Greetings and Q please on towels aboard

[CaptLui]

Howdy! I am about to go back livingaboard after a break up of almost twenty years. I was in and around the Australian east coast from Melbourne to Darwin. Hope to re-learn with you guys and Ladys how to do things Now, for start how about to answer a Q from my wife, she asked me how we will keep towels dry after shower and I said "well, the way we did aboard Alvidia (our 30 footer built with our own hands back then)" but actually I don´t remember if we even bother to have dry towels at all that time. Please help? It is almost a case of mayday!!!

PS: without hanging out on the cockpit, so I heard these days people complaining about almost everything some thou with good reason of course...

[RTB]

Well, on our 36' sailboat, we don't have much choice. Hang the towel on a lifeline. If I had a Nordhavn, I'd throw the damp towel in the dryer. If you are on a sailboat, it is possible to hang a towel some place in your cockpit...maybe over the wheel or tiller. Maybe inside the dodger. Less obvious than the lifelines if that bothers you. If at a marina, use their dryers, but anchored out, not much choice.

[Robin]

Our marina rules say no drying washing hung out in sight. We use the excellent marina washers and dryers which are reasonably enough priced. Towels, in between laundry days are hung inside our full cockpit canopy out of sight but we use microfiber 'travel' specials that are ultra quick drying, plus we first dry off with a face cloth that can be wrung dry several times. too saving soaking the towel

[CaptForce]

We always recognized that 'saltwater" towels would never fully dry. We were able to dry our towels by rinsing our bodies with fresh water before toweling dry after swimming in sea water. When we were at marinas that frowned upon hanging towels on lifelines, we hung them from the bimini top frames under the cover, but still open to the breeze.

[janice142]

Aboard Seaweed I have chosen to use small thin towels. Thick towels take too long to dry. Or I simply dry off with a moisturizing lotion.

I also use what might normally be considered a day towel because it is pretty and I like it. This one:

[tex]

We agree with Janice. Thin, absorbant material like shammy is easiest to pack aboard and easy to ring out...dries much faster. We hang ours on a line in the veranda.

[janice142]

Source of the post We agree with Janice. Thin, absorbant material like shammy is easiest to pack aboard and easy to ring out...dries much faster. We hang ours on a line in the veranda.

I have thought about getting a shammy... a "real" one as the fakes feel icky. I seem to remember having one when I was a kidlet... many many years ago. I might look into seeing if I can find another piece. Are there any "care" concerns? Something to do (or not) in taking care of the shammy?

For now I do not need one... just curiosity.
I've seen "silver thread" hiker's towels on Amazon that are supposed to be wonderful. I'm concerned about the feel though. I prefer soft to scratchy.

[tex]

I can only say don’t use the shammy for salt water. They seem to stink after. For fresh water, rinse and ring every drip you can right away.

[janice142]

Thanks... I do like a towel to dry fast. Today was laundry day. I'm tired but every thing aboard Seaweed is clean and dry, except my hair. The hair always takes a long time.

Life is good.
Thanks for the hint re a chamois. If I find one I'll be sure to keep it for fresh water only.

Seaweed has a spigot in the cockpit so after swimming I rinse off the salt water before tracking through the boat to my shower down below. I have taken showers out there too in more remote areas.

[ka8uet]

I use my swimming towels, which dry quickly. I just hang them on hooks in the head, outside the shower. I have dried some laundry in the cockpit by using my cane stuck between the wheel and my seat. Not very noticeable from outside the boat. My boat has AC, whick helps with drying towels and hand laundry.

[janice142]

Aboard our 40'er we had lines rigged up in the shower. I hang stuff in the head too with clothespins. The breeze blowing through with the forward hatch open and the portlights is sufficient to dry everything quickly. Clothes get put onto hangers to dry before being folded and put into lockers. I find that I can fit more items into a smaller space for drying by utilizing hangers.

I rigged one hanger for my skirts too:

[ka8uet]

Janice, I also use hangers in the shower to dry clothes. One hanger lives there all the time. I've only got one skirt aboard.

[janice142]

Source of the post Janice, I also use hangers in the shower to dry clothes. One hanger lives there all the time. I've only got one skirt aboard.

You need more skirts, especially in the summertime. They are cooler. For the most part, when I'm off the boat I wear a skirt with a long sleeved white shirt. There is no decision to make -- I pick the top blouse and whatever skirt is at the top of the stack. Except for this one fancy skirt that I was NOT SHOPPING FOR...

Okay, it all started when my friend Cheryl and I were walking into a thrift store. She asked if I needed any skirts. I said "No, absolutely not" because I have plenty. So anyway, I walked down the skirt aisle and lo and behold I found a cotton skirt with islands and the Atlantic Ocean. So, yes, immediately after saying "nope" I bought another one.

This one:


That one is cotton it tends to wrinkle if I am not careful while it dries. Of course I could get out my iron (not for clothes -- it is for my quilting) but that thing is buried in a locker so I don't use it. Of late it seems I spend more time writing than sewing.

Anyway, skirts are nice and often the fabric will dry almost as soon as the breeze or a fan blows on it. Mine are chosen for non-wrinkling properties and the ability to dry quickly. It is amazing how much a person can do in a full skirt.

[ka8uet]

I tend to wear dresses for same reason you wear skirts. Nice, light, sleeveless dresses. Shorts if I'm crawling around fixing stuff.