Water heater dilemma

PascalG

PascalG

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part of the master head project on my boat I installed a 5' whirlpool tub. It was kind of last minute decision so I never considered that I woudl have to upgrade the water heater as the one I have isn't enough (looks like a 20/25 gallon household unit)

I briefly considered an instant water heater till I looked up the specs and realized these thing use over 10kw Tub is set up for a heater but these things are only designed to keep the temperature not heat up the water.

Tub has a 60 USG capacity so my question is what size heater woudl be required to fill it to w comfortable temperature?

Will probably split the total capacity between two heaters because of space but also to have the option to run only one where we re unlikely to use the tub.
 
IF you have room for a second 25 gallon unit that you can run in series with the current unit that would provide fifty gallons of hot water I only have a 50 gallon unit in my house and use plenty of hot water without an issue! The nice thing is as you stated when not needed you can turn off the first unit and only heat the second unit this sounds like a solid plan to me!
 
Remember that you will probably be mixing cold with hot andnot completely filling the tub. In your case just running hot will result in decreasing temp of the water as cold replaces the hot in the tank. I would reserve a space for another tank but try the current system first. You can also adjust the tank temperature higher for hotter water to mix. Engine heated hot water is much hotter if you have that.
Personally I don't see the logic of a tub on a boat.
 
Keep in mind pdecat, Pascal is a liveaboard so it's more than a boat to him....it's his home.
 
A second unit in series sounds like the way to go. Only turn it on when when you need to fill the tub. Maybe all you need is 10-15 gallons as you will be mixing cold water with it.
 
I have a port and starboard water heater each 12 gallons I'm assuming they did this as not to drain the tank when using the washing machine.
 
Thanks. I double checked, turns out them nee have is only 19 gsl and the tstat was set at about 115. Bumped it to 130 and will see it makes a differnce.

I'm probably going to replace it (it's 13 years old anyway) with two 25 gal units. Will put the new ones in the generator room under the old galley instead of the engine room.

I m sure we ll use teh shower 99% of the time but there was plenty of room in the new head and it s nice to have once in a while.

I posted Picutres of the new head with the tub in the FB album, along with a couple of pics of a pump closet I set up behind the head for access to the water pumps, Vacuflush pump and tank, plumbing manifolds and eventually water maker.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...542.1073741827.1452437519&type=1&l=26307af31d
 
Auto temp control shower valve is a good idea when running high tank temps.
 
quote:
Originally posted by pdecat

Auto temp control shower valve is a good idea when running high tank temps.

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Biggest problem I have with auto temp valves is they max out too cold for me. The nicest one I saw was on a cruise ship. It had an override on it. I've never seen one like that in the US.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

Tub has a 60 USG capacity so my question is what size heater woudl be required to fill it to w comfortable temperature?

Click to expand...


How much does it hold with a body in it, and when only filled to a point where it won't splash out every time that body moves a bit?

-Chris
 
Lol...

I am not sure how they figure out capacity but based on my test, I was able to fill it up about 1/3 before hot water ran out of the 19 gal heater, so if I triple capacity, it shoudo be enough to fill it up 3/4 which will bring it to full occupied and have reserve hot water to keep it warm or for other use
 
Put a mixing valve on the heater(s) output and turn the thermostats up as far as they will go.
 
yeah but then you and your lady jump in and it overflows and you wasted all that hot water

dohhhh
 
Well, it s really a one person tub unfortunately. I looked into putting in a bigger tub but it would have either killer floor space or have forced me to give up my pump closet.

It's really just a big shower pan anyway... I don't think it s going to see much tub use as a tub. The fun stuff take place by the swim platform :)
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

....The fun stuff take place by the swim platform :)

Click to expand...


Said Robert Wagner to Natalie Wood.
 
Have you considered a tankless heater to be the auxiliary to help with the tub?
Electric demand would be high, but you wouldn't run out of volume.

John
 
Yes, I used to have one in a condo years ago. The smallest one use about 10kw so at the dock we d have to have a dedicated shore power cord and the hook it would use 2/3 of the generator capacity (15kw)
 
Looks great Pascal! Missed your calling buddy. Only problem I see is it is going to be hard to get the Hatt up on plane with that heavy tile floor

;-)
 
No, actually I m removing quite a bit of weight and while there is a couple of hundred pounds of granite in the galley, the rest of the boat has undergone a diet . I was about it use marble in the master head, already had the cement board bought and on the boat when I decided to do teak and holey instead Initially I was going to go with smaller engines and run at hull speed but ended up orderin the 450hp C Series Cummins, so decided to watch my weight. ...hmmm. I mean the boat weight :)

I actaully tried th whirlpool tonight, after bumping the water heater tstat there was just enough hot water to fill it up to a comfortable temp. Will still replace the single 19gal with 2 25/30 gal heaters.

It wa since and relaxing !! Glad I put it in
 
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