Heating aaaaaaaaargh

DoubleEnder

DoubleEnder

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I was absolutely set on a solid fuel stove but am now having desperate second thoughts and losing sleep. The interior is now going back in so decisions must be made soon.

I have very limited space (of course, its a 1930s designed sailing yacht). The only place I can fit a coal/charcoal stove will mean losing precious lockers. The fuel store will take up even more space.

I'm also a bit unkeen on the through deck and cowl business, and I do wonder how we deal with the situation where it's time to leave the boat but the stove's still alight.....?

So I am (pause, cross yourselves) thinking about a blown air diesel burner eg. Eber, Webasto, whatever. I can find space aft for the unit, and a single outlet would be enough.

I've read lots of threads on other fora, but wondered if anyone has experience relevant to a mahogany on oak carvel hull. Or can persuade me to hold the faith.

Thanks

Graham
 
The eberthingy is a brilliant piece of kit, however its main drawback on a boat like yours is it's power consumption, electrickery type! If you have big enough batteries and a way of charging them, then fine. But if not, you are stuck with solid or diesel/paraffin fired heater, the diesel/paraffin option is very good, smaller, already have diesel or small tank for paraffin takes up less room than solid for the same calories. all this IMHO of course.
 
I agree with that, despite being a solid fuel stove enthusiast myself. Another point in favour of the diesel or paraffin stove is that the flue and deck fitting may be smaller.

There is also the option of the Pansy charcoal stove, which also has a very small flue and deck fitting. Possibly on the small side for the boat.

One point to be sure of is to fit the stove low down in the boat. Otherwise you get a pool of cold are at foot level!
 
Hi !
I have an old solid fuel stove installed before winter on my schooner ; I exchange it complete with flue and Charley Nobble for a $ 60 winch so no contest !!
But I think the best piece of kit actually is the Force 10 small diesel heater ,it looks good,it works very well,use same fuel as your engine,and the flue is only 1" diameter !!
Does not cost much also !!
If you really want a solid fuel one ,check american stoves like the Sardine,little Cod .They are very beautifull and you can have them the color you want (at extra cost !!)
They are made in Lunenburg Nova scotia !!
If you can not find them on internet ,I do have pictures and specs on my PC !!
Contact infos on my website : www.mavourneen-mary.com
 
Yes !!
San Francisco bay is notorious for that !!
thanks for seeing my website !
 
I live on board a 42ft wooden boat.
I bought , about 8 yrs ago , a large taylors stove . It's deisel powered , has a glass panel on front so you see the flames, also iron hob on top so kettle always on boil.It has a water coil inside which I've nevar connected.I'd reccomend it to any one.never lets me down.prettywell fail safe ,and i often go away for days and leave it on.never had a problem.
 
28 ft iroko on CRE cutter. We have a full-sized domestic coal-stove! Gloriously warm in winter, lots of dry heat. When leaving boat, having allowed fire to burn down, we turn off damper (air inlet), check water reservoir around deck fitting is full, remove chimney extension and insert chimney plug. If you are going to sail all year-round, it is essential. Those lockers will only fill up with mouldy stuff that you do not need anyway!
A carbon-monoxide monitor is also a good idea, I have seen a fatality from a blocked boat chimney.
 
Romance or practicality?

Much depends on intended boat use.
I had visions of sitting below decks basking in the rosy glow from an open hearth...
In reality all that is needed is some warmth for a few hours in the evening and on getting up.
That's why I went the route of an Eber last year. Now when I get to the mooring I only have to switch on and I have warm air. The power drain is a consideration, so I supplemented generation with an additional solar panel.
When I take the boat out on a fronstbiter the Eber goes on half an hour before return to the mooring and have a warm cabin to thaw out in.
Compare that to having to set about lighting a solid fuel stove and waiting for it to get going, let alone carting and storing coal/wood/etc.
My set up has the Eber under the cockpit sole. The exhaust pipe is very well insulated to stop adjacent planks drying out. I have one outlet in the main cabin, but had to play around with the air inlet. Taking it from a cabin vent made it very noisy, so I have ducting to a rear lazarette. I have no loss of locker space.
The forward cabin gets some heat from the swivel nozzle on the outlet, but I left a Taylors-type paraffin heater in situ but it isn't used. Frankly I am frit of lighting the thing.
For the record, this is in a 30 foot mahogany on oak carvel.
 
Re: Romance or practicality?

I replaced my condensation giving Taylors diesel job with a really good solid fuel stove eight years ago and have never regretted it. Its called a Nelson stove and was designed to use standard copper water pipe as flue which keeps the cost down. I dont know if the guy is still in business but he was in Skegness and gave excellent service
The smoke head is important and I use a Jolie Brise type which draws well in most conditions.
Good luck
 
Taylors Diesel Heater

I went through the same agony two years ago when I was going to fit a solid fuel stove on my 23' gaffer. In the end I fitted a Taylors Diesel heater (the drip feed type, not the pressurised tank type that also burns paraffin). It is a wonderful compromise for a small boat with limited battery power.
 
I would agree.

My boats interier is small and I currently do not have heating but I have pondered on the options as I hope to retire in 3 years and would want to spend more time on her.
Solid fuel is for river boats where you can get solid fuel more easily than off shore cruising.
I fancy the taylors/force 4 heaters but to be fair I have not not been aboard a boat with this heating?
 
Taylors kero

I live aboard a 37ft motor yacht, and have found the Taylors paraffin/kero heater to be just perfect for me. The Taylors is mounted on a bulkhead between the saloon and the wheelhouse, about a foot from the sole, and warms my saloon really quickly. For the first warm up I can shut the saloon off from the rest of the boat, but after about half an hour i usually find myself opening everything up! The flue is only 1", and runs up through the wheelhouse from the saloon to warm there slightly and keep the chill off while I'm cocooned down below.
Fuel consumption is very good, and the thing is simplicity itself for anyone who has ever lit a primus...They look damn good too!
Just got myself a Taylors cooker, and removed the last gas appliance from the boat, largely as a result of being so pleased with the heater.
Now I need to find another pump for my kero tank, as I've kept the heating and cooking systems separated, and my second hand cooker came without one, so if anyone has any idea where I might find one at reasonable cost I'd be grateful!
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Re: Romance or practicality?

I have a home made solid fuel stove on my 1904 built herring lugger. It was in the boat when I bought her 17 years ago. I wouldnt be without this stove for anything. Sure its not as convenient as an eber... etc but the atmosphere it creates is un-matchable.

There are downsides, the stove does produce a certain amount of dust, the flue is 4inch and the through deck could I suppose give trouble, although it never has for me.

I regularly leave the stove burning, banked down, when I leave the boat and have never had any trouble.

I had the flue pipes and H-Pot made up in stainless because corrosion is an issue but the SS one has been in use for about 10 years now.

As regards fuel, I use predominantly peat briquets on mine, these however may not be generally available. They have the advantage of being compact and clen to stow and burn completely away to powder.

If you take a quick look at my website, in the gallery there are some pictures of the stove.

Finally - as I say - for me that stove adds so much to my enjoyment of the boat I would never substitute it for anything.

If any other questions spring to mind about this drop me an email.

Cheers

Mike Clark
 
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