Personal Hygiene when cruising

[claymore]

Dear Heart does the all-over wash routine every day whilst we are cruising and showers whenever possible.
I have to confess to being slightly less fastidious, apart from twice daily brushing of the peggies.
Is it me or are there others who are happy to remain unwashed for longer periods than normal?
I'm a clean person at work and shower each morning also donning clean grundies and socks - are my cruising habits some form of personal protest to normal workaday life or am I just a closet stinkie?

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[Stingo]

In the UK, isn't it only in the past forty or so years that it became fashionable to bath more than once a week?

When I have been cruising in areas where showers are not abundant, I use baby-wipes for an all-over wash. Try find the ones that don't smell of Johnson's baby powder though!

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[Aja]

Must admit I've have the same habits as yourself - in the PH dept at any rate.
Shower when one is available - and I'm not going to get soaked rowing back to Rebel.
Shower in a can when shower isn't available or its pissing down.

No complaints from those upwind - yet

Donald

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[jimi]

Religious

From a personal perspective I view cleanliness as next to godliness. I always endeavour to shower and shave at least once every 24 hours. There is a hot shower in the boat so I can do that plus a working Eberspacher so I do'nt get too cold when towelling down and it enables the towels to air off. I change my clothes at the same time particularly my underwear and socks. I have two pairs of oil skins so I dont get all sweaty and damp. I endeavour to comb my hair and often use hair gel to keep it in place on wet and windy nights. Hope that helps.

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[Aja]

Re: Religious

I would feel more secure with double sided tape rather than gel

Donald

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Baby wipes are essential, best invention ever!!!!!

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Bejasus]

Although erring on the stinkie side(sic), I have to agree that the baby wipes are invaluable, but, DO NOT chuck them down the heads, especially if you have a holding tank(jimi: take note)

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[Johnjo]

got a couple of those solar showers ,
use the seawater first then a rinse off with the fresh, would not be without them now!

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[chriscallender]

Your mistake is to go cruising with dear heart - go with your mates instead and noone will have shaved, washed or cleaned their teeth for several weeks, choosing instead to stagger out of their bunks completely hungover, put the kettle on, drink 2 or 3 coffees to fix the hagover, then immediately get underway to the next port of call and upon arrival go straight to whatever pubs it has to offer for the remainder of the evening. Even eating is a low priority, never mind washing!

All crew and the boat will smell so bad within a few days that you never have to worry about getting a table in the pub, or having to raft up in the marina.

Chris

P.S I don't really live like this when out in the boat, although there might be the odd grain of truth in what I've just written.

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[steve_cronin]

Absolutely! The Smelly

Crotch Brigade can stay ashore as far as I'm concerned.

Don't they know that Jock Itch, Athletes foot and theirarious female equivalents are caused by fungal infection? Fungal Infestations thrive inthe small boat environment and can cause all sorts of nasty effects both to the crew and the boaYou can wash your hair AND have a good shower in less than four litres of water (even less if you use salt first).

God! I wasn't aware that there were so many Smelly Herberts around. I suppose that if these people are only taking the occassional shower we should all wera verucca slippers in ANY yacht club showers no matter how senior or Royal!

Disgusted of Wapping

aka Steve Cronin



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[tome]

Likewise I'm a little lazy in the PH department, though I do like a shower after a good slog (but not if the pubs about to close). I also like to think it's a protest against normal routines and that I'm just being naturally rebellious. Bit of growth on the chin helps me to maintain this delusison.

Quality of showers also has a bearing, I get such a pathetic dribble from the onboard unit that I rarely bother.

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[longjohnsadler]

I find shaving goes pear-shaped when cruising.
It prompted the harbour master at Conway a few years ago , as I stepped ashore, to say 'Crikey, its Yasser Arafat,' and I've never lived it down. One friend always now puts a tea towel over my head when he comes aboard.

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[Bismark]

Gotterdamndermanky

Herr Cronin, I salute you for having der courage of der convictions. I used to flog der deerty zailors, for derzpreading of der disease. You are a true Teuton nd ve should be proud. Shoot der unvashed zat iz vat I zay .. ve do not use der showers anzayvore .. unfortunate exverience a few years ago.

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[Evadne]

I always know if I need to have a shower, 'cos my good wife tells me so: "If you think you're going to get in the same bed as me smelling like that..."
We compromised a long time ago to calling into a marina or other berth with fsa (full shower access) every other night when on holiday.
Not all showers are equal, however, and she still recalls the old "Arachnophbia" green shower huts that used to exist at Bembridge, alive with the legendary "silverback" Tegenera that, when trodden upon, muttered something darkly in Glaswegian and shrugged off your puny flip-flop with all eight shoulders. Not a place to venture after dark...

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[Aja]

Re: Absolutely! The Smelly

Try cruising on the west coast of Scotland where you cant tie up alongside any further north than Oban - other than a few places when the fishing boats aren't in. Water can be difficult to get from a hose and you rely on Hotels for showers.

'Specially if your boat does not have a shower fitted.

I for one go there because there are no marinas/luxuries - and there is always space at the bar.

Donald

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[Bismark]

Re: Absolutely! The Smelly

zere is space in zee bar cos you is smelly! I remember ze HLI, all you Scots are ze mad as well as smelly. Has not our Eengleesh cousins taught you nuffink, you leetle malodorous bauchles?

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[snooks]

Depends on....

The weather and the length of the trip...and the boat

Last Fastnet race (well 2001) I went 3-4 days without a shower or shave...I did however use the anti-bacterial wipes whenever I got the chance, weather was dull and grotty...Got in a 4:30am, we cleaned the boat then went to the pub, left the pub at 12:30pm in no condition to have a shower so got on the train and headed for London...I pity the other passengers who were traveling on the train that day because there were many other fragrant and unshaven persons in the same state as myself...some snoring louder than others!

BUT I spent the same time, 3-4 days, sailing from the BVI's to the Bahamas, weather was glorious, managed a bucket wash and shave at least once a day and a fresh water shower every 2 days, mosly after gutting fish.

For most trips, as long as I can brush my teeth every day and shower when we get in if it's a X channel or in the morning if we're port hopping, I'm happy. If I can't I just use the anti-bacterial wipes...at least you feel cleaner after using them, though you might still smell the same to the rest of the crew!

Having said that...if I'm on a stinkie, I shower and shave every day, unless it's a delivery, then it's back to the wipes again...ho hum!



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[Aja]

Re: Absolutely! The Smelly

Hmmm Herr Bismark. Something else smells fishy - and it aint me!

HLI has to be mad - 12 VC's awarded

.... 'bauchle' is not germanic in origin. I smell a fish. Or someone who has not had a shower today...

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[Artemis]

Dear Heart

So far I think only one contributor has commented on their SWBO's response to hygiene habits. What does Dear Heart think of your cruising ablutions?

I'm sure it's nothing to do with personal protest or being a closet stinkie; it's all to do with a male gene. It's the only explanation of why after years of training by mothers in such areas as socks/underwear into laundry bag, putting toilet seat down, etc; the training disappears during the sort time that elapses between sons moving from home and moving in with wife/partner. I suppose its counterpoint must be the female optimistic gene that hopes that all those years of nagging will actually work.



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[Badger]

Re: Absolutely! The Smelly

Yes, I have seen some very nasty cases of offshore bottom and NKS in my time.

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