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From: Stefan Mochnacki (no email)
Date: Fri Feb 02 2007 - 02:48:07 EST
On Wed, Jan 31, 2007 at 02:19:43PM -0800, James Wood wrote:
> I'm looking to install a hot water shower in my Columbia 41 sloop. I live
> aboard in Bermuda and keep her on a mooring. Do I need a special marine
> rust proof water heater or will a camping type propane fixture work?
>
> For example, something like this:
> http://www.gearforcamping.com/product-p/5146.htm
>
> Dr. James B. Wood
>
Hi James,
Under no circumstances should you use the camping stove on a boat!
The problem is that it will fill your boat with CO-laden exhaust fumes and
kill you.
There are both on-demand and reservoir propane water heaters which
have a vent (flue or chimney) to the outside, just like a cabin heater or a
Diesel stove. Even the vented type of water-heater needs to be treated
cautiously. About 10 years ago, there was a discussion on the list of an
incident where a woman died on a boat equipped with an on-demand propane
water heater.
On-demand gas water heaters are common in houses in Europe, but they
are vented through a chimney. I have seen them on boats, with venting.
The problem with boats is that they have a small space and are
usually rather well sealed, so that CO poisoning is a serious danger when
any exposed flame is used. In fact, a completely external-loop unit is the
safest for a cabin or water heater (e.g. the SIGMAR units, which have both
input and output vented to the outside), avoiding the nasty possibility of
blow-back into the interior of the boat and your being smoked out (been
there, done that...). (Sigmarine are in Vancouver, as is the other major
manufacturer of mainly Diesel heaters and stoves, Dickinson. Tankless,
on-demand propane water heaters are made by companies such as Paloma, Bosch
etc. the "Tankless Water Heaters" page.)
Cheers,
Stefan
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