Charcoal Heaters

[Relax]

You already have diesel onboard, have you considered a diesel stove?
This is my Sigmar 100 available from Kuranda. No electrics required, in my case it's gravity fed from the main tank.

In addition, for instant heat I have a Webasto 2000 which uses very little electricity.

How did you get on with insulating around your stove?

I am strongly considering fitting one in the next few weeks - having not gotten on with the Eperspacher fitted - but was a wee bit concerned about the proximity of the bulkheads - though in truth the situation looks very similar to yours, in fact I think your locker side is nearer than mine!

The boat is a Dockrell 37 and I was going to insulate the bulkheads with 12mm Supalux with travertine or quarry tiles on top - is this necessary? I plan to use a 12 litre header tank very close to the heater and feed this from the main diesel tank by an 'SU' or similar pump.

 

[William_H]

Well I am slightly horified at the idea of removing and Eber to fit a charcoal or even diesel stove. I appreciate the problems of supplying electricity to the Eber. I would suggest OP tackles that problem. Sure I would fit a charcoal stove if I had nothing but to have an Eber fitted what a backward step to remove it.
As said a wind turbine might provide the power. That is assuming solar is not good in winter and OP does not have access to shore power. Perhaps another battery increase in capacity would help. Depending on shore power availability versus rely on engine alternator for charging. Perhaps a smart alternator controller would help.
All above said from a point of view of boat home for winter and never having felt need rfor a boat heater. good luck olewill

 

[john_morris_uk]

Well I am slightly horified at the idea of removing and Eber to fit a charcoal or even diesel stove. I appreciate the problems of supplying electricity to the Eber. I would suggest OP tackles that problem. Sure I would fit a charcoal stove if I had nothing but to have an Eber fitted what a backward step to remove it.
As said a wind turbine might provide the power. That is assuming solar is not good in winter and OP does not have access to shore power. Perhaps another battery increase in capacity would help. Depending on shore power availability versus rely on engine alternator for charging. Perhaps a smart alternator controller would help.
All above said from a point of view of boat home for winter and never having felt need a boat heater. good luck olewill

I agree. Each to their own but fixing the electrics problem and making the Eber work properly would be far cheaper, easier and less messy and far less hassle than fitting a charcoal stove.

With respect to the OP there's a bit of romantics nostalgia in his logic.

But who am I to speak? We could have bought a modern completely efficient double glazed and insulated house, but instead we refurbished and extended an 18C thatched cottage. It looks very pretty but has no damp course and we are not allowed double glazing in most of the property. 1metre thick stone walls don't have very good indulation and need to be kept warm. However everyone says it feels like a real home... (They don't have to pay the heating bills!)

 

[charles_reed]

Well I am slightly horified at the idea of removing and Eber to fit a charcoal or even diesel stove. I appreciate the problems of supplying electricity to the Eber. I would suggest OP tackles that problem. Sure I would fit a charcoal stove if I had nothing but to have an Eber fitted what a backward step to remove it.
As said a wind turbine might provide the power. That is assuming solar is not good in winter and OP does not have access to shore power. Perhaps another battery increase in capacity would help. Depending on shore power availability versus rely on engine alternator for charging. Perhaps a smart alternator controller would help.
All above said from a point of view of boat home for winter and never having felt need rfor a boat heater. good luck olewill

Quite understand anyone ditching an Eberspacher - when faced with a repair bill.

Stoves are great, but anything but a charcoal one produces so much smoke on lighting..

Personally, I've taken the lazy way out and use a small electric fan heater - even when PaYG shorepower it's less costly than the alternatives, both capital (£12) and running costs.

 

[john_morris_uk]

One more thought. If the OP can't find the electric for his Eber, it really makes me concerned about the electric power management on the boat. The Eber only uses a few amps when running - about the same as a few lights on below deck and only fractionally more than some plotters. I wonder whether amps in and amps out has been calculated and the battery capacity and charging regime and facility is up to spec? As someone else has said, small wind generator would easily run the Eber.

 

[onesea]

Well I am slightly horified at the idea of removing and Eber to fit a charcoal or even diesel stove. I appreciate the problems of supplying electricity to the Eber. I would suggest OP tackles that problem. Sure I would fit a charcoal stove if I had nothing but to have an Eber fitted what a backward step to remove it.
As said a wind turbine might provide the power. That is assuming solar is not good in winter and OP does not have access to shore power. Perhaps another battery increase in capacity would help. Depending on shore power availability versus rely on engine alternator for charging. Perhaps a smart alternator controller would help.
All above said from a point of view of boat home for winter and never having felt need rfor a boat heater. good luck olewill

If your on swinging mooring and have limited charging increasing battery capacity will not help, its increased generating power that is the issue. Ebers are power hungry and not that cheap and can be problamatic to run, from what I can see.

I can see the OP's decision process as I am going towards the same decision but no Eber to remove.

I do not want a Wind Generator (ugly, expensive and noisy), Solar panels I have limited space for and where I have space they would be heavily stood on and partly shaded most of the time. My solution (and it seems the Ops) is to keep power usage to a minimum.

Now if some one had a small water driven electric generator I could use under sail, like those used in the Vendi at reasonable cost that would charge at 3-4 knots plus, then I would be all ears. Then my biggest power consumer is the Auto Pilot...

 

[JeffBoath]

Thanks for all the replies, contrary to a couple of posts there is no problem with either my eper or the boats electrics, all work fine. But I don't like the fact that the eper uses battery power to heat the boat. I am bit of an old romantic as stated, I guess that's why I want a charcoal / diesel / paraffin heater, I think they look great and give of a lovely heat. If we always applied logic to every decision we make, surely none of us would ever sail again.

 

[jerrytug]

Damn right, that's why I have replaced my Pansy charcoal heater with a 40 year old Webasto, I like tinkering with old German machinery. Apart from not having enough heat output for frosty weather, my main problem with the Pansy was the simplicity and reliability

 

[FWB]

How did you get on with insulating around your stove?

I am strongly considering fitting one in the next few weeks - having not gotten on with the Eperspacher fitted - but was a wee bit concerned about the proximity of the bulkheads - though in truth the situation looks very similar to yours, in fact I think your locker side is nearer than mine!

The boat is a Dockrell 37 and I was going to insulate the bulkheads with 12mm Supalux with travertine or quarry tiles on top - is this necessary? I plan to use a 12 litre header tank very close to the heater and feed this from the main diesel tank by an 'SU' or similar pump.

The Sigmar heater is supplied with some metal panels to fix to the bulkhead behind the flue. I fixed these to some heat insulating board..looks like asbestos, but isn't obviously. The heat radiates from the flue, the body of the heater is not that hot since it too is shielded. The flue has a guard to prevent accidents by touching it but also it acts as a heat exchanger. I've had it for 11 years now and the only service item is the mica window which needs replacing from time to time. It can blow out in strong winds, which is the only downside. I use it at anchor and use the Webasto for instant heat and when under sail in the winter.