Recommend a Solar Shower Bag

[Gypsyjoss]

Hi Guys

I seem to get through one of these every year. Is there nothing on the market apart from the ones that cost a fiver - I want a bag with the following spec:

1. A screw-on water filler
2. A decent length of non-kink hose
3. An unbreakable shower rose
4. A valve at the rose that can be turned with one hand
5. A support that doesn't eventually rip out of the material
6. Lasts more than a season.
7. 20 Litre

Is there anything on the Uk market?

Cheers
Pete

 

[rogerthebodger]

How about using a black plastic container like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20L-BLACK...982?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51a9bbc076

and fit a small pipe threaded pipe connector to the bottom side. You could then fit the kind of valve, pipe and shower rose you like. If any item should break you can just replace it with another suitable.

 

[V1701]

Hi Guys

I seem to get through one of these every year. Is there nothing on the market apart from the ones that cost a fiver - I want a bag with the following spec:

1. A screw-on water filler
2. A decent length of non-kink hose
3. An unbreakable shower rose
4. A valve at the rose that can be turned with one hand
5. A support that doesn't eventually rip out of the material
6. Lasts more than a season.
7. 20 Litre

Is there anything on the Uk market?

Cheers
Pete

Possible alternatives?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hozelock-Ltd-4140A0000-Porta-Shower/dp/B001ULCILM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.kampa.co.uk/products/camp-kitchens-washing/washing/geyser-hot-water-system/

 

[Gypsyjoss]

Possible alternatives?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hozelock-Ltd-4140A0000-Porta-Shower/dp/B001ULCILM/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

http://www.kampa.co.uk/products/camp-kitchens-washing/washing/geyser-hot-water-system/

Interesting bit of lateral thinking here! I was envisaging using sun power. The Kampa product is a nono (5kw power requirement for one thing). The Hozelock unit is possible but it means boiling the kettle! I camn see me spending £10 on 2 of the solar bags to see us through the season!

 

[Bosun Higgs]

The Kampa product is a nono (5kw power requirement for one thing).

That 5kw is from the gas supply not the 12v.

 

[lustyd]

Why not sew one with waterproof fabric? I'd imagine that coated acrylic canvas would work very well and last for many years.

 

[VicMallows]

Not sure what you do to them if you only get one season.....mine have each lasted at least 5yrs. I do hate the ones which have the hose permanently attached to the bag....much prefer the ones with a tap on the bag so you can detach the hose when taking ashore to refill (along with the other water containers). Best I have bought recently was from ALDI at £4.99.

As an aside, which way up does everyone place them - some instructions say black side up; some say clear side up!! I know full well that black absorbs heat best, but the problem here is that when the bag is horizontal, there is no water in contact with the upper surface. I therefore contend that it is best to have the CLEAR side uppermost, so that the sun passes through and is absorbed by the BLACK underneath layer. Any thoughts

 

[lustyd]

Not sure what you do to them if you only get one season.....mine have each lasted at least 5yrs. I do hate the ones which have the hose permanently attached to the bag....much prefer the ones with a tap on the bag so you can detach the hose when taking ashore to refill (along with the other water containers). Best I have bought recently was from ALDI at £4.99.

As an aside, which way up does everyone place them - some instructions say black side up; some say clear side up!! I know full well that black absorbs heat best, but the problem here is that when the bag is horizontal, there is no water in contact with the upper surface. I therefore contend that it is best to have the CLEAR side uppermost, so that the sun passes through and is absorbed by the BLACK underneath layer. Any thoughts

I think you're supposed to remove the air but I guess black under would allow convection

 

[Rigger Mortice]

As an aside, which way up does everyone place them - some instructions say black side up; some say clear side up!! I know full well that black absorbs heat best, but the problem here is that when the bag is horizontal, there is no water in contact with the upper surface. I therefore contend that it is best to have the CLEAR side uppermost, so that the sun passes through and is absorbed by the BLACK underneath layer. Any thoughts

The solar water heaters which are fitted to house roofs are clear on top, black below.

 

[Gypsyjoss]

Not sure what you do to them if you only get one season.....mine have each lasted at least 5yrs. I do hate the ones which have the hose permanently attached to the bag....much prefer the ones with a tap on the bag so you can detach the hose when taking ashore to refill (along with the other water containers). Best I have bought recently was from ALDI at £4.99.

As an aside, which way up does everyone place them - some instructions say black side up; some say clear side up!! I know full well that black absorbs heat best, but the problem here is that when the bag is horizontal, there is no water in contact with the upper surface. I therefore contend that it is best to have the CLEAR side uppermost, so that the sun passes through and is absorbed by the BLACK underneath layer. Any thoughts

I've managed to tread on 2 roses and the hose kink tends to restrict the flow etc. Mines on deck while sailing, tied around the mast base.
I always have it black side up - works fine - but then I've expelled all the air, also lying on the slope of the deck, not flat.
Thanks for all your interesting suggestions - will modify a cheap one.
Pete

 

[MASH]

I wonder if expecting solar to heat 20 litres isn't a bit ambitious, the surface area of that big black bottle isn't much more than a 5 l bag. It might work in the tropics but who wants hot showers there? I suppose you can only try it out.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

I wonder if expecting solar to heat 20 litres isn't a bit ambitious, .

On a summers day on the south coast they are surprisingly effective.

 

[greenalien]

As an alternative, have you considered getting a big garden pressure spray? You can easily fit a shower head instead of the wand, put it on deck with a black poly bag over it and it soon heats up - and it has the advantage that it will spray in all directions, and can easily be used below-decks if privacy is required.

 

[VicMallows]

I wonder if expecting solar to heat 20 litres isn't a bit ambitious, the surface area of that big black bottle isn't much more than a 5 l bag..

All the shower bags I have ever seen are 20 litres ?? .... though you wouldn't normally fill them to full capacity......and yes, they get quite hot enough on an average summer day.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I wonder if expecting solar to heat 20 litres isn't a bit ambitious, the surface area of that big black bottle isn't much more than a 5 l bag. It might work in the tropics but who wants hot showers there? I suppose you can only try it out.

I must admit I am in quite a warm climate but not quite the tropics.

I had a black 50lit plastic storage on deck one time and while I was away from the boat it got full of rain water. The next time I visited the boat the water was quite hot and OK for a summer shower.

Where we are even on a sunny winter day the dark green hose I use as a pressure water gets as hot as my water heater and in summer you cannot put you hand in the water, and thats from the cold tap.

A friend as attached black plastic hose around hid wheel house roof and pumps the water around his Calorifier with valves to select engine heating or solar water heating.

My swimming pool in summer is heated from about 25C to about 32C with a black rubber tubed solar heater.

Like this

http://www.solarmagic.com.au/diy_solar_pool_kits.html the "B" pack.