How can I run my hot water heater while under way?

Catskinner

Catskinner

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2020
Messages
40
Reaction score
0
C Dory Year
2022
C Dory Model
26 Venture
Hull Identification Number
Not yet
Vessel Name
Dock Holiday
Hello C-Brats,

I want to upgrade my house batteries to lithium and install an inverter. Would it be possible to run the hot water heater while under way off the inverter? Do I need to convert the hot water heater to 12v? Just trying to get a game plan together. Presently I just run my generator to heat water but…
 
With how much amperage a hot water heater pulls, I think you'll be best to just stick with running your generator, if not plugged into shore power.
 
colbysmith said:
With how much amperage a hot water heater pulls, I think you'll be best to just stick with running your generator, if not plugged into shore power.
Click to expand...
That’s what the electrician said. I just hate running it when I’m around other boats.
 
There was a recent post of someone who had put a 12 volt element in a water heater, and ran it off the power from the engine--much slower heating. Another way is to do what we did on our last C Dory 25, that is to go the a smaller Bosch water heater, mounted uner the galley. That way there was far less water lost when running the cold water out before a shower, and we would heat the water to a higher temp,and then dilute it with a mixing valve just before the shower. With the Li 200 amph hour batteries and the 2000 watt Victron inverter we could run the water heater a shorter time on 120 V from the inverter. Also a black bag on the roof will heat the water rapidly in warm and sunny parts of the country.
 
I do use solar water bags on the roof that work great on sunny days. But that may not be often in the PNW…
 
Back
Top