Sun Showers What Works for you?

[chouliha]

We are one of those folks who are cruising in a warm clime and use a sun shower to shower. We have been fans of the Stearns brand 2 1/2 gallon size under the Coleman umbrella. Since 2004 we buy one a year and if we are careful it will last the full year. We always keep a few spares on board and replace when they start to leak.

In the past couple months we have gone thru 3 bags. All leak in the identical spot where the hose connects to the bag. Have written to the company a number of times to explain what the new and improved design problem is and now we are unhappy campers. The reply from Coleman is will fwd'd your note onto the design team!

So a word of warning about the Stearns brand of sun shower the new improved is a POS.

Any suggestions for sun shower brands people like?

Many thanks

Chuck



jacaranda-journey

[sailorchic34]

I've been using a 2 gallon plastic garden sprayer as a solar shower for a few years now. Not really effected by UV. I painted the tank black with a can of rattle can paint. Not solid black just a light coating.. It's easy to fill and uses pressure ( hand pump) and the wand for the shower. I made the nozzle opening a bit larger also. Works rather well and lasts a loooong time. Best of all only $10-$12 at the box stores.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by sailorchic34

I've been using a 2 gallon plastic garden sprayer as a solar shower for a few years now. Not really effected by UV. I painted the tank black with a can of rattle can paint. Not solid black just a light coating.. It's easy to fill and uses pressure ( hand pump) and the wand for the shower. I made the nozzle opening a bit larger also. Works rather well and lasts a loooong time. Best of all only $10-$12 at the box stores.

Yep. And you can adapt a shower type top to one with a little effort. In south Florida or the Bahamas I'd skip the black paint lol.

[Mike OReilly]

Same as SC. I sourced a black 2.5 gallon sprayer, modified the hose and nozzle, and whalla! The perfect deck shower. Heats up fast in the sun, no UV effects (so far), and the pressure spray means we use very little fresh water.

[MarkJ]

I use the plastic bag showers from the chandelry ... they are fine, but yes, don't last forever, and that join is the difficulty.

[brownoarsman]

2.5 gallons?! Are you all showering a whole family at a go?

I also use a garden sprayer, they're great! Hang it from the end of the boom just like your solar shower, and you'll get pretty good pressure.


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[chouliha]

Terrific suggestions! We will cut the hose off the POS Stearns sun shower before I toss it in the trash and stick it in the end of the garden sprayer wand. Haha now maybe we can both shower with even less water..... shhhhh better not let that get back to Linda!

Thanks everyone

Chuck



www.jacarandajourney.com

[brownoarsman]

Yup, the sprayers are great for water conservation! Easy on/off with the switch, and of course you can wipe the water around and down with your hand to maximize fresh water coverage. The solid stream into your hair makes short work of shampoo! Plus, you know, guests will never complain about the water pressure again!

Mine does tend to grow algae in it overtime. Easy to rinse out though.


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[rdempsey]

This works for me.

Pump-up Solar Shower

[tonewrone]

Used MSR brand dromedary bags with shower kit for year on river trips. Used a boat fuel tank bulb under foot to create pressure rather than gravity. Very tough material that will last for years

[wdkester]

Save more freshwater, where the ocean is warm, by:
1. Wet down with fresh water
2. Soap up
3. Jump in the ocean for rinse
4. Climb out and rinse off the salt water with fresh

[brownoarsman]

Save even more by using salt water first, then dish soap, then salt, then fresh


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[Cormorant]

I'm sorry to see that Duckworks no longer sells the pre-assembled pump-up showers. We've had ours for about ten years now and it's still going strong.

But they do still sell the valve handle and shower head parts so you can make your own, if you buy the sprayer body itself elsewhere.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Cormorant

I'm sorry to see that Duckworks no longer sells the pre-assembled pump-up showers. We've had ours for about ten years now and it's still going strong.

But they do still sell the valve handle and shower head parts so you can make your own, if you buy the sprayer body itself elsewhere.

I must admit, theirs was the inspiration for our completely self-made version. It's really very, very easy to make. The hardest part of the job was sourcing a black tank. I found ours at Home Depot.

BTW, I like Duckworks offerings, and think some of their products look really good. I'm not dissing them at all.

[meridian28]

We use a 1/2 gal milk jug with holes punched in the cap. Just enough when getting out of the salt water. Heats up fast and cheap.


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