[TSOJOURNER]

I have the typical electric/engine coolant type hot water heater currently installed. It''s fine dockside when connected to shore power however, when we''re anchored somewhere I don''t want to turn on my engine for a half hour each time someone wants to take a shower.

Has anyone experience with on demand hot water heaters, either electric (using an inverter) or gas?

 

[TSOJOURNER]

I have looked into the LPG - PrecisionTemp Shower Mate. The unit is of very high quality, uses the latest technology and can heat over 900 gallons on a single tank of propane (20 lb tank) at a 2 GPM rate. I was initially shocked at the $1450 price tag as compared to the standard electric/engine systems. But it is well worth the cost. You need to install a flue as the unit has a power vent system. Additional info at www.precisiontemp.com

 

[paulk]

People need to be REALLY careful using the gas on-demand heaters. Poor installations have asphyxiated unknowing sailors before they were aware of it because the heater uses up so much of the oxygen inside the hull, and a small leak replaces the oxygen with carbon monoxide... Many magazines have had articles on what to watch out for. Certainly never to use under way. (Putting the thing on gimbals would be quite difficult to make safe, no?) Not to say that people don''t use them, but to be careful.