Propex Heater

[bedouin]

Has anyone had any experience fitting or using the Propex heater (a gas powered blown air heater). I'm thinking of fitting a heater of some sort, but I'm concerned as to whether the Propex is really suitable for a marine environment.

 

[dickh]

Sailing Today has done a test on various boat heaters - about 2 months ago and the Propex came out OK - certainly the cheapest but more expensive to run than the diesel fired ones.
I can find out the exact issue for tomorrow if you are interested .


dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[vyv_cox]

I fitted one in my GK29. Excellent unit, good heat output and cheap to buy. It did use some gas but certainly was not horrendously expensive to run. I ran it for two years and then sold the boat. No problems while I owned it.

 

[omega2]

As stated they are probably more expensive to run, and could rob you of a cuppa, make sure you have two bottles on board. The performance is as good as the oil burners in my view.

J HAMER

 

[bedouin]

Where did you site the exhaust? I've got the installation instructions and that says the maximum permitted length of the exhaust and combustion air intake pipes is 1m. I'm struggling to think of anywhere I can install it that will do.

Does the exhaust get smokey the way some Eberspachers tend to? I may have to consider mounting the exhaust in the cockpit coaming, just a few inches above the side deck.

 

[bedouin]

Yes, I've got the ST test thanks, that is what started me thinking about it.

I'm attracted to the Propex because it is the easiest/cheapest to maintain, and uses very little power compared to the diesels, certainly none of those problems of having to start the engine before you can use the heater!

As I only intend to use it to boost the heat at the beginning/end of the season I don't expect the difference in running costs to be an issue - and probably offset by the lack of other service costs.

 

[vyv_cox]

It's casting my memory back a long way, about 10 years I think. Consulted with Jill and the combined memory is that the unit was in the cockpit locker, access to starboard but the unit to port. Exhaust and combustion air fittings on port topsides, not transom. Although, thinking further, ours might have been in the coaming, too.

With this and the Eberspacher fitted to my Sadler we find that they will take very long ducting lengths without noticeable reduction in flow, e.g. on the Sadler the unit is in the lazarette and ducting extends to the forecabin bulkhead, perhaps 8 metres. At the time I fitted the Propex the ducting size was quite big and it took up quite a lot of stowage. Eberspacher ducting is about 1 inch less in diameter. Exhaust was always perfectly clean.

There is a big advantage in fitting the unit somewhere near the middle of the boat to save ducting length, maybe in the heads or hanging locker. The exhaust then becomes the problem, but Wallas make an inlet/exhaust fitting with a cap that can be closed when sailing. A friend did this with a Mikuni, but without that fitting. Flooded the whole unit with seawater.

 

[ronniewood]

We fitted one a couple of seasons ago. Need to watch you don't have too many bends in the ducting as I don't think the fan is as powerful as the diesel fired units.
We ended up having to put in an online booster which restored performance.
Has run well ever since - even coping well with this years washout of a season.

 

[David2452]

Fitted one 4 yrs ago, still working well, we have one outlet in the head and one in the cabin. Dead easy to fit exhaust is far cleaner than an oil burner. Good value to buy, you might need to buy a gople of extra gas bottles in a season.


David

 

[Avocet]

Have had mine for 3 seasons and am well pleased with it. I have a 27 foot boat and the heater is only just powerful enough, mind! The heater is inside the boat so it recirculates its heating air a little. Unfortunately this makes it a bit noisy. The combustion air inlet (and exhaust) pipes come out of the side of the cockpit coaming. One year the unit packed up and I took it into the Propex shop in Southampton where they told me they would be very surprised if there was anything wrong with it - and sure enough there wasn't! I had been knocked flat one day and partly filled the combustion air intake with seawater! As soon as I drained it out the unit worked fine again. I was very reassured by the fact that they didn't expect anyhting to be wrong with it. It must mean the units are generally very reliable.

One last note, if I was installing it again, I'd probably put the exhaust through the transom and live with the loss of heat and the long ducting. The main reason for this is that I often get smelly fumes blown back down the companionway if the hatch is open.