Shower Head Idea - Strong but saves

[dw8928]

This is truly a mundane topic, but I like to sweat the details. I have personally owned two boats with shower systems installed. Not to mention real property as investments.

I am always thinking about ways to subtly improve the experience onboard. I did some research about venturi valve shower heads because I was looking for a smaller but forceful shower head.

To me, force equals at least a 'perceived' sense that soap is being washed away. Not to mention comfort.

Bottom line is I decided to see what the cruise ship companies use and I came across this showerhead used on Royal Caribbean.

http://www.mixwater.pl/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Karta-techniczna-towaru-Novolence_EN_20121001.pdf

I ordered one, and I have to say it is great for a small boat too. Lots of force and MUCH less flow. Some of the other low-flow showerheads out there are huge. This one is small, light, simple, VERY forceful and designed by Germans.

FYI, I have no business relationship with this company.

 

[Xsbank]

I'm really happy that you are intent on being clean, hate the thought of dirty boaters bobbing about out there. Good info.

 

[dw8928]

If I'm not underway, I'm rubba dubbin away

 

[rwidman]

If that works for you, fine but I don't see any shutoff valve on the showerhead. If you want to save water, you get a showerhead with a built in shutoff valve (most marine showerheads have this feature).

Start your shower, get yourself wet, shut the water flow off, soap up and scrub, then turn the water back on to rinse.

Or do as the sailboaters do, jump in the river to get wet, climb out to soap and scrub, then jump back into the river to rinse off. Add a final rinse with the boat shower to rinse the salt off. Sometimes they just wait for it to rain to take a shower.

 

[psneeld]

Common and inexpensive

 

[mbevins]

It's a great link for info but I suspect it's for Europe mainly. Didn't see a way to purchase in USA.

 

[rwidman]

We enjoy our long, hot showers but that's not practical on our boat. We do what I suggested above (turning off the water, not jumping into the river) if we're showering on the boat. If we're in a marina, we use the marina showers when available. Plenty of hot water (usually).


We also shower in the cockpit rather than inside if there's nobody nearby. This saves a lot of cleanup afterwards.

 

[Lepke]

My boat came with showers with hose heads. Now they have conventional house full flow heads. That's one of the reasons I have a water maker.

 

[CaptTom]

Common and inexpensive

I think we've had this conversation before, but to summarize, consider whether you want the water truly "off" while soaping up, or reduced to a trickle.

The one pictured, I believe, leaves a trickle, wasting a not-insignificant amount of water. I prefer the full shutoff, available (as far as I can tell) only on line. I got mine from Amazon.

In theory, the trickle prevents the first blast of water after it's turned back on from being too hot or too cold. In my experience, that still happens, so I always wait a second before stepping back into the flow. The trickle also prevents morons from forgetting to turn the shower off when done. If that's a problem with your crew, go with the trickle.

 

[Trundlebug]

I more than doubled the amount of hot water capacity on board by adding a second calorifier in line after the existing one. Thankfully there was loads of room at the rear of the engine bay for it.

Now there's enough hot water for showers for 4 people one after the other, plus washing up, a wash the next morning and more besides. It'll stay usefully warm / hot for around 36 hours too.

I must admit though, the shower is still the biggest water consumer on the boat so this does look appealing. Not sure it's compatible with my mixer tap though, not sure it would sit as neatly in it as the current one

 

[dw8928]

I bought two of these on eBay. They fit any shower hose that I already have. My current boat shower has no cutoff valve other than a mixer valve. Which means I have to be careful to turn on/off at the same location. I intend to add a shutoff valve.

 

[Simi 60]

If you want to save water, you get a showerhead with a built in shutoff valve (most marine showerheads have this feature).

Start your shower, get yourself wet, shut the water flow off, soap up and scrub, then turn the water back on to rinse.

Sounds like that other miracle invention called a tap.
Don't you have them in America?

 

[dhays]

I bought two of these on eBay. They fit any shower hose that I already have. My current boat shower has no cutoff valve other than a mixer valve. Which means I have to be careful to turn on/off at the same location. I intend to add a shutoff valve.

I need to add a shutoff valve for the same reason.

 

[dw8928]

I bought it on eBay from this company recently and it shipped within 12 hours with a tracking number from Poland via the UK for some reason.

 

[ksanders]

My boat came with showers with hose heads. Now they have conventional house full flow heads. That's one of the reasons I have a water maker.

Same for us. You can conserve to the Nth degree, or tyou csan buy a RO system ans solve the problem forever

 

[dw8928]

I was thinking more in terms of hot water use in the shower. I'm a Southerner living in a place (Seattle) that can really stay at 45 degrees or 55 degrees for months on end. Hot water is important!

There is a reason Starbucks was started here . Krispy Kreme coffee is as good or better but I digress.

Now put me in Florida and....actually just put me in Florida please.

 

[Britannia]

I got one of these temperature controlled mixers for only $35. It works very well - allowing me to turn off the shower and then turn it back on with no temperature problems. It even manages to control the temperature when the hot water has been heated by the engine (which is dangerously hot). This makes it a great safety feature especially for guests. I installed one in my guest head and have ordered another for the master.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZWDYMYA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Richard

 

[janice142]

For me having the trickle is most welcome. My hair is long and that trickle makes sudsing the shampoo easier. I have one of the $30 Home Depot shower heads found at a thrift store for 99 cents which is practically perfect.

On thumper the water comes on full force for rinsing. The mist setting actually is a trickle which is helpful. Mine has no shutoff so psneld's gizmo has caught my interest. Thanks for the idea.

 

[FF]

"Now put me in Florida and....actually just put me in Florida please."

WHAT?

Don't you like the PC rules and tax extortion of CA North?

In FL we actually get to see the sun shine for months , not 5 days a year!

Come on down!!!

 

[CaptTom]

Sounds like that other miracle invention called a tap.
Don't you have them in America?

Naw, we still go to the well with a bucket when we want water.

The thing with a tap is that once you turn it off (especially if you have two taps to mix hot & cold) you need to fiddle with it to get the right temperature again.

Far better to put a small shut-off valve at the shower head. Your choice whether you want the trickle or a full shut-off. But be sure you buy the right one; it's hard to find one that doesn't leave a trickle.

Since we sometimes anchor for days, conserving hot (or by then, warm) water becomes an issue. I'd rather have the full shutoff than have to run the genset to make more hot water. At home we let it trickle away, but still like to be able to at least reduce the flow while soaping up.

 

[rwidman]

Sounds like that other miracle invention called a tap.
Don't you have them in America?

Huh?

I'm sure your post made sense to you when you posted it but it doesn't make sense to me as I read it.

 

[rwidman]

I think we've had this conversation before, but to summarize, consider whether you want the water truly "off" while soaping up, or reduced to a trickle.

The one pictured, I believe, leaves a trickle, wasting a not-insignificant amount of water. I prefer the full shutoff, available (as far as I can tell) only on line.

The reason for the trickle as opposed to a complete shutoff is that plumbing codes prohibit the complete shutoff at the showerhead. The reason being that people might leave the water on and just turn it off at the head. This would leave the hose at full pressure and a hose failure could result in flooding. The trickle is supposed to remind people to turn the shower off.

If you put a shutoff valve at the beginning of the hose, not at the shower end, this wouldn't be a problem.

 

[CaptTom]

The reason for the trickle as opposed to a complete shutoff is that plumbing codes prohibit the complete shutoff at the showerhead.

Yet, somehow, I've made it through more than a half-century on this planet without leaving the shower running once.

That said, I'll admit you can never under-estimate the stupidity of the average American. I walk the docks and see water hoses nearly bursting from being left "on" all the time. So if you or your crew are prone to absent-mindedness, by all means, follow the code.

 

[Simi 60]

Huh?

I'm sure your post made sense to you when you posted it but it doesn't make sense to me as I read it.

Really?

You turn a tap on and water comes out.
You turn a tap off and water stops.
Why would you need an additional device at the shower head?

 

[rwidman]

Yet, somehow, I've made it through more than a half-century on this planet without leaving the shower running once.

That said, I'll admit you can never under-estimate the stupidity of the average American. I walk the docks and see water hoses nearly bursting from being left "on" all the time. So if you or your crew are prone to absent-mindedness, by all means, follow the code.

The "code" is for homes. As for stupidity, remember, nearly half of the population is below average intelligence.

 

[rwidman]

Really?

You turn a tap on and water comes out.
You turn a tap off and water stops.
Why would you need an additional device at the shower head?

Yeah, we don't call it that in the USA.

Why would we need an additional device at the showerhead? As I pointed out, it should be at the end of the hose that attaches to the water supply, not the showerhead or "wand", but the reason for it is, in most cases, turning the water off at the "tap" as you call it means you will have to readjust the temperature when you turn it back on. Often there are two handles, one for hot and another for cold. Other times, there's a lever that adjusts from hot to cold but still has to be returned past cold to stop the water flow.

Perhaps it's different in your country.

 

[dw8928]

The great trickle debate of 2017 has begun!

The American faucet vs the Australian tap.

 

[psneeld]

I love the comparisons of intelligence.... I think it's time for a poll

 

[dw8928]

I just installed a gas/water separator on mine to avoid hearing the trickle. But now I have to visually check my valves to make sure there is a trickle.

Reminds me of the troubles with my under-utilized water maker and prepping the pickle.

 

[RT Firefly]