be seen.

Or - Do it the racing method.... Jump in, climb out, soap up, jump in, climb out, dry off.

Edited by - Duane Wolff on 08/06/2002 15:55:41

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 08/06/2002 : 15:40:46

Sun shower does fine for us. We are never more than a day or two away from a state park that has pay showers. Just a thought What about a solar water heater arangment to cycle warm water into the main water tank ? Here I go again. Black hose pipe rolled on deck and a pump to cycle the water back into the main tank. You know how hot hose water gets when its been sitting.

Doug&Ruth
Wind Lass
Tacoma Wa.

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