Solar Shower

LONG_KEELER

LONG_KEELER

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Have not used it yet, but would like to .

Used in the cockpit hanging from the boom is the only option on my boat.

I would not wish to add more pain to the world . Anyone rigged up some kind of modesty screen ?

Those magician covers for disappearing assistants springs to mind.

I know that anything goes in the Med , but, we are taking British waters, where we are about
100 years behind the rest of Europe with regard to ablutions.
 
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>Used in the cockpit hanging from the boom is the only option on my boat. I would not wish to add more pain to the world . Anyone rigged up some kind of cover ?

We hung a solar shower off the boom but had no cover, I'm not sure what you mean? Before using it place it in the sun flat clear side up.
 
I've used them - hung from the mast, rose through heads hatch into the shower area.
Unfortunately a distressingly short lifespan - last about 2 months regular use before the welds part company and all the water runs out.
It might have to do with the relatively higher Med temperatures - but I'd hesitate to use one regularly in the British Isles summer.
 
No below decks shower options for me either.
I gave up on solar showers though as just too much hassle and bought a 12 v camping shower set.
Boil kettle and pour into your favourite bucket with cold water to adjust temperature to "just right".
Plug in the shower set to the cig. lighter socket and drop the submersible pump in the bucket.
Shower head has on/off as does the electric part.
There is a clip you can attach to hang the shower head or use handheld.
A surprisingly good shower option in a self draining cockpit!
I have put the effort into developing a boom tent that has sides that come right down for privacy or can be folded up and over when a simple sun shade is needed.
This is of value for more than just sparing the world from the view of you showering. Increased comfortable living space and rain and dew protection make it a worthwhile target in its own right..
Protecting the world from a viewing of your privates while showering is more of a bonus for the rest of us.
Cheers
John
 
KellysEye said:
>Used in the cockpit hanging from the boom is the only option on my boat. I would not wish to add more pain to the world . Anyone rigged up some kind of cover ?

We hung a solar shower off the boom but had no cover, I'm not sure what you mean? Before using it place it in the sun flat clear side up.
Click to expand...

Apologies. Replace 'modesty screen' for cover.
 
lustyd said:
I kneel in the cockpit and use the shower on and off rather than standing and showering like home. I also do this in normal indoor boat showers to conserve water though.
Click to expand...

How beautifully simple and effective. "Kneel in the cockpit" . Why didn't I think of that ?.

The one in the link looks the business. Thanks to all.
 
charles_reed said:
I've used them - hung from the mast, rose through heads hatch into the shower area.
Unfortunately a distressingly short lifespan - last about 2 months regular use before the welds part company and all the water runs out.
It might have to do with the relatively higher Med temperatures - but I'd hesitate to use one regularly in the British Isles summer.
Click to expand...
I copied a French boat I saw that had modified a pump unpressurised garden spray bottle by adding a black plastic cover from a trash bag around the outside. then we led the spray hose through the heads hatch and bingo. The home made solar shower was stored in the corner of the pushpit, held by a simple shockcord. IT worked well in Southern Brittany sun. Our normal habit was to swim in the sea to get wet , climb out and soap up with shower and hair gel on the swim platform then dive back in to rinse off. we then used the home made solar shower spray to rinse off the salt water in the cover of the on board heads so as not to frighten the locals whilst ashaming any other Brits nearby. BTW you ain't seen prudish until you try the yanks version. Porn everywhere but do not dare show to a bare tit in publicplace like a beach, let alone any dangly bits unless you want to try jail.
 
Tried one, Had to heat it up with water from the kettle. If you don't have a shower inside better just with a bucket of water and a sponge up on deck.
 
We've have one, used fair number of times (usually during a summer cruise) and has lasted a few years. We hang it from the boom (rased a bit with topping lift). If not close to other boats we don't worry about screening, otherwise we just crouch down in the (fairly deep) cockpit.

The sun will take the edge off cold water, even if there's not enough strength in it, or time, to get it properly warm (and can always top heat up a bit from a kettle if desired).

Good bit of kit on a small boat, we find.
 
Perhaps a much cheaper, more robust solution would be to paint a 20-litre jerrycan black? Or for better exposure to the sun, two 10-litre jerrycans?

Maybe it would be possible to benefit from the rig's height? Put a 30ft, 3/4-inch dia hose into the can, syphon to fill the hose, then hoist the can to the spreaders...

...wouldn't you have a veritable power-shower?
 
dancrane said:
Perhaps a much cheaper, more robust solution would be to paint a 20-litre jerrycan black? Or for better exposure to the sun, two 10-litre jerrycans?

Maybe it would be possible to benefit from the rig's height? Put a 30ft, 3/4-inch dia hose into the can, syphon to fill the hose, then hoist the can to the spreaders...

...wouldn't you have a veritable power-shower?
Click to expand...

It would have to be remarkably good weather mind you! We met a couple skinny dipping while at anchor at the west end of Mull a few years ago. Brave, maybe 8C in the water. In the Med I can cope with the air/water temperatures. In the UK climate I'll stick with Eberspacher powered short showers in the heads....
Diesel is cheaper these days!
 
dancrane said:
Perhaps a much cheaper, more robust solution would be to paint a 20-litre jerrycan black? Or for better exposure to the sun, two 10-litre jerrycans?

Maybe it would be possible to benefit from the rig's height? Put a 30ft, 3/4-inch dia hose into the can, syphon to fill the hose, then hoist the can to the spreaders...

...wouldn't you have a veritable power-shower?
Click to expand...

Er see my reply #9 above, not cheap particularly but a hand pump pressurisable garden sprayer with a covering of black plastic wrapped on the body to attract the heat. usually comes with a trigger operated hose end spray fitting with an adjustable spray pattern. More robust than the simple polythene pillow bags too.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_fb_0_14?url=search-alias%3Dlawngarden&field-keywords=garden+sprayer&sprefix=garden+sprayer%2Carts-crafts%2C184&rh=n%3A2972638011%2Ck%3Agarden+sprayer
 
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Sorry Pete, didn't mean to claim your idea. But all the jerry cans I've used in France were black, by design, and even on a cold day their contents warm up a lot. It wouldn't be hard to paint one for the same effect.

Am I right about the power of gravity increasing the pressure enormously, if the can is hoisted into the rigging? On the same principle as the lakes which feed the fountain at Chatsworth.
 
My solar shower plastic bag thing is pretty useless as a shower, but as a source of not cold and acceptably warm water for washing in, its fine. I just think you have to moderate expectations to 'low' and its better than any other almost free alternative source of warmish water....though come to think of it, one day last august the water in the bag got pretty close to quite hot on a very sunny day, so they do work within limitations.

Tim
 
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