"DSK" wrote:
Jeff Morris wrote:
I, for one enjoy hot showers.

There's one thing (out of many) that is a big difference between you, and I, and I'd
suspect
most of the rest of us, and the Bubbles/Crapton axis.... they don't like baths or
showers...

So which side of this issue do you weigh in on?

BTW, a long time liveaboard friend of mine has been known to say "showers are very
over-rated."

Two points: Don't leave the AC power on unless you really mean to. If it runs out of
water it can cook the heating element. I've never done it, but an absent-minded
friend
started uying elements in bulk.

If you have an accumulator on your water system, that shouldn't be a problem. It doens't
need
to be that big either.

I don't think my friend's boat had an accumulator. However, if you leave the water
pressure on while the boat is unattended, the water can drain out, accumulator or no. The
marine plumbing fixtures are incredibly cheap and unreliable.

An important lesson for newbies is to ALWAYS shutdown unused systems and leave the boat as
though you won't return for a few weeks - even if you plan on coming back the next day.
If you have an absolute routine, then you don't sit at home wondering what state you left
the boat it. (Or which state, for some people)




If you really don't intend to use the engine heating option, you might consider
disconnecting (bypassing) it. There is a risk that an air bubble can reduce water
flow
and limit the cooling capacity of your engine. At the very least, if the heater lines
are
above the engine, make sure there's a way to vent the air and top off the coolant.

Yep. Although a proper installation would already address this issue. It's amazing how
many
boats have improperly installed systems.

Yes indeed - this is one of those "forgotten" issues.

Jeff Morris wrote:

So which side of this issue do you weigh in on?

Guess... the tugboat which we chose oh so deliberately has a real-live sho-'nuff bath tub...
also serves as a very nice shower!

BTW our tugboat also has a 170 gallon water tank. My wife, used to much smaller capacity,
keeps fretting about using up water. Hah!




BTW, a long time liveaboard friend of mine has been known to say "showers are very
over-rated."

And I bet his social suffers a little, at least on hot days.



I don't think my friend's boat had an accumulator. However, if you leave the water
pressure on while the boat is unattended, the water can drain out, accumulator or no. The
marine plumbing fixtures are incredibly cheap and unreliable.

You mean if the water pressure is left off, or on? Leaking back through the check valves at
the pump? Probably right, but at least the accumulator will help. Makes the system quieter &
more efficient as well.



An important lesson for newbies is to ALWAYS shutdown unused systems and leave the boat as
though you won't return for a few weeks - even if you plan on coming back the next day.
If you have an absolute routine, then you don't sit at home wondering what state you left
the boat it. (Or which state, for some people)

Definitely agree. I was surprised at how many people habitually leave all their sea cocks
open... shucks, there's a few who don't even know where all their sea cocks *are*. An
equivalently shoddy motorboat habit is to leave the suction/return valves to both (or all, if
more than two) fuel tanks open.

Another big hazard many people are unaware of: hooking up your water system to pressure water
at the dock can sink your boat. It's happened to two boats in our area just this year. Sure
it's convenient, but a plumbing fitting blowout, or even a small persistent leak that runs th
bilge pump & drains the battery, can lead to a very expensive & inconvenient salvage job.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King