Boat Heating

[kcollins]

I have a Princess 33 with a Propex heater (3 vents) that needs to be replaced. I was thinking of installing a Webasto or Eberspacher water heater with either a fan matrix or finrads and a twin coil calorifier. Does anyone have any experience of these systems? Would appreciate any help.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Either are good. Some people moan about Eber's, but its usually due to the glut of second hand ones available on e-bay and other sources. Installing a botched up second hand heater is not the way to get a reliable system.

We have a new Eber with its proper marine bits to install it and its never failed yet. Having said that Webasto have their fans as well. Pay your money and take your choice... Just make sure that you install it according to the manufacturers instructions.

 

[Csail]

Ive just got a webasto 3500 on order but what is so critical on installing it? loads of people mention installation.

 

[savageseadog]

[ QUOTE ]
Ive just got a webasto 3500 on order but what is so critical on installing it? loads of people mention installation.

[/ QUOTE ]Everything is critical, do not underestimate how much attention to detail is required

 

[aluijten]

There is one thing you should keep in mind. Neither the Webasto as the Eber are well suited for continuous operation. Both will most likely cease operation after 2 or 3 years. It's mainly the fan motor that is not designed for 24/7 operation. This motor is quite expensive to replace.
For occasional usage they both are excellent units.

So for liveaboards that live on a boat in a cold climate they are not very well suited.

Cheers,

Arno

 

[philip_stevens]

We've got an Eber Hydronic on our boat, with two small fin-rads - one in the main cabin, and one in the forward cabin. The boat gets very warm and cosy when we need them on - both rads have thermostatic valves on them.

We also have a twin coil calorifier, that can be heated from engine, Eber, or shore supply with the built-in immersion heater. So if we need hot water in the summer, and it is warm in the cabin, the stats keep the rads off.

I believe you can have either a gravity system with a header tank (as we have) or a pressure system with no header tank.

There are pdf copies of the installation/operation manuals on the WOABB site

 

[Trundlebug]

Don't rule out other makes of heater other than Web or Eber.

We have a Wallas heater, from www.kuranda.co.uk
and it's not only reliable but quiet and draws very little current. Those ebers, particularly, are whining noisy affairs.

 

[pcatterall]

I presume that the propex is gas fueled and blows hot air around/ what is wrong with it? and what size is it?
You could just replace it or slot in a eber/webasto blown air heatertaking advantage of the existing ducts.
Water circulating heaters are a bit more complicated to instal ( although 3/4" pipe is easier to feed around than 3" ducting)
but can heat your domestic water and warm your engine if desired. Can be quite costly if you buy makers fan/matrixes etc and dont forget extra amps for the fans etc.