water heater for C 22 cruiser

Ooooh - ice cream. Now you're talking. Toughest thing about being required to change my eating habits ("change, or face my knife!"-cardiologist) was giving up ice cream. BUT, now, there's a saturated fat, cholesterol-free ice cream by Breyers. HOORAY!! - (however, most stores walkable from the dock don't carry it)

Tom - we avoid marinas as much as possible also - And, like you, have spent our 'dues' sleeping on the ground - for us, the last lengthy time, was 6 1/2 months and carrying everything we needed on our backs) - however, also like you, we enjoy anchoring out, and, if solar isn't possible, the stove makes good hot water. We don't shower in cold water either - (not if we can help it).

Jim - What's a TV? :smile
 
El and Bill":28bl88bl said:
Ooooh - ice cream. Now you're talking...

Jim - What's a TV? :smile
Click to expand...

Joan just posed a question to me... those of us who travel a lot and still want on-line capability have computers and wireless broadband cards. We navigate with chartplotters, radar, and autopilots. Keep in touch when we are out of cell range with SPOT devices. All things that make the cruising more comfortable. Where does one draw the line on what is "necessary"? :wink:

Fridge? Satellite radio? TV? Water heater? Jacuzzi tub? Yeah, I threw that last one in to see if anyone was paying attention. That's the one thing that makes me anxious to come back home. Hmmmm, I wonder if we could... no, probably not. :lol:

Best wishes,
Jim

PS With the fridge, you get a little bitty freezer compartment... and one of those Wells Blue Bunny single serving ice cream containers will fit in there. :thup
 
Sounds like there's a few folks out there who would like to defy basic physics which predicts a temperature rise of less than 2 degrees C (3.5 F if you prefer) from a true power input of 750W at 1.5 GPM (the lowest shower head flow I could find on the Web).
7 - 10KW in would be more workable... perhaps a diesel generator on a small barge?

Paul Priest
Sequim
 
Lloyds, my Norcold Chest unit, will freeze ice cream. It will also freeze fish, and keep them frozen for a month (traveling from Alaska to Florida).

The problem I had with the Insta Hot water heater is that the tank would not hold any pressure--not even 2 PSI. It had to use the fixtures which cuts the water off on the flow into the tank.

The fittings are standard Pipe threads and no problem adapting to these to the shower etc. Having two units would not do the job.

On the Tom Cat we used the shower in the boat--because we have the EU 2000 generator, and do anchor out most of the time. On the C Dory 25 we tend to go to a marina every 3rd day. Sponge bath between. Although the heads are approximately the same size in the two boats, the head room is different (less in the 25, because of the raised floor for the shower drain).

Some marinas you can just come in for a few hours, and pay to use the shower and that is what we did on some occasions. Payment by the minute for showers is the norm in the PNW. But there are also some showers which are so moldy that we will just not set foot in them.--not many, but those that are, are real pits!

There is another option, and that is to find a tank, which will take the pressure and put a 750 watt heater element in it, and put insullation around the tank. We might take that course if we keep the 25.
 
JamesTXSD":1eohf5do said:
Ah, Bill, my friend. don't forget the "3 minute" showers at Ganges (they are apparently metric minutes, which equate to: just enough time to get lathered up before the water shuts off).
Jim
Click to expand...

Ah, Jim, my friend. Carol and I found that the plus factor of the Ganges showers was that they were large enough for the two of us to shower together. Something that can't be done even in the "rain room" of a 25' C-Dory. However, two can shower in the cockpit of a 22' with a solar shower...... :wink

You know the old saying....."The couple that bathes together stays together".... :smilep .
 
Ah, the Ganges shower - right you are, Dave.

And, to broaden the discussion: drawing a line between what's necessary to add to a basic boat and what's extra. Two categories, we think most would agree on. Necessary is equipment 'required' for safety: chartplotter (or equivalent), VHF radio, depth sounder.

Everything else ie Fridge, Satellite radio, TV, Water heater, Jacuzzi tub (see we were paying attention, Jim :lol: ) is up to the discretion of the owner. Including microwave, blow dryer, electric blanket, fireplace, freezer, dishwasher, electric kettle, gym set etc etc.

Now the final exam: in the picture below, of the harbor in Montreal, can you spot the C-Dory? (and can you find the jacuzzi? :smiled )


pict0608.thumb.jpg
 
El and Bill":18sajbd4 said:
Now the final exam: in the picture below, of the harbor in Montreal, can you spot the C-Dory? (and can you find the jacuzzi? :smiled )
Click to expand...

Yep, and I'll still take the C-Dory.....hmmm, wonder how much the slip fees were to park that jacuzzi there?
 
This has got to be one of the best threads ever. As has been said before I think one of the things that's really appealing about the C-Dory especially the 22 is it's somewhat a blank canvas and can be customized to the individual's needs or things he thinks he needs. Bill and E's minimalistics approach sparked me to try a sun shower in the beginning but I found they were cumbersome and the little pressure from the gravity feed didn't suit my needs. Next I read from Jim about the garden sprayer and it's exactly what I needed, works great for me, all along thinking a water heater would be a great addition. After reading this thread I'm convinced it would be practically useless for me. On the other hand reading about Thataway Bob's freezer install really got my attention and it's been one of the best additions I've made. On my recent 10 day trip I never once had to stop for supplies or ice. Now when Warren and some others start talking about some of the electronic and computer things I must have that deer in the headlight look while staring at the computer screen trying to read what sometimes appears to be a foreign language but little by little lights come on and I'm learning. Anyway just wanted to say thanks.
 
DaveS":lapxx8b0 said:
JamesTXSD":lapxx8b0 said:
Ah, Bill, my friend. don't forget the "3 minute" showers at Ganges (they are apparently metric minutes, which equate to: just enough time to get lathered up before the water shuts off).
Jim
Click to expand...

Ah, Jim, my friend. Carol and I found that the plus factor of the Ganges showers was that they were large enough for the two of us to shower together. Something that can't be done even in the "rain room" of a 25' C-Dory. However, two can shower in the cockpit of a 22' with a solar shower...... :wink

You know the old saying....."The couple that bathes together stays together".... :smilep .
Click to expand...

I'm all for conserving water and money, Dave (that was your premise, right?). We much prefer the marina showers that can be used by couples instead of men on one side and women on the other. I went into those Ganges showers with a couple loonies... and had to really hurry to get rinsed after putting in the second one. I heard the groan of the woman in the shower stall next to me when her time ran out sooner than she expected. :disgust Seeing what facilities the marinas offer is certainly part of the cruising experience. We've used some where I've had to do battle with the spiders, some that had obviously not been cleaned in a long while, and others (like the showers at Sausalito) that are like walking into a spa. Still, I wear my Crocs into all those public showers. See my post about showering at Oak Harbor from back in '07.

Given the option, I'll go for the marina shower when available. I may not be able to fit in our enclosed head with the Blonde, but the boat isn't that big... we have plenty of "closeness." :wink:

Some of the sailors here may know who Lin and Larry Pardey are (world cruisers in a small sailboat without an engine). When asked why they used the space for a small "sitz tub" in their boat, Lin said, "Larry told me he thinks I'm sexy... and even more sexy when I'm clean." :mrgreen:

Best wishes,
Jim
 
I have a C-25, but this will work on the 22, and changed the water heater since who needs 6 gals. I bought a GE point of use 2.5g tank heater, looks like a very small home unit.
The unit had a 1500w heating element which is to much for the small Honda generator and I couldn't find a 120v heating element less than 1000w.
I found a 2000w 240v heating element that was mechanically the right size to install in the small GE tank. Through the wonders of Ohms Law and P=EI that 2000w 240v heater becomes a 500w heater at 120v! Isn't science wonderful.
I set the temp setting to the max I could stand so I only turn on the hot water valve for the shower and don't waste water getting the temp right. It takes about 25min. running the generator to heat the water and I mounted a pilot light by the AC panel which turns off when the water is up to temp.

Ed on "Rambler" at Georgetown, SC now
 
I have installed tankless on demand gas heaters never installed electric heaters onput is 4 gallons per min.max. temp 120 degrees they do require mainteance. backflush yearly,device for backflush not included, device for two units is also extra,you must balance the 2 units. cost for all of this approx. $2,200. I have been in the plumbing buss. for 25 years.
 
We have been using a propane, demand hot water heater for the past couple years in our horse trailer. It is really nice to be able to take a shower after a few days in the woods. I bought the unit at Camper World for about $100. In the horse trailer, we just scoop a bucket of water out of the creek for water supply. This unit has a pressure switch built into the heater, so the heater shuts off when you close the water valve on the shower head. Although I have not tried it yet in our CD-22', I plan to set it up in the cockpit. I rigged up a 12v Shurflo pump to the demand heater, which is fueled by a 20 lb. propane tank. In fresh water, just throw the suction hose over the stern for an endless water supply. If salt water, shower with salt water, then throw the strainer in a bucket of fresh water from the CD tank to rinse. I use an inexpensive lawn sprinkler with the small holes for a suction strainer. At a marina, I am sure we would probably use the commercial facility, but only if it beats our system.
 
I also wanted hot water for washing dishes and showers so I bought the isotemp 4.2 gal electric water heater. Only 750 watts so it runs off of my yamaha 1000 watt gen or of course shore power. I just camped for a week at lake mead and it worked great. I have put hot/cold hand held shower in the cockpit and I have privacy curtain for my camper canvas so it is a bigger shower than I have at home. This water heater is extremly well insulated so when I leave a slip in the morning to go fishing I still have hot water at lunch time to wash up! See pics in my album.
 
thanks, it was a bit of work but worth it. I bought the water heater from west marine, it does come with heat exchanger hookup but did not use them with the outboard of course. Not to many choices with 750 watt/ 120 volt elements, and the flat shape helped in mounting.
 
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