New heater

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Caladh

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Eber or Webasto or other? I'm replacing an old 1996 Ardic and I understand I'll have to change the existing ducting to larger. I'm also given to understand that Ebers after sales is not brilliant and people have issue with esp. D4 model although I may look at D5. Any feedback welcome.
 
Having had Eberspachers for many years, with good results, I changed to Webasto for my current boat. It's an Air Top EVO3900 (current model is called Air Top EVO40) and it's impressively quiet, heats up the cabin quickly then drops the fan speed down to a silent tickover to maintain the temperature. I'd certainly recommend Webasto.

If you were maybe thinking of an Eber D5, the Webasto equivalent is the Air Top EVO55.
 
I mainly handle ebers but I think the Webasto is at least as good. I recall that the Webasto had a slower pump rate and did seem a tad quieter, no doubt there is a decibel rating for them?

Also consider a Chinese heater at a fraction of the cost. I have had 3 and they all worked well but I decided not sell more due to communications and spares concerns.


Edit.... my bread and butter used heaters are D4s and I have always found them reliable ( though avoid the early models before the Hella ecu's were introduced.
 
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Owen Cox installed a Planar heater for me last winter.

I couldn't be happier with Owen's service, the product or the price.

I am very happy to give him a very high recommendation on all counts.

I've previously had boats with Webasto and Eberspacher systems (already fitted when I bought the boats), and they, too, gave reliable and effective, service. I only decided against them for the latest boat on grounds of cost.
 
I have an Eberspacher D4, last serviced in 2010 and still working perfectly.

Smokes a little on first start if not used for ages, but quiet (better with inlet silencer, £15 off eBay!) and powerful.

Had it for 6 years, worked first every time.
 
Our first heated boat had a Webasto - new and professionally fitted - it was excellent. Our second heated boat had an Eberspacher - also new and professionally fitted - it was terrible - in the five years we owned the boat, it worked for just over one and the south coast main dealer was completely incompetent and incapable of making it work.

Our third heated boat (well, to be heated) is having the heating installed next week - it will be Webasto.

As others have commented, the Webasto seems to start easily and will run at low power for days without a hiccup. During a spell of cold weather with our first boat, I left the heating on for weeks with the thermostat set at minimum - it just kicked in occasionally and ticked over to keep the boat reasonably warm and dry. The Eberspacher simply could not cope with running at low power - it coked up and all sorts of things broke. The engineer from the main dealer told us that most of our problems were due to expecting it to run continuously for days at low power.
 
maby said:
The Eberspacher simply could not cope with running at low power - it coked up and all sorts of things broke. The engineer from the main dealer told us that most of our problems were due to expecting it to run continuously for days at low power.
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Interestingly, the Eberspacher Airtronic installation manual says "On account of its functional purpose, the heater is not permitted for the following applications: Long-term continuous operation, eg for preheating and heating of ....houseboats, etc."
 
pvb said:
Interestingly, the Eberspacher Airtronic installation manual says "On account of its functional purpose, the heater is not permitted for the following applications: Long-term continuous operation, eg for preheating and heating of ....houseboats, etc."
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Hmmm - that would explain it! We did not specify Eberspacher - simply included heating in the specification of the boat when we ordered it. I guess we should have been more explicit with the dealer!
 
Fitted a Webasto to our then new boat in 2006, although not used a great deal it has run faultlessly since.
Including making holes and fitting the ducting and exhaust I fitted it in one winter weekend, by Sunday afternoon it was heating the boat a treat.
Only issue was the length of cable from heater to control switch. The heater is well aft in the cockpit locker and the there is quite a long run to the electric panel near the chart table where I wished to fit it. It did just reach. (This might have been because the model was recommended for up to a 30 ft boat and I was installing in 33ft)
We have never had issues of it refusing to start if the battery was down a bit unlike the Eber on a previous boat that was very fussy and often locked out.
 
I would also consider the Planer. The heaters are well made and run quietly, the only slight niggles have been that the controllers look a bit cheap. Well, actually very cheap :)
 
PaulRainbow said:
I would also consider the Planer. The heaters are well made and run quietly, the only slight niggles have been that the controllers look a bit cheap. Well, actually very cheap :)
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Well, I bought my Planar 4D (3000 W) four years ago from a Dutch seller (Owen wasn't around yet). Replaced the unreliable Webasto 4500. It worked first time, and quietly too. Very pleased with it (..and the galley slave even more so !).
 
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