How to Install a Hydronic Water Heater on a Boat with a Diesel Engine

[@ejdd3442]

The shut-off valves! great recommendation, thank you for making this video

[@westcoastbutcherblockinc]

Converting into a mega yacht features... Bravo for the engineering of this project!!

[@WayneOKO]

YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE AUSSIE BLUE HEELER CATTLE DOG. They are the best friend a man can have. I don't know how you have him on your boat so confined for any lenght of time becuase they love to Work , they will go all day workinmg a herd of sheep or cattle , depending upon thier temperment to bite at the animal on the move and they love every moment of it. Smart and obedient, Loyal and hard working for you. Many a man in Australia has had his heart broken over losing his little blue heeler at the end of thier day. 12 to 15 years. Good on you.

[@AXISMEDIATV]

And yet another timely Vid- Awesome man- getting ready to do this this winter- Saved to favorites-

[@stewarthenderson8027]

Dude, I was stoked to see that you made a video on a WH installation. I will be doing the same. Only difference is that the WH will be in the port side lazarette. . your DIY vids are super helpful. You give me confidence to tackle these types of projects. THANK YOU!

[@biker-dog-poppy]

thanks for the sharing, certainly food for thought on a option that seems feasable

[@tylerdrown]

Thanks for this video. I am considering one for my boat with the 2GM20F.

[@keeldragger]

Smart plan with the shutoff valves.

[@hoosierpete]

You have better water pressure on your boat than I do in my house.

[@madcamdisease]

ya wtf huh

[@donnakawana]

Thanks for keeping me thinking of things I'll need to do an not to stress cuz that helps no one... Right!? I really am inspired ✌🏻💗😊❣️

[@ImDoubleB]

Hello from Sunnyslope AZ

[@jeromedaniel4983]

Great video

[@benjones8304]

Another nice video

[@MrYlojelo]

Do you have a link to the water heater you used?

[@mandrilion2]

What is the name of the sealant that u used?

[@danielsalins1424]

What technique did you use to purge air out of the hoses going to and from the water heater. Great idea on putting shut off valves at the engine side.

[@SailorJames]

Open the radiator cap after running and cooled down

[@patrickwentz8413]

Soup to nuts how much did this cost? What was the make and model of the water heater you bought? I have the same engine on my Alberg 30 and this looks like a neat project for next winter.

[@jonathanbresler6721]

Bit off topic. Would be interested in the transmission and prop that each of you (Sailor James and Patrick Wentz) have on your Albergs. Mine has a Yanmar 2GM20F as well with the 2.62:1 tranny.

[@donaldpetrey5843]

What brand of heater was it that you used.

[@ocxb]

Excellent video, think about insulation for the hot side from the engine to the water heater.

[@SailorJames]

Not necessarily, the hose doesn’t heat up enough for concern and that shit still makes the water crazy hot

[@guyfox68]

Great addition to a little boat. It sure will make cruising much more enjoyable. A hot shower can make a bad day into a great day. Did you have to add much more coolant to the system to make up for the plumbing hoses?

[@bestoflife9152]

Great video! Thanks!

[@franlynch9428]

Do you have a video or advice on bleeding a hot water heater? Thx

[@SailorJames]

You just open the shower handle and let it run until all the air is out

[@franlynch9428]

@@SailorJames great thx we will try that!

[@KevinKurka]

Thx, Great idea to add the shut off valves at the engine. I’m in process of doing this to my power boat. It always had the hot water heater tank with only the 110v hooked up, it was never plumbed to engine. I’m thinking of adding a mix valve to prevent over heating. Just not sure what’s best, if I should do it on the engine heating loop or just inline on the potable water side? Any thoughts?

[@sailing_mahalo]

Nice video!! What model water heater did you use?? Looks very compact, much better than others I have seen.

[@shawnkkeith9842]

So when are you leaving for the big trip and how can we follow your progress on the trip?

[@SailorJames]

I will leave as soon as the boat is ready, we are waiting on parts for the rigging, there is a world wide shortage of StaLok fittings, hoping to leave the 3rd week of April, there will be a tracker on our blog

[@halstonbruce]

i know why you have that water heater... solid move my friend.

[@josemanuelencarnacionescob7435]

Hi, Thanks a lot for the very nice video. I have one question regarding the first run. I imagine that the first time you run the engine, the cooling system need to be filled by coolant and get rid og the air. Can you explain how did this first run go for you? Did it get rid of the air automatically and you just needed to add extra coolant? Thanks in advance!

[@SailorJames]

I only had to add a small amount of coolant after the initial fill and run, I just added it to the overflow and kept an eye on that and double check the heat exchanger level when the engine was cold after the first few times

[@josemanuelencarnacionescob7435]

@@SailorJames Thanks a lot. I tried this weekend and it worked indeed. The cooling system seems to bleed itself automatically :)

[@josemanuelencarnacionescob7435]

@@SailorJames Thanks a lot! It also worked like that for me!

[@rolfebooth4095]

I'd recommend getting a tempering valve, it bleeds a little bit of cold water into the hot as it exits the cylinder so you don't scold yourselves and is adjustable. Engine coolant will heat the water up enough to give you a nasty burn.

[@SailorJames]

Yeah we tried to order one when we installed it but had a lot of trouble finding the one for our model, it’s so hard to get it so it’s not freezing or scalding

[@rolfebooth4095]

@@SailorJames i’ve installed a few isotherm temping valves on customers boats. They are great they are a thermostat type temping valve so adjust to the water temp. It would work with your cylinder you’ll just need to get the right fittings to suit.

[@PrivateUsername]

Any concern about grounding / galvanic corrosion with the element inside the tank?

[@SailorJames]

No this tank is made specifically for marine environment and the element is isolated from the water and never comes in contact with it

[@gking5522]

@@SailorJames Did you mean 'the engine coolant never comes in contact with the element' ? Kinda hard to heat water if the element doesn't contact the fresh water.

[@gking5522]

Very informative video. Did I hear you say "6 gallon Johnson 'pump' "? I assume you meant 6 gallon Johnson Pump water heater. I didn't know they made H2O heaters until now!

[@shawnkkeith9842]

So your motor has to be running to get hot water? And the same if you run a heater that way?

[@SailorJames]

Yes your engine has to run for a while but we have found the water was still hot the next morning after a motorsail to Catalina or when you are hooked up to shore power

[@justlooking2222]

Happy Easter ! Couple thoughts/questions. Love the shut offs, very prudent ! Did you add chafe protection onto the hoses where they ran through the bulkheads ? Any thoughts about a expansion tank ? Why not a 12V heat exchanger for the cabin ? At a dock with power and you have heat and hot water

[@SailorJames]

Yes I added chafe protection at every point it passes through a bulkhead, I cut larger diameter hose and glued it into place - we have a forced air diesel heater we are installing so we didn’t need a redundant heater, we installed an expansion/accumulation tank in the system as well

[@justlooking2222]

@@SailorJames What made you go with forced air vs a boiler ?

[@SailorJames]

We wanted a heater that we can run under anchor without the engine on and forced air heaters do a great job of drying the boat out

[@justlooking2222]

@@SailorJames Thanks for your replies

[@jamieminton172]

I was wondering if you shut off the valves at the engine after motoring would the tank maintain heat for longer. My reasoning is that the engine block is a big heat sink. After the engine has been shut down, with the valve open, the stored fresh water heat would transfer back to the coolant and "percolate", as it were, back to the engine. Closing the valves would isolate the coolant to prevent the engine block from robbing heat from the tank. ????? Just a thought Edit- And as I clicked to the next vid it dawned on me that re-opening the valves before start up may shorten the warm up time of your diesel. Provided your still had heat in the fresh water tank.

[@wilsonevans6760]

Thinking that The thermostat on your motor prevents this, it remains closed when warming up the engine, thus the coolant circulates only in a loop inside the engine,

[@bryrensexton4618]

👍!!!

[@halstonbruce]

cute face - like the flannel on you