Portable washdown/shower

C-WEED · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject: Portable washdown/shower

I saw a small add in a magazine about these portable pumps under the "Rule" brand. They say they are good for salt/fresh water and even diesel fuel transfer. For washing down the deck or to shower with. Can be dropped over the side to pump whatever water your floating in. With aligator clips it runs off 12 volt battery.

This link has several versions:

http://www.rule-industries.com/products/pumps/slimline_in_line_submersible_pumps/index.htm

Seems like it would work good for dropping in a warm container of water without trying to attach a sun shower at the highest point for gravity feed.

Has anyone tried one?

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject:

If you want simple and inexpensive for a shower/wash down, we used a garden sprayer on our trimaran. Paint the one gallon tank black, fill it with water, put it in the sun, and in very little time you have warm/hot water. Pump the pressure up, and use the wand with a push bottom. One gallon doesn't sound like much, but with the pressure, it was plenty for a shower and hair washing. Total investment: less than $20. Also worked good for washing the deck.

We also used a Zodi portable propane water heater/pump for evening showers... a little more set up than the bug sprayer: pour water into the container, turn on the battery operated pump, fire up the propane heater... let the water recirculate into the container and in a few minutes you have hot water. The pump uses a couple D batteries and the propane is the small camp canisters. Around $100.

http://www.zodi.com/web-content/Consumer/zodihottaptravelshower.html

I haven't tried the Rule shown in your post, but these are some alternatives that work and are easy, self-contained, and compact.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

breausaw · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: Portable washdown/shower

C-Hawk · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:21 pm Post subject:

This looks good for a portable shower from Cabelas.

GOYO · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 4:26 pm Post subject:

Breausaw
How about matching the plug for the electric downrigger and plugging the
overboard pump in there.
Roger
That portable from Cabelas has all kinds of benefits. No drain on boat water tank, refillable fresh water instead of salt water, extra water if the boat water tank runs short, I like it.

breausaw · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:20 pm Post subject:

breausaw · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: BIG KAHUNA

Dene · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject:

C-Hawk · Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:02 pm Post subject:

breausaw · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:22 pm Post subject: Re: Portable washdown/shower

C-Pelican · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

Jim B,

Do you mean one of those 'pump up and down to get pressure' tanks that people use to put liquid fertilizers or bug spray in?

It sure would be nice to have something on board to get that scratchy salt water off my body after diving in.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 11:42 am Post subject:

C-Pelican · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 12:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks Jim, that sounds like a GREAT idea and I already have one of those to spray the trailer wheels off with after ocean launches. But I use to leave it in the truck. Funny how solutions are often hitting you straight in the face and you cant see them....

It shall soon be painted black and stored aboard the C Pelican !

KISS is good.

breausaw · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject:

RichardW · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:

We have used both a sunshower and a 2 gallon garden sprayer setup for a while. A downside to the Sunshower is that the water cools quickly so you have to use it before it becomes a cold-water-in-a-bag shower.

We have tried hard to follow the KISS principle and especially not have anything that runs on non-12V (or better yet no batteries). I also looked at the Zodi, a nice unit, but held on to KISS. The Big Kahuna looks good to me because you can plug it in to any cig light socket and it holds a lot of water.
I attached a 7 foot hose to the garden sprayer and affixed a clip so that the sprayer / trigger unit can be quickly attached to the bimini cross brace over head. You can use the trigger for continuous or intermittent water delivery. We heat up water on the Wallas and add to the sprayer tank in cooler weather. We have privacy panels for the camperback and sometimes snap a shower curtain diagonally across the cockpit for more privacy and lots of room. The dri dek floor lets the shower water run to a bilge pump.
For boat washdown, fish cleaning and coffee pot cleaning duties, I added a washdown pump that can take water from the fresh water tank or from the water outside. I often wash the boat on the trailer from the fresh water tank while the grunge on the boat is moist and comes off easily. The bride likes to wash her hair from the washdown sprayer or the garden sprayer. Jury is still out on the best setup. Even a "Navy shower" using hot water from the Wallas is good.
Rolling Eyes