Tonight I saw this hot water heater by Coleman at a local store. The first impresson is that it may work well as a weekend off shore water heater. It is small and light about 22 pounds. It came out last fall. Has anyone used it in a boat? If it works well I may take out my AC 6 gal heater and save some room and gain an off shore water heater in the trade. Please advise, thanks. two links one with a picture and the Colman news release http://store.a1camping.com/cohotwaondep.html
- Status
They've been using...
..ondemand hot water heaters in Europe for years. They work great. The only drawback is the few seconds of delay in hot water delivery. The shorter the distance to the faucet, the less delay time. They save space and only use fuel when the water is running.
..ondemand hot water heaters in Europe for years. They work great. The only drawback is the few seconds of delay in hot water delivery. The shorter the distance to the faucet, the less delay time. They save space and only use fuel when the water is running.
Outdoors Only
One of the ads specifies outdoor use only. The second implies outdoors only by making reference to "campers will love..." Otherwise, it seems like a nice thing.
One of the ads specifies outdoor use only. The second implies outdoors only by making reference to "campers will love..." Otherwise, it seems like a nice thing.
Paul, you may be seeing less than is there...
A glance at the links you provided suggests that a) an internal battery will need to be recharged so an A/C source is needed should you find the battery is kaput (do you have an inverter or generator?), and of course b) it requires propane, which they presume is supplied by one of their small tanks. Where do you store the small tank (safely) when it is not in use. And c) the water heater must have a home when not in use, so some of that 'found' space if one removes a hot water heater is going to be reclaimed. It's also worth pointing out that d) one would be exchanging a relatively simple component (HWH, heated by an A/C breaker & line and perhaps an engine coolant loop) for a complex system (water pump & connections, monitoring system, propane igniter/burner and line connections, probably none of which is designed for a marine environment). It's tough to find many free lunches when looking at boat systems. Alan's quite right about the prevalence of permanently-installed propane-powered HWH's over here, Mikuni being the one I hear the most about these days. It's easy to imagine why they are popular as the water in which the Mother Ship floats is cold year-round and it's tough to sustain hot water in a HWH over-night even if it's been raised to 180F when motoring into an anchorage or berth. But it's one more system, not inexpensive and with its own demands. Jack
A glance at the links you provided suggests that a) an internal battery will need to be recharged so an A/C source is needed should you find the battery is kaput (do you have an inverter or generator?), and of course b) it requires propane, which they presume is supplied by one of their small tanks. Where do you store the small tank (safely) when it is not in use. And c) the water heater must have a home when not in use, so some of that 'found' space if one removes a hot water heater is going to be reclaimed. It's also worth pointing out that d) one would be exchanging a relatively simple component (HWH, heated by an A/C breaker & line and perhaps an engine coolant loop) for a complex system (water pump & connections, monitoring system, propane igniter/burner and line connections, probably none of which is designed for a marine environment). It's tough to find many free lunches when looking at boat systems. Alan's quite right about the prevalence of permanently-installed propane-powered HWH's over here, Mikuni being the one I hear the most about these days. It's easy to imagine why they are popular as the water in which the Mother Ship floats is cold year-round and it's tough to sustain hot water in a HWH over-night even if it's been raised to 180F when motoring into an anchorage or berth. But it's one more system, not inexpensive and with its own demands. Jack
Have the same thing but made by ZODI
I have a hot tap shower that's the same function as the Coleman. I love it and use it frequently for showers. I have it so that it can be simply plugged into the boats existing pressure water and it hangs on the bulkhead cabin heater. It's easy to stow when not in use and not having to run the engine just to make hot water is worth the expense in my opinion. I've also found that several things made for camping seem to do just fine on boats.
I have a hot tap shower that's the same function as the Coleman. I love it and use it frequently for showers. I have it so that it can be simply plugged into the boats existing pressure water and it hangs on the bulkhead cabin heater. It's easy to stow when not in use and not having to run the engine just to make hot water is worth the expense in my opinion. I've also found that several things made for camping seem to do just fine on boats.
Portable On-Demand HW Heaters
As previously cautioned - these units are for outdoor use only (not vented). As with all propane-burning devices, it’s important to understand & follow all installation safety specifications. Seems to be a “pain in the ass” to me (OMO): Store, set-up outside(heater, propane tank, & water-supply hoses, etc), and, put it all away... Better an on-demand HWH; designed & approved for “built-in” installation & use. Gord
As previously cautioned - these units are for outdoor use only (not vented). As with all propane-burning devices, it’s important to understand & follow all installation safety specifications. Seems to be a “pain in the ass” to me (OMO): Store, set-up outside(heater, propane tank, & water-supply hoses, etc), and, put it all away... Better an on-demand HWH; designed & approved for “built-in” installation & use. Gord
accidental deaths
Quite a few years ago there were a couple of cases of suffocation when hot water on demand units were used in showers on boats. If I remember right the units were then taken off the market.
Quite a few years ago there were a couple of cases of suffocation when hot water on demand units were used in showers on boats. If I remember right the units were then taken off the market.
"Marine" on-demand water heater
Here's a nice little unit with all the "marine" safety features AND the "marine" price tag (see link below). It sells for somewhere between $1500 and $1600. I have an older model that I picked up on Ebay but it doesn't have the power vent. My plan is to put an Atwood in-line bilge blower in the vent ($15-$20) and wire it into the propane solenoid switch, i.e., the blower has to be on before gas can be fed to the water heater. I also have a sniffer system that shuts off the gas in case of a propane leak. I wouldn't use propane on my boat without a fairly sophisticated safety system.
Here's a nice little unit with all the "marine" safety features AND the "marine" price tag (see link below). It sells for somewhere between $1500 and $1600. I have an older model that I picked up on Ebay but it doesn't have the power vent. My plan is to put an Atwood in-line bilge blower in the vent ($15-$20) and wire it into the propane solenoid switch, i.e., the blower has to be on before gas can be fed to the water heater. I also have a sniffer system that shuts off the gas in case of a propane leak. I wouldn't use propane on my boat without a fairly sophisticated safety system.
- Status