Hot water options?

[Tony Brooks]

9 minutes ago, Richard10002 said:

Agreed, but the principle seems to be that you "can" fit one yourself if you deem yourself competent.

 

As an aside and, as Alan* suggests, if there is no accident, then  you were actually competent.

 

*de Enfield

 

 

 

I certainly did all my own gas work after a marina fitted a gas test point using an incorrectly manufactured union nut and loads of red sealer that eventually leaked. However, in the past I had done an awful lot on the hire cruisers and attended a short Calor course. I felt the family were a lot safer that way.

[MtB]

 

56 minutes ago, Richard10002 said:

Agreed, but the principle seems to be that you "can" fit one yourself if you deem yourself competent.

 

Not quite. You can legally fit one yourself if you actually *ARE* competent. Not if you only "deem yourself" competent. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 8, 2023 by MtB
Double post bug strikes again!

[Jak]

Reply from the marine heating specialist.  They had already said that they will not fit open flue water heaters and are referring to the current Morco range of room sealed systems. 
 

Quote

Thank you for your enquiry.

The LPG instant water heaters are not suitable for narrowboats, as they are now all rated at around 20kw, which would require a 47kg propane bottle to achieve the required offtake rate.

Diesel water heaters need radiators, or alternatively a heat dump, as they cannot cope with the short cycle on calorifier only. 

Let me know if that is of interest.

 

So that’s a complete blank.  And the gas safe LPG man I know said he does not fit open flue heaters either.

 

[MtB]

48 minutes ago, Jak said:

Reply from the marine heating specialist.  They had already said that they will not fit open flue water heaters and are referring to the current Morco range of room sealed systems. 

 

Bunch of jobsworths.

 

I've seen one of these working brilliantly in a narrowboat. 16kW, open flue, working fine from a 13kg propane bottle. 

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lfhelper-Instant-Outdoor-Portable-Tankless/dp/B09MS1QPHL/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1UNW0YVZHUW04&keywords=tankless%2Bwater%2Bheaters%2Blpg&qid=1683668302&sprefix=tankless%2Caps%2C681&sr=8-6&th=1

 

Would work fine from smaller bottles too for limited periods. The bottle sizes for a given power offtake are 'recommended', not written in stone. 

 

 

[Alan de Enfield]

Wonder where the expert (who refuses to divulge his skill set) has gone ?

 

Maybe he can comment on why the qualified installers are wrong.

 

@watchfuleye

 

 

1 hour ago, Jak said:

Reply from the marine heating specialist.  They had already said that they will not fit open flue water heaters and are referring to the current Morco range of room sealed systems. 
 

 

So that’s a complete blank.  And the gas safe LPG man I know said he does not fit open flue heaters either.

 

 

[MtB]

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Maybe he can comment on why the qualified installers are wrong.

 

I often wonder what these qualifications might be. Can you enlighten please?

 

I once held the ACS ticket for boats. I had to answer just a handful of trivially basic questions to get it. There was no training of any sort. 

 

No mention of the BSS for example. Just had to look up a handful of facts in (then) PD5482 part 3. None of which is mandatory.

 

 

 

 

[Jak]

This really is very frustrating. That heater in mtb’s link is £110, battery ignition and probably perfect for my simple needs.  It looks like sonething like this is perfectly acceptable provided its fitted correctly.  @MtB fancy a trip over to Leigton Buzzard with your plumbing and gas kit?

[Belle]

From the description.

 

NOTE:
1. This water heater can only be installed in an outdoor ventilated place, and it is strictly forbidden to use it in a confined space.

[MtB]

39 minutes ago, Highwayman999 said:

From the description.

 

NOTE:
1. This water heater can only be installed in an outdoor ventilated place, and it is strictly forbidden to use it in a confined space.

 

I missed that! The listings of these things never used to say that. I notice they are not CE marked either. 

 

Although it is not clear what a "outdoor ventilated place" actually means. Arguably, provision of an air vent of appropriate size to outside makes a boat cabin into an "outdoor ventilated place". No air vent or flue would make it a "confined space". 

 

 

This one claims to be suitable for fitting in RVs:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078VPCDGX?pd_rd_i=B078VPCDGX&pf_rd_p=2d7f55fa-4115-4b0b-9563-c60c7ced8ca1&pf_rd_r=XEKSMNZ7WN7TGWFQWXM7&pd_rd_wg=U3Ay7&pd_rd_w=0Shrb&pd_rd_r=33df476d-43ac-43b2-9bc1-1c60de761f51&th=1

[Alan de Enfield]

1 hour ago, MtB said:

 

I missed that! The listings of these things never used to say that. I notice they are not CE marked either. 

 

Although it is not clear what a "outdoor ventilated place" actually means. Arguably, provision of an air vent of appropriate size to outside makes a boat cabin into an "outdoor ventilated place". No air vent or flue would make it a "confined space". 

 

 

This one claims to be suitable for fitting in RVs:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B078VPCDGX?pd_rd_i=B078VPCDGX&pf_rd_p=2d7f55fa-4115-4b0b-9563-c60c7ced8ca1&pf_rd_r=XEKSMNZ7WN7TGWFQWXM7&pd_rd_wg=U3Ay7&pd_rd_w=0Shrb&pd_rd_r=33df476d-43ac-43b2-9bc1-1c60de761f51&th=1

 

We have an 'outdoor use only' instantaneous gas water heater which is simply hung on a 'nail' on the wall (or trailer) and provides a portable shower for the horses.

Edited May 10, 2023 by Alan de Enfield

[MtB]

3 hours ago, Jak said:

This really is very frustrating. That heater in mtb’s link is £110, battery ignition and probably perfect for my simple needs.  It looks like sonething like this is perfectly acceptable provided its fitted correctly.  @MtB fancy a trip over to Leigton Buzzard with your plumbing and gas kit?

 

No sorry, I don't fit anything these days, especially not in boats. Boaters are such cheapskates! I fix busted boilers rather than fit new ones. It's a different type of business and that's all I do. 

 

But I am no longer GSR ticketed to do gas work on boats. I simply can't find a training skool around here that does the "boats" exam and not actually needing it for the reason above!