Where did you put yours? . . . .

[Searush]

. . . . Diesel Heater outlet that is.

I'm considering fitting a miki-weba-spacher heater in my tupperware classic centre cockpit ketch. The heater will probably be fitted in the engine compartment with an air intake from inside the centre cockpit. My main concern is where to run the exhaust outlet to. I don't want it in the cockpit as the next upgrade will be a full cockpit canopy (aren't dreams great?) & I don't want to suffocate in the cockpit.

I thought about putting it in the cockpit side deck, above normal deck level, but below the cockpit rim. Could this burn the dodgers/ cockpit canopy or create fumes to poison the crew when in the cockpit at anchor? Finally, what's the risk/ consequence of a large dollop of seawater dousing the exhaust when the heater is running?

I understand that all forumites will have an opinion on this, regardless of whether they have a similar heater/ boat or not, so I would prefer any answers to include boat type (if any) and heater type (if any). All the usual smartbottoms are, of course, welcome to chip in if they feel the need. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thank you in advance /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Danny Jo]

Here:

 

[westhinder]

Re: Where did you put yours? . . . .

The exhaust on our Rival 34 exits horizontally through the port coaming, at toerail level and goes as far outboard as the toerail. It works perfectly, even if the wind blows straight into it. We have never had troubles with water getting into it, neither rain nor seawater, even though the sidedecks on a R34 are low and the occasional wave will run along the lower sidedeck. There is a swan neck inside the coaming. The pipe outside the coaming never gets so warm you can't keep your hand on it.

 

[sailorman]

the Mika can have long exhaust pipes

 

[Searush]

Interesting pic. Freestyle. Is that the little quarry dock by Moelfre?

Unfortunately, being a centre cockpit I would need a 3-4mtre exhaust to reach the stern. I'm not sure I can afford that or even if it would suffocate the heater! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[john_morris_uk]

[ QUOTE ]
Here:

[/ QUOTE ]With the greatest respect, that's not really helpful for a centre cockpit boat...

In reply to the original post, we have our heater exhaust from the outboard side of the cockpit coaming. I made sure that there was a swan neck in the exhaust so that any water would not get back into the heater.

Three years on and no problems so far.

 

[Danny Jo]

[ QUOTE ]
With the greatest respect, that's not really helpful for a centre cockpit boat...


[/ QUOTE ] Oh dear! 500 lines: read the post before rushing to reply; read the post before rushing to reply; . . .

Sorry!

 

[Marmalade]

No arrow but it's in the same place - centre cockpit too.

 

[Searush]

Goodness! Thanks for that SPGE, I wouldn't have thought it practical. Where is the heater tho'? Is it in the aft cabin? How long is the exhaust?

Trouble is I will probably have to buy the heater to get hold of the installation planning guidelines - by which time it will be too late! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
:
At least when I put central heating in the house I was able to get hold of loadsa stuff on systems, parameters and performance to plan it all before spending any money.

 

[Mudplugger]

On last boat, Westerly33 C/C, diesel heater exhausted from Port side of cockpit coaming. Did not have any problems in the 15 years we had her, (is this a record for an Ebersbacher?) apart from the need to give the inside of the spray dodger an occasional clean! Exhuast outlet lagged and swan-necked. HTH

 

[Danny Jo]

[ QUOTE ]
Interesting pic. Freestyle. Is that the little quarry dock by Moelfre?

[/ QUOTE ] No. Tinker's cove, on the Southwest corner of Erraid (as featured in R L Stevenson's gripping story, Kidnapped. [ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately, being a centre cockpit I would need a 3-4mtre exhaust to reach the stern

[/ QUOTE ] Erm, see my reply above. But the exhaust on Freestyle does follow a fairly convoluted route from this position (see pic), passing under the aft starboard cockpit locker and through a "watertight" air-filled flotation chamber. The exhaust gave up the ghost this year, rusting through just beside the heater, but there was enough slack to repair it without splicing in another piece.

 

[savageseadog]

I have mine about a foot down one side of the stern and about 6 inches from the quarter. Reasoning (probably obvious) is you need a fall to prevent water ingress, but lower could lead to it being underwater. At the stern is out of the way and the exhaust gases generally departs that way.

Anyone decided what to do in a biggie storm? A bung?

 

[Jonny_H]

On our centre cockpit we have the Webasto mounted in the cockpit locker (under the Starboard cockpit seat) - with the exhaust exiting just above the unit out of the cockpit coaming over the side deck. We've never got any soot etc damaging the sidedecks, and it never seems to get too hot to touch:

Jonny

 

[Searush]

Cheers Johny, that's about where I was thinking, & thanks Savage, obvious point when you think about it - but I hadn't really thought about it before!

Been doing a bit of Googling too & come across these calor powered heaters Use less battery power as no glowplug needed for ignition. Any one got one? Seems slightly less convenient than diesel, but running cost is probably similar.

 

[Richard10002]

[ QUOTE ]
Where is the heater tho'? Is it in the aft cabin? How long is the exhaust?

[/ QUOTE ]

Centre Cockpit - heater under aft cabin bunk - exhaust exits on transom, about 10ft long.

 

[Spars]

I have centre cockpit and the heater is mounted in the port locker and exausts thro the combing just in front of the jib sheet winch mounting.

 

[Abigail]

We have an eberspacher heater in a centre cockpit ketch, which was fitted when we bought her. The exhaust exits, via a rather cramped swan neck, on the side deck at foot level, forward of the cockpit. (I haven't a pic to hand I'm afraid.)

The only problem we've ever had was when I inadvertently put the cockpit cover over the exhaust holes and then we turned the heater on just after we'd moved on board. Burnt a hole in the cockpit cover! We haven't done that again.

 

[Gordonmc]

Re: Where did you put yours? . . . .

A friend's boat has a Propex heater and he swears by it. His logic is that if there is gas on board, use it.
The Propex seems to be quieter than the diesel fired units, my friend, his missus and the cat have theirs on most of the time they are on board.
I don't have gas 'cos my MAB has nowhere for a self draining locker, but if I did I would seriously look at the Propex for simplicity.

 

[wigen]

Re: Where did you put yours? . . . .

Just keep in mind the exhaust is HOT.

One of my friends has the exhaust near his clamp and once burned (melted) one of his mooring lines !!! The mooring line was about 5-6 inch from the exhaust fumes !!!

 

[Searush]

Re: Where did you put yours? . . . .

Thanks everyone, all useful info. Isn't this forum business great when we all chip in to share info!

Peter, that's exactly why I was concerned about a cockpit coaming exhaust port. At some point it is bound to be blowing straight on to one's ankle when your attention is actually on mooring ropes, helping someone out of a dinghy or similar.

Do the installation manuals stipulate a maximum exhaust length I wonder? From the above replies it would seem that 3m (10') length is OK - and presumably the gasses would have cooled somewhat by the time they get to the end of a pipe that long.