Critique My Idea - Fresh Water Shower on Powerboat...
Discussion
Hello All.
Like many boat owners, the arrival of the new year engenders much thought on the coming season, and how to improve the boat-ownership experience for the same.
I am thinking about installing a basic fresh water pumped-shower for de crusting after swimming / wakeboarding and maybe as a fresh water wash-down...
There is no fresh water system on the boat at all at present, so my plans are fairly un-elaborate, but what I want to achieve is basically as follows...
Plan is to install a "small" (25 litre?) water tank in the engine bay where there is ample space one side of the V8 (this is PH so I mention the V8 right?)
Either side of the engine is a flat gelcoated "platform" about 1' x 3' which is obviously isolated from the hull itself. The tank would need to have an opening large enough to install hopefully internally a small capacity submersible 12V pump, basically a bilge pump and run it on manually mode (so no built-in float-switch...)
Alternatively, I could mount the pump externally somewhere and just feed 3/4'' hose down into the tank like a sump pump?
I would then just wire it to a waterproof toggle switch like this
http://www.force4.co.uk/department/brands/rule/rul...
and connect some sort of shower head via 1/2'' or 3/4'' hose.
Given the tank will be smallish, my thoughts are that even the smallest volume-rated bilge pump would be capable of emptying the tank in a minute or so, so no need to spend big.
I could just get something which "would" need an auxilary float switch and just hard wire the switch so it works on manual?
http://www.force4.co.uk/department/brands/rule/rul...
I don't intend cutting holes in the stern topsides or hull so the whole caboodle would be stowed in the engine bay when not in use.....
Oh, and to secuure the tank I would plan on building a sort of retaining base from wood about 1'' high and fitted tie-down straps to that to hold the tank down and in place...
What am I missing? Any advice or improvment suggestions gratefully receieved !!
Cheers - Nick.
Like many boat owners, the arrival of the new year engenders much thought on the coming season, and how to improve the boat-ownership experience for the same.
I am thinking about installing a basic fresh water pumped-shower for de crusting after swimming / wakeboarding and maybe as a fresh water wash-down...
There is no fresh water system on the boat at all at present, so my plans are fairly un-elaborate, but what I want to achieve is basically as follows...
Plan is to install a "small" (25 litre?) water tank in the engine bay where there is ample space one side of the V8 (this is PH so I mention the V8 right?)
Either side of the engine is a flat gelcoated "platform" about 1' x 3' which is obviously isolated from the hull itself. The tank would need to have an opening large enough to install hopefully internally a small capacity submersible 12V pump, basically a bilge pump and run it on manually mode (so no built-in float-switch...)
Alternatively, I could mount the pump externally somewhere and just feed 3/4'' hose down into the tank like a sump pump?
I would then just wire it to a waterproof toggle switch like this
http://www.force4.co.uk/department/brands/rule/rul...
and connect some sort of shower head via 1/2'' or 3/4'' hose.
Given the tank will be smallish, my thoughts are that even the smallest volume-rated bilge pump would be capable of emptying the tank in a minute or so, so no need to spend big.
I could just get something which "would" need an auxilary float switch and just hard wire the switch so it works on manual?
http://www.force4.co.uk/department/brands/rule/rul...
I don't intend cutting holes in the stern topsides or hull so the whole caboodle would be stowed in the engine bay when not in use.....
Oh, and to secuure the tank I would plan on building a sort of retaining base from wood about 1'' high and fitted tie-down straps to that to hold the tank down and in place...
What am I missing? Any advice or improvment suggestions gratefully receieved !!
Cheers - Nick.
Edited by NicoG on Wednesday 21st January 11:26
Simpo Two said:
I can't see a small bilge pump pumping water up 7-8 feet and then pushing it through a shower head with enough force to work very well.
Where does the water drain to or does it recirculate?
The water will only have to rise vertically about 2 feet, so less than it does from the actual bilge pump Where does the water drain to or does it recirculate?
really....
It doesn't recirculate - it's a shower, so you just sit on the bathing plaform to use it and it goes in the sea, the idea was that I'd fill the tank at the quayside and when it gone it's gone !
Cheers - Nick.
My co-owner has just sent this through which looks like just the job.....
http://timage.eu/site/home/778-shower-kit.html
it's 12 or 24 volt and the pump looks ideal for mounting on inner transom....
http://timage.eu/site/home/778-shower-kit.html
it's 12 or 24 volt and the pump looks ideal for mounting on inner transom....
I did this on my previous boat (20ft sea ray).
I installed a 50 litre plastic tank (available from most chandlers) on the starboard side of the engine bay, used a proper marine shower pump (available from most chandlers) mounted externally to the tank, wired to a master switch and fuse on the dashboard, so I could isolate the pump if required.
And then ran a regular marine shower hose and head (again available from most chandlers) from the pump, through a small hole drilled into the transom just above the bathing platform. Voila - fresh water showers on the bathing platform.
The benefit of using a marine shower pump is that it senses the demand automatically (via pressue changes in the water) and it turn the pump on/off when you press the button on the shower, so you dont have to turn it on/off manually.
I reckon a bilge pump would work fine, but you'd have to manually turn the shower on/off.
I installed a 50 litre plastic tank (available from most chandlers) on the starboard side of the engine bay, used a proper marine shower pump (available from most chandlers) mounted externally to the tank, wired to a master switch and fuse on the dashboard, so I could isolate the pump if required.
And then ran a regular marine shower hose and head (again available from most chandlers) from the pump, through a small hole drilled into the transom just above the bathing platform. Voila - fresh water showers on the bathing platform.
The benefit of using a marine shower pump is that it senses the demand automatically (via pressue changes in the water) and it turn the pump on/off when you press the button on the shower, so you dont have to turn it on/off manually.
I reckon a bilge pump would work fine, but you'd have to manually turn the shower on/off.
How about a flexible water tank with a decent pump?
http://www.force4.co.uk/jabsco-freshwater-par-max-...
http://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-flexible-water-tan...
http://www.force4.co.uk/whale-swim-n-rinse-compact...
http://www.force4.co.uk/jabsco-freshwater-par-max-...
http://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-flexible-water-tan...
http://www.force4.co.uk/whale-swim-n-rinse-compact...
Use a 12v caravan water pump: e.g http://www.commercialfuelsolutions.co.uk/whale_hig...
Slim enough to fit through the neck of a container & will run a shower - caravans fitted with them as standard - without any problems as they are intended for the job.
Whale do a number of different ones: http://www.whalepumps.com/home.aspx
Slim enough to fit through the neck of a container & will run a shower - caravans fitted with them as standard - without any problems as they are intended for the job.
Whale do a number of different ones: http://www.whalepumps.com/home.aspx
Max_Torque said:
Take the output of the shower pump, via a small heat exchanger in the engine coolant loop! Idle engine for "warm" shower, rev to make hotter..... ;-)
You just (re)invented the calorifier 
A bilge pump would do the 2' lift but not have enough grunt to make a shower. All the stuff you need already exists (like in my boat!)
I've used these on a few boats which had them fitted, a couple of Mastercrafts and a 42' Cranchi. All had a shower attachment just near the swim platform; without knowing the full details, I would say they looked like standard fitment? They were certainly well-integrated. Can't be too difficult to fit?
Not rocket science at all, did it years ago on my Revenger.
85 litre tank, water puppy and shower head in a holder socket on the platform.
Few things to consider.
85 litres of water weighs and sticking it on one side of the boat will need you to move other stuff or put up with a lean.
You won't need a heat exchanger if the tank is in the engine compartment it will get plenty warm enough.
Make sure you keep the tank clean as the temperatures are the worst for harbouring nasties.
Use an auto sensing pump by all means but be aware when a hose end comes off from it being constantly pressurised you will just empty the tank into the bottom of the boat.
Flexitanks are good use of odd shaped spaces.
Before you drill a hole for the shower holder make sure there is space behind for the extending hose to drop into. And drop it into a hanging bag or the shower hose will very quickly become oily from the engine compartment.
All worked extremely well for years but ripped it all out last year as we are racing the beast again.
85 litre tank, water puppy and shower head in a holder socket on the platform.
Few things to consider.
85 litres of water weighs and sticking it on one side of the boat will need you to move other stuff or put up with a lean.
You won't need a heat exchanger if the tank is in the engine compartment it will get plenty warm enough.
Make sure you keep the tank clean as the temperatures are the worst for harbouring nasties.
Use an auto sensing pump by all means but be aware when a hose end comes off from it being constantly pressurised you will just empty the tank into the bottom of the boat.
Flexitanks are good use of odd shaped spaces.
Before you drill a hole for the shower holder make sure there is space behind for the extending hose to drop into. And drop it into a hanging bag or the shower hose will very quickly become oily from the engine compartment.
All worked extremely well for years but ripped it all out last year as we are racing the beast again.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff