Cabin heat alternatives

Had a love/hate relationship with the Wallas cookstop/stove on the 22. It is compact which is good and once you have got over the traditional trips to Scan Marine to make it work properly then it is "adequate". But the bottom line is that it is neither a great heater nor a great cooktop. It is a compromise, hence "adequate".

Now have a Wallas D-30 for heat which has just completed its ritual inspection/pump replacement etc by Scan marine under warranty and it is an excellent heater. Probably more than you would need in a 22 but if you fit the thermostat then it will easily hold whatever temperature you want and uses very little fuel.

For cooking, you can't beat a correctly installed propane system with all the safety devices. Only bug I have with it is you cannot see the flame in bright sunlight which can bite :oops: Also the smaller propane tanks tend to have very sticky safety valves which kick in if you open the main valve too quickly and they can be a PITA to reset. Our local gas station killed one of my tanks by beating it on the ground to unstick the valve. This can lead to problems re-filling an empty tank. Only remedy I have found is to "crack' open the main valve very slowly every time you open it.
after use I ALWAYS shut off the main valve and let the burners burn out so there is no residual gas in the lines. I would not rely on a solenoid.

My .02c worth.

Merv

You will also notice that while the diesel heat is "dry", the instant you fire up the propane cooktop, you will have oodles of condensation.

Espar makes a similar diesel heater also with heating ducts so you can regulate where the heat goes.
 
I could not agree more.... we really like our Propane stove...and I think installing one of those Airtronic D2 heaters might be the best answer...they come with a thermostat and ducting...nice kit.
Steve on Dora Jean sure likes his Wallas 1300 heater...and has no problems at all with it....nice unit...

I was just looking on the web and noticed that you can buy Wallas heaters and stoves in Europe for about $500 less... (95DU with 270lid $2019) in case any of you are planning a Euro vacation this year....
(shipping is a killer)

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Hi Tom. Missed you at Indian Cove. It was the first chance I had to test out my two burner over the side stove top. It worked great.
I will have to relearn how to post photos. For now, I will give a quick idea of the new set up.
I have four flush mount pole holders and use Penn downriggers. So I have a drop in shaft/plate thing that has a swivel mount on it and a penn plate on that. Regardless of the brand, the idea is to go with an existing mount and in my case it's Penn.
Anyway, I had an 18" X 5" length piece of alloy channel cut. This was sized so it would straddle the penn mounting plate. I purchased an extra penn mounting knob and installed that in one end. I purchased a century stainless camp stove and drilled two 1/4" holes all the way through the base which line up with two stainless lag bolts installed up through the 18" alloy piece. The stove drops in and is secured with two washers and wing nuts.
Once in place, the gas tank is 18" away and the burners are a foot away from any non metal surface. The cook sits on a jump seat under the bimini (as it was snowing) and you get everything a chef could want with no fire risk.
 
For me the wallis is working well, but only gets fired up for heat. Then if it is running, will we may heat or cook something on it. But for the cook, their is nothing like a flame and it is nice to have high btu's for boiling.
 
I forgot about the wall units that sea wolf has. I know that Roger is going to install a Dickerson in his 25. I just don't like how much room they have and I want to duct the heat to the berth. I would really like to have a diesel stove and heater ( two units) I have not seen a open flame diesel stove top. Any one know of one. That and the wallas d-30 or the airtonic would be great. One fuel source that way.
 
Hey Joel,

Those D2 heaters certainly sound intriguing. It would be interesting to compare the complexity and design of the Wallas vs the D2. My Wallas 1300 has certainly earned my respect (so far), very nice running unit, whisper quiet, less than 0.5a operating, sips the fuel (Klean Heat) and heats the whole cabin quiet nicely -- although I haven't tried it below about 38F outside temp.

Did you get a chance to check out Ron and Ann's Wallas 1800 on Meander at Lake Mohave? I did, kinda wish I would have opted for it, although about another $500 (probably why I didn't...ha). But it has a low and high setting. They seem to keep it on low most of the time just to keep that comfortable temp inside, extremely quiet.

So far I really like what I've heard about the D2. Anyone pulled one apart?
 
SEA3PO":138x8jd7 said:
I just got an e-mail from the guy with the D2 Heaters...he has 10 of them at $875 plus shipping...can't beat that deal...
Click to expand...
Joel, are those new? Or refurbs?

Our TomCat is coming with that Butane stove top. I would have preferred open counter space to that.

How hard is it to install the D2 and it's necessary ducting?

And please forgive this off-topic question for the group: Do those of you on the lower Chesapeake find that you would really like to have A/C available during the summer months?
---
mike
 
Wantaboat,
I stopped last year at the C-Brats Chesapeake Bay Gathering and it was sweltering humid and in the 90's by 10 am. Those without A.C. were toast. I'm in the process of making a boat decision and I boat in New Jersey and I'm getting a roof mounted AC. set up no mater what. The Webasco heater looks like a winner also and the std. propane stove will have to do. I'm gonna try to jam a small microwave somewhere for quick small fish dinners. :wink: The Wallas stove seems to be a compact option and a tad pricey that can do both heat and provide the cook top but do neither particularly well from what I read. The wallas for some have been frustrating and expensive to maintain. Starcrafttom has some entertaining stories. The way I look at it there isn't a whole lot to go wrong with a propane stove and if your stove and heater are two separate units a break down with one does not mean you lose both.
09 be my C-Dory time
D.D.
 
I know there seem to be a few exceptions but I have said many times, there are only two kinds of people: those who have had trouble with their Wallas, and those who are going to. Right now, our Wallas has been repair and is running fine. But on the trip back from Indian Cove to Point Defiance last Sunday, I kept asking Patty "Is the Wallas still on?" - the Wallas was blasting on high and I was downright chilly at the helm.
 
Wannaboat Mike, I lived in Richmond, and sailed out of Deltaville for 2 years (including 2 summers) (40 years ago). The boats I sailed on did not have AC, but I sure would have liked to have had it. As long as there is wind, and ventillation--it is OK--but if you are in a marina, or anchored where no wind, I would want AC.
 
I installed a Dickinson Newport heater in the SENSEI . here is where I mounted it

sensei_interior_015.sized.jpg
 
Warren
I will make a mount for the tank in the motor well or possibly make a mount for it on the starboard side of the transom. hanging outside the cockpit for the safety factor.
 
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