Hot Water Shower Install on a Sailboat (Boat Work: Sailing 9 LIVES)

[@peterfrebold]

..... what an awesome little heater .... you mentioned in a comment that you have enjoyed hot showers on some yet unpublished sailing excursions ... sounds like Duke and Virginia are becoming hard core sailors, sail year round ... was thinking about 9Lives and crew on the weekend, wondering how things were going for you over there on the east coast ... good to see you are still at it .. thx for sharing ... as always .. never stop dreaming, just dream bigger .. have fun be safe, save our oceans ....

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Hey, Peter. I just took a look at older comments that we have not responded to, and I feel very certain that I did respond to this at some point. Of course, I have been wrong a time or two before...

[@sailingavocet]

nice! We love our shower!

[@Sailing9LIVES]

It was one of the missing items that we marveled over when we bought the boat. Why would you ELIMINATE a shower? There had to be a reason, but clearly not a good or rational one.

[@sailingavocet]

@@Sailing9LIVES lol!

[@chrisolsen1549]

I’ve got the same model Gemini. When underway or in storm conditions at anchor, water piles up between the hulls making that slapping noise. The through hull you used can submerge letting water into your boat. That’s the reason the previous owner plugged it up. To solve this, run a longer loop of hose significantly higher up above the water line just as the bilge pump lines are. I’m also assuming that bilge pump you removed wasn’t the only bilge pump in that hull. My boat came with an on demand water heater installed. As with the stove and fridge, a gas shut off valve at the heater is installed. I also have a hot water line running from the heater to the galley but I never really use it.

[@chrisolsen1549]

Oh yeah, I’ve had an issue with that sail locker drain. While motoring straight into rough weather. Waves occasionally breaking over the bow. I noticed my port bow digging noticeably deeper into the oncoming waves. I stopped the boat and checked my bilge. It was dry. I then had to make that dangerous journey, using my harness attached to a jack line of course, go on deck to the bow. I opened that sail locker finding it half full of water. Reaching into the water I found the drain hole blocked by a single maple leaf. You might want to attach one of those hard plastic mesh floors tiles over the drain. In my sail locker, it’s right under where you installed the gas bottle. That will also prevent the rust rings those bottles always cause.

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Hi, Chris! What you say about running a high loop makes good sense. We've been in some pretty rough conditions, so can confirm what you are saying about water "piling up" between the hulls. It makes sense that water can, on occasion, find its way into those thru-hull fittings momentarily. If the water is pouring in, there is a good chance the boat is already sinking, though. So, I guess I didn't worry too much about water intrusion through that hole. I may need to re-think it a bit, though, on your advice. As for bilge pumps, that one I removed was, in fact, the only one on the boat. And it was useless, of course. I have since placed a 800 gph bilge pump in each hull at the low point. The low point in these boats isn't all that low, of course, and you need about 1/2 inch of water just to activate the pump (I used resistance-sensing automatic pumps, rather than float-switch types). So unless there is a serious problem they won't do anything at all. Their discharges are looped up over the water line by about a foot... but not immune from the kind of water intrusion you describe during rough seas. Again, perhaps I should re-think this a bit, as well.

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Good thoughts about the sail locker drain. I haven't had it blocked up before, but it is certainly a possibility as you describe. I don't particularly like the idea of having a second LPG tank in the boat, but it seemed to make more sense at the time than running a dedicated gas line all the way from the main tank in the lazarette. How was the instant water heater plumbed in an original setup?

[@chrisolsen1549]

@@Sailing9LIVES My hoses loop up to the height of the bridge deck.

[@chrisolsen1549]

@@Sailing9LIVES The gas line runs from the main propane tank. It looks original. The cold water runs like yours. The hot water line goes from the heater, through the counter to where it branches at a T joint. One branch goes to the head sink which is a faucet/shower head combination. The other branch runs between the salon floor and the hull to the starboard bilge, under the sole and up to the galley sink. I’ve got 2 propane tanks inside a table I made for the cockpit. One runs to my main gas line and the other runs to my BBQ. It also acts as my spare.

[@denisemckinlay4783]

Now the question is, will the hot water from the shower soften and kink the plastic discharge line at the thru hole?

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Good question, but no. Not a problem. The discharge line is intended for handling hot (or cold) water above the boiling point. No worries about that!

[@DoubleUThings]

Duke, don't you also dream of a big cat with roomy everywheres sometimes?! 😁 Looks good! Happy greetingz, Wim

[@Sailing9LIVES]

I do. And I also dream of a big monohull with roomy everywheres sometimes. And I also dream of a big motoryacht with roomy everywheres sometimes... It all depends on where I plan on going and what I plan on doing. Sometimes, I dream of a small cat like we already have, but with everything working properly (big dream, huh?).

[@DoubleUThings]

@@Sailing9LIVES We are just too tall anyway. Everything working properly...? Yeah, but there is a lot of work involved in that! 😁😂😎

[@Sailing9LIVES]

@@DoubleUThings Too tall, too attractive... oh, the burden we place on our dear wives to keep the ravenous females at bay!

[@UH60crew1]

Good idea!

[@Sailing9LIVES]

I certainly thought so. Hot showers are a nice little luxury after a day battling a storm in the cold and wet. Ask me how I know... ;)

[@maddogmaz1576]

Whats the model of the heater

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Hi, Mark. It is an Eccotemp brand water heater, the model name is L5. It is not technically a "ventless" heater, and so it is not intended to be mounted inside like we did... but it is clean-burning, and we vent through the hatch directly overhead so it seems to be OK.

[@benjones8304]

Nice video.

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Thanks, Ben!

[@andreasstegmann4540]

where did you buy the shower heater

[@Sailing9LIVES]

At the time of purchase, I found the best deal on that unit at campingworld.com

[@thestorminmymind]

When you say the locker has a drain to the bottom of the boat I assume you mean above water level and not below as propane can't if it leaks travel through water.... Worth checking or you will be using one of your 9 lives.

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Good point, Geoff. Yes, the drain is well above the water line. If there is a LPG leak, it will sink to the bottom of the locker, drop down the hole, and disperse in the air below the bridgedeck between the hulls. As for having 9 lives, I doubt very highly that all 9 are still available for consumption anyway.

[@thestorminmymind]

@@Sailing9LIVES fantastic thought worth a check, amazing how many boats don't drain above water, actually my boat didn't when I bought her, was one of my first changes I made. I hear you about not have the 9 lives left, think I'm down to just 1 😜😜

[@Sailing9LIVES]

@@thestorminmymind Best to tread carefully, then. :)

[@thestorminmymind]

@@Sailing9LIVES haha I'm trying.. Worrying bit is I thought I always was 😉😉

[@WOWTODAZ]

Thank you this is good really honest video no bullshit fancy shit

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Thanks, Rowan! Yeah, I don't think we could pull off "fancy" anyway. :)

[@WOWTODAZ]

Is the top of the gasheater becoming hot, isnt it better to use an exhaust pipe, i tried this too at my boat without an exhaust, and that resulted in huge amount of heat and moister reacting with my sealing

[@Sailing9LIVES]

It does get warm at the top of the heater, but not dangerously hot. One byproduct of combustion is water, so moisture accumulation is a potential problem... but since we are using this thing to heat water and subsequently take showers, moisture from the exhaust is the least of our concerns. We simply have a rule that the hatch above must be open at any time the heater is in use. This water heater is not ideal, but given a few compromises it is a fairly good solution.

[@Motorboot-Hoedan]

Very nice job ! Enjoy your hot showers !! ;)

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Thank you! And, during our yet-unpublished sails over the past few months, we certainly have enjoyed having hot showers!

[@kidonaboat]

Heating with a ventless propane heater will create an enormous amount of water vapor. When you burn propane the byproduct is H2O.

[@Sailing9LIVES]

But that isn’t really a problem, as I see it. Everything gets a little wet in the head when the shower is used. A bit more water vapor from combustion doesn’t result in any significantly greater moisture problem. Most of it, in fact, likely rises and escapes through the open hatch (we always leave the hatch open a bit while using the shower). Our big problem, really, is getting enough air flow through the head after using the shower to air-dry the surfaces.

[@saylaveenadmearedead]

Propane sinks into the bildge and wil blow up when the heater sparks​@Sailing9LIVES

[@peterrogers219]

should have blocked open end of gas line to prevent sawdust etc. entering.

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Good point. That would have been a smart move. Lucky for us, that didn’t become a problem.

[@humbertosandri2053]

Brilliant! I'm starting sailing now, just now, right now. I don't know nothing about nothing, but I want to live in (or on? sorry 'bout the bad english) BOAT. Moving from Brazil to Lake Garda, Italy. THANKS A LOT!

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Your English is far better than my Portuguese! Virginia has spent several years living and working in Italy, and has enjoyed every part of it. We wish you good luck and great sailing in Italy!

[@johndodds7949]

When you drill or find any holes in a boat bulkhead /lockers or even cabin wall that is not sealed off there is a risk it will get moisture in the ply or cores. Also the size of that big square hole in the bottom of the locker is a compromise if you hit with a big wave....never buy a boat with DIY like that.☹️🙁😢

[@Sailing9LIVES]

100% agree, John. The way the previous owner sealed the two round holes through that bulkhead was with... paint. PVC piped passed through those holes fairly tight in the holes, and then there was a seal of (probably) 3M 4200. I removed the PVC and so at present the holes are open and exposed. They are part of one of my to-do projects, where I go around and fiberglass and seal the various holes found around the boat. The big square hole was created by me. I needed access to the archaic "holding tank" that was actually just a bulkheaded section of the hull. It is cleaned out now, and I left it open for a while to allow it to dry... and it is awaiting the End Of All That Is No-Good And Holy Project, or whatever I end up calling it. :)

[@peterfrebold]

..... what an awesome little heater .... you mentioned in a comment that you have enjoyed hot showers on some yet unpublished sailing excursions ... sounds like Duke and Virginia are becoming hard core sailors, sail year round ... was thinking about 9Lives and crew on the weekend, wondering how things were going for you over there on the east coast ... good to see you are still at it .. thx for sharing ... as always .. never stop dreaming, just dream bigger .. have fun be safe, save our oceans ....

[@Sailing9LIVES]

Peter, how goes it, my friend? I don't know about "hard core" sailors, but yes, we have been onboard most of the time since August. We've tried to take the safe route when possible, given the fact that Rhea and Pirate are also with us, but that hasn't always worked out as planned. We have had our share of stormy weather, rough seas, and equipment breakage along the way. All is well, though. We are all safe and happy, taking a short break on land until February, and then continuing on. :)

[@peterfrebold]

@@Sailing9LIVES .... Holy .... you mentioned unseen sailing .... and here you are a week later with another episode .. how cool is that .. will go and watch it now ... thx for your response .... It goes well for me thx ... looking forward to great things in 2021, time for a major course change with all that is going on, you know it is all choices and if it is meant to be it is up to me .. there is so much change coming if you don't listen to main stream media .. caused, or will be caused by new and disruptive technologies .... where do you, I want to be when all this starts happening and taking hold .. as my dad would say "it is time to start making nails with heads" .... happy new year Virginia and Duke and the rest of the clan, Rhea must be growing quite a bit already ... off to watch the new episode ....

[@Sailing9LIVES]

@@peterfrebold Change IS coming. I mean, it always is, of course. But, in short order we will certainly see more change in society and in technology than is typical over the course of time. I work in technology and tend to work with clients who are themselves managing to disrupt industries... there is so much afoot. And in the socio-political arena, I still maintain contact with some insiders from my own days within the intelligence community (no sign of intelligence here anymore, as a side note) and there are plenty of disrupting forces working against each other. My advice: keep your head above water and your wits about you. :)

[@peterfrebold]

@@Sailing9LIVES ... yes as in the Moore's law .. totally agree with view of in short order. ... look a the things that for instance that Elon Musk is initiating, can we even start to imagine the effect tose disruptive technologies will have on the world, and is that 2, 5, 10 years down the road .. Had wondered what your backgrounds were and the fields you worked in .. interesting I bet, you would see things first hand. ... usually the quiet ones that have the most going on upstairs ... interesting comment "and there are plenty of disrupting forces working against each other" hopefully the best tech will rise to the top with little to no bloodshed .. yes "keeping Head above water and wits about you" crucial in the times we are in, if not always .. Peter

[@Sailing9LIVES]

@@peterfrebold Interesting times, my friend...