Boat heater

Brooks Cooper · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 9:58 am Post subject: Boat heater

Well I put in a new diesel heater in Coop's Cruiser. It works great, it is the airtronic D2 heater. I installed it on the shelf under the sink and ran the duct work out the front of the cabinet. It is a little loud when starting up kinda sounds like a jet engine spooling up. The mini controller that it came with it is also a thermostat.

The install was fairly simple, with some extra duct work you could put the vents at the front windows for defrosters and heat. I have a window fan so I chose the cabin heat route.

I did use the fuel cell from my wallas that I took out. If anyone is interested my wallas is for sale minus the fuel tank I don't know what's wrong with it. so it needs to go to scan marine to be repaired again. It could be something simple. or it might need new boards again. that was $900.00 last time.

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:10 am Post subject: heater

Brooks,

If you get a chance, I would love to see photos of the installation.

Steve

Sea Wolf · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:37 am Post subject:

Nice idea!

Would love to see some photos, too!

Does it cycle on and off a lot?

Airtronic D2 Heater by Espar

digger · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject: Supplier???

Wondering if you could give the name of where you got the unit, and approx. $cost. Thanks, Ron

lloyds · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:22 pm Post subject:

Boat Electric up in Seattle on Lake Union used to sell them. I assume they are still a dealer. I had one on a boat and it worked flawlessly for 10 years. I changed the glow plug one time.

Brooks Cooper · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject:

Interstate power systems 8200 North Fairmont Street Davenport Iowa 563-388-9988 ask for Nick $891.00 shipped to my door. Kit came with everything I needed to install it. Boat electric in Seattle was 4 times as much for what I believe is the same unit. Just a heads up

Adeline · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject:

I'm interested in the "real world" current draw.
Is the low setting sufficient ?
My Wallas draws .55 amps.

It looks like there's not much difference in draw between the D2 and the D4.

Adeline · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:32 pm Post subject:

Brooks Cooper · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

Used the wallas exhuast. The wallas pipe is 1mm larger than the airtronic pipe I thought I was going to have to buy another thru hull exhuast but the two pipes thread together I just used some chimmey silicon sealer and presto worked like a champ. I will buy a co monitor for overnighters and such. Just to be safe.
There are two air intakes one for the combustion chamber I ran the tube under the shelf and clamped it to the bottom of the shelf, the other air intake is for the blower fan in the unit I left 4" behind unit and put on an intake screen that comes with the unit There are plenty of holes in the cabinet to allow enough air flow.

breausaw · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:56 pm Post subject:

Will be interesting to see it this heater exhibits the same high speed exhaust problems as the Wallas.
Installing an air intake/exhaust cowl ahead of the Wallas exhaust port is on my short list.

Chris Bulovsky · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

Looks cool! Hope it works out for you. I'm still searching for a bomb proof heater that cost less than a Benelli shotgun. Right now I have trouble with my cozy cabin heater. It needs a new base.......I have the old "obsolete" base. Propane also dosn't do well in really cold temps. -15 to 10 range...the idea was to be able to do some work in the boat this winter.....so much for that idea.
The solid fuel heaters have my complete attention right now. Low tech. that works and has no excuses to not work is my thoughts. I wouldn't put another dime in the Wallas either.

Chris Bulovsky
Washburn Wi

Sea Wolf · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 1:40 pm Post subject:

Larry H · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject:

I have never owned an Espar heater, but I have been annoyed by them!

When other boats at a dock operate their Espars, I find the noise of the exhaust to be loud and of an annoying pitch. This noise is especially annoying when we are at a marine park dock where quiet nights are part of the attraction.

Like a generator, the owners of Espars get the benefit (heat) and everyone else gets their noise, and fumes.

The heater exhaust also can be a fire hazard. Dock lines, power cords, fenders, or a rafted-up boat can be melted or set on fire!!

End of rant.

breausaw · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject:

Good point, the Wallas is whisper quiet from the outside.

I can’t imagine the attraction of spending the night tied up to a dock though.
A marine park sounds too much like a campground, did that for too many years.
One of the prime motivations for use to get a boat was the serenity and seclusion it would offer.

tpbrady · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

My Wallas is going back to Scan Marine after 5 years of working without any problems. At the end of the season this year the combustion fan seems to be making a whining noises normally associated with a bearing going out. If it comes back and fails it won't be replaced. I think I will go with the Airtronic D4 and a propane cook stove.

Chris,

For the first time this year I saw propane go through my stove and flow out as a liquid. It was about -26F and about 20 seconds after I lit the stove, it flared up. I shut the propane off and the stove continued to burn and when it kicked it toward a snow bank to put it out, the snow where it had been continued to burn.

Cold temp diesel is the way to go.