MacGregorSailors.com

As promised I posted the shower mod pictures. Hopefully they can be combined in to one mod.

I really had to try this because it looked like it was made for this mod. My magor problem with the Macgregor (and other small boats), NO SHOWER.

Victor

Nice Work VK,

My PO did one. It helps with cleaning the head. & I haven't had a situation that warranted the "bird bath" that stooping in the head requires. I put a transom shower in when I redid my 's water system. I use it instead. But I, like you, am glad for the head shower - JIC and for wet locker use. I'm a Playa - not a Hater

I agree. Our first choice, if warm enough, is our transom shower. But we've been in some cold weather in NC during our ncsail.org Pirate sail where were miserable with the solar shower outside. So the head unit will be used.

The 50 psi water system turned out perfect. I thought it was kind of a waste of time until we started using it like a house system. It's nice just to wet a rag for cleaning or wash your hand w/o having pump with one hand or get a glass of filtered water w/o having to deal with a bottles or a water cube.

Victor

Put a check valve in that line. I tied my bilge pump into that line about where you did and the first time I heeled over to that side it backwatered and began filling the bilges.

Better yet, put a full valve on the line - a nice Home Depot PVC that will run you 4 USD will work nicely.

Thanks.

Where can I buy a 3/4 plastic check valve?

Victor

Home Depot. Marine section......Oh wait, Plumbing.

All plastic, no metal parts.

I meant to say, I think you are better off with a manual on/off valve (standard HD PVC plumbing) than a check valve in this application. Check valves are notorious for jamming with junk, which eliminates their function of course.

I cant imagine you having to take a shower in a hurry, such that you couldnt plan on opening the valve when needed as a minor inconvenience....

Kelly Hanson East wrote:I cant imagine you having to take a shower in a hurry, such that you couldnt plan on opening the valve when needed as a minor inconvenience....

I don't know about the married types (me bachelor,her Jane) but my girlfriend and I are in our 50's, and so, when the moment hits and we are "inspired", a quick shower would be nice, if you get my drift. Rob

vkmaynard wrote:As promised I posted the shower mod pictures. Hopefully they can be combined in to one mod.

I really had to try this because it looked like it was made for this mod. My magor problem with the Macgregor (and other small boats), NO SHOWER.

Victor

I am new to this site , so its probably me , but
Where are the pictures on the shower modification ?

On the dark blue bar at the top of the page, click on Mac Mods, then Browse. You will see his two mod posts there.

~Rich

Once you are over 50, while you are struggling to open the shower valve, you can do it again....

Maybe he doesn't shower too often?

~Rich

I installed a similar system in SILK.
I put in a clear shower curtain in that pulls from behind the porta-potty past the door to the most aft wall. That keeps water from running down the door and out. Toilet paper rolls are kept in the red plastic Folgers cans with the lid on. Everything else stored in the under sink cabinet is not bothered by water. I hope to make a cabinet door that seals but haven't done so yet.

I used regular plumbing fittings to drain the water into the sump container but I ran the water line all the way aft and put a thru hull just under the captains seat. I'm thinking about running the drain water FORWARD to a container under the cooler liner. It could be larger and taller there and perhaps I could shape it to get more complete emptying. The sump never drains completely with the system I have because the float turns off the pump too soon.

The sump pump (500 gal/hr) could easily handle three times the load. I also have two other bilge pumps (these are 800gal/hr) with their own floats--one in each bilge at the farthest point aft--there is a little depression back there that is perfect for a pump. I wired the shower sump to the same switch as the bilge pumps so when the switch is on, i effectively have three bilge pumps since the shower sump would take water from the top in.

I wanted a shower that operated just like the one at home, so the shower head and shower faucet (mixing valve) is standard from Lowes--the smallest I could get. I have two water pressure demand pumps--one from the cold water tank and one from the "warm water tank" and you will hear each come on as the pressure drops, but in reality the water is usually not so hot as to really need the mixing valve. I put a little faucet in the head that is only hooked to the warm water pump and that allows you to push the handle and wash your hands after using the head instead of using the galley sink. The galley faucet is also hooked to both tanks and the Admiral appreciates warm washing water on demand.

Ned

Great job on the mixing. I just got way to lazy to make that happen.

Billy (XX) actually sent me to school today. All you need to do is create an upward loop in the drain line that is above the drain exit (like a dishwasher). Then when the pump shuts off it continues to siphon the reaming water out of the system. It will also definitely prevent water from getting into the bilge since will be higher than the sink drain.

What does not happen after 50

Victor