Backwards Heating

[yachtorion]

I'm still trying to work out the best way to heat my little 26 foot boat and get hot water.

Engine heat is out - my 1GM isn't going to cut it.

One obvious answer would be something like a ThermoTop - but I'm still worried about whether I can load it well to keep it reliable.

So I'm still looking at the Truma all-in-one boat boiler. The problem with that is I can't see a way to use it for central heating unless perhaps I have a circuit coming off it and going through a matrix heater with a gulper or something in the way... would that work?

 

[William_H]

I think one way to heat the boat would be to run copper pipe around near the floor level through which the hot water may be pumped. It may also be possible to get the hot water to flow the water getting colder in the pipes sinks dow and back to the tank allowing hot water in to complete the circuit. This does depend on the tank being at the same level as the mid level of the piping. It may end up anyway more convenient to pump the hot water around. Giving you easier control of the amount of water (time) ans so amount of cabin heating. Also will allow you to fit clothes dryer type rails up higher.
I would hope you do not need a radiator matrix and electric fan just to get heat from, the hot water into the air as in a car heater. good luck olewill

 

[charles_reed]

Eberspacher do a diesel boiler which can run up to 6 heater matrices and provide (almost) endless hot water. Saw one installed in a boat owned by a Swedish Lloyds Inspector. In the depth of a Roman winter it was using 1.4 litres diesel a day, heating a 40' boat.

 

[David2452]

You could look at installing a TTE instead of a C and run it on paraffin to counter the problems usually experienced with poor loading, perhaps a small buffer tank to assist in that regard too.

 

[yachtorion]

Hi David. The paraffin sounds like a really interesting option. I don't tend to worry too much about the diesel tank - I think my 1GM would run on pretty much anything and not really care. But a heater is an all together more delicate beast... Why an E over a C? Is there anything special required to make it run on Paraffin? Would it trash the warranty?

 

[David2452]

The E is 4kw against the C at 5.2kw so would cycle less and helps with coking, as does (quality) paraffin, no special requirement for running on paraffin but I usually run them before fitting and adjust the burn to make sure they are not running too hot. They are approved for paraffin when correctly installed so no warranty issues. Not good for the boosted heaters but all the others are fine on it.

 

[bjl]

How about a solid fuel heater, eg Dickinson, with a stove top for a kettle? No electricity required. You can get diesel powered versions too.

 

[yachtorion]

Eberspacher do a diesel boiler which can run up to 6 heater matrices and provide (almost) endless hot water. Saw one installed in a boat owned by a Swedish Lloyds Inspector. In the depth of a Roman winter it was using 1.4 litres diesel a day, heating a 40' boat.

Do you know the model? Something more like a combi boiler running off LPG or Diesel would be brilliant - as long as it's approved for marine use in a sea-going boat (rules out Propex Malaga etc).