We too have a Splendide washer/dryer although ours is the much criticized non vented type. It is awesome! Not sure why people complain about them as ours is simply awesome!
Bruce
W/D on board. Run from a generator if away from the dock.
I think that answers your question that there are multiple ways to do it. Larger boats have regular washers and dryers, mid sized boats often have combo units. I do prefer Miele's Combo units to Splendide simply because they do more volume of laundry in the same time. However, the Splendide are very popular and for a couple of people can handle the volume. Then many boaters, even of larger boats, prefer not to deal with washing and drying on board as in the areas most of us cruise, washers and dryers are a regular feature of marinas.
Of all the live aboard challenges, I'd say laundry is one of the least problems to be faced.
Obviously, you have never hauled 10 days of laundry up a 35' slimy ladder in a place like St Andrews or even just up the hill in Northeast Harbor.
I am so happy to have the washer/dryer on our boat, mostly as our cruising is typically not dock to dock.
One of the other revelations we had with our first washer was the fact that you simply need fewer clothes. No longer must I plan for 10 days between washings with backup reserves!
Loving it!
Bruce
With our combo Splendide we have only one appliance. Thus we have an 12 cubic feet of storage space that would otherwise be used by the dryer. In this space we have built two cabinets. One above the washer and one below. In these we are able to store all of our cleaning supplies both for the boat and the clothes..
We have a vented Splendide. It has run a load just about every single day for 8+ years now. We seldom run the dryer, preferring to hang cloths in our sun room. i could not imagine being full time cruisers without it. No lugging laundry, no waiting for the wash to be doe, no fighting for machines. We have to run the generator once a day at anchor to charge the batteries, and so doing laundry at the same time requires no additional generator time.
You pointed to a very important tip too. Run a load every day. You have less capacity than at your land home so are forced to run smaller loads and the answer is simple, run more loads and don't let it accumulate.
We have a standard Sears apartment stacked washer/dryer. We run it with the generator or when at the dock. Works great.