Small heater?

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gshaw

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What is the smallest fueled (i.e. spirit or diesel) heater available? I am looking for a very small heater pref air circulation that would heat without engine running. Have looked at catalytic heaters but am put off by tales of condensation. Would love to put together a small heat unit with air blower, what is the smallest available and what sort of power does it use for the fan 12v?
 
The smallest versions of the Eberspacher, Webasto and Mikuni diesel heaters are all about the same size, and use between 1A and 3A, according to heat output setting.
 
The smallest and simplest is probably the Origo Heat Pal. I've never used one so can't comment on effectiveness or safety.
 
Spyro said:
The smallest and simplest is probably the Origo Heat Pal. I've never used one so can't comment on effectiveness or safety.
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Origo cookers are small, light, cheap as such things go and very safe. I have a 2 burner one and it is not as hot, or therefore as fast, as a powered gas one, but it works well.

If their heater is anything like as good it should be safe, effective and economical.

I had not heard of one before but I shall now find out.

Thanks, Mike
 
Propex hot air blowers are little latger than a shoe box, take less than 1a running, and output between 1.6kw and 3.5kw in the largest version. Excellent small relatively cheap gas powered blown air heater. Had two, and have one now, and find they do a good job.
 
oldharry said:
Propex hot air blowers are little latger than a shoe box, take less than 1a running...
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They're actually about the same size as the smallest Eberspacher, Webasto and Mikuni heaters. The smallest Propex uses 1.4A; the Eber D2 running at 1800W, uses about 1.8A.
 
grumpy_o_g said:
A Wallas diesel hot plate with a fan blower attachment on it? Having sat opposite one for a while I can vouch for it's effectiveness.
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The hotplate is part of a cooker and the costs start to add up when you add the blower bit, I did like the look of it though when I was looking.

I went for a Wallas 1800 2 outlet paraffin heater which is advertised as suitable for up to mid 20' boats IIRC. They do a lower output single outlet 1200 too. The diesel ones are the 30 and 40, 3 and 4 kw nominal respectivly, so a bit biger than the paraffin ones.

The main win for me over the Eberspacher was the lower 12V power draw, they are designed for boats where most heaters are designed for lorries unless I'm much mistaken.

The gas Propex ones are good for caravans but if you have a gas cooker there isn't much arguement against gas, just take apropriate precautions.
 
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thanks for all the info so far, looks like there is still a big hole in the market for a cheap, hot air, safe heater for small spaces using low power?

the more traditional diesel burners are geared for trucks and the bigger boats.

so still open to ideas....and comments
 
gshaw said:
thanks for all the info so far, looks like there is still a big hole in the market for a cheap, hot air, safe heater for small spaces using low power?

the more traditional diesel burners are geared for trucks and the bigger boats.

so still open to ideas....and comments
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Like you I'm waiting for the ultimate small boat heater.

While I'm waiting for that perfect heater I find our mini catalytic gas heater a real boon. Not had 'problems' with condensation - it's a consideration, like ventilation for air supply, but not a major obstacle.
 
The Eberspacher D2 would be ideal, they are no longer aimed at the truck market with everything being inside the unit and all connections waterproof and overall length is only about 12" so would be ideal if you're after a compact unit.
 
how about?

a bulkhead mounted diesel heater. I have a canadian manufactured unit called a SIG100 that runs on red diesel.

www.sigmarine.com

Not as convenient as switching on an Eber but. It is very simple and kicks out lots of dry heat and uses no power at all. Great last autumn when I got to the boat and found the batteries flat (another story)

It does need a bunk head and your flue comes through the deck.

Would this work for you?
 
Small boat heater

Hi. I sail a Sadler 26 out of Shotley and I bought a Pan2000 heater from Percy Andersson in Sweden last year, cost about £300 as I remember. It sits on a ring of the gas cooker with a flex flue through a modified washboard and connected to a 12v battery. It packs away in a small bag in the summer.
Its very effective and makes winter sailing a pleasure - it used to be desperately cold.
 
I have a Mykuni MY16 diesel heater, in a Moody 30, there are two outputs, one in the very big saloon which does a super job, the other is in the forward cabin and the air is cooling down by then as the heater is at the stern so the distance is perhaps asking a little much. It is however very economical and I am never cold when aboard. I have now added a small 1 Kwatt fan heater for when in the Marina and although it does tend to dry the air a little too much, when coupled with the small oil filled radator, the boat is snug and comfy even when stripped down to my undies!

The Mykuni is a good piece of kit and apart from the occasional new glow plug they are basically maitenance free.

Cheers,

Geoff
 
tinkertess said:
Hi. I sail a Sadler 26 out of Shotley and I bought a Pan2000 heater from Percy Andersson in Sweden last year, cost about £300 as I remember. It sits on a ring of the gas cooker with a flex flue through a modified washboard and connected to a 12v battery. It packs away in a small bag in the summer.
Its very effective and makes winter sailing a pleasure - it used to be desperately cold.
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There was a thread enquiring about these a couple of years ago and I thought it sounded a good idea but no-one seemed to have actually used one. I would be interested to know more about your experience with it, e.g how well does the heat circulate through the boat, does the warmth tend to stay at and above the level of the cooker?

At the moment I use a Blue Cat but it only puts out a limited amount of heat in a small area and even with ventilation I think it sometimes gives me a bit of a headache, though that may have been due to the beer I had drunk!
 
IvanNesic said:
How about sticking couple of bricks in the oven? I heard that can worm up small cabin....
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I haven't got an oven but I have tried putting a flowerpot on the hob - they explode :eek:, well not dramatically but they do crack into two. Having got through 3 in rapid succession I've given up on that, also it only heated the upper half of the saloon near the galley.

P.S. I usually only worm the dog not the boat :)
 
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