Propane Water Heater

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21

Hi Joe,

Your photos and graphs are immensely valuable! Thanks for sharing with me!

Thanks,

Shirley

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I installed an excel heater when the Paloma needed parts that were unavailable. I used the old stack to vent out and love the unit. Was an easy swap out . Faster response time to heat up water too. I agree with Alan Steward , remove the ignition battery when laid up , the contacts corrode. Best, Gary / Aloki/ Oyster Bay

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Moderator’s note: I’ve merged the topics “Propane Water Heater” and “Propane Water Heater - Insurance” on the Nonsuch Community Discourse version of this thread.

They’re the same topic, initiated by the same person, so it just makes sense to put everything in one place.

This is a nice feature of Discourse which has led me to prefer it over the Google Group.

– Bob

24

I did the same as Gary on Aloki. Removed the Paloma, installed a low pressure (begins heating with only 2 PSI of water pressure), no pilot light, model. It is tagged as ventless, but I didn’t want all that moist heat coming into the salon, so as Gary did, I modified (slightly) the old vent hood, sealed the seams with high temperature water-heater tape (home depot) and it has been great! I also re-worked the entire propane system at the same time so it meets today’s current regulations.
If you search this discussion group, there should be a a write-up with photos from perhaps 3 years ago(?)…

Peter Grabow
S/V CAKE WALK III
1987 30U 430
Stamford, CT

25

Hello Peter

Thanks for your email ! I am debating if I should have the Excel model of NO pilot light VENTLESS propane fired unit versus a calorifier (getting heat from the diesel engine).

I have a Westerbeke 27 1983 diesel engine and I still to figure out how to connect to calorifier (I need to pay somebody to do it … still unsure of the cost …)

Buying a new boats certainly expands my list to do things : )

Shirley

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Hi Peter

I do not quite understand how you modified for the vent.

Wonder if you can share a photo of your Excel unit with modified vent ?

Thanks

Shirley

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Last winter, I also did the swap from my beloved and hated Paloma to an Excel in Hobbes II.

While I appreciate the much more efficient electronic ignition, I am more than disappointed at how it performs compared to the Paloma.

The Paloma mechanically regulated the inflow of water to achieve less flow but higher temperature. The Excel does not do that and consequently, even when both the settings are set to maximum water temperature, the result is tepid water in our northern California coastal marine climate where the incoming water temperature is regularly in the low 50s.

I’m not sure if I have a defective unit or that’s just the way it is. Would appreciate comments from other owners.

Michael Jabara

Hobbes II - 1995 Nonsuch 354

San Rafael, California

28

My Excel has a control for water flow and one for flame control with flame high and flow low you could make tea.

I think you may be misinterpreting the controls. FWIW I set mine to the temperature I want in my shower with the shower set at full hot. That way I don’t have to be adjusting all the time and it’s a good temperature for dish washing etc. as well.

29

The gas unit is easier to install. The engine unit requires more winterization

In Canada the propane one is probably a better choice..

1 Like
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Hi Shirley -

Apologies for not responding to the inquiry about the modification of the water heater vent… we had just returned home from a 5 week sail on CAKE WALK III, and then left for Scotland…

There should have been photos of the vent modification in my write-up on the project 3 years ago, but it was fairly simple. I used metal shears to snip the 4 corners of the lower part of the existing vent, bent the metal outward by hand til the fit with the new Excel unit was as good as it good be, and then used high-temp water heater insulation tape (home depot) to seal the vent to the Excel. This was probably the easiest part of the entire project!

Peter