Hot water?

Back to the same problems--propane in the boat. Where do you put the heater, what to do with the exhaust gas, what about pressure water?
Basic set up is 20# propane tank (can use the smaller 1# tanks with an adaptor), a garden hose--(where to hook up to 12 volt pumped system if you have it? Cannot put inside of the boat because of open flame and CO issues. These were basically outlawed in boats a number of years ago, because of these problems. See my note on where we had one in about ,with built in propane, and pressure water--and a hatch right over the heater, which was open every time we used that heater. Worked great--but that was a 38 foot boat.
 
Frustrated by the lack of a non AC powered source of hot water on our Tom Cat 25.5, we ordered one of those CamperWorld water heaters earlier in the year after following the CBrat email thread on the subject for a couple of weeks.

We have had propane in one form or another on on our boats for years, and so that part did not bother us too much. The tanks and the 'heavier than air' fuel they contain do need to be treated with the respect they deserve. Basically, this means keeping the tanks outside all the time in a container that vents overboard, and that includes those little green tanks used for a small bbq. And obviously, you never fire the things up in a closed area due to CO inhalation risk.

When the heater arrived from CamperWorld we played around with it a bit at home and decided it might work OK if hung outside on the back deck of our Tom Cat, But, given its construction, it would rust out pretty quick in our salt water environment. Actually, we doubted it would last one season in a salt water setting, and so decided to not use it on the boat.

It would work well however, if going to say Lake Powell and setting it up on the beach. The water source could easily be a 5 gallon bucket elevated above the unit, with a garden hose attached. If and when we use it, it will only be in that kind of setting.

So, we are back to running the AC water heater on the Tom Cat with our Honda 300 genset. It can be a bit noisy in a quite anchorage, but is hardly noticeable if run while underway. As a result, we heat our water up before arriving, rather than after.

Having experimented with the CamperWorld unit, would we buy one again with the intention of using it on our Tom Cat in a salt water setting? Probably not.

KW
El Gato Thomas
TC 25.5
 
Susan and Harry,
Take a look at the Zodi camp shower. We have used ours for 3-4 years and love it! Everything you need for a warm shower at the end of the day except for propane which is 1 lb. cylinders. We set our unit on the Bait table and stand on the swim deck to shower. We carry (2) seven gallon plastic containers of water for the shower and we use about 5 gallons for both of us to shower so we can go about 3 days before we have fill the containers again. Water only takes about 10 minutes to heat to shower temp., turn off the heater and then use the battery powered pump to push water through the spray head. I think there are some pictures in one of our Albums.

Tad
 
My plan is to only hang it out for use while on anchor. rest of the time it will be stored. I will use the small 1lb tanks and a quick disconnect hose to my water supply. I already have fresh water out to the back deck. I have no intentions of having it inside at any time. My back deck has large scuppers , 4 of them, and is self bailing so I dont have a lot of the restrictions the 22 has. It should work fine of my use. I want to shower on anchor on the back deck. hell that alone should clear away any closely anchored boats. :wink:
 
Ah -- the simplicity and ease of a 'backpacking' solar shower. We used that for many years of living aboard with no difficulty (just can't stand under a high-pressure blazing hot shower for a half hour using the solar shower). But, living on a boat (for us) is not a duplicate of living in a house in a town -- it is, in many ways, easier -- if one follows the ol' Thoreau adage of "simplify, simplify, simplify."
 
Last year I bought a solar shower for the 27. Filled it up and put it on the roof. Tried it clear side up, black side up. On the roof , hanging from the radar arch and I don't think at any time did it even approach a temp that I would have considered to bath in. Now I am no sissy. I have bathed in many high mountains lakes and streams over the years but only because I had too and because the air temp was around 70 to 100. I know that I could get clean at a cost but more to the point did I a) do something wrong or b) had to high of hopes for the warm temp?
 
Hmmm -- don't know what went wrong. We put ours on the roof, black side down and right angles to the sun, about an hour before use. Sometimes (in summer, with overhead sun) it was too hot to use.

In winter, it might take longer, and important to be right angles to an unobstructed sun exposure (we'd prop it up a little with something below) to be sure it was at a good right angle to the lower winter sun).

Well, if worse comes to worse, heat a little hot water on the stove and put some in. :-)
 
Tom, those solar showers just don't work in the fog and rain! :crook
They worked great for us in S. Calif. EArly in the year at Lake Powell and year around in Florida. In the PNW---well as they say, you have to have the sun!
 
Hey Tom -- It's not propane so this might work. :idea: :arrow: try putting a candle under the solar bag and you'll be cooking in now time. :xnaughty

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
We use the Zodi shower, a bit more pricey than the one in this link but it is self contained. We have used it at anchor, on the swim platform but when cruising the canals we take it ashore. The heating unit can be hung up(we put a small stainless hook under our pedestal barbeque) for use on the swim platform. The lid of the reservoir holds a 1 # propane bottle and acts as a base. At the locks we have stayed at we didn't even use the heater, got hot water from the washrooms. (I'm not cheap - I'm Frugal!!) I reconfigured the hoses to bypass the heater - found it gave us a little better pressure, and made it easier to carry and set up. Works best if you elevate the reservoir as well. We cruise the canals in the off season(Sept.) and most of the locks we have stayed at are more remote, with secluded areas - so not a lot of spectators! :smiled

If you have a way to heat water you can make your own fairly cheap. I have lived off grid since 1979, untill 2002 we had no hot running water. Our shower was a rubbermaid container with a small 12v bilge pump connected to a hand held shower. Heat the water on a stove, add to the container mix to the desired temp. and voila.

Regards, Rob
 
Boy, where was I when this thread deteriorated? Asleep in a warm tub maybe :roll: Raining cats and pups here on the Right Coast tonight. But too warm to snow! :cry:

Heading to the OBX for Christmas with the kids tomorrow, hope all our Brat Friends have a very Merry Christmas! :xtongue :love

Charlie and Sally,
 
Back
Top