Has anyone installed a Bengco solid fuel marine heater?

ThomasBoard

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I'm looking into options for a marine heater for my classic yawl (Frenesi of Clynder, a 44ft LOA McGruer Yawl), and came across this product in Classic Boat's classified ads. Has anyone experience of using this heater? Or does anyone have advice on alternatives?

I've considered a Taylors Diesel drip feed heater, and the Eberspacher range of heaters. I prefer the look of the Taylors, plus the fact it doesn't use electricity (unless fed by pump from the fuel tank). Any others I should consider?

Also any advice on the best type of heater for a source of dry heat?

Much appreciated!

Thomas Board
 
If you are going down the charcoal heater route you will need more than one heater to be effective in a 44fter!

Personally I use a Pansey Atkey - which I like very much. The ash is messy and this winter I am building a mantle shelf under the thing to allow for a cleaner ash tray removal. For your sized yacht I would go for a Davey's solid fuel or a Faversham stove mounted on the sole; the heat output is much much more. Dickinson's in America do a bulkhead mounted Newport solid fuel heater, but they are quite small for a 44fter too.
 
Many thanks. I'll look into your suggestions.

I'm not too keen on a floor mounted heater as this would involve some rearranging of the interior, which is mostly original. Hence I was thinking of bulkhead mounted options, but I take your point about size of the boat and output of the floor mounted heaters.

Any comments on the eberspacher or taylors options?

Many thanks.
Thomas
 
There are two main things to consider.

Firstly, will you be wanting to sleep whilst the heater is on? If the answer is yes, then I would be very wary of ANY gravity or pressure fed paraffin or diesel system. Solid fuel is the way to go (IMHO).

Secondly, will you want to heat the boat whilst sailing? If this is the case you need to mount the flu with the low pressure area of the "slot". Solid fuel will simpy not work anywhere else.
 
I have just bought but not yet installed a Dickenson newport solid fuel heater from Canada. It is bulkhead mounted, but I can fit it very low down. Stove plus damper, pipes, cowl and cap came to £600 net of Kuranda's LIBS 10% discount. My hopes are high... I would have gone for a bigger unit but space is tight. Also I have little space for an oil tank, no gas on board, no desire for Eberspacher type units and I like to see the fire.
 
Dont know yet, but I doubt it. You slide a ceramic tile up, to reveal a perforated metal grille, through which (in theory) the gently glowing coals will be visible. So I dont think toast will be on. BUT. You can also open the loading door to expose the fire, but you'd then be presenting the toast at a steep downward angle to get close, so it would have to be very well attached to the fork or there might be a disastrous 'toast in the fire' incident
Newport stove
 
Absolutely correct.

Very sound advice - i would just ad- don't use it under way with the spray hood up, if you have one - creates a low pressure area in the cabin.

Pauk Luke in the USA makes very nice soapstone stoves that would suit a Mcgruer boat. Cost a fortune, though.
 
Interesting website.

Tools there I've never heard of, e.g.

"Yurt Makers Carrot - an invaluable tool for burning out the square holes around the Wheel of the yurt. Simply heat one up in the fire and when red hot, push it into the pre-drilled holes around the wheel to give even tapered holes all around. £28 or £50/pair)"
 
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