Diesel Heaters

[nicho]

After many years of Eberspacher heaters in various boats, often troublesome, we have just bought a boat with newish (3 years old) Webasto heater fitted. I have to say I am impressed - quieter, no annoying tick tick from the fuel pump, and seemingly more powerful and very quick to warm up. Helps that the trunking has heavy insulation on it too. Hope it continues!

 

[eebygum]

After a wee trip along the La Manche last week while the 'Troll of Trondheim' was blasting the UK with artic winds led me to two conclusions:

1. I need better winter sailing gloves; and
2. I need to fit a heater.

After spending yesterday reading up on installing heaters I wonder if a 2 or 5 kw heater would be best on the boat, 10.10m (33 ft in old money).

Trips to the Faroes and Iceland are on the bucket list.

I have a Chinese 2K (everything apart from the heater and fuel pump replaced with proper marine parts) on my 10m SHE 32C with just the one outlet into the Saloon (on a long silicone hose, which is insulated) which works absolutely fine, usually it has to be turned down low once warmed up.

I'm also looking to go the Faroe Islands late July.

 

[arc1]

Went for this in the end.

12V Air diesel Heater LCD Display For Trucks MotorHomes Boat Bus Car 5KW | eBay

and have been recommended to use

Truck, Boat & Marine Heaters, Service Kits and Parts

To upgrade bits so that it is suitable for marine use.

There is a whole planet of geeky YouTubers doing all sorts of stuff with them. Lots of information about aftermarket control panels, piping and tanks. My current thinking is I'll run this off a seperate tank and not use the engine one.

Exactly what I ordered (mine was same supplier but red!) also used Mellor for marine spec parts. Went to town with the geeky YouTube videos, installed just over a year ago and more than happy with it. Used main diesel tank but only because pickup and line was already there. Added extra insulation wrap on the exhaust and insulated the hot air trunking as well.

 

[Sandy]

Exactly what I ordered (mine was same supplier but red!) also used Mellor for marine spec parts. Went to town with the geeky YouTube videos, installed just over a year ago and more than happy with it. Used main diesel tank but only because pickup and line was already there. Added extra insulation wrap on the exhaust and insulated the hot air trunking as well.

I need to take a look at the tank, I recall a thing that looks like another tube coming out of the top that might be usable.

Having a separate heater tank is appealing as I could burn any dodgy diesel in the heater.

 

[steveeasy]

I need to take a look at the tank, I recall a thing that looks like another tube coming out of the top that might be usable.

Having a separate heater tank is appealing as I could burn any dodgy diesel in the heater.

Defiantly my preference too. Much easier to keep an eye on fuel used for the heater. some people dont fit an exhaust, Im in two minds about that one.
Steveeasy

 

[Little Dorrit]

Another a

I need to take a look at the tank, I recall a thing that looks like another tube coming out of the top that might be usable.

Having a separate heater tank is appealing as I could burn any dodgy diesel in the heater.

It also gives you the option to run the heater on kerosene which is considered the best fuel to run diesel heaters on (I assume because it burns cleaner), although there appear to be various opinions as to whether it really makes much difference; perhaps it prolongs the life of the glow plugs? Overall however the advantages of a separate tank seem to outweigh the disadvantages.

 

[wingcommander]

Defiantly my preference too. Much easier to keep an eye on fuel used for the heater. some people dont fit an exhaust, Im in two minds about that one.
Steveeasy

Think you may mean a silencer their Steveeasy , don't really advis Sans Exhaust.

 

[Sandy]

It also gives you the option to run the heater on kerosene which is considered the best fuel to run diesel heaters on (I assume because it burns cleaner), although there appear to be various opinions as to whether it really makes much difference; perhaps it prolongs the life of the glow plugs? Overall however the advantages of a separate tank seem to outweigh the disadvantages.

That is an option, but I can't justify carrying a fourth fuel type onboard. Just more storage issues; diesel, petrol and gaz is enough.

 

[vyv_cox]

Another a

It also gives you the option to run the heater on kerosene which is considered the best fuel to run diesel heaters on (I assume because it burns cleaner), although there appear to be various opinions as to whether it really makes much difference; perhaps it prolongs the life of the glow plugs? Overall however the advantages of a separate tank seem to outweigh the disadvantages.

Do not try to run an Autoterm (Planar) on kerosene. I understand that the heater will burn out.

 

[NormanS]

Do not try to run an Autoterm (Planar) on kerosene. I understand that the heater will burn out.

Ah, the joys of a genuine Eberspacher. Been running it exclusively on kero for years now, without any problems. Approx 100 litres per year. Mind you, it knows that if it gave any trouble, it would be changed for a Chinese one in a heartbeat. ?

 

[oldgit]

Having experienced 25 odd years of enduring ancient wheezy temperamental and basically curmugeonly old Ardic sand Eberspachers, festering in some inaccessible corner of the boat , can honestly say that only ever running them on some pretty grim quality "Red" was not the cause of their final demise.
Ardic was at least 20 years old when the electrikery clapped out and no spares , it was replaced a ex GPO van heater which was still going strong years later.
The Ebers which failed were simply not worth fixing due to cost of repairs, usually PCBS etc, which resulted in the Planar being installed.
The Planar fitted to my previous boat is still going strong without problems after several years, boat was sold to relative and have to walk past it most days.

 

[michael_w]

I've recently fitted an Autoterm heater, replacing a defunct Ebersplutter. The fitting kit supplied was very good, All the components grouped in bags and duly labeled with comprehensive instructions.

 

[contessaman]

After a wee trip along the La Manche last week while the 'Troll of Trondheim' was blasting the UK with artic winds led me to two conclusions:

1. I need better winter sailing gloves; and
2. I need to fit a heater.

After spending yesterday reading up on installing heaters I wonder if a 2 or 5 kw heater would be best on the boat, 10.10m (33 ft in old money).

Trips to the Faroes and Iceland are on the bucket list.

my experiences with heaters FWIW

my boat started out with a 5kw eberspacher heater ,worked well (38 ft ) but took too much electricity and sounded like a jet engine, so I took it off and sold it. Got good money for it.
I fitted ( I won’t lie it was a huge job to do it nicely) a Dickinson Newport heater and it’s wonderful. Think it’s around 5 kw too although I only ever run it on it’s lowest setting and that’s t shirt and boxers warmth with snow on the deck. if you spend a lot of time out of marinas like me then it’s zero current draw is a marvel. I fitted a 2 gallon day tank with a sight glass and an electric fuel pump from the main tank so I just stand there looking at the sight glass and pump the day tank (which lasts about 4 days ) full in a minute or two then no more electricity required after that.
i removed the in built fan and light it with meths like the Taylor’s on my old boat.

the only thing i found is being centre cockpit and mounting it on the main saloon bulkhead the heat doesn’t really get To the aft cabin enough and whilst it will work under sail the Dickinson lends itself more to use at anchor. So I fitted the smallest wallas heater to my aft cabin for instant heat and that’s great too, much more quiet than an eberspacher, and only takes 350ma on low.
the combination works well the little wallas is great for warming up of watch In heavy weather .

finally , regarding the Chinese copy eberspachers. I bought a 2kw for my 4x4 For a bit of a laugh. It’s been brilliant. Loads of trouble free use , very comprehensive fitting kit, but the one feature at least , in my view makes it way better than an eberspacher… on all my previous boats with eberspachers, you set a reference temperature and the heater does it’s level best to achieve it. Often this means the damned thing is cycling between power settings and sometimes even shutting down completely then re-lighting with all that glow plug current.
my cheap Chinese one … you can have a reference temp set, but you can also switch it into power mode and set a power from 1-8 and on level 1 it takes a low current , heats my 4x4 toastie and is quiet And just runs at a constant power level. Temperature regulation achieved by opening a window a bit! Brilliant.

regarding safety, carbon monoxide detector whatever eater you have , fire extinguishers and blankets and common sense if you are sleeping in a cabin can you get out of a hatch if the heater caught fire between you and the main hatch? Nothing is without risk you just have to do what you can. (almost ) anything is better than being cold