Washing machine

[irwinsailor]

I would like to add a washing machine to the boat. I would like to get a good one right away. Does anyone know what the best brand is?

[Jon D]

wife wants one but I'm not convinced. Only one I have ever seen is

http://www.splendide.com/

defender carries them.

[Alan Wheeler]

A NZ company imports one under the name Serada. No idea how good it is. I was interested at first, then found out the price

There is also a neat little thing I have seen every now and then. It is an "Armstrong" powered thing. It is a plastic pressure vessel that looks very much like a mini concrete mixer. You place your clothes in it and fill it with hot water and screw on the lid. The hot water pressurises the air inside and is supposed to speed up the washing process. Don't ask me how. You turn it around a few times, (much like a front loader works) and then take your clothes out. I thought it a cool idea myself and may get me one. It's small and reasonably easy to stow.

[sv_makai]

We are also looking to put a washing machine on Makai. We have met many who are using washing machines that cost about 130 US have a spinner and an agitating tub. They are not marine but many have said that they have used them for several years before having to replace. They are also small enough to store on a boat.

My point is that depending on the use a no marine version works and sometimes for just as long. There are other options.

[witchcraft]

Lehmans web site has one of those armstrong pressure clothing washers, as well as an electric one that can be powered by solar.
Go to their page and click through appliances, until you find the laundry link.
www.lehmans.com

I knew someone who had one of those armstrong ones. They seemed to like it.
Cheers
Witchcraft

[Alan Wheeler]

One issue that seems to have been lightly touched upon here, but I will hit the point hard. The ones I have seen that a advertised as "marine" are very expensive. Like NZ$1800 and more. But they seem to be "cheap" looking and feeling. Lot's of plastic, including latches etc. Maybe they are OK, they just have a cheezy feel to me. A domestic one is far supperior in quality feel. I guess they may not stand up to salt environmnets. But how come the ones made from robust materials are so much cheaper than these plasticy cheesy things, when the domestic ones can be had for NZ$500-800. I suppose quantity has something to do with it, but..??

[Jentine]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91134

For $129, throw it overboard when it quits.

Jim

[irwinsailor]

Jim, I was not thinking of that type but now you have me thinking.......

[Alan Wheeler]

I wouldn't throw it overboard, it looks like it would float.

[ozskip]

I do a lot of work on pro fishing boats over here and most have front loading washers with s/s drums that also have a tumble dry mode but are for just normal household use and they seem to go for years.

[irwinsailor]

That Splendide looks just right. I have the room in the aft shower but it will bo tough getting it built in. Servicing it will not be fun. Tomorrow we areoff to the local RV place and get prices.

[captaindanger70]

REALLY!!! a washing machine on a boat, and not a power boat. Well I think I have heard it all now and am ready to quit living and sailing my boat after over 60 years on the water and boating. The cruising life is supposed to take you away from these needs not add to reducing your vessels space by something that will surely fail when you want it most, but I'm easy go ahead indulge til you realize that it was a dumb fantasy and you don't need the repairs aggravation. By the way, by all means stay away from Splendide, there equipment has the highest rate of failure.

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by captaindanger70

The cruising life is supposed to take you away from these...

In your opinion. But of course, everyone else is just as entitled to their opinions as you are to yours. I can't imagine having a washing machine on my boat, but I'm certainly not arrogant enough to think that anyone who doesn't share that attitude is somehow wrong.

To each his own.

(Never mind the fact that you just resurrected a 10-year-old thread, apparently for the sole purpose of squawking at others.)

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by captaindanger70

REALLY!!! a washing machine on a boat, and not a power boat. Well I think I have heard it all now and am ready to quit living and sailing my boat after over 60 years on the water and boating. The cruising life is supposed to take you away from these needs not add to reducing your vessels space by something that will surely fail when you want it most, but I'm easy go ahead indulge til you realize that it was a dumb fantasy and you don't need the repairs aggravation. By the way, by all means stay away from Splendide, there equipment has the highest rate of failure.

Umm, you've never seen a washing machine on a boat?

It's not at all uncommon these days. I've had one on my boat these last six years and it is one of the most treasured pieces of gear on board. Very reliable and incredibly useful. You don't need it for short coastal cruises, but dealing with dirty clothes and bedding is such a PITA on a long cruise or when living aboard, that the washing machine is worth its weight in gold for these uses.

Mine is a Eudora (Eumenia in some markets) Sparmeister 802 washer/dryer. It was installed in my boat as part of the original build and has its own cabinet in the passage cabin. It is a heavy, simple, primitive, but very robust device which has given almost no trouble. Small capacity and even smaller for drying -- you wouldn't have it in your house. It exhausts the drying air right into the cabin -- no vent or condensor. It uses tons of water. But it works.

A washing machine on a boat is a bit like a bear which dances -- it's not how well it dances, but that it dances at all, which is impressive I use it even underway -- it runs off the inverter.

[Boatguy30]

I bought a small haier second hand last week. It is top loading and small 16 by 16 and 29 high. They used to be sold by amazon and had good reviews, the new models are larger and won't fit in my space.


We found in many areas, you can get plenty of water like in FP but no coin Laundromats. you could stick this thing in the dinghy and run it on the quay.


Anyway, for $80 I figured worth having aboard for a season.


You can buy heaps of different models in Cancun.