Practical Sailorvideo
The BEST and WORST Boat Washing Machines
April 5, 2025 · 8 min · 24K views
What this video covers
A liveaboard sailor with 60 gallons of water capacity and a 600Ah/550W-solar electrical system evaluates washing machine options for a sailboat that never connects to shore power.7:01 The Splendide washer-dryer combos draw 10–18 gallons per load — up to a third of his total water supply — and demand heavy electricity for heating water or running a dryer, making them impractical for his setup.7:20 The vented Splendide dryer requires a deck penetration; the unvented model converts water to steam, consuming even more water.2:16 Mini wall-mounted machines (around $1,000, 240V models requiring a 120–240V transformer) use as little as 5 gallons and draw 20–30 amp-hours per cycle, but installation complexity and space constraints give him pause.4:01 The dual-chamber portable twin-tub, available for about $100, requires no installation, no plumbing, and no new through-hulls; it runs on 120V, can be filled via a stern shower, drains through a cockpit scupper with biodegradable soap, and spins clothes nearly dry before line-drying.5:12 He selects the twin-tub as the best fit for water-limited, off-grid cruising.6:47 Water budget, not electrical capacity, is the binding constraint when choosing a boat washing machine without shore power.7:20
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