Hot water for a Fulmar

[stuartwineberg]

Looking at Westerly Fulmars and one consistent thing seems to be the lack of hot water system even in those boats with a replcement fresh water cooled engine. Has anyone installed it and what was involved - I know Concerto was planning to do it but not sure if he did.

 

[Tranona]

Quite straightforward in terms of plumbing. Typical installation schematic here asap-supplies.com/catalogue-request The usual challenge is finding space for the components, particularly the calorifier. Pretty sure somebody at the WOA will have done it.

 

[dgadee]

My project Fulmar has one installed - just taken out the Bukh and will connect it to the new Beta. Plenty of space in the cockpit locker (which is huge) behind the kitchen bulkhead. The one I have is not very large - I don't know why they didn't put in a 30l one since there is plenty of space. It is a horizontal one but a vertical would fit well, too.

 

[Concerto]

Yes, I fitted hot water to Concerto. I fitted the calorifier under the aft berth just aft of the battery section. I also fitted a shower hose tap in the loo compartment and changed the floor to a teak grating. Fitting the shower drain plug was bit of a problem and I had to cut a small opening on the fore and aft bulkhead under the loo door. Drilling through the keel rib took while for new hot and cold pipework. To use the shower I have two shower curtains to completely cover the insides of the loo compartment for easier drying after use. I left the old cold water manual pumped system as a backup, which should be used on an irregular basis as it can get mucky.


This is the pipe run to the loo compartment.


The calorifier position looking aft.


All the pipewor and fittings are shown here.


The drain fitting under the shower had to be trimmed to be able to get it fitted.


This was a teak shower grating bought from Amazon that required the sides and angle to be trimmed to fit. Much cheaper than a traditional grating and looks similar to the holly and teak floorboards.

Hope this helps to understand what is required. All of the system was bought from ASAP. The person I dealt with was Chloe and I feel sure if you mention Concerto (she came aboard at the Southampton Boat Show in 2021) and Roger Clark to her she could look up my order to give you a quote for everything you need.

 

[dgadee]

Good location. I may move my tank there.

 

[dgadee]

Concerto, couple of questinos:

What is the 2nd red tank? Another expansion tank?
How do you drain the tank for winterising?

Just remembered - accumulator.

 

[Concerto]

I have a drain from the calorifier into the bilge at the back of the engine, but I could put a bucket there if I want to.

As I keep Concerto afloat over the winter, the sea water normally keeps the temperature above zero. Also I am now on a berth that a pay a flat annual rate for electricity, so I could just use a frost guard heater to stop it freezing.

 

[geem]

Although we have an engine fed calorifier, I recently replaced our aged calorifier with a new twin coil version. The second coil now allows me to run a webasto hydronic heating system that can also do domestic hot water. It would be a good option for a boat with raw water cooling as a single coil calorifer fed from a webasto hydronic heater would give you a tank of hot water for a very small amount of diesel in short order. The 5.2kw heater heats up a full 30L calorifier very quickly. You obviously also get boat heating as well

 

[dgadee]

In Greece the engine had to be put on every morning at anchor for crew's shower. I wondered if there was a way to use the solar when it went to float early in the day to heat water for the next morning. Is there a 12v element?

 

[Concerto]

In Greece the engine had to be put on every morning at anchor for crew's shower. I wondered if there was a way to use the solar when it went to float early in the day to heat water for the next morning. Is there a 12v element?

You could use an inverter from your batteries as there is a 240V element fitted to the calorifier for shore power.

 

[Rappey]

. Is there a 12v element?

There are. A 12v element was an option as a dump load for a dc wind turbine.

 

[dgadee]

Too late. Med boat up for sale.

 

[stuartwineberg]

What a brilliant set of replies, thanks

 

[dgadee]

I have moved my hot tank to Concerto's position. It mkes a lot of sense.

However to make the neatest job I want to run my engine hoses down from engine and then up to tank. That's ok isn't it?

Running up then down causes air locks. The other way does not?