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07-10-2011, 05:35
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: new jersey
Boat: S&S yaul 41'
Posts: 11
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How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
Restoring a 41 ft. S&S sail boat she is old so not much room down below. We plan on living on her its just the two of us and our two cats. We aren't sure how big the hot water tank should be. Have a suggestion. Thanks
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07-10-2011, 05:43
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
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Re: how big should my hot water tank be
Six gallons is fine. Cats won't use much hot water.
__________________
Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
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07-10-2011, 05:49
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 9,319
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Re: how big should my hot water tank be
Probably 6 gals is more than enough, as Rick said. Make sure you have a mixer value on the tank. That will effectively increase the amount of hot water you have and avoid the scalding from 160*F water.
__________________
Paul
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07-10-2011, 05:58
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#4
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,082
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Re: how big should my hot water tank be
Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, maureen beltram.
What Rick & Paul said.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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07-10-2011, 06:51
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: We're technically refugees from our home in Yemen now living in Lebenon
Boat: 1978 CT48
Posts: 5,964
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Re: how big should my hot water tank be
Welcome to the forum maureen.
6 gal is very common and seems to be adequate.
__________________
James
S/V Arctic Lady
I love my boat, I can't afford not to!
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07-10-2011, 07:17
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#6
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Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Denmark (Winter), Helsinki (Summer); Cruising the Baltic Sea this year!
Boat: Cutter-Rigged Moody 54
Posts: 33,750
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Re: how big should my hot water tank be
We have 50 liters -- about 14 gallons. IF we are on shore power and can get the water up to nearly boiling, then it's enough for a few showers (we sleep up to seven or eight people, and sometimes have that many people on board). That's because, as others have said, the nearly boiling water is diluted at the outlet of the calorifier to "stretch" the hot water.
If, on the other hand, we are heating water using the central heating system, it does not get up to nearly boiling, and doesn't go as far.
Six gallons would be ok, probably, for two people who are reasonably careful with water. If you think you will have more people on board, however, you might think about more capacity, IMHO.
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07-10-2011, 07:42
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#7
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: how big should my hot water tank be
my cat refuses to use hot water so my solar showers are fine. i donot use a hot water heater--i find they always leak, some sooner than others/. the ones i removed were 5 or 6 gallons.
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08-10-2011, 18:26
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: A real life Zombie from FL
Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris
Posts: 5,416
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Re: How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
If you have a wife or other significant female onboard who is used to land life - go with the bigger tanks as suggested by Dockhead. Unless you like or need cold showers.
- - In reality the size of the tank will be limited by the space where you can put it. And it needs to be bolted down so it cannot move. Boats rock and roll and water is quite heavy.
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08-10-2011, 18:36
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wherever the boat is!
Boat: Marine Trader 34DC
Posts: 4,619
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Re: How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
Wife and I have lived aboard and cruised for 20 years and both boats had 6 gallon hot water heaters. Chuck
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08-10-2011, 18:39
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Md, USA
Posts: 433
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Re: How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
We have an 11 gallon tank that has been plenty for the two of us, my wife like to use a lot more than I think is appropriate.
__________________
ShaunJ
I get knocked down...But get up again...
You're never going to keep me down....
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08-10-2011, 18:52
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Florida
Boat: Matlack, Trawler, 48 ft
Posts: 1,060
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Re: How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
We have a 10 gal we bought cheap at Home Depot which is plenty for the two of us and our cat.
__________________
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.
—Jacques Yves Costeau
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08-10-2011, 19:32
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wherever the boat is!
Boat: Marine Trader 34DC
Posts: 4,619
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Re: How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShaunJ
We have an 11 gallon tank that has been plenty for the two of us, my wife like to use a lot more than I think is appropriate.
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And there is lies a problem if you liveaboard and cruise, unless you plan to be at the dock all the time with plenty of water available. Water conservation becomes very important and if you have twice as much hot water someone might spend twice as much time in the shower. If the hot water runs out, the showers become very short. But with 6 gallons we take average showers and wash dishes with hot water to spare. Doesn't sound like you have room for a large tank. Just a thought. Chuck
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08-10-2011, 19:47
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Md, USA
Posts: 433
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Re: How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
Waterwayguy, I think you are right on. What if I put a foot pump in the shower like I have at the sink. I have convinced the wife to use it at the sink, so why not in the shower.
__________________
ShaunJ
I get knocked down...But get up again...
You're never going to keep me down....
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08-10-2011, 20:11
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wherever the boat is!
Boat: Marine Trader 34DC
Posts: 4,619
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Re: How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
Shaun, There is a difference between cruising and camping out, IMO. Although if the wife does not object you would save a lot of water. The foot pump will not give you much pressure to rinse off soap etc. but I am sure there are some out there that might use this. Chuck
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08-10-2011, 20:19
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#15
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Carlsbad, CA
Boat: 1976 Sabre 28-2
Posts: 7,505
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Re: How Big Should My Hot Water Tank Be ?
Might want to try an on demand propane water heater. Hot water only limited by your boats water capacity and very little waste running the hotwater to a distant fixture. They take up very little space in the head which leaves the rest of the boatg free of a tank. Never felt the need for hotwater in the galley.
__________________
Peter O.
'Ae'a, Pearson 35
'Ms American Pie', Sabre 28 Mark II
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