Webasto versus Eberspacher boat heating

[davidej]

I have an eber and am perfectly satisfied with it

Could it be that there are more complaints about ebers because there are more ebers?

 

[SolentPhill]

Webasto..... its easier to spell

 

[Spi D]

Webasto..... its easier to spell

Makes Wallas even better

Before deciding a closer look at dimensions and fitting options + heating stages/programming is worthwhile. The Wallas is a little different.
http://www.wallas.fi


For all you can get silencers for ducting and for some even for exhaust. Costs something but kills the noise.

 

[gjgm]

I have Webasto, and it is certainly HOT ! It is just a basic thermostat fitting, which is a bit crude TBH, almost on or off, but then hardly a big issue. Put it on when cold;turn it down, or switch it off when hot. Not alot of space to heat up anyway.
I dont know if the programmable/timer thermostats work better.
Get as many outputs as you can, as that way you can control-a bit- various parts of the boat better.
It seems very expensive for what it is, but when you want some heat, it seems worth every penny!

 

[DAKA]

I have an eber and am perfectly satisfied with it

Could it be that there are more complaints about ebers because there are more ebers?

Could be Dave but I have only had one of each and my experience is that Webastoe is much better and less trouble (had it 5-6 years now and never been a problem, wasnt new when I got it ).

It cuts down in speed variable when it gets warm, the ebspacher just had two noisy settings (had a silencer on the intake too).

I wouldnt mind either on a boat I was buying but if I had the choice when specing new it would be webastoe 100%.

 

[scoty]

gas oil heater

Yes agree, had a webasto airtop for 12 years ,,, some years I clean it inside,,,, but every year I renew the burner pad, cost 8 euros, no other expense.

Now, when my boat is sold (westerly longbow) I will have look at a MIKUNI heater to fit in my next boat a (Motor cruiser)

Plus I am told/advised, it is better,, but depending on layout, to fit two small heaters rather
than a big one.

 

[David2452]

Hallo webasto fans.
Can anyone tell me how a wabasto heater is suppose to work?
mine is the airtop 2000 [small] It spools up nicely but no matter what i set the temps to It just keeps on blowing hot air. I have tried setting It halfway round the dial[ approx 22 deg ] running untill the cabin is really warm then dropping it to [approx 11 deg] but it just keeps blowing hot air at the same volume and temp untill I switch It off. It then spools down properly It's three years old.

Not an unusual "fault" and like many so called faults in my experience (as a Webasto dealer) often down to incorrect install, is the air drawn from outside? is there a seperate temperature sensor in the cabin? if the answer to these questions is yes and no in that order then it will never respond to the control element as it is sensing outside air temperature via the internal sensor and needs an external sensor fitted. The AT2000ST, which it should be at three year old is a good little unit and cycles from full right down to control idle really well if correctly set up.
If the answer is yes and yes or no and no then it is either a faulty internal sensor, control element or ECU.

 

[Spi D]

Very good point, David! The Webasto by default is designed to recirculate the cabin air and senses the room temp by it's air intake.

I've had Eberspächer, Webasto and Mikuni (in recent time - earlier even a Bacho).
Mikuni was great but not many dealers and fewer accessories (available).
If memory serves me the Mikuni then was more expensive, less smokey and easier on the glowplug (this before burners had more levels, so a lot af on/off action).


They all improved over time, but I prefer Webasto, not least their

stepless power regulation to within 1 W (unique feature on the market), Webasto heaters manage to maintain a stable cabin temperature with a hysteresis lower than 0.4 °C. This creates greater passenger comfort.

 

[David2452]

Very good point, David! The Webasto by default is designed to recirculate the cabin air and senses the room temp by it's air intake.

I've had Eberspächer, Webasto and Mikuni (in recent time - earlier even a Bacho).
Mikuni was great but not many dealers and fewer accessories (available).
If memory serves me the Mikuni then was more expensive, less smokey and easier on the glowplug (this before burners had more levels, so a lot af on/off action).


They all improved over time, but I prefer Webasto, not least their

The marine heaters do not default to internal sensor, they come with an external sender among other things, if not its yet another case of buying a cheap truck kit or a second hand ambulance or BT unit from ebay and expecting it to be OK without the proper marinisation kit.
I am also a Mikuni dealer, they are in fact the cheaper end and quite agricultural, but reliable and with the new silencer really the quietest of the bunch except actually more prone to glowplug faults, but as the plugs are £25 retail that's easily forgiven, almost a service item in fact. You are right about the lack of accessories and control systems but they are in effect a really good little unit, the larger pressure jet burner models are among, if not indeed the best in class and the water boilers are really good value. The Mikuni dealer network is begining to expand in the marine market now so they will start to make a larger impact I'm sure.

 

[Spi D]

As even this line of industry is adapting electronics and developing new features rapidly, any experience gained over time may be irrelevant. My experience began 1968 and spreds over the years up to now.

The majority seems to like Webasto now, but any potential buyer should consider access to parts and service. No fun is the nearest dealer is far away or does not deliver proper service.

Wallas are popular in Sweden and Finland, especially due to simple fitting, low consumption and low noise. Does anybody here have experience?

 

[David2452]

As even this line of industry is adapting electronics and developing new features rapidly, any experience gained over time may be irrelevant. My experience began 1968 and spreds over the years up to now.

The majority seems to like Webasto now, but any potential buyer should consider access to parts and service. No fun is the nearest dealer is far away or does not deliver proper service.

Wallas are popular in Sweden and Finland, especially due to simple fitting, low consumption and low noise. Does anybody here have experience?

Yes, they are low power consumption because they have comparatively low heated air volume output, a small fan uses less power than a bigger / faster fan, not a criticism, (in fact I hope to soon get a Wallas dealership) just a fact, physics are physics. I have to agree a good reliable dealer network is paramount in choosing any piece of equipment, electronics are as you say advancing apace, Webasto are already beginning to develop N2K control systems in the more sophistocated systems.

 

[SelbyBoatCentre]

Hi,

I have a Webasto in my Hunter. Good bit of kit, draws the diesel from the main tank. Bit noisy on full spin, but then they all will be - blowing hot air. Only way to deaden the sound is to get it as far from the cabin as possible. Space is limited in boats so not much choice in many.
Firms only service/handle one or the other. Here I found a Toyota garage that looks after Webasto as well. Installation needs big holes in the bulkheads, cabinets and outer skin.
Bits are expensive but all details, manuals, etc on the net.
Would not be surprised if the kit from Germany is the same. They are not "marinised" as the same units are in Caravans, Lorries, etc.
They can be fitted with a timer and I think also remote control over SMS.
It will extend your pleasurable crusing season.

The Webasto "marine" kits have a different control unit running modified software which allows the heater to work to a lower voltage threshold as it is working off a leisure battery bank, not the starter battery as in a truck application. Furthermore the marine kit software also incorporates approx a 10% fan speed boost to cope with the longer ducting runs found on boats, this prevents issues with overheating on long ducting runs. (We can offer a full range of marine heaters, ducting kits, accessories and spares at competitive prices. contact us on 01757 212211 or email webasto@selbyboatcentre.co.uk)

 

[Skip 52]

I'm about to fit a heater to my Beneteau Antares 760. One of the main reasons is to fit demisting to the windscreen - at the ends of the season it tends to be a problem. I was thinking of a car type heater running off the engine cooling water, but I'd also like some general heat in the cabin for when the engine is off. So was thinking of fitting a self powered heater - a Mikuni or a Webasto instead. Does anyone have any comments about this - particularly in view of the last post regarding the relative sizes of the fans?

 

[Trundlebug]

As even this line of industry is adapting electronics and developing new features rapidly, any experience gained over time may be irrelevant. My experience began 1968 and spreds over the years up to now.

The majority seems to like Webasto now, but any potential buyer should consider access to parts and service. No fun is the nearest dealer is far away or does not deliver proper service.

Wallas are popular in Sweden and Finland, especially due to simple fitting, low consumption and low noise. Does anybody here have experience?

Yes I have a Wallas Nautic 3kw, it was already fitted to the boat when we bought it in 2006 and although we haven't used it a great deal it always works perfectly when switched on. Haven't replaced anything other than the fuel filter in that time, so it's certainly reliable.

It's also very quiet. No silencer kit (fitted or made), it's just naturally quiet. Also draws less than 2 amps (about 1.5 IIRC) when warmed up.

 

[David2452]

I'm about to fit a heater to my Beneteau Antares 760. One of the main reasons is to fit demisting to the windscreen - at the ends of the season it tends to be a problem. I was thinking of a car type heater running off the engine cooling water, but I'd also like some general heat in the cabin for when the engine is off. So was thinking of fitting a self powered heater - a Mikuni or a Webasto instead. Does anyone have any comments about this - particularly in view of the last post regarding the relative sizes of the fans?

Look very carefuly at physical sizes of the things before choosing for a small boat like a 760, The Webasto 2000ST is probably the most compact, sadly the 22DT is the same size as the larger Wallas units which are already bigger KW for KW than the three main players. A 2kw unit will be plenty for a 760 and you can probably get it to demist whilst the engine is still cold. Since getting my Wallas dealership a year ago and doing the courses, learning a bit more about their limitations etc I would not offer one as an option if presented with your brief, with the exception of the smaller paraffin fueled ones which would suit and would be really quiet and reliable but need a seperate tank.

 

[Gerald Mitchell]

I am more than a little PO'ed at Webasto. I have an old HL 3003 41, with low hours. The fuel pump gummed up (lack of use) and of course I hit the switch. The small brass driven gear (probably worth less than $50.00) stripped. I called the Vancouver dealer, phoned Webasto Florida, emailed Webasto Florida and emailed Webasto Los Angeles. Not one response in two weeks. I think that's more than pathetic. I have had good experience with the operation of a couple webasto heaters and one Espar. They are so expensive that they should be able to afford to inventory the most common wear parts. It seems they can't so a person should look at a more affordable product. Rissia comes to mind. Then when you have a problem, just throw it away like I am going to do with this webasto that needs a small piece.