Water Heater Wire Type

[Skippie10]

I have installed a new water heater in my S2 9.2 sailboat and - separately - I have retained an outside vendor to install a new Navigation system and he (outside vendor) called me to advise that the wire I used to connect my water heater to the main breaker in the boat (I installed solid wire) would be a problem for me since I used solid wire vs stranded wire.

He said that solid wire is not used on boats since it will vibrate and fatigue off.

Is this a real problem for a sailboat where I "motor" for only a matter of 50 hours a year? I'd like to not re-wire the heater....too many other projects on my horizon.

Skippie 10

 

[thinwater]

Yes, it's a real problem.

1. Any surveyor will require it to be changed. I believe this is a Coast Guard requirement, not just AYBC.
2. When there is a fire on a boat there is no where to go.
3. If you can't get tinned marine wire, THHN wire from Home Depot meets the Coast Guard requirement. But tinned wire is better.
4. Check the gauge while you are at it.

Will it really take very long to pull new wire, using the old wire?

 

[Mark Maulden]

How did you even terminate a solid wire at the heater and the breaker? REWIRE IT NOW