Solid fuel heating

[paulonvt]

I've just bought, from a sunday market a solid fuel (coal-anthracite) cast iron heater, for the boat. I now need to obtain and install a chimney, any sugestions? type of tube, cast/stainless/galvanised?. and what about a tray for any hot coal falling from ash pan.

 

[Mirelle]

OK, here we go....

1. Fit a stainless steel tray under the stove (bolting the stove legs thgrough it, of course!) arranged in such a way that you can easily sweep up ashes and dirt without them going everywhere. Since heat rises, there is less need to insulate this bit, but a bit of modern not asbestos but similar board would be a good plan.

2. The sides and rear need good heat protection - tiles or more stainless sheet, on asbestos-type board, then an air gap of one inch between the sheet and the bulkhead.

3. Plan where you will fit your coal locker and once again make it out of stainless sheet or fibreglass (s/s better, easier to clean).

4. Flue. S/s better than copper because copper becomes brittle with repeated heating (opposite to iron) Use heavy gauge tube.

5. You need a damper in the flue. This is ESSENTIAL. The best pattern is a flat slide fitting across the flue but the butterfly type is more common (and less reliable).

6. At the deck you need a "water iron", a casting with an annular depression intomwhich you pour water to stop the deck burning. However because this won't wrok when heeled take the flue through the deck fitting and insulate it with asbesytos type wool. Caulk it in fact.

7. The best smoke head is the H type.

8. Finally, a sheet of s/s under the deck above the stove will stop the deck over the stove getting "cooked" so dry that it leaks and stop it getting dirty.

Worth it? Yes!