Dangerous diesel heaters impounded

[penfold]

Still don't understand why it takes a Gas Safe or HETAS trained person to install heating in a habitable building yet it's deemed ok to DIY when it comes to boats with confined spaces.

That's not true though, although vested interests will tell you otherwise.

 

[Hot Property]

I’ve got two. Had one in the last boat for years.
Many people do. They’ve been on sale for ten years or so.
How many instances have been reported?
Quaking in my boots I’m not.

None as I understand things....

I have 2 too.

Superheat6k will be along shortly!

 

[Greg2]

They're fine if you use your brain..

I don’t have a strong view one way or the other but I guess this sums up the importance of such kit meeting certain standards because many just don’t have the knowledge or skills to ditch and replace the bad bits and keep the good stuff
.

 

[henryf]

I use them and dare I say the dreaded term 'common sense' springs to mind. Yes the fuel hoses on some are cr*p and the silencer needs to go in the bin but I have Marine grade exhaust pipework / outlets and the fuel pipework is the same. I also have a CO meter which I would have for any branded heater and hey presto so far the Chinese ones have done what the Eberspacher was unable to do. Work!
The biggest issue for some is because the Chinese ones are very cheap, they open up the market to many many people who couldn't afford anything like a Webasto or Eberspacher which means much greater chance for badly fitted ones etc. But that isn't a reason to demonise them. They're fine if you use your brain..

Have you not just supported the actions of trading standards in your response?

by your own admission the fuel hoses are sub standard and the silencer is useless because, as I understand it they leak exhaust gasses, essentially turning your boat into a hosepipe from the exhaust back into your car scenario.

You can’t sell a product to the general public which is unsafe as supplied.

 

[henryf]

None as I understand things....

I have 2 too.

Superheat6k will be along shortly!

I’ve read of several instances where people died from carbon monoxide poisoning on boats.

clearly there is a concern otherwise trading standards would not seize the items or do you think there’s some conspiracy going on between the brand names and trading standards with brown envelopes being passed in pub car parks?

People freely admit elements of the kit are scrap as supplied.

I’m currently driving round Thailand where hundreds and thousands of motorcyclists seem to think it fine not to have working lights at night. Their argument, like many on here is they haven’t been hit so all is well. Common sense and logic would suggest that having working lights will lessen your chances of dying.

 

[Elessar]

I’ve read of several instances where people died from carbon monoxide poisoning on boats.

clearly there is a concern otherwise trading standards would not seize the items or do you think there’s some conspiracy going on between the brand names and trading standards with brown envelopes being passed in pub car parks?

People freely admit elements of the kit are scrap as supplied.

I’m currently driving round Thailand where hundreds and thousands of motorcyclists seem to think it fine not to have working lights at night. Their argument, like many on here is they haven’t been hit so all is well. Common sense and logic would suggest that having working lights will lessen your chances of dying.

Yes. Re CO. The one I read about was a genuine eberspacher. Don’t know of any that were with the cheap Chinese ones - though there may be. It will be down to the installation.
I have a CO alarm in every cabin - not because of the make of my heaters but because I have CO producing devices including a heater.

 

[ChromeDome]

I have two Webasto heaters, but that's not because I have anything against Chinese variants. I just got an offer I couldn't resist.

The effort marketing has made over the past decades, to convince everyone they are professionals in disguise who just have to buy all the tools, has led to many hopeless (and dangerous) designs, contraptions and installations.

These, often more eager than skilled people, completely ignore that skilled craftsmen are experienced, educated and trained. For good reasons, not least because standards, laws and regulations apply.

Youtube has plenty of examples of these happy DIYs and the consequences of their efforts.

Random examples for your entertainment:

 

[SimonA]

I have been using a Chinaspacher for the last four years without incident, it passed the boat safety scheme too. They are supplied with exhausts for vehicles not boats which is why you throw away the entire exhaust and use a decent marine version. The last report of deaths from a diesel heater was caused by a Webasto silencer meant for a vehicle, these have a drain hole which leaks CO, on a vehicle this will be underneath and work as it should. It was the fitting that was deadly, not the heater.

 

[Bigplumbs]

And some carry on regardless who think they know best and are above the law, whats happened here is what I’ve said all the way along and glad it’s happened as it protects the innocent from the chancers.

So just ignoring the many many people who have them and are happy with them. You are just plain wrong and have no idea what so ever. Get one, try one and then comment. Until then keep quiet about those things you know nothing about

 

[Bigplumbs]

Still don't understand why it takes a Gas Safe or HETAS trained person to install heating in a habitable building yet it's deemed ok to DIY when it comes to boats with confined spaces.

It does not you are allowed to do it your self. An Englishman's home is his castle

 

[Bigplumbs]

Installed one on my boat 2 years ago and it's been brilliant. Common sense said bin the exhaust, some of the ducting and fittings and get marine grade.

If you can't work that out for yourself you really shouldn't be out on your own.

Quite right with a little common sense these heaters are very good indeed.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I have two Webasto heaters, but that's not because I have anything against Chinese variants. I just got an offer I couldn't resist.

The effort marketing has made over the past decades, to convince everyone they are professionals in disguise who just have to buy all the tools, has led to many hopeless (and dangerous) designs, contraptions and installations.

These, often more eager than skilled people, completely ignore that skilled craftsmen are experienced, educated and trained. For good reasons, not least because standards, laws and regulations apply.

Youtube has plenty of examples of these happy DIYs and the consequences of their efforts.

Random examples for your entertainment:

And there are many Many examples of so called Professionals who have no idea and also DIY'ers who do excellent Jobs.

In my view those people who cant or often wont do DIY like to run down those that do, simply because they want to make themselves feel better for either not trying or being lazy.

I have a very lazy mate who so often says that 'He had it (What ever it might be) Professionally installed.......... Last thing this applied to was 2 fence panels where the posts were already there.

 

[paradave]

It does not you are allowed to do it your self. An Englishman's home is his castle

Ok

 

[Boat2016]

It does not you are allowed to do it your self. An Englishman's home is his castle

You really don’t know what you’re talking about, you can’t just do as you please when it comes to heating appliances, i would research the subject before writing.

 

[superheat6k]

None as I understand things....

I have 2 too.

Superheat6k will be along shortly!

I'm staying out of this discussion.

 

[Boat2016]

So just ignoring the many many people who have them and are happy with them. You are just plain wrong and have no idea what so ever. Get one, try one and then comment. Until then keep quiet about those things you know nothing about

I really don’t care how many people have them or not, the fact that they’re illegal to sell (proven by the fact the latest batch have been seized) confirms what I already knew. I have no intention of buying one and don’t support manufactures that steal designs from others to flood the market with cheap cr** that’s not fit for purpose.

 

[Martxer]

Quite right with a little common sense these heaters are very good indeed.

Many out there with no common sense at all

 

[graham]

With the price of gas through the roof I suspect many of these will be fitted in houses now which may explain trading standards sudden interest.

 

[ChromeDome]

And there are many Many examples of so called Professionals who have no idea and also DIY'ers who do excellent Jobs.

In my view those people who cant or often wont do DIY like to run down those that do, simply because they want to make themselves feel better for either not trying or being lazy.

I have a very lazy mate who so often says that 'He had it (What ever it might be) Professionally installed.......... Last thing this applied to was 2 fence panels where the posts were already there.

I'm certain you note my "skilled" in the text.

 

[Rappey]

cheap cr** that’s not fit for purpose.

Please tell us why they are they cr*p or, is this your uneducated opinion ?
I saw a moody go up in flames caused by an eberspacher yet I can't find a single case online of a Chinese parking heater doing the same ?
Mine is 4 years old and runs as it should.
Watched a "van life" guy take his heater apart for its first service where its spent nearly all its run time on low and after 2500 hrs it was still really clean inside and just needed new fan bearings.
He had power failure one day when it was running at full power and it didn't go up in flames or melt. It fired back up when power was re supplied.
Another event was when he was maneuvering in deep snow which plugged the exhaust causing a shutdown.
Unless you have first hand experience with one of these heaters then how can you possibly make judgement ?