Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

[ShoalSurvivor]

I see a lot I people storing their boat in their garage.

I know that running the blower is critical for safety before starting.

We obviously keep our cars in the garage. No problem.

So, what is different about boats? In have a 1999 stingray 190lx with mercruiser 4.3.

Can they be safely stored indoors or will flammable gasses continue to build, making storage near gas water heater idiotic?

Thank you!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

So yes, it is safe... The risk with a boat is that the enclosed area where fumes can build up, aka the bilge. You don't have that with a car. A garage is large enough that any leaking fuel has more than enough air to mix with and keep the mixture ratio down.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

When you have your water heater in the garage it should be installed 18" above the floor.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

there's your answer.... it MAY not be safe to store the boat in there if the water heater isn't installed correctly but then it wouldn't be safe to store the car in there either

a fume detector in the garage with an alarm and possibly even solenoid to kill the water heater would be a precaution you could take if you wanted more safety.

 

[jkust]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

Newer waterheaters have a fusible link type of technology that disables the unit when it detects flammable vapors. As I understand the unit becomes useless when/in that happens. I only learned this when I had to replace a waterheater that died too soon and the cost of the replacements had gone up from the new technology. For what it is worth...

 

[oldandintheway]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

My utility company basically paid for my Marathon Electric Water heater. It is much more energy efficient than any gas water heater.
The only real cost was to locate 220 current.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

My utility company basically paid for my Marathon Electric Water heater. It is much more energy efficient than any gas water heater.
The only real cost was to locate 220 current.

Depends on your utility costs. In my area, natural gas is dirt cheap, there is no way an electric heater would EVER have a ROI, even if they gave it to me free. Electric heaters also do not have the recovery time of a natural gas unit.

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

My utility company basically paid for my Marathon Electric Water heater. It is much more energy efficient than any gas water heater.
The only real cost was to locate 220 current.

I've never heard that an electric heater is more energy efficient than gas. That would surprise most of the people in my area.
I always thought the electric companies gave them away because they made so much money on the electricity used.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

An electric water heater could be more efficient than a NG unit, if and only if, the NG unit has no or little insulation(old model), and the elec unit is new and well insulated. If they are of comparable vintage, I would not think elec could compete with gas, in efficiency.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

Not an answer to the question but we have been using tankless water heaters were I work. Have never run out of hot water. No need to store heated water or to replace burnt out heating elements. I have used electric heaters myself and unless there is a water softener and filtration system I wouldn't use an electric one.

 

[oldandintheway]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

I've never heard that an electric heater is more energy efficient than gas. That would surprise most of the people in my area.
I always thought the electric companies gave them away because they made so much money on the electricity used.

I am just trying to debunk the myth - notice that I stress Marathon, 94 EF, guaranteed for as long as you own the home.

 

[airshot]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

You are storing your boat for the winter, make sure their is NO fuel to cause a problem. Drain everything from carb and lines, OK to leave tank full as it should be contained. With proper precautions I see no reason to be alarmed. Running the blower is required after fueling and being at rest for a period of time with fuel flowing to the engine.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

an installed fuel tank vents OUTSIDE the boat.... of course there is a reason to be concerned

 

[limitout]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

I've never heard that an electric heater is more energy efficient than gas. That would surprise most of the people in my area.
I always thought the electric companies gave them away because they made so much money on the electricity used.

actually its a play on words, electric heaters are 100% efficient because all the energy goes into producing heat but gas heaters have to expel the carbon monoxide fumes so some heat is lost in this process so when measured its only around 80-90% efficient. that's where the tag line comes from.

now when you measure the "cost" to produce heat the gas heater gets hot faster and produces heat even after the gas is shut off as it cools down so the gas heater needs to run less to heat the same space so it saves you money and is more efficient in the heat vs cost to produce that heat category. also in extreme cold temps only gas can keep up with the heat load and electric heaters will run constantly making your electric bill soar.

I spent 35 years working in a/c & htg


as to the question of the garage, well if you have your lawn mower and a can of gas in there then that's 100 times more likely to catch fire then your boat. that said if you have a "dripping" fuel leak then that could be dangerous but not under normal conditions and as long as you are up to code and the water heater is at least 18" off of the floor then you are ok and its safe.

if you still have concerns then adding open vents in your garage door or outer wall will allow any build up of fumes to escape and take away any chance of that danger.

I have also built a closet around the water heater but that requires an added vent through the wall to give it the fresh air it needs for proper combustion. this solution will make a wife happy if she continues to drive you nuts worrying about nothing. just be sure to leave the exhaust vent alone because you don't want to mess with it and cause any co2 leaks

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

Make sure your homeowners policy is up to date and run with it. As stated most of us have other gas powered equipment and never have any issues.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

To add to what Limitout has said. Commercial Electricity is produced by steam turbines, where the water is turned to steam by using some kind of fuel (Gas, coal, Hydro..). These are about 64% efficient. (see heat engine efficiency equation) So unless the electric water heater is 36% more efficient that the gas water heater, due to better insulation (not bloody likely), the gas water heater is much more efficient.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

So unless the electric water heater is 36% more efficient that the gas water heater, due to better insulation (not bloody likely), the gas water heater is much more efficient.

Or......you have a heat pump water heater My FIL installed one two years ago and he's very happy with it.

[SIZE=-1]Water Heater Type [/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]Efficiency (EF) [/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]Installed Cost[/SIZE][SUP][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-3]1[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SUP]	[SIZE=-1]Yearly Energy Cost[/SIZE][SUP][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-3]2[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SUP]	[SIZE=-1]Life (years)[/SIZE][SUP]3[/SUP]	[SIZE=-1]Total Cost (Over 13 Years)[/SIZE][SUP][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-3]4[/SIZE][/SIZE][/SUP]
[SIZE=-1]Conventional gas storage[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]0.60 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$850 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$350[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$5,394 [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=-1]High-efficiency gas storage[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]0.65 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$1,025 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$323[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$5,220 [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=-1]Condensing gas storage[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]0.86 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$2,000 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$244[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$5,170 [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=-1]Conventional oil-fired storage[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]0.55 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$1,400 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$654[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]8[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$11,299 [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=-1]Minimum Efficiency electric storage[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]0.90 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$750 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$463[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$6,769 [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=-1]High-eff. electric storage[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]0.95 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$820 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$439[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$6,528 [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=-1]Demand gas (no pilot)[/SIZE][SIZE=-2] 5[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]0.82 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$1,600 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$256[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$4,925 [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=-1]Electric heat pump water heater[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]2.20 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$1,660 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$190[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$4,125 [/SIZE]​
[SIZE=-1]Solar with electric back-up[/SIZE]	[SIZE=-1]1.20 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$4,800 [/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$175[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]13[/SIZE]​	[SIZE=-1]$7,072 [/SIZE]​

http://aceee.org/consumer/water-heating

 

[ShoalSurvivor]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

You are storing your boat for the winter, make sure their is NO fuel to cause a problem. Drain everything from carb and lines, OK to leave tank full as it should be contained.

We live in San Diego.... there is no such thing as winter

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

Dingbat, You do realize that chart is proproganda. Heatpumps are simply central air conditioners, that can work in reverse in the winter, "pumping heat" instead of pumping cold air. They are only suitable in moderate climates, because when the ambient temperature falls below 32*F there is not enough "Heat" to pump. Most have supplemental electrical resistance heating for those days. You want some expense, heat your house with electrical resistance.

For example, a heatpump is using electricity to heat water. Since the cost of generating electricity is already a minimum of 36% more than any fossil fuel, running the heatpump compressor to produce heat would need to cost 36% less than directly heating water with a flame. I do not see how that is possible, given EER ratings of air conditioning systems.

Heatpumps have one advantage. You only need to buy one system, not a central air conditioner, plus a furnace and water heater. You pay for this in the cost to run the heatpump. They are also very popular in areas that do not have a natural gas supplier.

That chart has probably been skewed to show a climate perfectly suited to heat pumps. It likely does not apply to anyone in the north or south. Remember "there are lies, there are damned lies and then there is statistics".

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Is it safe to store boat in garage w/H2O heater???

Ummm, I have a heat pump in Wisconsin, works fine. Of course it uses the earth not ambient outside air. Called geothermal and cost a lot but runs very cheaply.