To Shower or Not to Shower

S

Stuberg

New member
For those of you that have owned both a 22 and a 25, what is the value in your opinion of having a shower and marine toilet versus just a porta poti?

Do you use the shower often or opt for a shower at various docks?

If you don't shower at all, please let me know but do keep your distance when we meet in person.

Robert Stuberg
 
I once had a 22' sailboat, which was cruised, with a porti-potti under the V-berth. If one needed it at night, a common occurence when one gets old, the drill is like this:
-wake up your significant other
-get them to roll over, apologizing
-use the porti-potti, apologizing
-open the hatch, apologizing
-go back to sleep, if possible. Don't try anything else, this is not the time
Yes, you can put it in the main cabin (with the kids.) Or outside, and everyone will be going by at that time.

We will not buy a boat without a separate head. By the way, the marine head now used on the 25 comes in mini and normal size, and they use the mini. If you get a 25, see if they will install the normal size, whatever the cost. The mini is just a little small and LOW.
 
The marine head is good, especially with the kids on board.

As for the shower - I say no, my wife says yes. The shower is still there.
 
Robert-

Great topic, and one that we haven't dealt much with directly!

I think the answer to how important the shower and what type of head facility you need depends a lot on who's in the boat, where you boat, and several other factors.

1. Women need a private head, some much more than others. Some will go so far as to write the extra $25k check for a "two-foot-its" attack to get the upgraded facilities of a larger boat. Same for the shower. There are others who are not so embarrassed and private about these functions. Buy them a 5 gallon bucket, a snap-on comfort ring at West Marine, some garbage bags, and give 'em a great big kisss!!! REAL MEN are not tied to the bathroom issue so intimately, of course.

2. Where you boat makes a great deal of difference. I'm on an inland lake with a covered berth, toilets, showers, and additional floating toilets and campgrounds spaced about every three miles all around the lake. Why carry a porta-potti? I have one that's 18 years old and never been used and is stored up in the top of the RV Barn out back. The hollow under the v-berth is a great additional storage area! More fishing gear? Generator? Clothes? Wine cellar?

3. Showers are not a problem when the freshwater lake is 70-80 degrees, but cold salt water is not much fun. How many days will you be out on cruise w/o freshwater shower access?

4. A 5 or 6 gallon hot water heater doesn't provide much water to do anything more than a "Navy Shower", and deplets your limited fresh water supply significantly. I don't even like to use the shower in my motorhome for the same reason (and it has over twice the water of the CD) unless we have hook-ups, in which case we have campground showers available.

5. There's a big difference between a boat shower which is usually combined with a head, and the Jacuzzi and shower/tub facilities in your room at the Hilton. Plus you have to do the clean up.

6. If you have window privacy screens, limo tint side windows, or a private location, you can heat water on the stove and take a sponge bath that is just about as good as the shower in the miniature broom closet with the toilet thingee on the floor. Comparatively, the clean up between the two is a "wash". (My personal opinion, of course.)

7. I learned from a Coast Guard friend of mine about how to avoid the Porta-Potti drill: (most people don't relish the clean out routine, of course)

Each person who feels nature's calling uses the Potti by lining the vessel with a plastic garbage bag. After Mother Nature has had her way, tie up the bag, double bag it, and drop it in another bag to be carried ashore and disposed of at the first available opportunity. Sounds a bit unpleasant at first, but is less crude, rude, and construed than cleaning the Porta-Pooper!!!

8. Check out the "Airhead" composting toilet that Pat and Patty Anderson have on Daydream. There's a preliminary evaluation on the Desolation Sound thread from yesterday. Sounds promising so far!

9. Last Bit of Advice: If your wife is a "SENSITIVE" type, you can either leave her at home, buy the Nordic "Tub" 37, or buy an old Bayliner, strip it out, and add a generator, a giant mirror with make up lights, a big water tank and heater, a 5 gallon per flush head, a Jacuzzi, shower, and suntan booth, and cosmetics inventory. Don't forget to paint it PINK with RED trim. Write "Because You Deserve It" (Lorreal) on the side, then tow it out beyond the 12 mile limit and leave them there. Now go get yourself a realistic woman that is probably more fun anyway!!!

10. More ideas?

Joe.
 
I'm lucky in that PJ will use a bucket most of the time, if we are out in the ocean. If we are at the dock, she will use the porta-potty at night when it is inconvenient for her to get dressed and hike up to the facilities.
As for the shower, we have a couple of the Coleman "sun showers". They work great to wash the salt off after coming up from diving.
 
Anoather passing thought: A couple of months ago, someone brought up the idea that some motors, the newer Yamahas, for instance, could be used tp provide hot water for showers when in fresh water. The flush fitting at the port side front corner of the engine can be adaped with a male hose connector and some tubing to provide warm water for showering with the engine running. (Just don't starve the cooling system!)

No reason one couldn't set up a freshwater shower in the cockpit using the on board water tank and a small pump, either.

In either case, just pump the resulting water overboard with the bilge pump.

Joe.
 
While this doesn't deal with the shower part, we leave the porta-potty in the cockpit but had a custom made curtain that zips around it. It can be used at the dock late at night - might be a bit cold but, IMHO is better than having it next to your head in the v-berth.
 
I have not owned a 25, but I don't think most that responded have either. Here goes:

Ever check into them Coleman Camp Showers :!: :D I have one on my 22 Classic -- and a small porta potty :) --

Pooper has been relocated to the storage area contraption I put over the main engine :idea: (makes it appear more like a small fishing boat) hehehe :teeth I don't care to have it in the cabin for duty, at all :arrow: :shock: if you know what I mean :wink: One of the best things in life is takin-a-big-poop :) 8) and having a great view --in-- the outdoors... animals do it... :smileo :xnaughty

Now, that shower is way awesome: Talking it ashore for almost unlimited hot-showers out of the sounds countless trickling little brooks is to die for :thup :smilep I like it cuz it don't ad to the complexity of an already complex-enough boat :crook (yes, I do all my own work and rigging)
 
We have a 25 and very seldom have used the shower in the head. We boat in a damp environment and the drain in the head isn't recessed. That means that there is always substantial water to clean up if the head shower is used. The shower drain pump is also problematic. If the float sticks you get water backing up all over the floor of the cabin.

Fred from Anita Marie put us on to a solution that we really liked on the Desolation Sound trip. It is called a Zodi shower (www.zodi.com). It looks like a big old fashioned fire extinguisher. It holds 2 1/2 gallons of water. We heat it on the wallace stove, close it and pressurize it with a hand pump. We then take it into the cockpit, put up the curtains on the top and take a shower. Shelley brushes down the back deck while I'm finishing my shower. It has been a great solution for us, and fits into a corner of the head.
Lyle
 
Being able to take a shower on the boat is a great luxury. We have used our Zodi Extreme for 3 years now and it really works well. A sun shower is nice but in our neck of the woods sun is sometimes weeks away.
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As far as the head is concerned I was just fine with a bucket but Robbin wanted and loves the head. It makes all the difference for her enjoyment of boating.
 
Porta Potti is the way to go for simplicity; nothing to clog or break, no twisting into bizzarre angles trying to fix something. We too usually move the porta potti onto the aft deck at night unless its just realy cold out and as Redfox stated, nothing is better than having a view while you doo.

I have never found an on board shower to be particularly useful in any of the boats I've owned, everything gets wet and there is neither the water or space to really get clean. If its nice we use a sun shower out on deck (when we are out anchored up somewhere) or if its cold or there are people out and about we heat water on the stove and sponge bathe.

Many of the places we go have hotsprings and as long as you arent real modest or shy; they are great places to soak and get clean. Some of the marinas up here also have showers or showers close by.
 
We love our porta-potti-it is simple and easy.When we leave our boat in the marina we just take the bottom of the pottie home with us and dump it in our sewer clean-out in our yard. A quick rinse with the garden hose and we are good to go. Never and odor or repair problem. We move ours to the cabin at night and if I don't sit on her head getting back to bed ---you get the idea. If you are in a legal area a dump overboard is really easy. On the Erie Canal we dump at the porta johns at most locks. On the ICW many boat ramps have a porta john so dumping is Never a problem.

If we plan to stay on the hook overnight we find a secluded cove and use a sun shower in the cockpit.If a fisherman comes by thank heavens for the CD's deep cockpit.
 
When I first started on the C-Dory I tried something the backpackers use called PooPowder. Put it in a bag, do your thing, store the bag till you can toss it in the garbage. I found that the powder created a new unpleasant odor after a couple days.

Now we use the porta-pooper. We keep it in the cockpit and have privacy curtains for our canvass. I have not had to dump it in a bathroom or blue-box yet but it is easy at places that have dump stations like Lake Powell.

I mainly use a solar shower and Karen does the sponge bath. I have done a shower in the cockpit but prefer to wear a bathing suit and shower on sitting on the lazaret with my feet on the swim step. I can get a good shower that way but breezes can be cold.

Steve
 
On my last boat, we got by just fine with a porta-potty and a solar shower, but the head and a hot shower make it much less like camping.

With an extra layer of insulation on the water heater, we can leave the dock on an afternoon, and have plenty of hot water for 2 short showers and breakfast cleanup the next morning.

As mentioned earlier, the shower drain does leave a little to be desired. The drain is on the aft side, which leaves a puddle about 1/4" deep on the forward side. I plan on getting some dri-deck matting for next season.
 
We are very happy with the porta-pottie that came with Naknek. In fact, last spring with we purchased a camper for the truck the first thing I did was to de-install the toilet from the camper and buy another porta-pottie!

Some folks might think that's foolish, but after years of servicing a built-in toilet in our (previous) motorhome; the convenience of the porta-pottie is delightlful (not to mention, you can dump it in virtually any regular toilet, not just an RV dump station). Probably not a solution for everyone, but it's working for us.

I STRONGLY recommend using a chemical called EnviroChem by Monsanto ( http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/rv-cleaners/32fj.htm ). It works extremely well, and is available at Camping World as well as other places.

The current issue of Powerboat Reports evaluated porta potties ( http://www.powerboat-reports.com/issues ... 593-1.html ). I don't know if that link will work. If not send me an email and I'll do some info sharing....

As for a shower - we just don't miss one. When traveling in cold weather we opt for sponge baths or showers at a marina. If the wx is warm enough - jump overboard and spray-off with a spray bottle of fresh water!

Casey
C-dory Naknek
lorencasebeer@aol.com
 
While this started out as a discussion of the importance of having an on board flushing head and a shower, it has blossomed out into a discussion of the many ways to satisfy both functions, both on board and with whatever facilities are at hand nearby.

Nice to see that we have all these choices available as the situations change with different people on board, weather, cruising grounds, and moorings. The choices are probably only limited by the ingenuity of those on board and the surroundings.

And at least we have pointed out to the uninitiated that there are a whole bunch of choices available and that the built in head/shower is not a sine quo non requirement for cruising comfort on a C-Dory!

Any more ideas?
 
If I were to do it again I would seriously consider not having the marine head installed. Save the money on that and the maserator pump. Use the waste tank for an additional water tank. Not have to deal with a maserator pump. I would keep the shower and have a portapotti just like the 22 had put in there. Want to take a stand up shower, move the PP to the cockpit. The portapotti was absolutely no big deal to use or empty and in fact is probably easier to deal with in that regard than the waste tank.
 
The Porta-potty is just plain easy. Nothing to clog (or have to fuss with); easy to dump at any bathroom or RV dump station, and a bit of chemical in it assures no smell (unlike every marine head I've ever been around). We also use a Zodi, but a smaller unit than the Extreme. The whole thing fits in an ammo case (comes with that) that you can also use as a water reservoir. If you want hotter water, just recirculate it into the case. Works really good for rinising dishes, too. We shower in the cockpit of our sailboats (self draining). If it's cold or hasn't been particularly sunny, the Zodi really beats a Solar Shower. We all poop and all need to clean up once in a while; being able to do so comfortably onboard makes it a more pleasant experience... which equates to more time on the water. :D

James TX/SD
 
We used to have a boat with shower and head, plus hot water, and I thought I'd miss it when we got the 22, but I don't. The porta potti works great. In some locations we use a bucket and you don't have to lug the potty out for night.

I'm with the girls who take sponge baths. If we've access to a dock shower that's great but usually we're anchored up somewhere all alone. One tea kettle makes more than enough hot water for a luxurious bath using a dish tub and cup for pouring. There's nothing extra you have to carry along or store. Bathing helps the cockpit stay clean. We use a second bilge to remove water from the back. After bathing we'll go in the cabin and let the wallace blow us dry (I love the stove)!

These are very personal choices and I'd guess many women would say they prefer the amenities. I'm happy to go minimal when it's easy (or maybe just too lazy to clean a shower when I'm boating)!
- Rene
 
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