Alternatives to calorifiers for a hot shower?

Boathook said:
My heads are big enough for a shower and I could fit a water heater. A calorfier is not an option as my engine is an outboard. The big problem is the size of the water tank for the heads; only about 25 gallons, so a shower would soon use that. Fitting a larger tank isn't practicable without major works so that isn't likely.
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25 gallons is only a problem if you expect to shower under a continuous stream of hot running water. See my previous post for a suggested boat shower technique.
 
I agree that having a daily shower is very pleasant.

But, unless one sweats profusely or is incontinent, is it such a necessity that one cannot do without it for a few days, or even a week or two and instead make do with a bowl of hot water and soap?
 
Poignard said:
I agree that having a daily shower is very pleasant.

But, unless one sweats profusely or is incontinent, is it such a necessity that one cannot do without it for a few days, or even a week or two and instead make do with a bowl of hot water and soap?
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Although technically correct it is not a good point to make as part of negotiations to buy a family boat when a shower has been mooted as a condition of having one. :eek:
 
Robin said:
Although technically correct it is not a good point to make as part of negotiations to buy a family boat when a shower has been mooted as a condition of having one. :eek:
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Yes, I take your point.

I chose a wife to suit my boat, rather than the other way round.


laughing emoji.gif
 
Seems the OP has the perfect reason to buy a bigger boat to satisfy wifely demands.
Mine is now keen on an island bed. :)
Tip: make sure the calorifier is close to the shower, so that water is not wasted waiting for it to get warm.
 
john_morris_uk said:
25 gallons is only a problem if you expect to shower under a continuous stream of hot running water. See my previous post for a suggested boat shower technique.
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I'm aware of that but trying to remind others all the time isn't good. Last summer some friends on board just about emptied the galley tank in a day by leaving the galley tap running. Had to turn off the electric pumps just to make sure that we had enough fresh water whilst at anchor overnight!
 
Useful thread this with some options I'd never considered. There's no way I can install a shower into my cramped 1980 Foxhound 24, but I'm sure I can rig up a builders trug to stand in, shower curtain and circular curtain rail (made from a tent pole), coupled with a 12v pumped camping shower kit dropped into a bucket filled with warm water from the kettle and saucepans, to help keep my sometimes reluctant none sailing partner aboard an extra night or two. Even though the only places it could be set up are either in the cockpit hanging from the boom or in the saloon I'm sure it will reap the benefits in brownie points. I might even be tempted to try it myself.
 
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1 water bottles in the sun in summer
2 heat exchanger on diesel heater
3 immersion on hot tank 240v
4 immersion again, solar
5 pump kettle of hot water

All these on my 32' narrow beam cruiser
To be repeated on pocket cat (which has an engine calorifier)

There's a engine hear exchanger to be fitted to the cruiser too
 
My ancient yachting book says that should allow a gallon per man per day. It goes on to say that a woman will use twice as much and then waste a further gallon. Actually, the worst waster we had was a teenage lad on our then Sadler 29 with 18 gallons in the tank. we didn’t notice at first but he couldn’t get used to having clammy hands in the salty air and kept on disappearing into the heads to wash his hands.

I'm not sure that washing is strictly necessary for health, since the skin is mostly self-managing, but washing the armpits and groin are probably desirable to cut down on BO. I’d rather have an all-over shower though.
 
Dellquay13 said:
Useful thread this with some options I'd never considered. There's no way I can install a shower into my cramped 1980 Foxhound 24, but I'm sure I can rig up a builders trug to stand in, shower curtain and circular curtain rail (made from a tent pole), coupled with a 12v pumped camping shower kit dropped into a bucket filled with warm water from the kettle and saucepans, to help keep my sometimes reluctant none sailing partner aboard an extra night or two. Even though the only places it could be set up are either in the cockpit hanging from the boom or in the saloon I'm sure it will reap the benefits in brownie points. I might even be tempted to try it myself.
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These are good :- Portashower | Hozelock Ltd

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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