When it comes to sailing around the world, a shower is definitely necessary. A lot of marinas will have bathrooms and showers available for use, but it’s more convenient to have one on your boat.
On sailboats 25 feet or greater, there is usually some type of shower nozzle available for showering. Sailboats that are greater than 30 feet will typically have a dedicated shower area where you can stand up and clean yourself. Sailboats without a cabin, will not typically have a shower.
There are a lot of different types of bathrooms and showers on sailboats today. This article will discuss showers on sailboats and cover, how they work, how to install one, and other options. Keep reading to find out more.
How Does A Sailboat Shower Work?
A sailboat shower will consist of either a dedicated shower head or a sink faucet that extends out for use as a showerhead. The sailboat will have a holding tank for the freshwater that supplies the shower. The shower water will drain outside the boat with a dedicated pump.
Check out the video below to see how a shower works on a sailboat. It is a very common setup in the video.
Most showers on 30-foot sailboats will have a sink faucet shower setup. This is a great option and will work well for those long weekends on your boat.
Sometimes there will not be enough space for you to stand straight up and shower. A lot of times sailboats will not have the headroom you want. Especially if you are well over 6 feet tall.
When there is no standing room, you will sit on the toilet and utilize the sink faucet as your shower head. Sitting on the toilet and washing can seem a bit strange but it works! As long as you can shower in some way on your boat you are good to go.
If you don’t want to sit on the toilet and shower you can create your own shower-like experience. Check out the next section.
How To Add A Shower On Your Boat- For Cheap
The video shows how to make an actual shower stall. This will keep water from going everywhere and gets rid of the sit-on toilet and shower idea.
It will also show you how a typical shower looks and operates on a sailboat. Great video!
This next video will walk you through adding a hot water heater for your shower, plus a draining system install. It is not the most informational but does give you a few good ideas for doing it yourself.
The heater from the video can be purchased here Eccotemp L5 1.5 GPM Portable Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
The drain pump from the video can be located here Rule Industries White Standard 98B Shower Drain Kit
Both of the videos show you a different type of sailboat and shower setup. Just remember every boat is different and you will have to decide what will work best for you.
Where Does Shower Water Come From On A Boat?
On a boat, fresh water comes from a holding tank in the hull of the boat. Only the sink and shower should be drawing water from the freshwater tank. All other items should pull water from outside the boat. This will help conserve your freshwater for drinking and showering.
As a general rule, a 30-foot sailboat will have a 20-gallon freshwater tank. This can vary due to a lot of reasons such as the length of the boat and space for the tank to be stored. It is always a good idea to check out the freshwater tank size if you are purchasing a boat to travel around the world.
You do not want to be caught in the middle of the ocean with no freshwater.
There are other options besides a 20-gallon freshwater tank. You can just pack enough freshwater on your vessel for the trip. A lot of sailors will purchase 1-gallon jugs of water at the store and just use those as their drinking water and showering water.
Showering with a 1-gallon jug of water isn’t the nicest shower in the world but it does get the job done. Just make sure you have enough water left at the end to rinse off all the soap.
There are a few options for a portable shower as well that you can keep on your deck. Look at the next section to find out more.
8 Portable Showers – Perfect For Boats
1. Advanced Elements Summer Solar Shower – 2.5 Gallon to 10 Gallon
This is a great option for a portable solar shower. It will heat up in the sun and give you a nice warm shower. Click here to check it out. $34.99
2. Green Elephant 2-in-1 Portable Shower & Dry Bag
This bag is great for wet or dry situations. You can use it as a shower or you may use it as a dry storage bag when not showering. Items that have multiple uses are great for sailboats. Check it out here. $39.00
3. RISEPRO 10 gallons/40L Solar Shower Bag
10 gallons is a lot of water for showering on a boat. If you are a true sailor conserving water should be a priority and this 10 gallons of water should last a few showers. Click here to see what it looks like. $19.90
4. Hike Crew Portable Propane Water Heater & Shower Pump
A Compact Outdoor Cleaning & Showering System w/LCD & Auto Safety Shutoff for Instant Hot Water While Camping, Hiking, or Sailing – Carry Case Included. Click here to see this amazing item. If you have the money it is only $279.99
5. FONOMO Portable Shower, 4400mAh Battery Powered Portable Shower
For a rechargeable option, this is the shower for you. You can recharge this as needed. You will need a water supply for this setup. Read more about it here. $42.99
6. Suvast Solar Showers,3rd Generation Outdoor Shower Bag
The simple and efficient solar heating, the shower bag can be heated to 110 degrees in 3 hours under direct sunlight. Click here to see. $35.00
7. Rinse Kit PRO Portable Shower 3.5 Gal
The most expensive but arguably the best portable shower out there. It has a 6-month battery life, charge ports for other devices, heating options, and more. It is a great shower. See it here $324.95
8. Nemo Helio Portable Pressure Shower
You can quickly and easily pressurize the 2.9-gallon tank with a foot pump – and with occasional pumps, you can keep it fully pressurized for 5-7 minutes of strong, continuous spray. Click here to see it for yourself. $99.95
All of the showers in the above list are great options for sailboats. They will keep you clean for the most part and not take up too much room. You could use these in the cockpit or even the head if you have the proper drainage available. Just remember to conserve water for Earth as a whole.