What heater?

H

harstonwood

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 Jul 2010
Messages
923
Location
Live Staffordshire Moorlands/Boat Pwllheli
Visit site
What is the concensus regarding heaters? Previous boat had an eberspacher, which was great, other option seem to be webasto. ( expensive)

What abou propex? Using mains elec or calor gas? As we mainly use on berth its a cleaner option, and the gas would be fine for occasional use at sea

Anyone got/fittted one? Ta
 
horses for courses. If as you say you usually have shore power then electric is the way to go. Ebers and webastos are great ( and similar price) many say the webasto is more reliable but I have have found little difference ( I fix em)
Using gas means that you dont need a pump ticking away but you need larger cylinders and there is a safety issue.
Go for electric fan heaters, find a place at floor level where you can fix them so that they and the cables are out of the way. Ensure your shore power is adaquate.
 
I use a portable catalytic heater using the small gas canisters. It has an oxygen depletion device, auto shut off when titled and gives out approx 2kw of heat. It will heat the cabin of a 32ft yacht easily and the gas canister (£1.20) will last for at least 10 hours. I have found it to be very good, economical and robust way to heat the yacht.
 
Don't forget the Mikuni, bit larger than the Webasto and Ebber but at the time I fitted mine considerably cheaper. Support from Mikuni UK second to none great people to deal with.
 
pcatterall said:
horses for courses. If as you say you usually have shore power then electric is the way to go. Ebers and webastos are great ( and similar price) many say the webasto is more reliable but I have have found little difference ( I fix em)
Using gas means that you dont need a pump ticking away but you need larger cylinders and there is a safety issue.
Go for electric fan heaters, find a place at floor level where you can fix them so that they and the cables are out of the way. Ensure your shore power is adaquate.
Click to expand...

The propex looked attractive, because it uses shore power electric and its own blown air system, but gas when at sea

Trying to avoid loads of heaters, just the one system. My attaraction to the propex, is leaving it on un-attended, on elec ( not gas). Always nervous leaving eber un attended!




This one. http://www.caravanfridges.co.uk/propex/hs2000e.htm

looks good, and three outlet version about 2k less than a webasto! I like the fact it can run on shore power elec, and just use gas on anchorage etc
 
Last edited:
If you use a cheapo gas heater it produces moisture and you need to ventilate which partly defeats the object. Fan heater ok but noisy and it goes cold when it cycles off. Better is oil-filled radiator, silent and stays warm when it cycles off. For when you don't have shore power a diesel drip feed system is far better than an Eber, IMO. I live aboard, use oil rads, had an eber on last boat, not very good for long term use in my experience. There's also charcoal heaters, e.g. Bengco, Pascall Atkey Pansy, Dickinson, which are good at keeping the boat dry. For occasional use there's a couple of meths heaters, e.g. Origo Heatpal, but again produces moisture. Tilley lamps also give out a lot of heat...
 
I fitted a Propex many years ago, in a GK29. It was a simple gas one, powered by 12 volts. Other than the fuel quite similar to an Eberspacher or Webasto. This type of heater is heavily equipped with safety interlocks and overrides, reducing the risk of serious defects to very low. It was a great success in the boat, effective and quite cheap to run. The big advantage is that it is about a quarter of the purchase price of the diesel ones.
 
Drip feed diesel is the way to go....

Simple, easy to fix if they go wrong and use no power...
 
harstonwood said:
! Its not a Cheapo gas heater. I want one heater that does everything, am trying to avoid lots of heaters. The one above i put link for, uses mains elec, or gas. If on gas it exhausts over board

Its should do all we want,......or is it to good to be true?
Click to expand...

Sorry yes I know the Propex isn't a cheapo gas heater, I don't have any experience of them but I think people who've had them do tend to rate them highly. This sort of cheapo is what I meant. I'd check out the drip feed diesel heaters, diesel is already on the boat, no electricity needed if you have a small tank above the heater (or a bit for a small fuel pump if you supply from main diesel tank)...
 
harstonwood said:
! Its not a Cheapo gas heater. I want one heater that does everything, am trying to avoid lots of heaters. The one above i put link for, uses mains elec, or gas. If on gas it exhausts over board

Its should do all we want,......or is it to good to be true?
Click to expand...

It's only a few years since the HS2000E was introduced, so you may find that there aren't many users to comment on it. Propex kit has a good reputation, so I'd expect it to be a sensible product, and it certainly meets your criteria. My only concern would be adequate gas storage, as it would be sensible for it to have an independent supply.

However, it's only 2kW max heat, and if you have a Dufour 405GL, you could well find that 2kW is insufficient. You'll probably also find that the Propex won't be able to push hot air very efficiently along long ducts.
 
davidwf said:
Don't forget the Mikuni, bit larger than the Webasto and Ebber but at the time I fitted mine considerably cheaper. Support from Mikuni UK second to none great people to deal with.
Click to expand...

Yep I've just fitted a Mikuni 30 very pleased with it and agree that the service you get from Mikuni is first class.

Usual caveats.
 
djbreeze said:
Sorry yes I know the Propex isn't a cheapo gas heater, I don't have any experience of them but I think people who've had them do tend to rate them highly. This sort of cheapo is what I meant. I'd check out the drip feed diesel heaters, diesel is already on the boat, no electricity needed if you have a small tank above the heater (or a bit for a small fuel pump if you supply from main diesel tank)...
Click to expand...

Will check out drip feed diesel heaters.

I think 2kw heater will be enough for us......if its bloody freezing.....will be off home!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top