bugs
New member
Im about to buy. Mikuni seem much cheaper. I gather Eberspacher is reliable.
Any positive or negative views?
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Any positive or negative views?
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Eberspacher vs Mikuni vs Webasco
- Thread starter bugs
- Start date
cpedw
Well-known member
I recently posted a very similar question on the Westerly Owners discussion group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Westerly-Owners
To find all the replies, look for message number 14116, Heating Options.
There are several opinions and experiences there. The widest used heater is Eberspacher. Most users are happy with them. But a few reckoned Webasto is more reliable and quieter but similar priced. Mikuni seemed to have fewer positive responses and some had serious problems. Wallas also had a few fans and their supplier, Kuranda, seemed very popular.
I was also taken with the idea of using hot water as a heating medium. The heater is cheaper and the piework much smaller than hot air ducting. We rejected that because it takes a while to warm the water then warm the boat.
In the end we chose Webasto 3500 for our Westerly Falcon (10 metres). Now about to start the installation so can't say more for a month or two.
Hope that's helpful.
Derek
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To find all the replies, look for message number 14116, Heating Options.
There are several opinions and experiences there. The widest used heater is Eberspacher. Most users are happy with them. But a few reckoned Webasto is more reliable and quieter but similar priced. Mikuni seemed to have fewer positive responses and some had serious problems. Wallas also had a few fans and their supplier, Kuranda, seemed very popular.
I was also taken with the idea of using hot water as a heating medium. The heater is cheaper and the piework much smaller than hot air ducting. We rejected that because it takes a while to warm the water then warm the boat.
In the end we chose Webasto 3500 for our Westerly Falcon (10 metres). Now about to start the installation so can't say more for a month or two.
Hope that's helpful.
Derek
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Talbot
Active member
if power consumption is a problem then eberspacher seems to have the edge. That is the system I chose last year and fitted in the sprong - very happy with it!
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dick_james
New member
I fitted a Mikuni four years ago. No problems to date. Eberspacher has more fan speeds I gather (Mikuni has two) but outrageously expensive.
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milltech
Active member
Is that right that it warms the water first? I used to have a Perkins galleypak diesel cooker that did CHW and CH and the radiators came up almost immediately, though of course the process of heating takes longer.
Winter I used to leave it on, just like at home, but I can see if it was just a few minutes whilst you get up that the air would be faster and better.
<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
Winter I used to leave it on, just like at home, but I can see if it was just a few minutes whilst you get up that the air would be faster and better.
<hr width=100% size=1>John
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.allgadgets.co.uk>http://www.allgadgets.co.uk</A>
longjohnsilver
Well-known member
Me too, v pleased with my Mikuni, also believe they are quieter running than Eberspacher.
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cpedw
Well-known member
The problem comes from aiming to heat water in the calorifier as well as radiators using the central heating water. I considered valves to isolate the calorifier for rapid heating but that was getting more complex than I wanted to go.
Even without that, yes the central heating water must be heated before it can heat the radiators which finally heat the air (which warms the sailors!). So there must be more of a delay though I don't know if it would be significant.
Derek
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Even without that, yes the central heating water must be heated before it can heat the radiators which finally heat the air (which warms the sailors!). So there must be more of a delay though I don't know if it would be significant.
Derek
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pvb
Well-known member
If you want a very quiet system...
If you want a very quiet hot air system, the answer is to include a silencer in the ducting as the hot air leaves the heater. Silencers are about twice the diameter of ordinary ducting and about 50cm long. Virtually all the fan noise is removed.
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If you want a very quiet hot air system, the answer is to include a silencer in the ducting as the hot air leaves the heater. Silencers are about twice the diameter of ordinary ducting and about 50cm long. Virtually all the fan noise is removed.
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AuntyRinum
Well-known member
Had an Eberspacher fitted last week and at night the banging from the fuel pump is so annoying I've switched it off. In the day don't seem to notice it.
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pvb
Well-known member
Fuel pump noise...
Wrap the pump in foam rubber and mount it loosely - maybe with a cable tie around the foam.
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Wrap the pump in foam rubber and mount it loosely - maybe with a cable tie around the foam.
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longjohnsilver
Well-known member
Re: Fuel pump noise...
Or screw it onto a bulkhead with a good thick piece of neoprene between them.
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Or screw it onto a bulkhead with a good thick piece of neoprene between them.
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HaraldS
New member
Have two Eberpacher DL5 and DL3 in my boat and a diesel Webasto in my car.
No problems with the car one. Both Eberspacher never really worked well, the smaller one worse. Several attemps under warranty in the first year, still they don't run longer than an hour without intervention and the smaller one smokes badly. Haven't used them in a year now as I'm in warm climate now, but wouldn't buy Eberpacher again.
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.taniwani.de>http://www.taniwani.de</A>
No problems with the car one. Both Eberspacher never really worked well, the smaller one worse. Several attemps under warranty in the first year, still they don't run longer than an hour without intervention and the smaller one smokes badly. Haven't used them in a year now as I'm in warm climate now, but wouldn't buy Eberpacher again.
<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.taniwani.de>http://www.taniwani.de</A>
pvb
Well-known member
Eberspacher...
I've only experienced Eberspacher heaters - in 3 boats - and all very satisfactory. Current heater is 13 years old and is no trouble. I use the boat all year round so the heater gets a fair bit of use in the colder months. I think it's important to run these things regularly if you want to avoid problems, so I run it for half an hour every few weeks in the summer too. It's also important to run them on full heat regularly, to minimise carbon build-up (for this reason it's often wiser to choose the smaller version if your heat requirement is in between 2 models). The Eberspacher people seem helpful, and spares/service are easily available.
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I've only experienced Eberspacher heaters - in 3 boats - and all very satisfactory. Current heater is 13 years old and is no trouble. I use the boat all year round so the heater gets a fair bit of use in the colder months. I think it's important to run these things regularly if you want to avoid problems, so I run it for half an hour every few weeks in the summer too. It's also important to run them on full heat regularly, to minimise carbon build-up (for this reason it's often wiser to choose the smaller version if your heat requirement is in between 2 models). The Eberspacher people seem helpful, and spares/service are easily available.
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AuntyRinum
Well-known member
Re: Fuel pump noise...
Thank you. I'll try it.
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Thank you. I'll try it.
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