Hi Folks,
Due to a change in relationship, I am going to be moving aboard Walkabout-in Mid March early April in New England. I know what I am in for, have lived aboard through New England winters in the past. I need heat. Choices are forced diesel hot air (Webasto or Espar) or a diesel fireplace. I prefer the forced hot air, but am concerned about where and how to route the 3" duct work. Under the settees would be hard to impossible due to the water tanks. It might be possible to go under the floor.
Has anyone installed a forced hot air system in their 365? Would really like to hear from others who have done so.
Also, if you have a diesel fireplace, and mounted it to port on the little cabinet across for the mast, how well does it draw? The manufacturers want a four foot flue and that spot would not provide that length. I understand some have mounted a fireplace next to the mast and that works well, but I am reconfiguring the shower so would prefer not to put a fireplace there if possible.
Propane is out-not enough heat and to much propane required.
thanks for any help you can provide.
Jim
Hi Jim: I can't speak directly to the installation on the port side but I do have experience with a Dickinson installed just aft of the mast. See: http://www.pearson365.com/forum/index.php?topic=1459.msg8002#msg8002 For a picture of our installation.
Ours draws fine where it is and the lower installation helps keep the heat low in the boat. We have a small electric diaphragm pump, the smaller one of the two Dickerson sells. I would go with the bigger pump if I were to do it over, more pressure to push cold viscous fuel a long way. We have a small fan that helps distribute the heat, but I think for full time use connected to power, a blower would be nice. The Vee berth is cold still. Main cabin is fine even in pretty cold weather once it has a chance to warm up for a while.
I think the stove pipe minimum in the installation manual for the Dickerson is 4 feet and that would probably be violated in the installation on the port side forward of the berth. They do make a little fan you can add that would help that and I suspect would be fine.
I just ordered a forced air diesel system. Its an Espar/Webasto look alike made in Russia-I know all the potential pitfalls, but they have actually gotten good reviews stateside and with the fishermen in Alaska so, for better than half the cost of a Eber or Wabasto I figured I'd take the risk. Will post the results when installed.
Next question:
The forced hot air heater I purchased is ready to be installed. I had assumed I'd mount it in a cockpit locker near the stern and run the intake and exhaust lines out the stern. Problem is the manufacturer advises only running the duct for a total of 15 feet and that would use up about half the permissible duct run in an area I don't want to heat (the cockpit locker). I could mount it forward closer to the first bulkhead beneath the companionway, but the exhaust would then need to be mounted up near the rail-this seems less protected from seawater intrusion. I haven't sailed my 365 enough yet to say whether it is likely the rail will ever go under. what do you all think? Is the stern safer than just beneath the rail?
Good morning :)
If you mount the unit further forward, can you extend the exhaust line so it still reaches the transom?
Alternatively, most of these heater manufacturers offer some variant of a plug for side-mounted exhausts, to keep water out while heeled over. It means not being able to use the heater while heeled (at least on the exhaust side), but it's an option. If your source doesn't offer the plug, perhaps one from Wallas or Espar would still fit.
~ Chris
Hmm, had not heard of the plug-that's a great idea and I will check, thank you. Mostly it will be in use on the mooring, but it would be nice to be able to sail with it running as well.
Regarding running the exhaust line all the way aft, that would be a really, really long run-guessing about 10 feet. The line gets hot-think as hot as the exhaust manifold on your engine. Not sure it could be kept safely protected and wrapped consistently at that length. Stowage needs to be kept away from it as well and the locker is always going to have lines and bumbers and spare parts and such floating around. its doable to insulate and isolate two or three feet of exhaust, I have trouble seeing that done with 10 feet.
RE: duct routing, I installed a Wallas a few years ago in the stbd lazarette, about even with the rudderstock. Intake from the nearest coaming-top vent, exhaust out the transom, return air from a duct passing through the lower 1/4 of the foulies locker behind nav station. It wasn't really difficult at all.
Warm air routed by two main ducts to the cabin and v-berth/head:
1) Behind starboard cuddy lockers/above and outboard of the water tanks to two outlets, by left knee of nav station and at floor level fwd of the stbd water tank.
2) Below and to stbd of engine to top stbd of bilge, then fwd to v-berth and branch to head beneath sink.
It has been really great move. Very happy with the Wallas 40 Dt, but maybe your ductwork can follow in that way. I may add one more outlet in the salon some day by teeing off the v-berth/head branch, they get plenty warm as-is and could do with less of the total air volume.
Skooster, Thanks for the description. Worked on the project for six hours today-temp never got above 12 degrees.... I routed the 3" duct work just outboard and level with the starboard sliding bunk. One outlet at the aft end of the bunk at floor level and one at the forward end of the bunk at floor level. I then ran a section forward to put an outlet in the head and one at the base of the starboard locker in the vberth. I wanted to keep the ducting runs as short as possible, so I mounted the furnace in the starboard locker all the way forward almost to the engine room forward bulkhead and up as high as possible (to protect against water ingress through the exhaust. It will exhaust through the transom (and its a long run_about 9 feet, but the dealer tells me he has gone 8 feet or so with no problem. I'll watch for fouling of the glow plug. Its on a removable shelf to allow for easy maintenance. Hope to finish wiring it up and connect the fuel line tomorrow. Will be nice to work in a warm space after freezing all day today.