Instant Hot water Heater on a 40 Dancer???

[CSR_Admin]

Have any of you guys installed a instant hot water heater, or tankless water heater (whatever they are called) on your boat? I have an relative with a 1997 40 Dancer and he is thinking about doing it and wants feedback. I think e-max is one of the brands. Is it a good upgrade?

 

[fwebster]

Jim,

I looked into one for my 450DA. For a boat this size, the current draw was too great unless we began to schedule running other AC demand when the hot water was turned on. The other issue for us was rewiring the entire system on the boat for 240VAC which would allow the next size larger heater.

I got into this because the water heater is the one thing on a 450 that is hard to access, but so far we are still on the original water heater. If I need to replace it, I will go back with the same heater as OEM, but in stainless. Taking apart the exhaust system on one engine to access the heater is a lot less trouble than rewiring or having a trap set for us where we have to decide if we want hot water or to star comfortable. Things may have changed since we did this analysis and instant hot water heaters may be more user firendly for boats so it may pay to explore what is available now, but be sure to consider the total load on not only the generator, but also the line or bank that feeds it when there is hot water demand.

While not an actual experience, maybe that will help you..........

 

[Henry Boyd]

I have a friend who retrofitted a marine propane tankless to his Silverton. I know it doesn't answer the Sundancer aspect of the question. But the water heater works fantastic. It truly is instant hot water.

He also had to add a sealed tank locker for the tank that is about the size of a mid-sized cooler.

Henry

 

[bluebelly]

I did install one a couple of years ago and found that it performed well in the summer months when the water going into the water heater was already relatively warm becuase of abient temps. But in the winter the heater could not produce water hot enough to shower with. It would get warm but not hot.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mr Salt]

We looked at one of these units for our condo to replace an existing electric hot water heater.. What we learned is that the current draw is extremely heavy, I seem to think it was something like 40 amps. That would seem to be to heavy a draw for a boat. But perhaops there are smaller units for boats.

 

[fc3]

A friend has one in his 38' Sonic. Not much room in those boats for a larger unit. It works OK, but as others have said, heavy current draw and limited supply. Great to supply the sinks. It's just about OK for the shower. But for a two head boat, I think it wouldn't really work well.

Best regards,
Frank