Heating time for hot water at anchor
- Thread starter Sarona
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Although it doesn't do the engine any good to run with no load, it could take anywhere up to 30 minutes depending on your engine thermostat temp rating, hose length to/from the water tank, engine RPMs, and other variables.
IMHO it is better to have a solar shower bag to heat up on the deck for taking showers when at anchor. Even though we have a hot water heater and separate shower it doesn't make sense to me to use fuel to heat water when the sun will do. I hang the bag in the shower when the water is hot enough for using.
It depends upon many factors...
*ocean water temp
*thermostat setting of your engine
*if your engine will even come up to temp at idle (many won't)
*how many gallons the water heater is
*what temp the domestic water starts at
*thermal losses in coolant hoses
*coil size compared to tank capacity
This is why you'll just need to run the motor and find out..This time can vary greatly from boat to boat and region by region...
Idling the engine most usually doesn't create enough temperature in the engine to even warm the engine up, no less make hot water. When we are motoring from our slip, we have to motor about 40 minutes. ONLY with a LOAD on the engine will it come up to temperature to heat enough hot water for a shower. If you run your engine, as a test, in idle, check the temp gauge and see if it moves. If it doesn't, and it most likely won't, them you won't get hot water.
A Sunshower, with added hot water from the stove, will do the trick. Either that or you simply have to change your habits of showering until after you've motored for awhile, after being at anchor or unplugged.
I find that even if I run our engine at 1,500 rpm for say 20 minutes for a battery bulk charge after two nights on the hook that there simply isn't enough load on the engine to bring the temperature up enough for hot water.
One of our skippers used one of these: www.zodi.com
A Sunshower, with added hot water from the stove, will do the trick. Either that or you simply have to change your habits of showering until after you've motored for awhile, after being at anchor or unplugged.
I find that even if I run our engine at 1,500 rpm for say 20 minutes for a battery bulk charge after two nights on the hook that there simply isn't enough load on the engine to bring the temperature up enough for hot water.
One of our skippers used one of these: www.zodi.com
Spoken like a true Floridian
As one who hails from Vancouver I can attest to the fact that there isn't always enough sun or warmth to sufficiently warm a solar shower. I envy you!
Doug, understood, that's why we suggested adding hot water from the stove to a partially filled Sunshower. It's not always that warm here, either.
We were out last week, and it was only in the mid 50sF. The Sunshower on the deck got warm enough after a few hours in cloudy conditions.
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