Whether for cooking or bathing, sometimes it seems like houseboats don’t have enough hot water to satisfy demand. It’s a different story when a 1700 Series Water Heater from Raritan Engineering is on board. Its proven design combines extreme efficiency with a compact size, and is glass-lined for a long, corrosion-free service life providing clean, fresh water.
1700 Series Water Heaters are built for the long haul. Glass-lined tanks are actually more durable than those made with stainless steel, when used with the included replaceable magnesium anode. They boast high-density non-CFC foam insulation with a high R-value for maximum heat retention and non-corrosive polymer jackets. Available in 6-, 12- and 20-gallon sizes, in 120V or 220V AC, they come with an easy-to-use adjustable ignition-protected thermostat.
Raritan engineered the 1700 Series from the ground up to perform in a marine environment. The dockside water recovery rate is 13 gallons per hour. With a 240V heating element, it can go as high as 18 gallons. Because it can accommodate extreme temperatures—up to 160° F—and is mixed with cold water, the usable delivery capacity is much higher.
One of their popular configurations is a heat exchanger. Connected to the engine's cooling system, it produces hot water when disconnected from shore and generator power. Over seven feet in length, it's evenly coiled throughout the tank for rapid and efficient heating, and has a recovery rate of 13 gph.
Unlike cubic hot water heaters, Raritan's are cylindrical. This shape enables it to withstand far greater pressure—an important safety consideration when it's attached to a heat exchanger. 1700 Series Water Heaters feature an ignition-protected thermostat that's adjustable from 110°–160° F, with a safety shutdown limit of 190°. The temperature and pressure valve is rated at 75 psi at 210° F, instead of the typical 150 psi, to protect the boat's plumbing.
Installation of 1700 Series Water Heaters is simple and straight-forward with all plumbing connections on one side. It retrofits without difficulty to most on board pressure systems. Hot and cold water fittings are standard 3/4" male NPT and the heat exchanger's, 3/4" female NPT. Compact and lightweight, the 6-gallon model is 14.5" dia. x 16.25" H and weighs 36 lbs.; the 12 gal., 18.75" dia. x 16.25" H at 62 lbs.; and the 20 gal., 18.75" dia. x 24.25" H at 81 lbs.
Each 1700 Series Water Heater is hand-assembled and individually tested. They're backed by Raritan's five-year warranty on the tank and two on the unit. Suggested retail starts at $1,045, with a street price around $675.