Heating

[theguvnor]

I have often wondered why heating boats is so complicated (expensive) when, like vehicles, you have a hot engine that has to lose heat and a cold interior that needs it. I`m sure there must be a simple reason but with boats costing £300k+ can it be so difficult to do ? The car trade managed it 75 years ago. Apologies if this is a stupid question (I am not very technically minded)

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[tripleace]

agree.

always though a simple t piece on an engine water pipe to a car heater unit link the ones in old mini would be an ideal way of demisting windows.


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[Soong]

I know what you mean.

I have been pondering it for a while, the only stumbling block I can come up with is piping infinate supplies of water round a boat is just too risky. It does seem a terrible waste of all that lovely heat.

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[JMM]

I think that the 'problem' only surfaces when you are in the marina or at a mooring overnight - surely you don't want to have to run the main engine just to keep warm?

Have to admit though, it does seem a waste. Perhaps some form of storage heating could be devised!

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon M.

 

[theguvnor]

I take your point, although a 40` artic unit can run a freezer compressor quietly overnight and that must take more power than a light overnight heater

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[Johnnygil]

In I think the December/Jan issue of boat mart a bloke put heating on his boat using a car heating rad and blower and was able to heat cockpit /fore and aft cabin

Obviously only works when engine is running but if youve got a diesel its cost is nothing at tickover anyway and when you go to bed there are other things to keep you warm .......like hot water bottles.

J

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[itsonlymoney]

....like hot water bottles.... and dont forget electric blankets ! you can't beat them for snugglyness takes all the chill and damp feeling off your bedding. Oh and the wife of course. snuggly that is, not damp. Well........
Ian

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[JMM]

Absolutely - but both would use less than a 5 litre Volvo . . . and diesels are not particularly happy about running under no load conditions for extended periods.

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon M.

 

[robind]

How about some minibore heating pipe (about 600 ft) wrapped around an old storage heater core (ie replace the heating wires with it) and power the fan with a 12 volt motor? it might work and could be used instead of/or as part of the ballast?

Rob

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[Bejasus]

Why not just buy an eberspacher water heater as opposed to a warm air blower. Heat all your hot water, run a 22mm loop around the boat with 15mm tee offs to mini matrixes with computer sized fans wherever you want an outlet. Not much more cost than a normal eber with no dry air probs & hot water with no engine/shorepower required.

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[boatone]

I had a Norman 32 river cruiser for some years which had a couple of radiators in the two cabins all coonected in to the calorifier circuit and the single mercedes OM636 cooling circuit. No additional pumps, just 1/2 inch copper piping. Worked a treat when the engine was running. As far as marina berthing is concerned still think most efficient method is fan heater running off shore leccy.

Being Thames based I find most difficult scenario is when bankside moored for night so no shore leccy. Current boat has Eberspacher which still getting used to but suspect Hoo's suggestion that Eberspacher water heater system might offer best all round solution.

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[Bejasus]

One of the magazines(BoatMart??) had someone do this just recently. I can't remember what heater matixes & fans he used but they are available. All the plumbing was standard, off the shelf, plastic items. The Eberspachers in question are <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.eberspacher.com/PDFFiles/MarineHt.pdf>these</A>.

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