Propex gas heaters

[Relax]

The big advantage of an oil fired heater over a gas fired is fuel cost. Diesel being much cheaper (and falling). I like the look of a drip feed type like a Sigma as they don't need any power, have nothing to go wrong and look kinda 'homely'. Not sure if you can use them while sailing though due to the flue.

I installed a Taylors drip feed heater in place of a horrible, whining, power-using and ultimately breaking Ebersthingy.

Brilliant heater - silent, uses no power and almost no diesel and a great dry heat but I'd be loath to leave it on whilst sleeping. Not suitable for everyone I suspect - it is fiddly to light and takes a certain amount mechanical sympathy to use. I also had an "H" type flue cap made for it - works well and gives a very homely look to the boat.

 

[chrisbitz]

Disadvantages compared to properly specified diesel heating: 1) Must use recirculated (or stale) air to give any real heat. 2) Temperature fluctuations due to on/off operation. 3) Need to carry extra gas if you want to keep them running. 4) Can be problematic if you run them and the hob or oven at the same time due to large volume of gas "boiling off" which in very cold weather can lead to the regulator freezing up.
Advantages: 1) Cheap. 2) see 1
I have swapped a few out at customer requests, usually during the first winter after boat purchase, mostly due to 2 & 3.

For someone that apparently knows so much about Propex heaters, I'm surprised you didn't mention Advantage 3) - Much quieter than a diesel heater

Whenever the subject of Propex heaters comes up, there's always a lone negative comment from dear old David rubbishing them, in the face of all the happy Propex users! (anyone would think you represent/sell the competition or something)

You're like the man who keeps popping up every time a topic mentions THE WRECK OF THE RICHARD MONTGOMERY OFF THE COAST OF SHEERNESS

 

[David2452]

For someone that apparently knows so much about Propex heaters, I'm surprised you didn't mention Advantage 3) - Much quieter than a diesel heater

Maybe quieter than than improperly fitted diesel heaters you may have heard, but no quieter than a properly fitted MikEberBatsto diesel heater, and actually louder than a Wallas diesel heater, even a badly fitted one.

 

[David2452]

I could also have a Heatsorce agency , but it an't going to happen...ever.