Has anyone installed a 6 gallon hot water heater on a smaller sailboat (27') that has a small diesel (10HP)? I'm considering placing one on my 1987 O'Day 272LE that has a Westerbeke 10HP diesel but I don't know about technical considerations such as proper placement with relation to engine and proper size hoses for engine cooling. If you have experience with this I'd be interested in your knowledge. Please advise. Ken kgelao@ibtechs.com
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Ken we didn't do that but I found a dozen
2 quart thermos bottles in a yard sale. The kind that dispense coffee when you push the button on top. We fill two of those each morning and we have hot water all day whether or not we run the engine. We have a propane stove so heating water that way works too.
2 quart thermos bottles in a yard sale. The kind that dispense coffee when you push the button on top. We fill two of those each morning and we have hot water all day whether or not we run the engine. We have a propane stove so heating water that way works too.
its all in how long you will 'wait' for hot water
A 20-25 hp engine will heat (when running the output cooling water through a hot water tank) ~6 gallons in about 20 minutes to ~130 degrees F. when running at 'cruising rpm'. So by the same simple "thermo logic" a 10 Hp will heat 6 gallons to ~130 deg. F. in approx 40 minutes. At a dock hooked up to 120v AC .... there will be no difference as most water heaters have AC bayonette heater coils. Hook up tubing .... same as (or the next larger physical size) from the exhaust header to the water injection elbow (that you currently have). The hottest place to break into will be: breaking into the raw water circuit after the exhaust manifold but before the injection elbow. Buy ONLY a heater that has a removeable/replaceable magnesium anode (rod) to insure long service life.
A 20-25 hp engine will heat (when running the output cooling water through a hot water tank) ~6 gallons in about 20 minutes to ~130 degrees F. when running at 'cruising rpm'. So by the same simple "thermo logic" a 10 Hp will heat 6 gallons to ~130 deg. F. in approx 40 minutes. At a dock hooked up to 120v AC .... there will be no difference as most water heaters have AC bayonette heater coils. Hook up tubing .... same as (or the next larger physical size) from the exhaust header to the water injection elbow (that you currently have). The hottest place to break into will be: breaking into the raw water circuit after the exhaust manifold but before the injection elbow. Buy ONLY a heater that has a removeable/replaceable magnesium anode (rod) to insure long service life.
If you want to use the engine to heat the H2O
you need a fresh water cooled engine. The cooling water (anti-freeze & water) is run through the water heater to warm the water away form the dock. Dock side power is used to heat the water at the dock. I know some salt water cooled boats have heaters they use at the dock. The water stays warm for a day if you have it heated up. I would go for it. I would get a Seaward 6 gallon unit and mount it under the v-berth. Oh course Ross method will work too!
you need a fresh water cooled engine. The cooling water (anti-freeze & water) is run through the water heater to warm the water away form the dock. Dock side power is used to heat the water at the dock. I know some salt water cooled boats have heaters they use at the dock. The water stays warm for a day if you have it heated up. I would go for it. I would get a Seaward 6 gallon unit and mount it under the v-berth. Oh course Ross method will work too!
Hot Water...
I thought a long time before adding a Hot Water Heater to my boat..and did it when I did simply because I got a "deal" on a used heater.Most small boats can live without a Water Heater..and the extra complexity it adds to your vessel.Before I used to heat water and keep in thermos' for Hot Cocoa etc..And for warm showers I got a Solar Shower and used with great results.I know a guy in my Marina who fills a Garden Sprayer with hot water for showers on the water and seems pleased with that. I used a Tiny Titan Water Heater from Loews that I got at a Garage Sale for $20.00..it's all electric..I simply run it till it's hot and go sailing..water stays hot all day..of course it's warmer on the Gulf Coast year round than what you see on The Great Lakes so may not work as well for you there in the winter months.My vote though is to not add a Heater to your boat unless the Wife screams alot about it. Simply put,on your Raw Water Cooled Engine it will be a liability.Silt,sand and other debris will run thru the Heat Tubes and not to mention larger trash..clog them in short order so as to add more work to your maint. routine.If you have a Sealed Cooling System..I'd still avoid it..but only because you gain very little for the added expense and maint. you must perform.There are other satisfactory solutions to your problem..you have only to think outside the box. In any event,I wish you luck and fair winds>>> David
I thought a long time before adding a Hot Water Heater to my boat..and did it when I did simply because I got a "deal" on a used heater.Most small boats can live without a Water Heater..and the extra complexity it adds to your vessel.Before I used to heat water and keep in thermos' for Hot Cocoa etc..And for warm showers I got a Solar Shower and used with great results.I know a guy in my Marina who fills a Garden Sprayer with hot water for showers on the water and seems pleased with that. I used a Tiny Titan Water Heater from Loews that I got at a Garage Sale for $20.00..it's all electric..I simply run it till it's hot and go sailing..water stays hot all day..of course it's warmer on the Gulf Coast year round than what you see on The Great Lakes so may not work as well for you there in the winter months.My vote though is to not add a Heater to your boat unless the Wife screams alot about it. Simply put,on your Raw Water Cooled Engine it will be a liability.Silt,sand and other debris will run thru the Heat Tubes and not to mention larger trash..clog them in short order so as to add more work to your maint. routine.If you have a Sealed Cooling System..I'd still avoid it..but only because you gain very little for the added expense and maint. you must perform.There are other satisfactory solutions to your problem..you have only to think outside the box. In any event,I wish you luck and fair winds>>> David
check your R V dealers for an instant inline water
they're activated when you turn on the hot side of the faucet if you have a presure pump you might want to install an R O unit also makes tho water taste much better
they're activated when you turn on the hot side of the faucet if you have a presure pump you might want to install an R O unit also makes tho water taste much better
Electric only
If you put a 6 gal electric heater in the cockpit locker(or wherever it will fit, they're pretty small), there is no compexity with the engine and the plumbing and electrical is downright easy if you already have pressure water. The water gets steaming hot in about 20-30 minutes. Then will stay hot through the next day away from shore power. Perfect for overnighters. If you have a 2k gen generator then you're really set.
If you put a 6 gal electric heater in the cockpit locker(or wherever it will fit, they're pretty small), there is no compexity with the engine and the plumbing and electrical is downright easy if you already have pressure water. The water gets steaming hot in about 20-30 minutes. Then will stay hot through the next day away from shore power. Perfect for overnighters. If you have a 2k gen generator then you're really set.
Try Cat 30,
Ken, Try looking up the specs/diagrams for the water heater system on the Catalina 30's equiped with the Universal 5411 (11hp) engine. I believe this installation should be similar enough to what you want, to answer all your questions. Good luck, EG
Ken, Try looking up the specs/diagrams for the water heater system on the Catalina 30's equiped with the Universal 5411 (11hp) engine. I believe this installation should be similar enough to what you want, to answer all your questions. Good luck, EG
A Friend did on a 1GM Yanmar...
...and it didn't give him any hot water. He did it to please his wife and then engine didn't get warm enough to heat the water for him. On AC current, he was fine, though. It was a 25' Bayfield that he owned at the time. So be sure to do good research on this, first. *o
...and it didn't give him any hot water. He did it to please his wife and then engine didn't get warm enough to heat the water for him. On AC current, he was fine, though. It was a 25' Bayfield that he owned at the time. So be sure to do good research on this, first. *o
Adding Hot Water
If your engine is 'raw' water cooled (no heat exchanger, the intake side of the water pump gets water from under the boat, and the output side puts it in the exhaust) I wouldn't recommend it. If your engine is 'fresh' water cooled (two pumps, one driven by a belt, the other most likely driven by gears inside the engine, it has a heat exchanger) then you will have 2 places to connect 1/2 to 5/8 Inside Diameter "Heater Hose" (just like your car)(you may have to remove plugs, and install hose barb fittings), 1 will be on the water pump, and one will be near the thermostat housing. run hoses from these 2 locations to the proper connect points on the water heater.
If your engine is 'raw' water cooled (no heat exchanger, the intake side of the water pump gets water from under the boat, and the output side puts it in the exhaust) I wouldn't recommend it. If your engine is 'fresh' water cooled (two pumps, one driven by a belt, the other most likely driven by gears inside the engine, it has a heat exchanger) then you will have 2 places to connect 1/2 to 5/8 Inside Diameter "Heater Hose" (just like your car)(you may have to remove plugs, and install hose barb fittings), 1 will be on the water pump, and one will be near the thermostat housing. run hoses from these 2 locations to the proper connect points on the water heater.
Ken, you didn't say if you have 110 power
at the dock. Your question about engine to heat the tank is easy. It works great if your engine is fresh water cooled! If it doesn't heat, you need to be sure you have a thermostat, and that it's working. In this application you want a minimum 150 degree thermostat, and 160 is better. Some folks use a 180 or 190 degree thermostat, but higher temperature means more salt and other solids will clog the raw water side (if you're in salt water)
at the dock. Your question about engine to heat the tank is easy. It works great if your engine is fresh water cooled! If it doesn't heat, you need to be sure you have a thermostat, and that it's working. In this application you want a minimum 150 degree thermostat, and 160 is better. Some folks use a 180 or 190 degree thermostat, but higher temperature means more salt and other solids will clog the raw water side (if you're in salt water)
I have one
I now have a engine/110 water heater in the 37. It has a raw water cooled Yanmar diesel. First, the engine will only heat the water if your running it hard, with a raw water cooled engine. It will not get warm enough to matter with the engine running, while anchored up. The thermostat in the raw water cooled Yanmars is about 150-155, and they don't get close to that unless running hard. Second, with hot water, I can assure you that your water consumption will go up appreciably. No one can jump in and out of a shower as quickly with hot water as they do with cold. A 110 volt water heater is much cheaper, much easier to install, and as a previous poster said, the water stays hot a pretty good while once heated.
I now have a engine/110 water heater in the 37. It has a raw water cooled Yanmar diesel. First, the engine will only heat the water if your running it hard, with a raw water cooled engine. It will not get warm enough to matter with the engine running, while anchored up. The thermostat in the raw water cooled Yanmars is about 150-155, and they don't get close to that unless running hard. Second, with hot water, I can assure you that your water consumption will go up appreciably. No one can jump in and out of a shower as quickly with hot water as they do with cold. A 110 volt water heater is much cheaper, much easier to install, and as a previous poster said, the water stays hot a pretty good while once heated.
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