Diesel Fired Heaters

[david_bagshaw]

To isolate ticking pumps I have found hanging the pump by thick rubber bands works very well,

<hr width=100% size=1>David
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net>http://www.euroboating.net</A>

 

[cliff]

O.K. good points about the tick, tick of the pump but what about size of heater?

1.9kw or 3.5kw - boat is a Sadler 34. I do fancy the bigger unit but is it really needed/worth the extra?


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[penultimate]

I had a Mikuni MY30 for 12 years. Only disadvantages: 20 amps (at 24 volts) startup, only 2 heats (hot & very hot), and corrosion of mild steel parts. Quoted £250 to overhaul in 2001 so bought an Eberspacher D4 at a Boat Show offer price plus a further £200 reduction if I used my existing trunking, induction and exhaust lines. The Eberspacher uses only 8 amps at startup and with 4 levels of heat control is very flexible. This heater became unreliable at startup after just 4 months use. In spite of Eberspacher's agents reneging on the promised refund they spent many hours on the boat and in their workshop in an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the problem. This included changing the entire exhaust and induction systems, changing the fuel pump and delivery hose. The problem is worse if the batteries are on charge. On shore power the Invac charger is regulated at 28.6v, and on engine the Adverc system 27.5 - 28.5v at the batteries (29v at the alternator). The Operating Instructions and Service Book state that the upper voltage limit is 28v. Eberspacher refused to comment on this but offered to fund a "an independent electrical review of the boat ..... if the report comes back with faults in the supply to our equipment then we must look to you for recovery of these costs and those to date". My boat is 30 years old and I felt this an unreasonable reponse". The heater continues to work well but in order to start it I frequently have to put a vacuum cleaner on the exhaust (which is through the cockpit coaming). So you may recognise me, if at 0530 you see an old man flourishing a vacuum cleaner "in utter nakedness But trailing clouds of glory" (diesel fumes)

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[Robin]

I am begining to give up any idea of repairing or replacing the Eberspacher that came with our boat having read all the current forum posts and talked to many friends with them. Ours was non functional when we bought the boat (broken control panel) but in any case hadn't been used for 6 years with the boat in the Med and laid up in winters, so now unused for 9 years. We only find a need for heating maybe 4 weekends per year when we do not have access to shorepower, otherwise we have always managed very well with a simple 220v thermostatic fan heater. We were thinking of reviving or replacing the existing unit really only to cover 4 weekends or so when we would ordinarily not have access to shorepower, but in reality we could have this anyway if I wasn't too mean to pay for a marina berth! The difference in cost for 2 nights visitor berthing in say Yarmouth/Lymington versus staying in Berton/Lymington Haven marinas is around £40 total for us, or say £160 per season, from what I hear that is probably much cheaper than maintaing an Eberspacher, let alone buying a new one and then maintaining it as well.

Then of course there are other options, like a Taylors type diesel/paraffin heater or even a simple gas catalytic one albeit with it's added condensation problem. Or better stil we could take off and move somewhere with a better climate!

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[Oldhand]

Agreed, still run an Ardic, completely reliable and one of the few heaters specifically designed and manufactured for marine installation.

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[sphynx]

So Glad to see all this info on diesel heaters. My wife and I been looking into this problem too, but obviously posted our question in the wrong forum around 2 weeks ago as this one is far more active by the looks of things.

Our question originally
' Hi all...
Before it gets too cold we've got to install a decent heating system on our boat! So far we've narrowed it down to a diesel fired system of around 9 KW using 5 or 6 radiators. Only thing is WHAT MaKE to go for?
We have priced Webasto, Mikuni, Kabola and Bubble -
Can anyone give some info / pros and cons on these makes and what might be preferable?

Cheers and thanks....'

By the way we have a 70x15ft steel barge and are living aboard permanently. (very little cruising planned at this stage).Only recently new boat owners, so learning FAST!!

Kabola unfortunately was out of our price range. So been looking into webasto- and have been told very similar stories about it as the Eber.

Also been looking into oil-fired aga/rayburn cookers as possible solution.

If any more info on webasto/ rayburn cookers then would greatly appreciate it, otherwise it sounds as though you all may have sold us on a Mikuni instead.

Cheers and Thanks again.........


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[towzer240]

try your local plumbing shop for domestic diesel boiler/combi boiler, they do small ones. it would be ideal for a large barge.

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