Warm fresh water

[JimW]

Is there any simple way to get a warm water shower in my center console? I have a plastic 13 gal fresh water tank and shower in my center consolea, and I have an outboard motor. Is there any simple way of slowly warming up the water. Maybe some type of low voltage wrap around blanket that I could put around the tank. Say turn it on before the run out etc.

Thanks..... there's gotta be something out there.

[Belzelbub]

I knew I had seen something like that on this site before.

Not sure if this is what you were looking for.

http://www.spearboard.com/showthread.php?t=14700&highlight=warm+water+shower

[JimW]

Thx, that setup looks nice. But I was thinking of something more permanent. I found this. It looks like I could install this element in the tank. Turn it on before we headed out. Turn it off while we are out. I wonder if this would kill my battery bank. 12v 300watt element, or step it down to 6v 75watt. Cost is $50.

Heating element (http://www.hydrogenappliances.com/hotwater.html)

I wonder how badly this would impact my batteries.... man that would suc having warm water and a dead batteries offshore! :eek: My buddy at work says 6v 75w will draw about 12.5 amps running.

I really want something permanent.... space is at a premium.

Jim

[stickitfishy]

Simplest way in a small boat is to fill many gallon jugs with hot water at home and put them in their own cooler. Will stay quite hot for a long time. It works!

[Marcus]

If none of this works out for you...invite me on your boat diving and I'll bring some for you...It's fresh, not salty...a little ammonia mixed in...but a perfect 98.6 degrees for your showering pleasure. :D My wife might be able to provide some too..if you allow her to come along. :D

[johnnydinx]

:D My wife might be able to provide some too..if you allow her to come along. :D

Got any pics of your wife??? :D

[Marcus]

Got any pics of your wife??? :D


Maybe...got any pics of yours? ...PM me. :D

[JimW]

Marcus, you realy think that your piss will be 98.6 after diving all day in 62* water :D Maybe like 94* :D But, I'll think I'll pass on the golden shower thanks :D I personally save that for the wetsuit internal central heat on the drops.

Stick, space is at a premium as I said. But that is a good old surfer trick with the gallon jugs.

I'm thinking hard about installing the heating element. It would probably take less than an hour to warm 13 gallons up.

Thx for the replies.

Jim

[RichT]

Not sure if you want fresh or salt but I have an awesome system for hot salt water.
When I get a chance, Ill post up some pic of the system I use Invented by JBY who is a top notch outboard mechanic.

It works if you have a Yamaha 2 stroke and may work on others as well.
On the top of each cylinder head there is a bolt that can be removed to attach a water temp sensor. You can tap that bolt and install a hose connector to it. Then install a plastic hose to the connector and route it out the wiring harness.
I have it so it constantly drains overboard when not in use. I also have a spare bolt I put back in the summer when hot water is no longer needed.

When hot water is needed... you can fill a bucket or insert directly into your wetsuit.
Perfect temp, continuos hot water. The water flow is not significantly reduced to cool the engine at all!
The only problem you will have is people fighting over who gets to ride to the next spot with the hose down there suit! :D

[JimW]

When I get a chance, Ill post up some pic of the system I use Invented by JBY who is a top notch outboard mechanic.

It works if you have a Yamaha 2 stroke and may work on others as well.

Sounds pretty cool. Please find out for me if it is doable on the 4 stroke yams.

Thanks

Jim

[johnnydinx]

Sounds pretty cool. Please find out for me if it is doable on the 4 stroke yams.

Thanks

Jim

Jim, this sounds similar to what I was telling you Hogwild does on his inboard 4 stroke.

[stevemc1]

It would work with any outboard. You just tap into the end of telltale drain, and have a small ID tubing and like he said, just let it drain overboard when not in use. It may get kind of hot though. On the other hand, I have several live well/fish boxes built in the floor of my boat, I have 2 129 qt Igloo coolers in brackets on the floor, and in the summer both have ice. And in the winter I bring one cooler with ice, and one with gallon jugs of hot water. It works for me! Just pour it in wetsuit before removing, and then rinse off when you take it off.

[stevemc1]

On an inboard or I/O you could put a T fitting-bronze not plastic, in the hose that runs to the exhaust manifold and hose clamp it good, and run a hose off this with a hand nozzle. Put a ball valve in line if there would be a problem

[RichT]

Jim, I know JBY is still working on something for the 4 strokes. Problem is... the water is just too hot to use directly.
You can come off the flusher, but again, the water is just too hot.

As far as the 2 strokes? The only time the water ever gets too hot is when the boat comes off plain. The engine RPM's drop significantly while not pumping much water out of the heads.

A trick I used to use years ago was getting one of those giant orange drink coolers that you see hanging off the back of work trucks. Not the small one but the big one that holds about 5 gallons.
In the morning you can turn up yourhouse hot water heater to scalding temp 130-140 degrees. Takes about 20 minutes for water to get scalding.
I use to keep a hose attached to the drain that all hot water heaters have.
Then fill the bucket and put the lid on.
The lid holds very tight and you will have hot water all day surprisingly enough!
You can put your feet in it and your gloves between dives.
You can even put your wetsuit in and get into a hot toasty wetsuit, or even pour some of the water down your suit between dives.
It works surprisingly well if you start with really hot water.

[liberty hound]

I have a 10 galfresh water tank.
I put a inverter in the boat and a 300w stealth aquarium heater in the tank.
I got the temp. where I wanted it in the garage in a cooler with water in it and then used 5200 on the heater setting so it would not change after I put it in the tank.
It doesn't seem to hurt the batteries, but I keep the motor running all day because I dive jugs and don't anchor.
I have had it set up for well over a year with no problems.

[Megabeast]

Get large 5 gallon water jug like you see on construction sites. Unhook hot water heater and fill to capacity. Cut it with cold water in a cup because it will scald you as is. Lasts all day, unless you really really want to totally shower off.

[RichT]

Mmmmm, nice hot water. :thumps:

[RichT]

:thumps:

[gogators27]

You could pipe the hot salt water from the engine through a coiled up copper pipe inside the freshwater tank
this way, the saltwater contiues to discharge into the ocean but first looses its heat into the freshwater.

im thinking 20 foot of refrigerator copper line may do the trick coiled up. insulating the tank will help as well.

this way you would not tax your batteries/alternator

[JimW]

Cool rich, I definetly want to check that system out. Thanks for all the replies... for now I've figured out a temp solution. It's rocket science. Before I leave, simply fill my 13 gal hold with scalding hot water with a hose from the washer machine hot water tap. That should last a long time if not all day for sure.

jim