E32-3 Intended use of shower?

[GrandpaSteve]

So, I know on the 32-3 I have the functional elements of a shower. I wonder what the intended method would be, design wise? I can only guess that it was intended to be a sit-down shower, with the bather sitting on the closed head?

Happy to have clean showers at my marina!

 

[Christian Williams]

Boat show conversation:

She: I liked the ERicson, but it doesn't have a shower like the other boat.
He: Yes it does! There's a shower right in the head! It has everything we need!

What I did was stick the shower wand hose out the head opening port and shower on deck. I always intended to get a longer hose, to make it look less ridiculous.

 

[GrandpaSteve]

Christian - that boat show conversation explains it! Thanks.

 

[Bolo]

Phone booth

I know that a real phone booth is very hard to find these days, with the proliferation of cell phones, but those of use old enough to remember using them can get a fairly good idea of what it's like to take a shower in a E32-3. Just think if taking a shower in a phone booth. I actually have taken a number of showers on board my E32-3 but only if there was no way to take a shower otherwise and if I really needed one. My wife always brings my attention to that last point. It is certainly intended to be a "sit down" shower and a "Navy" shower at that too. Thats when you turn the water on and off, using it only when needed, not running the water all the time. In situations when we've been sailing on a hot day, end up on a boring ball in Annapolis Harbor and my 1st mate says it would be great to take a water taxi into town for a nice dinner - then it was definitely a plus to have a shower, bet it a tight one, on board. That also assumes that there is enough water in the tanks. So is it a small shower not meant for big guys? (I'm 5'10", 210lbs) Yes. But in a pinch it's nice to have. One of the biggest advantages of moving up to a E-38 was the enclosed, larger shower. Maybe someday.

 

[Afrakes]

Try the cockpit

Both my 73' 27 and 87' 28 came equipped with a hot/cold cockpit shower arrangement. You won't feel cramped in the cockpit.

 

[toddster]

I have showered on friends' boats while plowing through square waves in the straits. The coffin size is just about right - allows you to brace your body and still use your hands. Any bigger and you'd bounce around like dice in a cup. The same boat also had an auxilliary shower fixture mounted inside a small hatch on the transom, within reach of the swim platform. Nothing like surfacing from a January dive in the San Juans and just shoving the hot shower nozzle inside your wetsuit! (Note: Not recommended, IIRC, for actual hypothermia!)

 

[GrandpaSteve]

I know that a real phone booth is very hard to find these days, with the proliferation of cell phones, but those of use old enough to remember using them can get a fairly good idea of what it's like to take a shower in a E32-3. Just think if taking a shower in a phone booth. I actually have taken a number of showers on board my E32-3 but only if there was no way to take a shower otherwise and if I really needed one. My wife always brings my attention to that last point. It is certainly intended to be a "sit down" shower and a "Navy" shower at that too. Thats when you turn the water on and off, using it only when needed, not running the water all the time. In situations when we've been sailing on a hot day, end up on a boring ball in Annapolis Harbor and my 1st mate says it would be great to take a water taxi into town for a nice dinner - then it was definitely a plus to have a shower, bet it a tight one, on board. That also assumes that there is enough water in the tanks. So is it a small shower not meant for big guys? (I'm 5'10", 210lbs) Yes. But in a pinch it's nice to have. One of the biggest advantages of moving up to a E-38 was the enclosed, larger shower. Maybe someday.

Very familiar with the Navy shower!

 

[markvone]

I've found that the large size Solar Shower used on deck (at anchor, warm/hot weather) wins over showering in the head. The extra space and lack of clean-up makes up for less water pressure and the lack of privacy. Water temp is the same on a sunny day, better on a hot summer day and much better if you aren't plugged in to shore power and haven't run the engine. You also get to manage the water consumption of "problem" users.

I have also run the Solar Shower hose into the head via the opening port on my E26 (with no pressure water) for special guests.

This procedure was definitely never promoted in the Ericson brochure.

Mark

 

[Alan Gomes]

I've found that the large size Solar Shower used on deck (at anchor, warm/hot weather) wins over showering in the head. The extra space and lack of clean-up makes up for less water pressure and the lack of privacy. Water temp is the same on a sunny day, better on a hot summer day and much better if you aren't plugged in to shore power and haven't run the engine. You also get to manage the water consumption of "problem" users.

I have also run the Solar Shower hose into the head via the opening port on my E26 (with no pressure water) for special guests.

This procedure was definitely never promoted in the Ericson brochure.

Mark

Alternatively, and when the weather is congenial, I use a 1 gallon pressurized garden sprayer that I've modified with a longer hose and a spray nozzle with a suitable pattern for showering. I'll heat up a few tea kettles of really hot water mixed with the cool water from the tank until I get the correct temperature. After donning swim trunks, I shower up on the foredeck, situating the garden sprayer tank in the anchor locker to hold it in place. It works very well and I can easily get in a nice shower with a small amount of water to spare.