The availability of relatively inexpensive tankless LPG hot water heaters has apparently convinced some owners of older boats (and some newer ones) that going tankless is a smart way to save space and money. They’d be wrong. The least expensive LPG versions are designed for outdoor use, and even those designed for indoor use are not intended for use on a boat. We are talking specifically about LPG heaters — not electric.
Tankless propane water heaters carry serious risk of causing carbon-monoxide poisoning or oxygen depletion when mounted in a tight or sealed space. Because a boat is more tightly sealed than a shoreside home, the carbon monoxide is more likely to become trapped. Boater deaths have been attributed to tankless water heaters, and several brands have been recalled over the years-among them Wolter Water Heater, Paloma, and Rheem-Rudd-because they posed a carbon-monoxide poisoning hazard.
That said, you will find tankless propane water heaters on some production boats, but it is buyer beware, in our opinion. Where you mount the heater, how it is installed, and how it is vented are of critical importance. We’ve heard of boat owners mounting them successfully in vented spaces such as cockpit lazarettes, galleys, and anchor lockers, and many install them with heat shields. For extra precaution, you could run the water heater on a propane system separate from your stove, and rig it with a water solenoid that opens when the propane solenoid opens so the propane wont flow unless there is water flowing.
If you decide to install the tankless water heater despite the risks, you should first be sure that your heater hasn’t been recalled. We also recommend investing in a quality carbon monoxide detector like the Fireboy/Xintex, (PS, December 2005), and always keeping a hatch open in the shower when using the heater. Also, check out our recent blog on inspecting marine systems for propane leaks. It wouldn’t hurt to look into your other water-heating options as well; you’ll find a good sampling of whats available on the marine market in our December 2013 water-heater test.
Do a little more research…electric tankless heaters don’t emit fumes and are space saving and economical
They are absolutely excellent to use outside for a cockpit or stern step shower. I mount mine on the rail next to my BBQ. Its about the same risk as an outside propane BBQ. My wife will not sail without a hot shower at night, a shower in the cockpit is an adventure and saves filling the cabin with humidity.