Better hot water tank for 28TE

[scarbo]

The original factory-installed Force 10 domestic water heater is poorly insulated and doesn't keep water hot even overnight on the hook. I love my hot showers, so I replaced it with an Isotherm 6-gallon unit. Now I have warm water 48 hours after engine shut-down. And since the 110v. element in the Isotherm is lower wattage (750) than the Force 10, I can even heat it with my little portable Honda 1KW generator.

[joe.baar]

Can you describe how you removed and replaced the tank? Last time I was under the helm it was a jumble of wiring, hoses, a bilge pump and a couple of battery boxes restricting access. I'm sure my '95-vintage tank is ready for the recycle but I put the project off. Home maintenance is easy compared to this. Our first boat, of course.

[RicM]

I'm still trying to figure out how to replace the electrical elements in my Force 10 heater. The owners' manual is useless.

[scarbo]

I confess...I cheated. I had Cap Sante Marine (Anacortes, WA) do it when they installed the stern thruster. It was a few hours of labor, and quite a tight fit up under the helm chair, so I was happy to pay someone else to scrape their knuckles and curse. I usually do things myself, but this time I was happy to write a check.

I also added several flexible water tanks, one on each side of the V-berth behind the hinged side cushions, and one in the bow thruster compartment. I added a second fill port on the starboard walkaround deck, just outside the narrow locker in front of the head. All tanks drain by gravity to a transfer pump located next to the main plastic tank, and I pump into it as needed. On any trip longer than a couple days, 90 gallons is a huge improvement over 35. It's wasted space anyway, and far cheaper and more reliable than a watermaker.

[joe.baar]

Really superb thinking on all counts, thanks so much for the information and ideas.