Outdoor Hot Shower

(Geez, it's been a long time since I last posted.  I plead studying for continuing ed credits, which should be done soon.)

Had a funny conversation with some guys at work, who were expressing solidarity in the pleasure of showering outdoors, but bemoaning the loss of the opportunity, since their current individual building situations did not provide hot water.  I thought, have these people never gone camping?

My husband loves winter camping, and is not going to forgo hot water just because he's shivering back and forth to the tent.  (I think it has to do with the coolness factor of steam coming off his skin.)  But I learned long before I met him, that the way you get a hot shower in the woods is to bring along a supply of black plastic bags.  Nest two, fill with water, hang in the sun overhead.  An hour later, go stand underneath with a marshmellow skewer and your soap, and get ready to jump out of the way if it's TOO HOT.

So I pointed out that people like Path To Freedom have lovely hot solar showers, and I was disbelieved.

Here's a picture of theirs.  Isn't it lovely?  I want to make one for us for next summer. I did wonder, what numbers go into this beauty to make it work?

A low-flow showerhead ($15) from the local big box uses 1.4 gallons/minute.  A 5/8" interior diameter black garden hose ($30) holds 5.1 gallons of water.  That's only 3.5 minutes per change of water in the hose - can it really heat up the water?  All sorts of people say they've done this, but clearly not enough geeks.  I want 'time to heat a 5/8" hose to 120F' data!  Of course, if you switched to the not-yet-available Aqua Helix, at only .5 gpm, you'd get a 10 minute heating period in the hose.  Obviously a Navy shutoff would be helpful, but you can see how easily a luxurious, long-hair-washing, leg-shaving girl shower might be accomplished.

I particularly covet my own version of the above - I suppose come January (and some time!) I should invest in the plumbing bits and test the water temps myself.  If I can work out a shower that will wash my long thick hair...well, I'll be impressed.  But for men, come on!

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[Steve Jones]

The AquaHelix is available for purchase.
Call 540-740-8330, ask for Steve $29.95 + $5.95 S&H