Way back in the 80's there were several cases of carbon monoxide poisoning and possibly one death by improperly installed propane water heaters. IIRC the death occurred when the carbon monoxide was able to flow into a shower enclosure and overcome the person taking the shower.
I have sailed on several boats, including one Hawaii crossing with a propane water heater installed with no safety, performance, or operational issues. On Calypso we went with a Webasto diesel furnace. The circulating water (actually a mixture of automotive type coolant and water) runs through a tank (possibly called an Everhot) that includes a heat exchanger for domestic water. When we installed the system a "summer" valve was installed to allow heating domestic water without pumping heat into the cabin. We are able to heat and use as much water as is onboard. Calypso also has a 4 gallon SS water heater tank that uses waste heat from the auxiliary engine and shore power. Calypso's system would be overkill for the way many people use their boats. When installed we planned on some longer term cruising (PNW, Mexico, and Hawaii). The system has worked great for PNW trips where we have anchored out 20 of 30 days. Sadly we have not yet had a chance to test in Mexican waters. Martin Calypso 1970 C&C 43 Seattle -----Original Message----- From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Colin Kilgour Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2012 9:11 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Stus-List Hot water heaters Graham, Does your insurer let you use a propane stove? If so, why would a water heater be any different? (Assuming of course that you have appropriate solenoids, thermocouples, and the like) Cheers Colin On 10/24/12, Graham Collins <[email protected]> wrote: > Check your insurance policy before you do that... mine would be void if > I installed one of those. > > Graham Collins > Secret Plans > C&C 35-III #11 > > > Colin Kilgour wrote: >> If I was to buy a new water heater, I think I'd consider a propane one >> rather than electric. >> >> I rarely hook up to shore power anymore, so the electric heater's a >> bit of a waste. >> >> Also, being able to have a hot shower while on the hook in New England >> and Maine would have been really nice. Water's cold up there.... >> >> My $0.02 >> >> Cheers >> Colin >> >> >> On 10/24/12, Gary Nylander<[email protected]> wrote: >>> I may be interested. My boat just has a 110v heater as well. It quit a >>> couple of years ago and with a raw water cooled engine I decided not to >>> bother, but..... >>> >>> Where are you? How much? >>> >>> Gary >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: David Risch >>> To: [email protected] >>> Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 4:09 PM >>> Subject: Re: Stus-List Hot water heaters >>> >>> >>> Joel, >>> >>> I replaced the Raritan (for some wacko reason the PO had 110v only >>> unit >>> nstalled??!!...it is still sitting basement...anyone want it?) with a >>> Seaward. >>> >>> Works fine but I imagine the Raritan will hold the heat longer. We >>> can >>> hold shower-hot war for about 12 hours. >>> >>> David F. Risch >>> (401) 419-4650 (cell) >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:02:36 -0400 >>> From: [email protected] >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: Stus-List Hot water heaters >>> >>> The Office has a 6 gallon Raritan hot water heater that is starting >>> to >>> rust at the bottom, so I know its days are numbered. I could replace it >>> with an identical unit for about $700. Defender and others sell a 6 >>> gallon >>> Seaward unit for about $250. >>> >>> >>> Any recommendations (besides shower ashore)? >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Joel >>> 301 541 8551 >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ This List is provided >>> by >>> the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com [email protected] >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album >>> http://www.cncphotoalbum.com >>> [email protected] >>> > > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > [email protected] > -- Sent from my mobile device _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com [email protected] _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com [email protected]
