price diff between water heaters

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Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
i have been looking at water heaters and find a $200.00 gap between Brand A and Brand R.......can any one tell me the diff and if it is worth the $200.00 gap between the two......

thanks in advance
woody
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
As somenone

As someone who used to rep a number of commercial and residential water heaters I really prefer the construction and features of the Iso-temp. IMO it is the nicest boat water heater out there. They even come standard with a tempering valve, something every engine heated water heater should have.

Personally I don't like glass lined steel tanks. It is a cheap way to build a water heater. If I had a $1.00 for every RMA I filled out for glass lined tanks I'd have retired in my 20's....;)

I know Peggy will disagree with me about the glass lined tanks but I just prefer stainless over mild steel...

The two heaters I like are the Heat Transfer Products "Superstor" or the Iso-Temps.. They are both very well constructed. Heat Transfer Products is a very large and well respected commercial/residential water heater & boiler manufacturer so they have vast experience in building water heaters, I used to sell their products. My mother has had the same Superstor in-direct fired hot water heater in her house now for nearly 28 years.
 

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
I also believe the IsoTemp is an excellent heater. I replaced my Raritan that had rusted out with an IsoTemp 2 years ago and it has easily outperformed the Raritan.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
You might check and see if you can get your hands on a copy of Practical Sailor. They did some testing. There seemed to be a big difference in quality but that was several years ago.

I agree with MS. The problem with the ISO-therm units are the fact that they are slightly taller than some of the other units. I know that this precludes me from using one when I replace mine.
 
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
I've been very happy...

with the Kuuma (was Force 10) water heater I installed a couple of years ago. Heats fast and holds temp fairly long. Fit under the dinette seat without mods.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,219
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Still using my Seaward (Atwood) EHM6-Sm that originally came with the boat in '85. I suspect that my mention of that will bring its end !
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Still using my Seaward (Atwood) EHM6-Sm that originally came with the boat in '85. I suspect that my mention of that will bring its end !
Kloudie, it's $229 on the Beneteau parts site. $11 to ship. Just got one.
 

Manny

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Oct 5, 2006
983
Hunter 82? 37 Cutter Wherever the wind takes me
To echo Dan, I have a 6 gallon Force 10/Kuuma that heats up quickly and the water stays hot for a surprisingly long time. It came with the boat and I don't use it much but it seems to holding up very well. Doesn't take up much room either.

Manny
 
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Claude...

When I pulled the square fiberglass encased water heater (make unknown) that failed, I discovered a round cutout beneath it that must have been for a Seaward unit. That makes my Force 10 the third water heater in the boat's 26 year life.

You must treat yours well as it's unheard of for one to last that long!
 

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,204
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Iso-Therm 'Slim' Water Heater

Steve: there may be a solution. The 'slim' edition of the line looks like it will fit where my (3rd) Seaward currently fits. I may give up a gallon but the efficiency more than makes up for it. When it comes time for #4, I'll bite the bullet and buy one (for 2.2 X the $$)
http://www.isotherm.com/en/index.html?fixframe=1&
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Rick: Thanks! I was looking at the regular one, not the slim line. I am going to look again this weekend after I get my filter system in place.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,219
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Dan.. I do nothing special.. but it is never drained or winterized.. never sees air on the inside.
 
Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
I donknow, Claude...

a life time water heater versus a sporatic hurricane bullseye location doesn't sound like a good trade-off to me! :dance:
 
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