Hot water heater
- Thread starter erice
- Start date
Somebody is going to say it so I will. Why do you want to heat hot water.
We been replacing them with small home units from HD or Lowes. I have a 36 ft. boat with a 17 gal. hot water tank 120 volts only, I do have a generator so no problem.
We been replacing them with small home units from HD or Lowes. I have a 36 ft. boat with a 17 gal. hot water tank 120 volts only, I do have a generator so no problem.
What fuel propels the boat? How long do you intend to keep her? How much do you want to spend? How much space do you have? Is there anything resting on the top of the water heater (vacu flush unit) that must be kept in line with its current layout?
Lots of variables.....
Lots of variables.....
A marine water heater allows you to use excess heat from the engine to heat water. A residential water heater will not have the heat exchanger built in.
A marine water heater will have ignition protected electrical parts. A residential water heater will not.
A marine water heater will probably be more corrosion resistant than a residential water heater.
My choice would be a marine water heater.
The simplest repair is to replace what you have with the same make, size, and model. All the connections will be in the same place. Your other choice is to look for the highest quality, most efficient marine water heater that will fit the space and adapt the connections to fit. You may have to make hoses and wires longer or shorter.
A marine water heater will have ignition protected electrical parts. A residential water heater will not.
A marine water heater will probably be more corrosion resistant than a residential water heater.
My choice would be a marine water heater.
The simplest repair is to replace what you have with the same make, size, and model. All the connections will be in the same place. Your other choice is to look for the highest quality, most efficient marine water heater that will fit the space and adapt the connections to fit. You may have to make hoses and wires longer or shorter.
Agree with Ron on all except the what you have part because I don't know what you have. Technology has improved a lot in 22 years. I guess you would have to assess how much more use per year now that you are going to be using it more. My Seaward is great for my weekend and couple of trips per year use. I don't know if I would want to mess with new installs as I age and using it as you intend to.
I wonder what the passagemakers use. I hear Torrid is the Rolls Royce of heaters but at a price.
I wonder what the passagemakers use. I hear Torrid is the Rolls Royce of heaters but at a price.
The only real improvement possible for electric water heaters is the insulation. There is no possible improvment to the heating efficiency of a resistance style heater - electrical watts in equals watts of water heating. Gas heaters have improved their efficiencies significantly over the years, but not electrical.
Mike
Mike
Agree in part Mike. Insulation is a major factor. New higher end electric units also have glass lined tanks (think thermos bottle) lessening heat loss over time The engine waste heat distribution design is different, some are even removeable for R/R should need be precluding the need to remove the entire tank.
I see your homeport is R.I. You have a rather short season. Have you considered a diesel water heater with an electric backup for at the dock? I keeps you from having to run the gennie just to get hot water.
When a former shipmate's father retired from the Navy, they spent tons of time cruising the PNW on their trawler. They had a Paloma running off propane built into a custom cabinet on the rear of their cabin. It looked like it came with the boat. The hot water was limited only by the propane.
Just some thoughts.
I see your homeport is R.I. You have a rather short season. Have you considered a diesel water heater with an electric backup for at the dock? I keeps you from having to run the gennie just to get hot water.
When a former shipmate's father retired from the Navy, they spent tons of time cruising the PNW on their trawler. They had a Paloma running off propane built into a custom cabinet on the rear of their cabin. It looked like it came with the boat. The hot water was limited only by the propane.
Just some thoughts.
Anyone wanting to insulate an electric water heater could just go to the home center and buy a kit made for that purpose. Or just wrap it in foil backed fiberglass.
For those of us who pay $X per month for electricity at a marina, there's little incentive to do so.
I find that if I'm on a trip, running the engine, my hot water is still pretty hot the next morning so I don't need more insulation on mine.
For those of us who pay $X per month for electricity at a marina, there's little incentive to do so.
I find that if I'm on a trip, running the engine, my hot water is still pretty hot the next morning so I don't need more insulation on mine.