JEG
Well-Known Member
I've not yet managed to make it operate.
I want to heat my boat - recommendations ?
- Thread starter homa
- Start date
paulrossall
Well-Known Member
What size was the Webasto, that should give you an indication of size. I have a 3KW Ebesrspacher on my Macwester 30 and it is definately on the too big side but mine is a simple one with no fancy controls and I just turn it from full heat to the lower heat setting once we are warm and then it is fine.
I would avoid all the fancy controls like timers and rheostats as there is more to go wrong. From what I've read loads of Eberspachers/Webastos are not fited corectly in the first place and then folk moan they don't work well! They need corect fuel, air and electric supply and then they work. Miles of ducting is a waste of time on a sub 40ft boat. Mine justs blasts out of the engine space straight down the cabin. I would have thought the 1800w would be OK IMHO
I would avoid all the fancy controls like timers and rheostats as there is more to go wrong. From what I've read loads of Eberspachers/Webastos are not fited corectly in the first place and then folk moan they don't work well! They need corect fuel, air and electric supply and then they work. Miles of ducting is a waste of time on a sub 40ft boat. Mine justs blasts out of the engine space straight down the cabin. I would have thought the 1800w would be OK IMHO
Steve_Jones
Well-Known Member
What's wrong with the Propex heater? I've been looking at it for a while and was on my short-list for stuff to fit over the winter. All info as to why I shouldn't do this gratefully received...
theforeman
Well-Known Member
you mention heaters in the 1800 - 2200 range in an earlier post. i would have thought that if an 1800 heater is recomended for a 32 ft boat then a 2200 heater would be about right for your 33 ftr.
TonyS
Well-Known Member
I have a DL1C (max 2kW) on my Bavaria 36. The sizing of the heater depends on when you anticipate using it. If you are a liveabord and stay in the UK over the winter you want a big heater. If it is for the occasional nights at anchor at the beginning and end of the season then a 2kW is OK. That is what we have it for. A 1kw fan heater is sufficient in marinas and is equivalent because there are losses in the ducting and locker where the heater is installed. I bought mine at Beaulieu boat jumble and it was paid for by writing an article on the installation for PBO!
DaveS
Well-Known Member
There will be a limit, but this will vary from place to place depending mainly upon the rating of the pontoon supply circuit breakers, but also on the aggregate load of all boats on the particular feeder. A 2 kW fan heater typically has switches that let it run as 1 kW or 2 kW. You'll be able to take 1 kW virtually anywhere, and 2 kW more often than not. Above that it's a bit more iffy. So, for example, if you also use an electric kettle, you will probably trip the breaker unless you unplug the heater first. A 1 gang socket (and no adaptors) is a useful aide memoire /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif You can see the breaker rating if the pontoon pillar has a transparent cover over the MCBs but many do not, so it's worth asking.
If you do want to try drawing more - and in some places you might be able to draw up to 16A, or almost 4 kW - it is worth checking first on what the arrangements are for resetting tripped breakers. Plunging the entire pontoon into darkness after the one man with the vital key has knocked off for the night will not make you popular...
If you do want to try drawing more - and in some places you might be able to draw up to 16A, or almost 4 kW - it is worth checking first on what the arrangements are for resetting tripped breakers. Plunging the entire pontoon into darkness after the one man with the vital key has knocked off for the night will not make you popular...
homa
Well-Known Member
Thanks Dave, Just the sort of information I was after
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
My boat has eberspacher - avoid!
John G
[/ QUOTE ]Why? We fitted a new Eberspacher and we have never had a moments problem with it.
My boat has eberspacher - avoid!
John G
[/ QUOTE ]Why? We fitted a new Eberspacher and we have never had a moments problem with it.
duncanmack
Well-Known Member
Would one not stow the coal either in the bath or tow it behind in the tender?
The latter seemed to work well for steam trains.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The latter seemed to work well for steam trains.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Signed Out
Well-Known Member
My boat has an old Eber 3dl, and last winter it was great- lived aboard through the worst of it- snow on the decks and snug down below- runs on thermostat too, so not constant- often had to turn the thing down also. However, in spring it went down on me and the electric fan jobbie I used in it's place was not half as nice- noisier (in the room, rather than hidden away in the aft), and although the watt rating was higher, it was less effective as it was very directional and only in one cabin- the Eber, gently into 3 seemed to work better; I can only guess the colder areas of the boat dragged down the temp in the heated area.
Now getting it fixed, so may change my tune when it all goes down the pan or costs a load, but I doubt it- lasted many years so far.
Jem.
Now getting it fixed, so may change my tune when it all goes down the pan or costs a load, but I doubt it- lasted many years so far.
Jem.
DaveS
Well-Known Member
Ah yes, the noise. I wondered when someone would bring that up. It is worth considering this from two points of view: the noise of your equipment as heard inside your boat, and the noise of your equipment as heard by those outside your boat. I can certainly hear my fan heater running, but it's fairly quiet and not that intrusive; outside the boat it cannot be heard at all. OTOH on a still evening I can hear the roar of other peoples' diesel heaters from several pontoons away!
Ir reminds of the time when I bought a motor bike. As I looking at the small engined 2 stroke (all I could then afford) the salesmen started it up. "It's gey noisy" said I. "That's all right sir" he replied, "you won't notice it once you've got your helmet on..."
Ir reminds of the time when I bought a motor bike. As I looking at the small engined 2 stroke (all I could then afford) the salesmen started it up. "It's gey noisy" said I. "That's all right sir" he replied, "you won't notice it once you've got your helmet on..."
chrisc
Well-Known Member
Did you really find it so cold last week that you had to put the heater on?
homa
Well-Known Member
Personally no but SWMBO it would have helped to dry out all the wet clothes after days of very heavy rain showers.
This thread is all about keeping SWMBO happy and not jump ship at the first sign of cooler(wet) weather ! If she's happy then the rest of the family is happy.......
This thread is all about keeping SWMBO happy and not jump ship at the first sign of cooler(wet) weather ! If she's happy then the rest of the family is happy.......
cliff
Well-Known Member
"Investigations are now underway as to the cause of the fire, which started in the yacht's engineroom."
Engine room? Engine room?......
--------------------
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
Engine room? Engine room?......
--------------------
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
Signed Out
Well-Known Member
I will not deny the roar you mention, but when it's cold enough outside at night to use a heater, I doubt many are sitting in their cockpits with a G&T, waxing lyrical on the peace of a marina... Maybe I'm selfish. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Jem.
Jem.
Sans Bateau
Well-Known Member
I installed one last autumn, a 2800. Firstly, when the boat reaches the temp as set, the unit switches off rather than slowly cycling down. Now this isnt the same problem as it would be with a oil blower as there is no glow plug to draw loads of amps.
The main problem was that the unit would not work below 4 deg! I changed gas to propane (lower freezing point) changed regulators etc. The suppliers enginer visited ( I fitted), found nothing wrong.
All the 'tests' on the heater were done in their workshops. Despite being told that the problem was below 4deg, it came back as no fault found!
In the end after about 10 weeks I removed the heater and installed an Ebbr. Then tried to get a refund. In the end I had to settle for a brand new Propex 2800. Which I will sell via ebay, just to recover some of my loss. The original Propex must have had a manufacturing fault, the new one will most likely do the job, but I just had enough of it.
The main problem was that the unit would not work below 4 deg! I changed gas to propane (lower freezing point) changed regulators etc. The suppliers enginer visited ( I fitted), found nothing wrong.
All the 'tests' on the heater were done in their workshops. Despite being told that the problem was below 4deg, it came back as no fault found!
In the end after about 10 weeks I removed the heater and installed an Ebbr. Then tried to get a refund. In the end I had to settle for a brand new Propex 2800. Which I will sell via ebay, just to recover some of my loss. The original Propex must have had a manufacturing fault, the new one will most likely do the job, but I just had enough of it.
Steve_Jones
Well-Known Member
Stephen, thanks for that, very interesting. I guess the low temp problem is not so much a feature of the Propex unit as such, more to do with the fuel which becomes sluggish at low temps, just when you need it most!
In my case it is likely that the heater would be used to take the edge off a coolish autumn/spring day rather than being required mid-winter, I can't see SWMBO being anywhere near the boat when it's 4 degrees or below!!
Out of interest, what are you hoping to sell the unit for on eBay??
Cheers,
Steve
In my case it is likely that the heater would be used to take the edge off a coolish autumn/spring day rather than being required mid-winter, I can't see SWMBO being anywhere near the boat when it's 4 degrees or below!!
Out of interest, what are you hoping to sell the unit for on eBay??
Cheers,
Steve
geem
Well-Known Member
Dont rule out the Dickinson drip feed diesel heaters. No power requirement, 5kw heat output. Nothing to go wrong. I fitted one to my cat to replace 2 propex heaters and never regretted it. You can even boil a kettle on top.
DaveS
Well-Known Member
(I assume you meant this reply for me rather than Cliff)
Depends where your marina is of course, but where I am...
Cold, clear, still night. Virtually no light pollution, so sky full of stars; the Milky Way obviously millions of stars rather than just a vague blur. Artificial satellites transiting if you know where to look. The odd shooting star. Perhaps the northern lights. It's cold, so you're wrapped up and drinking a good malt rather than G & T, but it is all quite, quite breathtaking.
If only these noisy sods with their Ebberwatsits would shut up it would be perfect.
Depends where your marina is of course, but where I am...
Cold, clear, still night. Virtually no light pollution, so sky full of stars; the Milky Way obviously millions of stars rather than just a vague blur. Artificial satellites transiting if you know where to look. The odd shooting star. Perhaps the northern lights. It's cold, so you're wrapped up and drinking a good malt rather than G & T, but it is all quite, quite breathtaking.
If only these noisy sods with their Ebberwatsits would shut up it would be perfect.
Heckler
Well-Known Member
send me 200 smakaroos and some postage, i send you a nice ex BT eberspacher thats been tested on the bench, complete with the fuel pump, rotary switch controller etc.
i put one on my bene 35 ft.
just one outlet from the sugar scoop, where i fitted it, to the saloon keeps the whole boat warm if i leave the doors to the cabins open.
use tony s article to fit it, you will need to buy an exhaust outlet for the hull, a bit of stainless exhaust and some flexible air hose for the hot air delivery.
i put one on my bene 35 ft.
just one outlet from the sugar scoop, where i fitted it, to the saloon keeps the whole boat warm if i leave the doors to the cabins open.
use tony s article to fit it, you will need to buy an exhaust outlet for the hull, a bit of stainless exhaust and some flexible air hose for the hot air delivery.
