Gas-blown heating

I have used Propex heaters for a number of years, both in the boat (where the electrics need protection) and in the campervan. Cheaper by quite a lot than Eversplasher to buy, arguably with the rising cost of diesel, cheaper to run as well tho I have no way of checking this. The 3kw rated version in my Campervan warms us up incredibly effciently, and is pumping hot air within about 2 minutes of switch on.

They are also claimed to be quieter than diesel models, but mine is definitely noisier than the Eber in the mobility Minibus I drive at work.
 
There was a Propex one fitted to the Jaguar 25 I had. The Surveyor wasn't impressed as it's run off gas. Ok a diesel heater may use less flammable fuel but if you have a gas cooker, I don't see the reasoning how it can be OK to use gas for Cooking and not Heating.

It worked OK, warmed the boat up quite quickly, but I can't say how much power it used, we didn't use it much.
 
Pick up a cheap old one off Ebay, and you will get a massive discount for P/ex. Except cheap old ones dont turn up all that often - probably all been p/exed! I did even better and got a warranty return re-worked one which with P/ex gave me around 40% off list! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Oh I would love a gas cooker, but not on my boat!
I prefer to have less and am guaranteed not to have a gas explosion.
I only have an Origo 2 burner stove where some Twister owners have a full gas stove. The Origo is simple, relatively inexpensive, safe and controllable and very easy to use. They do lack a grill but you can get them with an oven...... sorry to go on but I've seen too much evidence every year of boats exploding due to a gas problem. Therefore.... no gas on my boat although I did momentarily consider a gas heater.
My thoughts are now coming round to Webasto diesel heater as I hear far less problems exist with them than Eberspacher and can be found at lower cost.
I know you can have gas alarms and have safety checks etc. but why increase the risks of sailing a yacht by having gas on board?
 
Not of all these boat fires were caused by gas. The Birchwood in Old Windsor Lock may have been a petrol explosion and the second YouTube item shows a man sprinkling petrol on the boat and setting fire to it.
 
We have a Propex and it has been extremely reliable. It works pretty well but it's worth mentioning that if you run them on Butane, they don't work too well in cold (!) weather because the gas freezes after a while when running. Much better on propane, I'm told.
 
"why do people still persevere with gas when there are far safer ways?"

Nothing unsafe about a gas installation if it is properly installed, properly maintained, and correctly used.

It only becomes unsafe when people become careless with it.
 
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