How big is your Eberspacher?

Sans Bateau

Sans Bateau

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I have finally decided to give up on my Propex heater. When the temp dropped on Friday night below 4deg, as always the heater refused to work, the diag lights telling me that there was no gas supply. So its going back.

So, its going to be either a Webasto or an Eberspacher, but which one? What sort of size of boat will a D2 keep warm? I understand that it has a 2.2kw boost, how effective is that.

I do benifit from a boat hat is pretty well insulated.
 
Mine is a D3LC which has 5 heat setting from about 4kW down to around 800w (I think). It keeps my 34 footer nicely warm. Howeber, Ebbies are also not that reliable (unless you like to strip things down a service regularly)

Have you tried using Propane on your Gas heater instead of Butane?....it works to a much lower temp and burns a little hotter. I just converted and it is truely amazing the difference it made to the lack-luster cooker/grill.
 
Mine is the 4 kw airtronic. Number of required outlets is a good way to size your eber, as the smaller they are the less outlets. mine has 5 and if they are all open can only just manage to distribute the air properly to all five.

If you have a long vent trunk from the heater to the first outlet, make sure you insulate it - Keto Group do a nice wrap in thinsulate.
 
Have you considered reviewing the fuel you use? One of them (Butane or Propane - I can never remember which) simply will not gas off at the sort of temperature you describe... And the act of gassing off itself causes the temperature of the liquid gas to drop, even below that of ambient.

You will have pretty much the same problem with any heating system if you have no gas pressure...
 
I installed a D2 airtronic with 2 outlets in October to my 25ft sportfisher - 1 outlet in to the cabin and 1 out to the cockpit (have an open backed hardtop).
Works very well and is more than needed to keep the area below toast. Most sail boats will have a bit more wood etc down below to hold the heat than I do but when I looked at the Eber guidance notes on boat/size/heater they looked reasonable. If I remember this would put you on the balance between a D2 and a D4 - has to come down to what you are expecting from it really doesn't it. If yo uwant to spend a lot of time aboard regardless of the time of year then a D4; if it's about a competent unit at either end of the season the D2 would probably handle it for you.
 
Despite the fact the heater claimed to run on either Bute or Prop, one of the first suggestions Propex made was to change to prop, so that saw me buy my second regulator, the third was a 'high volume' Propane regulator. A range of regulators will soon be found on ebay.
 
If you fit an Eberspacher don't buy one too big for the boat as they are at their best when run at max heat. A big one on a little boat will drop to a low setting very quickly and coke up. A little one running at max will be far more reliable.
 
I have a D3L, and it was working fine for a week or 2 since buying the boat, now it's spat the dummy and I am waiting under the blast of a leccy fan heater while the repairman gets his ar...m in gear. Where is he? I've been told that Mikunis are good, but that was by a dealer although he did Ebers also. The D3L heats up the saloon of my 35 nicely, with the unit in the aft cabin, but the forepeak is not good. Needs lagging on the pipe I guess. Shame the previous owner never got it serviced in 10 years of ownership!
 
We lived aboard our 38ft sail yacht for 2 years including 2 full winters in the UK. I previously installed a Mikuni wet system and it behaved faultlessly. I certainly recommend you concider Mikuni. the smallest was adequate for us + a tank of hot water to boot. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
<<Anyone using Webasto?>>
Yep, I've got the Air Top 3500 with 5 outlets.
Heads/Shower
Wet Locker
Saloon
Forecabin
Aft Cabin

As Talbot says when all 5 are open it takes a long time to heat everything.
I am particularly pleased with the electronic timer which means we are toasty 20 minutes before getting out of bed. Well worth the extra few quid.

Takes a while, 3 minutes to start properly, and you get a clicking noise through the radio speaker while the igniter is churning.

Also agree that you must insulate the first run where the heat is not needed - in my case the port side cockpit locker and the workshop area.. I will do mine this winter.

Cant say too much about reliability as the boat has just completed its first season, but I have had no problems, and it does not seem to burn odious quantities of diesel.

Good level of manual and spares list with it, and ebay has provided me with what I need for Y joints, spare hose and the timers. There are specialist guys on there. If not, then pop along to the local truck installer, and get the bits from there.

Having never had one before, I must say that it has endeared itself to SWMBO and I very quickly. Doubt if we would have another boat without.


Jim
 
I've got the Webasto Airtop 5000, which has been faultless since I did a DIY install (3 winters ago).

I was put off the eberspachers by the fact that you need to call a dealer to reset it, if it fails to start after a few goes.
 
I was able to buy two second hand D1LC units, Both are located in the same locker, though one heats the saloon / pilot house and the second piped to the lower cabin / galley / forward cabin.

The boat is a 38ft Southseas motor sailer and the heat from both these units quickly warms the whole boat then dropping back to low setting and maintaining a comfortable temperature over night.

A benifit from two smaller units is only one is needed in marginal conditions like spring time.

I have had no real issues with the pair, they get a lot of use during the winter and in 5 years only needed a decoke once and that was an easy job with the correct gaskit kit.

What I have found is eberspachers or probably any diesel heater would benifit from running on max setting for a few minutes before closing down.

Good luck.
 
We have a DL4 which is excellent for our 39 footer. At the moment it only has two outlets as I haven't got round to runnning the ducting through to the aft cabin yet! The heat output is excellent and it is timed to come on for an hour or so every other day while the boat is in the yard.

I strongly believe that the bad reputation Eberspachers have in some circles is from the large number that are bought decond hand and fitted to boats. Dodgy old heaters are not a good standard by which to judge a heating system.

Ours was brand new when we bought it and has never given a moments worry. It works perfectly every time. I did take the trouble to fit it exactly according to the manafacturers instructions....
 
AIRTRONIC D2 2.2Kw
AIRTRONIC D4 4.0 Kw
AIRTRONIC D5 5.5 Kw
D8LC 8.0 Kw

Think that's it for the current range of air heaters from Eber

try giving John a call at -eber-basto

no connection just a satisfied customer; helped on which model, which kit, which accessories, and installation (was at the end of a mobile the weekend I installed just in case)
 
Got the d3, works great, never missed a beat, keeps sallon, Heads and rear cabbin toasty, forpeak stays cold coz we leave the door shut and use it as plunge pool to cool off. Amazing insulation them there Etaps. (aint got a clew on the Kw)
 
This is what I suspect Pat, I reckon an Etap will need a smaller output than regular boat, cos of the insulation.
 
we have a D3LC on a 38' steel boat & it's too small in winter, taking ages to get warm, but fine for keeping the temp once it's up. Springtime/autumn it's about the right size.

11 yrs old - we've used it for two with no problems at all. Replaced the gauze 'cos it had prob been in place since new & wouldn't come out w/o falling apart.

Very very reliable - often turns itself down to low settings & stays there for many hours without coking up.

personally I wouldn't fret about buying too big, except for the price difference ( quite compelling actually) but would want at least 3.5KW on your boat, unless you plan to supplement with electric to get it warm in a reasonable time.

you're welcome to come & have a look (free tea)
 
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