Calorifier sizes

[Tarka1]

Is it worth fitting a 10 litre calorifier with a mixer valve or do I need to go bigger.
Two adults and two children on board and we don't tend to use the boat shower.

 

[pvb]

Bigger...

Bigger is better; think of your calorifier as an extra water tank.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

We fitted a 10L calorifier and there are usually just 2 adults and 1 child. It does a full days washing up and 2 quick showers but it means if we go out for a night at anchor, there's very little left for the next day, though the mixer valve is brilliant at eeking out the hot water. Ours is an electric heat up only and if you had an inboard heated one the advantage would be that a small tank would heat up very quickly. We plan to put a generator on baord and so get hot water that way. With hindsight I would have fitted a 20L tank but I don't know where I would have put it! A 10L tank is surprisingly big and with all the foam insulation a 20L tank is massive.

 

[Anchorite]

Re: Mixer valve?

Who supplies your mixer valve and where is it installed?

 

[Rivers & creeks]

Re: Mixer valve?

It came complete with the calorifier but they sell them separately as well web page

 

[FAITIRA]

We have 20l w/heater, fitted last year, it,s a slimline oblong one, heats from leccy or engine, works very well, we do shower on board, constant hot water in port, our 2hrs engine charging keeps us in hot water at sea/anchor.

 

[macd]

It doesn't sound a lot but if all it'll be used for is washing dishes and faces, it could well be enough. Two litres is a generous washing-up bowl (in a boat, if not in a house). In my experience calorifiers keep water hot for no more than 24 hours, so budget it on your usage during that time -- bearing in mind that water usage, and particularly hot water usage, tends to increase to use (slightly more than?) the available supply. Boils down (NPI) to how frugal is your regular crew?