any 1 installed a shower on an i/o.

wzen animal · Criminal Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 98 City: wiltshire

hi all any 1 put a shower in there i/o if so how did you go about it any nfo would be great.

Brit Rider · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 4:24 am Post subject:

I wanna know too.. The UK is too god damn cold!

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 5:12 am Post subject:

Hey wzen animal,

I was thinking the same thing...my boat is raw water cooled meaning of course it sucks water from the lake/bay up through the outdrive then through the engine and then back out through the outdrive... If I tapped the outgoing side after the engine and before the outdrive, I'd get warm (hot) water... it will of course be the water that just went through the engine, for filling up my wetsuit, that doesn't bother me. To get fancy you'd have to come up with some sort of mixing valve so you could regulate the water temp - just a demand pump and a supply of cold water would do the trick...if you want a fresh water shower, you'll need a water heater with a heat exchanger (and the space somewhere to mount it)

I can't imagine that using some of the water AFTER it has cooled the engine and before it has been returned to the outdrive will hurt anything (like nothing needs it for lubrication or whatever) - my expertese lies more in large cruising and racing sailboats

My boat's still under it's winter cover so i need ot go have a look but it seems like a good idea...

Wes

wzen animal · Criminal Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 98 City: wiltshire

yeah thats what i had in mind tapping in to it b 4 it returns to the outdrive ,im also not worried about the water thats just ran thru the engine as long as its warm so any 1 done it would be good to hear from you with some detail and ideas. Smile

riverside · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 9:08 am Post subject:

how many presure switch/pumps do you need?
1 for the hot and 1 for the cold water?
i,m thinking tapping hot water from the manifold just like a heater install will do.
but where do you take the cold water from?

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 9:57 am Post subject:

Heyriverside,

Probably have to install a thru hull for the cold water side....3/4" +/- will do just fine. I wonder if there's enough pressure from the engine (or actually the outdrive's water pump) to suffice for the hot water side?

My initial thought was just to tap that hot/warm water line and use whatever "pressure" there is - as soon as I can get de-winterized, I'm going to see how much water actually comes out ...sort of a keep it simple approach to hot water showers...

Wes

riverside · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 10:10 am Post subject:

wesgardner,

i think there isn,t enough presure you might need a pump.
i bought the set last year but i never connected it.
so i curious how to do it

Leggester · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 10:11 am Post subject:

http://waterski.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mmwatersports.com%2Fable%2Fcategory.cfm%3F%26DID%3D6%26CATID%3D21

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 11:34 am Post subject:

Hmmmm,

Now why didn't I think of this....

Thanks Leggester

Wes

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

there is a group buy on planetnautique on heaters and showers if you want to get in on it.

i though you where talking about a drive shower at first.

DiyGuy · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 460

You can always build one yourself. You are using the same 'water' one would if it were an inboard. The I/O makes no difference. Yes, you will use lake water instead of fresh potable, but who cares unless it salt

You could use this as a guide.

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/avflyguy/shower.pdf It's actually very easy to do

Brit Rider · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 2:00 pm Post subject:

I boar dint he ocean so nee dit to be freshwater. Sad

so i gotto work out where ot put a tank to store water.. and have to put in a pump for it.. It sound slike a lot of work but i think i will give it a shot all the same

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 07, 2004 4:47 pm Post subject:

Hey wzen animal,

I just took DiyGuy's advice and ordered the mixing valve as he suggests for $30. I'll find a demand pump and gin up the rest. I had seen the complete shower package before but for some stupid reason , thought that it couldn't be fitted to an i/o or somehow thought the price was too high but for the mixing valve and pump for around $100 and a bit more for some fittings and hose, it's worth it.

Thanks again DiyGuy and Leggester.- from another happy member of wb.com.

Wes

WakeBoarRder180 · Guest

why dont u wait to get a shower home instead of wasting that money....spend it on some hot neon lights to light ur boat up at night Laughing

wzen animal · Criminal Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 98 City: wiltshire

hey all, where do you ru the water hoses from on an i/o to he shower or do you realy need a pump to pressure it up. Idea

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 08, 2004 8:05 am Post subject:

Heywzen animal,

Here's my understanding - pick up the cold water from the outdrive BEFORE it goes into the engine and pick up the hot water AFTER the engine before it's delivered back to the outdrive. These two hoses then go to the mixing valve so you can "throttle" them thus regulating the output temperature. the mixing valve then acts like a "T" yielding one hose of "mixed" water that then goes to the SUCTION side of the demand pump. On the other side of the pump, the PRESSURE side, this hose goes to your handle-held shower head. If you get a head with an off/on feature, the pump will only come on when you need/want it to. I will also install a switch to turn the pump off when it's not needed. Check out DiyGuy's install - very clean...

I believe since we are not talking about alot of water, there is NOT a concern with drawing off too much of the water from the outdrive to the engine. ( I was initially thinking this would starve the engine for cooling water but I'm guessing not). It seems that this Aquatec system is all set up for I/O's as well...

Hope this helps

Wes

MrBlean · Posted: Apr 08, 2004 9:53 am Post subject: Bulk purchase

Hey wizen, I'm going in on the bulk purchase of a both a heater and a shower to fit to my MasterCraft. Will be over in the US in June and will bring back with me.

If Brit Rider is interested maybe we could have all three shipped to the UK in one parcel and save some dosh? Means I get mine earlier than otherwise. Whadya reckon?

Brit Rider · Posted: Apr 08, 2004 1:36 pm Post subject:

how much? an dwill it fit an i/o?

DiyGuy · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Dec 2003 Posts: 460

All you need to know is how big the water intake hose is (the hose that feeds your water pump) for the "T" fitting and the size of your engine drain plug. That's all there is to it.

Whether it's an I/O or inboard, makes no difference. All the water coming out of the I/O is from engine cooling only. That water isn't used for anyting to cool the outdrives parts. It's hot water (exhaust), not cold that exits via the outdrive - Just the easiest way to get it overboard without having to drill another hole in the transom for exhaust.

Look again HERE if you need to for a VERY easy install - nothing more complicated than a screwdriver is involved, unless of course, in the UK, it may be a metric screwdriver Mr. Green