When Do You Shower?

[svHyLyte]

For years aboard our Cal 2-29 we used a pump-up garden sprayer bottle on which I had removed the spray nozzel and attached a small nozzel with a push-button release from a defunct "Sun Shower". For hot water under way we simply boiled up a tea kettle on the galley range and mixed it with cool water in the bottle to the right temperature. At anchor, we used a shallow cardboard box lined with aluminum foil that we could unfold and set up on the foredeck. With a 5 gallon "Sun Shower" bag in the box and the open top of the box covered with stretch wrap--it really took very little time to come up with hot water, even in the middle of winter. With the Sun Shower hoisted on a halyard above the hatch over the head, there was more than enough water for two "Navy" showers.

[forsailbyowner]

We are allotted 2 liters to shower before bed to keep bedding fresh. During hot days underway when feeling grungy I take an oz or so of rubbing alcohol on a washcloth and freshen up with that. Works wonders.

[Alchemist]

shower in a can works on passage

[osirissail]

I wonder how many of the posters on this question live on land and sail occasionally along with live-a-boards tied up to a marina versus those cruisers on the average sailing boat "without a water-maker". I suspect all the 1,2,3 times a day showers are in the former category and for those cruiser in the later category they have a hard time remembering what a "shower" was or when. When you have 50gal or so of fresh water and a month at sea, showers are definitely low on the list of fresh water usage. Even at anchor lugging jerry cans of water and/or purchasing water which can run up to $1/gallon in parts of the Caribbean (usually in the $0.25/gal realistically) can also move the daily shower priority way down the list.
-- I was astonished last week when looking at R.O. watermaker prices today. The exact same machine I bought in 1991 for $2.5K is now selling for $10K. An average of the small 4-6 gal/hour machines start around $5K to $6K. I attribute that to the huge increase in demand for the machines for the "daily+ shower" folks. It is rare to find a recently "new" cruiser down here in the Caribbean without a watermaker.
- - So much for the "Traditions of the Sea" and also I noticed the sale of garlic is not what it used to be.

[brightnsunny]

Washing with buckets os sea water worked fine for two week crossing.

Does anyone have tips for skin care with no freshwater available?

[Talbot]

Romans used to rub oil onto their body then scrape it of. This removed the layer of grime/bacteria and left the skin in good condition.

Perhaps this is a solution to the two weeks without a shower. It would also remove the salt crystals.

It might also be fun

[barnakiel]

I shower whenever I can. I wish it was easier on the passage - so a good shower-room is at the top of my 'to-haves' for the future boat.

b.

[Martinini]

Baby wipes can help to remove salt from skin.

[ragdoll]

I don't seem to get to clean swiming? Maybe it's the dry suit? Dry cleaning? Water @ 60 degree latitude ain't 60 degrees. 6 gal. water heater, 7 gal watermaker. anytime I want. sundowner? waiting for the sun to go down in the summer wll make you a bit thirsty, winter ain't so bad, about 2:00 PM sometimes.

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by ragdoll

I don't seem to get to clean swiming? Maybe it's the dry suit? Dry cleaning? Water @ 60 degree latitude ain't 60 degrees. 6 gal. water heater, 7 gal watermaker. anytime I want. sundowner? waiting for the sun to go down in the summer wll make you a bit thirsty, winter ain't so bad, about 2:00 PM sometimes.

- - Then you and your lady just need to do what the Polar Bears do after swimming = roll around naked in the snow and rub each other down with snow to clean EVERY nook and cranny. That should certainly 'shorten' things in the cleaning department.

[ragdoll]

I've not watch the polar bears do that, all they seem to do is kill and eat and sleep

[Starbuck]

Ragdoll,

You have to get closer. Much, much closer.

[Charlie]

I agree with the baby wipes. On race boats we used to use them after every watch. Now, witha cruising boat I use them once and sometimes twice a day.

[brightnsunny]

Thanks for all the good advice. Now with oil and wipes I'll be smelling like a baby instead of an old wet goat. Maybe now I'll be able to get crew for those long crossings.

[barnakiel]

Ragdoll I love the sense. Shower here, travel Alaska!

b.