replacement hot water heater

[GrahamK]

The gas water heater on Vanikoro froze and the heat exchanger inside it burst so the owner removed it but it is still stored in a locker.
Can anyone offer advice regarding replacement.
I am wondering wether to replace with the new equivalent direct fored gas water heater mounted on the bulkhead in the galley or opt for a calorifier heated from the Volvo D2 55 engine cooling circuit.
Have any members been faced with this choice and can offer help or tips.
thanks,
Graham

[Moderator]

We still have the original water heater, and are pleased to have instant-on hot water, though it does waste a lot of water as you wait for the hot water to arrive at the tap(particularly in the head).
The pre-purchase surveyor said it was great to have an instant-on hot water heater, but dangerous and no longer allowed in the US due to concerns with the pilot light blowing out so propane leaks into the cabin. We have several propane detectors installed on the boat for just this reason.
Marilyn

[Ronar M]

Hi Graham, Ronar M also had the original heater when I bought her. This suffered from the lack of a flame failure device often required by insurers these days and also vented immediately into the helmsman’s face. So I removed it (make sure you have the steering compass re-adjusted) and replaced it with an Isotemp calorifier (25L) which fits very nicely alongside the port side of the engine and gets it’s heat from the engine cooling water. You only get hot water when the engine has been running but there’s penty of it and it stays hot for a very long time. Cheers, Trevor

[Jean Clair]

Hi Graham,
Like Ronar M we also had a unsafe system on Jean Clair. We also
removed the heater and installed a calorifier port side of the engine.
Works a treat and also has an electrical heating element so can heat the water when connected to shore power. Regards Alan

[GrahamK]

Hi Ronar & Big Al,sorry for delay in replying, had a stinking cold. Thanks for your advice which I will follow.If you were doing the installation again would you still fit the calorifier in the engine bay or consider elsewhere?
regards, Graham

[Ronar M]

Hi Grham

It’s the ideal space and not useable for much else whereas siting it in a locker would take up valuable space. Will try to remember to take a picture for you next time I’m on board. Cheers, Trevor

[GrahamK]

Hi Trevor, thanks that would be really useful. I am going to measure up to see if I can get a calorifier in the position you recommend. It looks a bit tight as we have a volvo d2-55 engine and the exhaust waterlock system is also fitted on the port side of the engine. I would enclose a photo but not sure how to do that.
kind regards, Graham

[Ronar M]

Hi Graham
I will not be going down to Plymouth, where Ronar is, until the end of next week at the earliest but will try to get a photo then. Meanwhile I can tell you that my calorifier is a cylindical one about 1 foot in diameter, The port side of the engine bay has a number of pipes and wires fixed to it. I made some wooden uprights with cut outs to take these pipes etc and screwed them to the ply side of the engine bay. I then fixed the brackets for the calorifier to these. Cheers, Trevor

[GrahamK]

Hi Trevor,
looking through the internet I have selected a surecal 22 litre model which is 550mm long x 340mm diameter and comes complete with a stainless steel saddle which I think will mount in the big space under the port locker outboard of the engine where there is a wooden bulkhead as you describe. it will be intersting to see your photos to confirm my thoughts. Apologies for the vagueness but I am just getting to know Vanikoro and I seem to have so much to do before i can get her back in the water. At the moment I am trying to prioritise jobs and hot water is in the top 10. many thanks for your help, Graham

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