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Wife wants Shower

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robyung
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/28/2009 : 19:49:36

Looks like I'll be upgrading from my 22 to the 250 when I get home from Iraq. The wife has asked for a shower. No trailerable has one. I looked at a few pictures of the head in 250s. It looks like the floor will hold a couple of inches of water. Maybe if I installed a pressure water system and put a drain in the floor so it would drain into the bilge it will work. I have not yet been able to see a 250 first hand so I wanted to know from those who have if this might be possible. The wife loves sailing and a shower might help keep it that way.

Robert Loyd

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2009 : 20:21:38

Robert,
Thanks for your service in Iraq first off, and second, welcome to the forum!

We use a sun shower on our 250 and if you're looking for privacy you could rig some sort of screen. When it's cold we use disposable wash pads instead, which work OK, and at least you smell better afterward.

There's not tons of room in the head, but I suppose it could hold maybe a gallon or two of water in the floor. What I've considered instead of a built in shower is a small child's inflatable pool in the cabin to contain the water and a camping shower heated by propane. In any case I wouldn't want to drain to the bilge, simply because it'd be too difficult to clean.

If you're going to be sailing in a warmer climate, a shower built into the stern walk through area might be a good solution, no drains to worry about, and plumbing a pressure line back there won't be too hard.

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2009 : 21:00:57

Robert, I too had the SWMBO require a shower and anything outside was unsatisfactory. This mod will not work in 250WB, but works fine in a WK.
First I modified the bilge pump pickup, which was just a tube laying on the floor. I had to hold it in the bilge if pumping was required. Second I poured a small amount of water on the head floor and drilled where it pooled. There is about four inches between the head floor and the boat bottom.
We sit a eight gallon sun-shower on the sliding cockpit door and the hose fits through the space above the head door. It was a hit the first time out.
Good luck, stay safe and thanks for your service to all of us.

Bilge hose when received from the factory

Bilge hose modification

Head drain to the bilge

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2009 : 21:50:21

Jerry,
Nice mod! Did you tightline the drain to the bilge pickup? After seeing what the fiberglass looks like under the head pan in SL (unfinished, perfect for collecting germs, sludge, smells, etc.) I wouldn't want the drain water collecting there. I suppose you could clean up underneath by sanding & putting down a layer of epoxy or smooth fiberglass, but tightlining seems like a way to go, then you only have the lower bilge to clean.

I don't see an electric bilge pump, do you use your manual to pump it out?

Edited by - delliottg on 05/28/2009 21:51:21

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2009 : 23:08:09

I caution against putting shower water into the bilge. The C30s do it but the chance for odors is higher. Try the pictured idea but run it into a shower sump and pump it overboard. Many C30 owners have done this because of sentence #2 1 & 2. The shower sumps come prepackaged.

Edited by - on

KD4AO
Navigator

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USA
202 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2009 : 05:36:23

Hi Robert, and welcome to the forum. Thank you for your service. Wonder where in Iraq you are, My grandson returned recently from Balad Air Base. It looks like your idea will work but do consider the sump idea. I would suspect that something could be fashioned to fit in the bilge that could be easily cleaned and/or removed.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2009 : 06:05:05

I'm not a very big guy. Turning around in the head of my C250 WK is certainly doable but, it has to actually be thought about beforehand. I can't imagine a shower in there. Tell the admiral that she really needs a bigger boat. Maybe a C36. Then, have her talk to my wife!!!!!

Thanks for your service. Keep your head down.

Edited by - on

robyung
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2009 : 08:35:34

Thank you for all your responses. My wife likes John's Idea of a C36. Unfortunately, John, I really can't see getting a larger boat at the moment. Being in the Army, I move every three years and that would add to my moving expenses each time. I actually make money by pulling my 22 myself when I move and just claim the weight, so for the next few years I'll be towing. Besides the shower issue, the 250 WK seems to do everything I need very well. I like the ideas and input on a sump or smooth glass in the bilge. Thanks for the picture from Frog0911. Do you have any pictures of how you routed the sun shower hose into the head? This idea may seal the deal unless I decide to add a small 12v pressure system. Thanks all for your input.

Edited by - on

robyung
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2009 : 08:42:21

I forgot to add a note for the odor worries of not using a sump in the bilge. My family owned a C30 that my dad and I raced for 12 years and he would once a month or two turn off the bilge pump, put a small amount of bleach into the shower drain then run some fresh water in. Let it sit for a little while then turn on the bilge pump and add a little more fresh water. We never did have the odor problem. There are other options out there but this one is very simple and cheap.

Robert

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2009 : 09:41:52

Robert,
Sounds like you've got a good idea of what you want to do. If they ever send you out Ft. Lewis way or you're transiting through Seattle with a bit of time, give us a shout. We can show you our C-250 WK and take you out for a sail, plus dinner's on us.

I'm not sure how they rig the sun shower, but it's just connected to it's shower head with a piece of regular vinyl tubing. It would be easy to cut a longer length, suspend the shower from the boom and run the shower head down into the head. You wouldn't be able to close the door to the head unless you cut a notch in the top of the door or something. You'd also want some sort of way to waterproof the toilet paper locker, but that seems pretty solvable. You'd also want to keep spray off of the hanging locker door since there's nowhere for that to drain to, although the bilge pump hose runs through there so maybe it'd drain out that hole. I don't remember if it was a vertical hole or horizontal. I think vertical in the forward starboard-most side of the pan, but I'd have to look to be sure.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2009 : 13:43:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by robyung
 ...I actually make money by pulling my 22 myself when I move and just claim the weight, so for the next few years I'll be towing....<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">You'll max out your weight allowance much quicker with the 250 Wing Keel. Boat and trailer weigh in at about 6500 pounds. If I recall correctly, that was about half of my allowance the last time I moved (into retirement) but, I never did a DitY move. Hate to pack!

Edited by - on

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2009 : 14:14:38

Just in case you want to go the easy route here is an image of our cockpit rigged sun shower... we used 2 "hoola hoops" wedged between the boom and the tarp over which regular inexpensive shower curtains were hung while the 2 gallon sun shower was suspended from the boom. For more comfort we used a fold-able stool to sit on... Simple and effective... in colder weather wash quickly!!

Edited by - on

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2009 : 18:16:02

I did not have to sand much on the floor. Used a little 40 grit then 150 and it was fine. We do put some chlorine bleach water down the drain slowly and let it sit for about an hour while we unload the boat. Then more water and pump it out. I do not have an electric bilge pump. The manual dose fine. There are plans for the install of one, but the prime project now is repairing the bulkhead.
I will try and get some pictures of the sun-shower tube run tomorrow.

Edited by - frog0911 on 05/29/2009 18:17:31

frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2009 : 17:02:43

Pictures of sun-shower to head operation. The shower we have is eight gallons and the instructions are not to hang, but lay flat. It has tied downs on each corner so it won't slide off the deck, but at 96lbs I doubt it would move when full.

Shower and hose. The head pulls out to release water.

Hose run into the shower through the opening above head door.

Another shot of hose run into the head.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2009 : 18:34:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by essen48183
 If you are shopping and that's on her must have list... you could also, dare I say, check out the hunter 260. It is a 26 foot trailerable water ballast sailboat with similar accomodations, layout, cockpit space, more headroom and more "head room" with a built in shower. Only a couple thousand more for one.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Yeah, but it's a Hunter.

Edited by - on

robyung
Deckhand

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USA
5 Posts

Response Posted - 06/01/2009 : 06:41:01

Great pics of the sun shower. Thanks. Short of installing a pressure water system, I think this will work. I appreciate all the assistance. Now I just have to finish my sandy vacation.

Edited by - on

glen
Captain

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359 Posts

Response Posted - 06/01/2009 : 08:45:04

God Bless you, and keep you safe

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

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USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 06/03/2009 : 12:31:39

heres our stern shower

i put a diverter under the sink to take a hot shower

the pump is under the back berth ..i couldnt find a picture of it ..

thanks for your service

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 06/04/2009 : 04:26:45

Robert,
Welcome! I think the Catalina 250 WK is an excellent boat. But there is a sailboat you should consider if you have a bit of extra cash

: the Seaward. There is a lightly used 26' Seaward RK with trailer at seawardyachts.com on the brokerage sight for 41,000. Comes with a shower, preassure water and 5'7 headroom. The seaward is one step above the Catalina in fit and finish and usually priced that way as well. Still, at 41,000 this one seems like a good deal. I have sailed on the shoal draft version and she was a nice boat to sail (although with only 2.5' of keel she would shift side ways a bit on a tack). The retractable lead bulb keel in the versions built after 2004 or so can extend all the way down to 6'. Here's the link, http://seawardyachts.com/brokerage.html?

Edited by - on

Skipper Paul
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2009 : 08:24:32

Robert, I use a simple Idea from World Circumnavigators Lynn and Larry Pardee. We use a 2 gallon "Hudson" type sprayer in which we put about a gallon of water mixed from the stove into the sprayer and use a plastic basin that fits the head floor space perfectly. After pumping up the sprayer, putting it into the head sink,We wet down, soap up, and rinse off using about two gallons of water for three of us. after each shower the basin is dumped overboard then stowed between the head and the hull sideways in front of the wet locker. We use only eco-friendly soap products of cours. My wife and daughter have long hair and use more water than I do with my thinning hair and they report that it works but not quite as effective as when there is lots of water available. We use this method when in crouded areas or when it is too cold to use the solar shower. It is a little tight for me in the head, but works ok for a "sit down" shower. Last person to use the shower has to "wipe down", and the head gets a good cleaning that way.

"Pau Hana" '96 C250 WB,

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2009 : 12:39:10

Paul, what a clever idea! Pressure too!!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2009 : 12:58:14

When cruising, my wife also needs a proper shower. That is why our itinerary only includes marinas with shower facilities. The destinations must also include access to restaurants cause she doesn't play the galley slave bit either.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2009 : 18:01:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 When cruising, my wife also needs a proper shower. That is why our itinerary only includes marinas with shower facilities. The destinations must also include access to restaurants cause she doesn't play the galley slave bit either.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sounds like she knows how to travel!

When we cruise we try to hit a marina at least half the nights and we eat out often. Sailing doesn't have to mean roughing it.

Edited by - on

ruachwrights
Captain

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USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2009 : 06:32:07

Skipper Paul, you say you found a wash basin that fits into your head floor space perfectly. Where did you find it and what kind of basin is it?

Vern Wright

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Skipper Paul
1st Mate

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USA
34 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2009 : 11:24:53

A rectangular plastic basin that my wife had. She assures me that if you take the measurement of your floor and go to the "Marine" department of Target or Wal Mart you will be able to find the same or similar. It is made by "Rubbermaid". I can take a photo of it and post it on this site if I can figure out how to do it.

Edited by - on

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