Shower in the head solution

[BK]

At last summers Mac Catalina get together, Roy Highlander's X boat, Salty Dog, had a great low cost idea for a shower in the head. Since I have been thinking a lot about this problem and it would increase the value of our boats if we had a shower on board, I thought I would bring it up again.
Roy put a two and half gallon Sun Shower on the deck over the head. Then have a small 1/2" hole opening in the top of the door of the head cut away to allow the hose from the Sun Shower in come in. He has a drain in the bottom of the head floor with a pump to exit the water in the same line as the head sink. Pretty simple solution. You can also hang the Sun Shower over the boom which can be pulled over to the head.

[Sloop John B]

Sun shower over the boom sounds good.

Why not just get that skimpy pair of bathing trunks out (in case some strange people are around) and suds up in the cockpit? A big sponge could clean everything up.

I mean this pump contraption might backfire and allow sea water in.

Also, the head is really cramped. You want to be able to lift your arms to get to the pits and other good places.

[BK]

That's what I have been doing sofar but with a Sun Shower curtain hanging from the boom in the cockpit. It does work. Water just drains out the back.

[BK]

I thought of a reason not to do the cockpit shower. When I was at the Sucia and Stuart Island docks where there are no facilities, everone looks at your boat as they walk by. I believe they would think you are putting in the water the wrong type of soap if they saw you showering in the cockpit.
Another way to do the head drain would be to just put the water pump on the floor of the head and let it exit the water right into the head sink. I think I will try this method as I do not like the idea of cutting a hole in my floor.

[kmclemore]

It's like deja vu all over again!

Dave - Don't know if this helps you but you might want to take a look at Zodi Showers. Hot showers for not a ridiculous amount of $.

We have THIS ONE
...and it works a treat! (I bought it off eBay from Zodi's outlet store for around $64, without the little propane stand thing that I didn't need anyway... just got the tank and internal pump.)

We simply fill the tank with lake water by hanging it out into the aft waters, then heat the stainless tank on the stove... then once it's hot, take it off the stove, insert the pump and take it topsides for a nice toasty shower in the cockpit.

This unit also has a temperature sensor on the side so you can tell how hot the water is. And just as a precaution we added an automotive fuel filter in the hose so that we'd prevent any stray bits from the lake water from clogging the nozzle.

Now, guys... let's just say I made major points with the 'lady of the lake' when I got her that shower. But I won in the deal, too... after all, nothing beats looking up to see your pretty lady leisurely taking a steamy warm shower in the soft light of a morning mist! Warms you up better than coffee!

[richandlori]

I think I will demand that the admiral takes 2-3 warm cockpit showers per day.....nude......

I can sell it as "it is for the children"

[kmclemore]

Au natural, indeed... the only way to do it, and a most enjoyable view if I do say so myself. Something about the steam from the shower, the mist floating quitely on the water, her soft, gentle curves in the morning's light.......... hmm... I better stop.....

Actually, there's nobody up at that hour on the lake anyway, so it's not really all that risqu� But hey, what the heck, if somebody did happen to see her...... well......... I guess it's just their lucky day!


Now, if they see *me* taking my shower they're likely to reach for their whaling gun.

[Sloop John B]

If it's the lake your on, jump in the lake with a big square bar of Ivory. If it's February, two shots and a beer will help before the plunge.

Otherwise, it's like camping out. When you begin to itch so bad you can't stand it, cork the sink with the rubber stopper and bird bath it with a wet wash cloth and a big warm towel.

And hey, not everybody's mate looks like TampaMac's avatar.

[Idle Time]

In Oklahoma I prefered the overboard with Ivory...after dark. Must be something about the skinny dipping thing from my past. Here in Florida the gators have the night. We have a solar shower and that's the next best thing...in the cockpit... I want a black backyard sprayer...2-3 gallons. Sun will heat it and Jim can do the spraying, plus we can have it full when we leave..an extra few gallons of fresh water. Our friends had one on a trip we took and it worked great to wash off the salt water.

[BK]

Only Palmolive dish soap lathers in salt water. You can use a Ivory soap bar in a fresh water lake.

[Chip Hindes]

Only Palmolive dish soap lathers in salt water.

Not "only". I heard the same about Lemon Joy. Used it five days running on the Conch Cruisers' Dry Tortugas trip this past summer. Works great, leaves your hair squeaky clean and smelling fresh, and no unsightly streaking There's a pun, but I'll let it go. Anyone else is welcome. Anyone?

We used it with cold salt water for dishes as well, with just a fresh water rinse at the end.

In fact, I suspect nearly any liquid dish detergent would work fine. Don't know what they'd do to your body if you used them long term, but I figure for a few weeks at a time it can't be too bad. Probably wouldn't be considered "green", though.

You can buy stuff called, "salt water soap" from the camping and marine stores. There are several brand names, "Sea Suds" is one. They're all way expensive (plus shipping) compared to Lemon Joy, which of course can be picked up in any store anywhere. Some are advertized as "all natural" whatever that means. Never tried them, so can't say how they work.

[Roy B. Highland]

Having pressure water in the gally sink and head from a 26 gal bladder and a water pump, I installed a pull up shower hose and nozzle from WM in the head sink. A switch on the sink side turns on the shower pump to the head sole drain. Works great . Lady Navagator seems to fit in the head fine. She isn't into "Cockpit exposure" Remember to take thge tp off the roll first. Drying it off after a shower is impossible.

[kmclemore]

Remember to take thge tp off the roll first. Drying it off after a shower is impossible.

Easily fixed!



(PowerSailingCenter carries one too..)

[Chip Hindes]

TP holder, $23. (Grumble)

Dry TP when you need it, priceless.

[Mark Prouty]

Just be careful showering in the head. Wouldn't want to lose anybody!



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