Prices of water heaters.

[knockabout]

the stainless jug heats water for the pastic dish tank/12 volt shower is easy on battery /you blokes are spoilt

[Bill Seal]

The heat exchanger was in the RAW WATER line from the engine.

[Lepke]

I use Heater Craft units that range from 28,000 btu to 40,000 btu. They're stainless and copper and range in price from $350-550. I used them because I could easily attach 3" hose and vent to several places.
My boat came with a hydronic boiler and baseboards. From a cold boat, it took hours to warm. Switching to the current heaters cut that to 30 minutes.
Less fuel, too. Now, with valves, I have the boiler tied in with the engines and a pellet stove.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Bill Seal

The heat exchanger was in the RAW WATER line from the engine.

That is not how these are supposed to be done. Raw water is not hot enough to do any good.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

That is not how these are supposed to be done. Raw water is not hot enough to do any good.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

I have to agree. In fact I'm not sure how hooking into the raw water line is even possible. The last thing you want is hot saltwater circulating through your hot water heater.

[sailorchic34]

Originally Posted by Scout 30

I have to agree. In fact I'm not sure how hooking into the raw water line is even possible. The last thing you want is hot saltwater circulating through your hot water heater.

Raw water cooled will get to 120-130 F on a good day. Fresh water cooled works on a 20 degree F delta and does not get hot. Raw water will.

Really hot salt water or toxic glycol, it's the same.

Edit: The danger is that the raw water pump does not generate lots of head and adding a long run of hose adds head which raises engine temp as flow rate drops. That's the bad part.

[Bill Seal]

The water heater was plumbed between the heat exchanger and the injection elbow, and the sink water was damned hot when the engine was running
If you think about it, if the water heater exchanger rots out, I'd rather have saltwater in my plumbing than glycol.
How would you plumb it if you had a raw water cooled engine?
I guess some of the newer heaters have a double walled heat exchanger coils, I'll check it out if I ever get around to changing the heater, but that'll involve cutting out the quarter berth bulkhead, and that puts it waaay down the to-do list.
Back to my original question, does anybody know anything about the Quick Sigmar heaters?

[Cottontop]

Originally Posted by Bill Seal

If you think about it, if the water heater exchanger rots out, I'd rather have saltwater in my plumbing than glycol.
?

There's a limited supply of glycol, and it's already on the boat. A raw water leak between the engine and the heat exchanger means new water coming on board.

[Bill Seal]

Actually, it was a leak between the heat exchanger and the injection elbow that tried to sink us! The glycol into the fresh water that I was referring to was a rotted out exchanger IN the heater, which is being addressed by some manufacturers with double walled heating loops.