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Home
> Water Heater Reviews > Boat Water Heaters
Marine
Water Heater
Review
of the best boat water heaters
Atwood, Webasto, IsoTemp, Torrid,
Superstor
Marine water heater is the electrical or propane powered appliances that is used in the boating industry for space and hot water heating where the shower, washing-up and personal hygiene are the main applications.
Marine hot water heaters are designed small and lightweight and for restricted areas. These great performing and economical appliances work in the harsh and very humid environment, subjected to the fresh and salt aggressive water action. This is the reason why they have to be built with high quality materials.
Most of the manufacturers are designing water heaters for boats and yachts with a corrosion resistant casing like stainless steel or aluminum and stainless steel or metal storage tanks (with protection) from 6 gallons as the most common size, up to 20-gallon tank.
To get maximum from the heating element, immersion heaters are usually positioned in the lowest part of the tank where the water is coldest and in order to heat all the water in the tank. Special attention is also given to the water inlets and outlets for a minimal mixing of cold water into the hot.
Heat source for hot water heating is provided either from the engine cooling water, AC generator power or hooked to shore power. Most heating elements work on 110 V.
There are also propane hot water heaters specially constructed for the marine environment, with no electricity needed and dependent on the engine's performance. With closed combustion they are reliable units with an option to mount them almost anywhere.
Difference between superior and lower quality marine hot water heaters is in the selection of component parts, where high-quality models are represented by incoloy sheathed heating elements; while other are built from copper (subjected to failure if not fully immersed in water when energized), heavy duty heat exchanger, usage time/recovery rate, insulation...
Thermostat has to be factory calibrated and Coast Guard approved (UL) for spark ignition protection.
Top marine water heater manufacturers:
- Atwood water heater
- Torrid
- Superstor
- Isotemp
- Webasto
Marine Water Heater Manufacturers
Atwood marine water heater is reliable and efficient electric heating unit,
offering models equipped with high quality 1.4 kW and 1.5 kW incalloy
heating element. Heating element is designed to provide hot
water
quickly and withstand accidental operation when the tank is
empty,
usually fatal for copper heating elements.Designed as lightweight heater, it has a casing made of high-corrosion resistant aluminum so it can work in the corrosive marine environment. Only two models EHM6 SST, 6 gallon tank size and EHM11 SST, 10.5 gallon tank size have casings built from stainless steel.
Specialized aluminum alloys are also used for tanks, providing an extended tank life while reducing the total weight which is important for boat construction.
Superior heat exchangers use double tube construction, which prevents any possibility of engine coolant to contaminate the fresh water system that is running through.
Atwood marine water heater models are electric, with a tank size ranging from 4 to 20 gallon capacity and recovery rate of 7.21 gallon per hour.
Torrid marine water heater provides 5-year warranty against tank failure, backed-up with 2 protective elements against corrosion; heavy-duty glass lining and oversized magnesium anode rod. Torrid boat heaters with these two protective elements and safety thermostat cutoff are constructed to last longer and easily work in high temperature environment.
High density fiberglass insulation keeps the hot water longer in the tank and increases your hot water usage.
Super efficient heat exchanger, made of high-quality copper with a silicon bronze casting and 1.5 kW stainless steel sheathed heating element will provide great 15 gallons per hour recovery with 40 F rise.
Superstor marine water heater is the high efficiency unit consisted of the high efficiency extended surface heat exchanger with finned tube, stainless steel corrosion resistant storage tank and 1.5 kW heating element for longer performance life and dock-side power use.
2-inch, CFC-free, water-blown foam insulation is environmentally safe and used to protect the unit from energy waste and to reduce heat loss.
You can choose models with 6, 12 and 20 gallon capacity and recovery rate from 22 to 39 GPH with delivery of 155 F. All models are with 5-year warranty.
Isotemp hot marine water heaters can be found in three different groups, based on its shape and diameter; Basic with 6.3 to 19.7 gallon tank size and Slim with 4,5 and 6 gallons capacity, both cylindrical in shape. Either installed horizontally or vertically great performance and fast hot water delivery is achieved in both positions.
Slim Square with 4.2 gallon tank size is another model from IsoTemp manufacturer that provides an easy installation in three different positions, in narrow and limited space where Basic and Slim are not viable solution.
High quality material like stainless steel is not used only for casing but for the tank, tubes, and all elements that are in direct contact with water.
It uses heat from the engine coolant system and a standard 750 W or 1.2 kW immersion heating element.
Isotemp Basic models 6403 D and 6753 D models have dual heat exchanger for even better performance.
All models come with 5-year limited warranty.
Webasto water heaters for boats and yachts, offers four types of marine heaters, for space and water heating.
for longer heater life and easier service...
- Install unit per local codes
- Install shut-off valve and drain valve
- Locate the heater near a floor for easy draining and flushing
- Protect unit from freezing temperatures
- To connect heater use unions for plumbing
- Always vent air from the heater
- Tank must be full of water before power is turned on
- Flush water from the tank every other month to get rid of sediments
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