Experience with Eberspecher heaters?

[olavs]

Friends
I'm looking for a new hot air cabin heater for my 33 ft. sailingboat. The Eberspecher D4 Marine seem to fit right in with the existing hot air tubing so I'm tempted to go for this particular heater. It also offers four different heating levels which seem practical. It even seems to beat most other heaters when it comes to current consumption.
They are however quite expensive compared to e.g. Mikuni and Wallas and I would like to know whether it's really value for money.
Does anyone out there have any experience with Eberspecher, and maybe the D4 in particular?

Thanks.

Regards
Olav Saastad
Norway

 

[hlb]

Dont know but my eberspecher has cost thousands in repair bills. Could have bought a new one three times over.

<font color=red> No one can force me to come here-----------
----- I'm a Volunteer! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

Haydn

 

[garvellachs]

We installed a D2 nearly 2 years ago and have been very pleased with it - so far it's been reliable and efficient. I liked the way it can run at different output levels according to the cabin thermostat without switching on and off in between.

 

[HaraldS]

Have 2 Ebersbachers in my boat. A DL5 and a DL3. Took three attempts by Ebersbacher in Sweden to the get two new units working so that they wouldn't shut down after an hour or so. That was three years ago.
Today the DL 5 seems to work ok. though I wouldn't trust it to keep working unattended for a longer period. The smaller DL 3 seems to have problems. When I tried it while I was in the cold north early this summer, I smoked badly and would eventually shut down.
We are now in warmer climates and I don't care much about it working or not. I did take the unit out and tried to clean it and found lot's of carbon in the chamber, cleaned it as good as I could, but it still smokes.
In short, I'm not impressed.

 

[david_bagshaw]

Have a D 7L which has been very reliable, any problems have been due to service agents & original installation rather than the Eb design it self.

Dont be tempted to add more outlets , or have longer pipe runs than recmmended, as this leads to problems.

unit mnow over 15 yrs old, one major re build, £700, (truck dealer) one minor a year later £200, by my self, three further trouble free years, so far.


eats start plugs, one every 18 months £ 50.

good luck

David
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net>http://www.euroboating.net</A>

 

[pvb]

Good products...

I've had Eberspachers on my current and last 2 boats. Good products. Important to use them regularly, and particularly important to run them on full power for reasonable periods. Haven't had any real service problems. Never replaced a glow plug. Never had a regular service.

 

[Johnjo]

Had one fitted new in a lorry some years back,never any problems with it,
Can not remember which model though, Often thought about fitting one in the boat ,Apparantly lorry breakers sell them off at a reasonable price,don\t
know if they would have high enough output though
mike 27

 

[dickh]

Sailing Today has a test on boat heaters in the current issue, both gas and diesel models tested on a number of a Sailing School boats.
Cheapest appear to be the Propane gas ones for initial purchase, but diesel ones cheaper to run.

dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Strathglass]

When they get older they will only work when the engine is running as they become more voltage dependant. They (eberspecher) are still one of the best ways to heat a boat. Current models are much quieter and less power gready than earlier ones.
Iain

 

[billmacfarlane]

I had a D4L Airtronic fitted last winter and it's been great. Probably not the quietest heater you can fit but very fuel and power efficient. I've not had a single problem yet and neither did I with my last one , a DL1C which ran in my last boat for 12 years.

 

[spannerman]

Hei Olav, I am a boat mechanic and electrician in Stavanger, and have fitted many heating systems, I had an Eberspacher in my boat but it packed up after a year, I now have Wallas D300 and it works fine plus having repaired both types I can tell you the Wallas is easier to fix, Har det bra Steve

 

[Guest]

I fitted an Eberspacher D4 twin outlet one year ago. I have found it brilliant - drying out my 34ft boat in no time. I am worried when I read other peoples posts about their experiences with apparantly older models. I would not buy a gas heater due to the amount of water generated.

 

[bedouin]

The gas heaters mentioned above (e.g. the Propex) are blown air heaters which work in the same way as the diesels and so do not generate water.

I'm still trying to decide between the two types.

 

[JamesS]

I've had a DL3 for the past 6 years, no problems at all and would certainly buy again.

I say no problems - last weekend,for the first time, it blew its main fuse so it was a trip to Halfords for a replacement!

Cheers

 

[tome]

Olav

My boat had a D3L fitted in 89. When I bought her this year it wasn't working, but after replacing the main fuse carrier and some minor rewiring it's worked fine ever since. My last boat had a Wallas and I had to replace the pump and burner 2 years ago. New owner has just told me that the new burner has failed again!

I much prefer the Eberspacher. It's very efficient and I can adjust it for heat output, which is great. Mine is located in the lazarette and has become corroded so I expect it wil fail sometime. When it does, I will replace it with a D4!

Hilsen fra England
Tom