I find that I have enough hot water for an evening after leaving the dock, which is handy. But for that, I would get rid of the tank heater and put in a tankless and save the space. Eventually, I will use an engine-heated system - I have the new heater - just haven't had the time.

I have diesels so I don't need ignition protection, in fact that is why I have diesels. I don't know if you need ignition protection outside of the engine compartment or bilge - fastjeff would know.

Ignition protection applies to areas containing Engine spaces/fuel spaces. If you put the heater in the cabin (not my first choice by the way) it would be expempt just like a microwave or blender sitting in your galley.

I have seen more boat fires where the ignition source was in the cabin space after refueling. Folks forget to close windows doors in the cabin while fueling. They then pull away from the dock, and the gas fumes have collected in cabin and thena no ignition protected device becomes the ignition source and Ka Boom! I once investigated an explosion where the fellow went down into the galley while fueling and decided to turn on his blender to make margarettas blew him out the cabin door onto the dock. Cabin was destroyed but he was lucky only bruised and minor burns. Fire acutally blew itself out.

One should also NOT run blowers while actually fueling. Fumes can be sucked into the bilge through the intakes and may not have time to exhaust through the vent system prior to starting engines. After fueling has been completed is the best time to then run blowers and do NOT forget to open a hatch and use your nose! It still is the best fume detector out there!

safe boating,

dave