Got a catalytic heater?

Seakindly

Seakindly

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Have browsed some threads on this but need a bit of advice: Marinestore chandlers have two sizes -mini and midi, roughly 1 and 2 kw respectively if I've converted BTU right. I'm happy with the condensation and oxygen issues as described elsewhere. Boat is well vented and I don't intend to have the thing on all the time, much less sleep with it. The dilemma is this: will the mini chuck out enough heat for my old boat (a Rival 32 - pretty small by todays 32' standards) - it'll certainly fit a bit better. On the other hand -the midi at 2kw will be pretty toasty v quick and I don't want to keep turning the thing on and off. Are they adjustable in output? If so, the midi is a better bet as same price as the mini and facility to really warm the boat an attraction. Any experiences welcome.
 
I don't know those particular models, but my antique Thermex has variable settings via a twist knob similar to a cooker. I would be surprised if this wasn't standard on all heaters. Why have an "on/off" button when variable twist controls are the standard for cookers & readily & cheaply available?:confused:

In which case I would advise the larger of the two as the full blast option offers a rapid start up & you can easily drop it down to tickover once you have a reasonable temp. That's what I do with mine, which I guess is about 2kw from the way it burns my face off if I get close to it when it really gets going. My boat is a 32" Pentland centre cockpit.

I have found that since I had a full cockpit enclosure fitted, the heater is far more effective as draughts are reduced & I get a warm porch area in the enclosed cockpit rather than just loosing all the heat when the hatch is opened for that essential ventilation.
 
Mine has no controller

I have had it "plumbed" in with a gas tap close to the fire, or had it connected directly to a gas bottle and use the controller on that.
 
Hi Seakindly,

We have the Mini. (There are various 'makes' of Mini and Midi (and Maxi?), but I think they are all the same, really, i.e. just badged.) We find it very useful in our 23 footer. The First Mate is particularly fond of it, and it made possible a single handed trip from Solent to Harwich I did one very icy week early last year. Ours has no adjustment, though if I remember rightly the Midi does. I have in practice been able to turn ours down a bit using the gas tap, but would have prefered an adjustable output one.

I would have thought that the Mini would be inadequate for a 32 footer, and that with the advantage of the adjustment available on the larger model(s), no point in skimping unless you are really pressed for space.

If you are very tight for space then beware. We were very restricted in available space, but established that we could fit the Mini in the only feasible space with 2mm width to spare, according to the dimensions provided. When we got the unit we found that dimensions weren't very realistic, as they excluded the control/start button, the folding stand, and the rather bulky (compared to overall size of the Mini) pipe fitting (which was also facing outwards and would mean that the gas supply pipe added significantly to the effective width). I think the depth dimension was also problematic, as it excluded the projections which lift the unit away from the bulhead behind (and so in our case the unit would have fouled an opening drawer).

It proved impractical to mount it where we'd planned because of the unexpected width and depth and, with nowhere else feasible in such a tight space as our cabin, we have it 'loose' on a flexible pipe. It is stored on its face in a tiny locker under the cooker, and in use sits on it's stand on a step below the cooker.

It is important to take care about ventilation, as you have recognised, and I would strongly recommend a separate gas shut-off tap. That said they are a good bit of kit (though if only we had room I'd have a solid fuel stove!) for taking the chill off the cabin and crew, but I'm sure you'll be better off with a larger model than we have.
 
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What the suppliers say

"I have just spoken to our suppliers and the heaters mini and midi unfortunately do not have a setting control, they are either on or off.

They have said that the heat output is quite high and if you have a small cabin the mini should be just fine for you.

I hope this is helpful.

Kind regards"
 
We have a couple of "Kontite therm'x" aboard. They have 3 positions of heat and there are two models.
338dsc - 6000btu/1700w, 9000/2600, 11000/3250 which seems a bit big for you, - and
326tc - 3000btu/900w, 4500/1300, 6000/1700 this one seems right and is what we've got on our 30' M/s (one in saloon one in aft cabin.)
Googling didn't produce a site, so here is some info from the paperwork:
Are/were manufactured by:
Societe Lyonnaise des Applications Catalytiques,
105, Avenue de 8 mai 1945,
69140 Rillieux La Pape / Lyon
France.

UK agent is/was:
Kay & Co (Engineers) Ltd.,
15, Exchange St.,
Bolton lancs BL1 1 RS
Tel Bolton 21041 !!!!!( See how old our boat is)

Even a secondhand one may be worth looking at, since the igniter is likely to be the only bit to go wrong - easily replaced with one from almost anything, or a match.
We like ours, and the only other advice in context, is to get some sort of heatshield/sheet to protect adjacent woodwork.
 
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