Calorifier

[Trevethan]

OK folks,

got the tank, got teh hose, got the frshwater pump (courtesy Devon Boat jumble £16!) Now all I need for SWMBO to be happy is a means to heat the water so she can enjoy a shower.

Oh need one of those too, but happy to get hot water from tap first.

Where is the best place (i.e. cheapest) to get a calorifier (bigger the better but ideally more 12 gallons or more)

I guess I only need the one coil (for the moment), plus immersion.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Try Golden Arrow Marine

http://www.goldenarrow.co.uk/

I had a 12 Gallon unit.

Note that you must mount it below the highest point in your cooling system. You may need to raise or add a header unit. I used a standard one from an old Morris Marina I think it was.

This may dictate the maximum size you can accommodate.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Oh - forgot to warn you - put a small immersion heater in 1KW other wise you will keep tripping the dock side switches.

 

[Trevethan]

Already has a header tank fitted, just below the pilot house floor. I reckon I have about 5 feet from there to the floor of the engine room and then another 2 foot to bottom of bilge. Should be enough space!

Thanks for the 1kw heater coil warning. I'd be tempted to get the largest I can find to speed warming, but obviously not a good idea if your supply can't handle it!

rgds,

Nick

 

[vyv_cox]

We priced as many units as we could find at LIBS and at HISWA, 2002. Didn't find a great deal of price difference between any of them. There are technical differences thoough, in some the jacket is enamelled carbon steel, in others it is stainless. Long term I guess the stainless is bound to be better. Most boat ones seem to come with a 4 or 5 Amp element, ours is 800 Watts but it still throws the breakers at some European marinas.

 

[Chris_Robb]

vyv - you don't mention copper - is their a problem with copper? Hope not because mine is!

 

[vyv_cox]

Copper calorifier

My old calorifier was all copper, tube and shell. It was still fine after 15 years, only replaced "just in case" when I changed engines to a fresh water cooled type, plus it didn't have an element. I haven't seen any copper ones for boats recently , they seem to only be available in domestic sizes.

 

[Strathglass]

Re: Copper calorifier

Copper calorifiers are certainly still available. I have recently fitted a 6 gallon one. They are available in a variety of sizes.
You will find them at www.asap-supplies.com
Iain

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Copper calorifier

You're right, but I didn't come across Hotpot in my searches. I guess they may be UK only. Most of the ones I found seemed to be Italian, although marketed all over Europe. None of them was copper.

 

[brians]

Re: Copper calorifier

Isotherm market a copper unit as well as SS. SS is cheaper.

 

[PaulAG]

I presume you have a fresh-water cooled engine with seawater heat exchanger -??
If you add a large volume of water to the fresh water side of the system, i.e. extra pipes, double coils etc., then you will probably need a larger header tank as the extra expansion may cause an overflow. Friend at river boat club added much extra piping in central heating circuit and wondered why he needed to top up the header tank everytime, then was mopping up water later -!!
I had a very simple heat exchanger welded up in ss with just a single coil that works well from an old Volvo MD2C now fresh water cooled, in my Centaur - about 30 mins motoring gives me about 5 galls hot water.

PaulAG