Showers

[Stephen Phillips]

Is a separate shower stall worth the increased price over an older boat with a combined head and shower, for a coastal cruising couple mostly at anchor who shower daily? And, what are the best ways to control the shower spray, soap scum, mold, and cabin humidity? I am considering a Baba 30, 35, or Tayana 37 for the New England coast, and occasionally Florida for the winter.

[Boasun]

For controlling the moisture inside the boat when showering, the trick is Ventilate, ventilate and ventilate.
Also if you are in an area where you have afternoon rains. Then shower under the runoffs from the awning. You may want to hang a privacy curtain if you do so...

[negrini]

any arrangement would work for a couple. You mean 2 showers a day only. In my case, with a crew of 4 kids (sometimes friends) wife and myself, having a sepparated shower space is critical. We start showering kids about 2 hours before dinner, and during that, bath is fully occupied and wet. Drying right after is almost impossible, as once the last finish his shower, the first is finishing his dinner and ready for tootbrush, etc ... Even me, used to take shower right before going to bed, drying and cleaning for next morning usage is painfull at the end of a full day. Our previous boat we reserved the fwd bath for dry activites, and the aft for shower only, but having boys and girls are not that easy logistic, so anyway, we're ordering our next boat with a specific request for a separated shower space !

[billyruffn]

A separate shower stall is nice. The rest of the head doesn't get soaked, but it does take space.

Our shower is built to allow 3-4 inches of water to build up in the bottom without spilling into the head. The shower drain is plumbed to a pump and the grey water is pumped overboard -- it never sees the bilge so soap and all the other nice stuff you mentioned is not an issue.

[xort]

Showers? You planning on cruising incognito? In order to properly identify yourself as a cruiser, you must skip daily showers

I've had boats without shower stalls. Not again thank you.
The shower stall should have an opening port to vent the steam & humidity. The shower sump will pump all the icky soap scum overboard. Don't want that in your bilge.

[Plumper]

Shower in the cockpit. It's a boat not a condo.

[xort]

Actually, hang a black shower bag at the transom and shower back there. Or wash in the ocean and use the black bag for the rinse

[Boasun]

Not a Condo?? Then why do they build these boats with two head & showers??

[PBzeer]

I use a sun shower I keep on top of my dodger, and shower in the cockpit.

[Zanshin]

Yes a separate shower stall is a great thing, it was one of the parts that I used in my decision-making process. It is great to use a shower and not have to worry about cleaning the whole head compartment. Whenever I do have lady guests aboard they really do relish hot water and a showercabin - wreaks havoc on my water management, though