Espar and Webasto Reliability

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20dauntless

New member
After my recent Wallas failure I'm really close to selling the Wallas and replacing it with an Espar or Webasto forced air furnace and an alcohol stove. My biggest concern is that I'll spend the money and go through the hassle to change the heating system but reliability won't ultimately be improved.

Threads like these give me pause:
http://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=13974
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f2/cabin-heater-espar-or-webasto-37479.html
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230062&page=2

It seems all of the diesel heaters are prone to sooting and expensive repairs. Some people get reliable service for years, others have nothing but trouble. Kind of like the Wallas.

Until this weeks Wallas failure, I was happy with its performance. I'm sure a separate heater and stove would be better for both cooking and heating, but not better enough to warrant the several thousand dollars that the swap would cost. All I'm really looking for is better reliability...thoughts?
 
We have had a webasto for 6 years; it has worked flawlessly. Low fuel consumption, excellent forced air heat, thermostatically controlled temperature. I've run diesel, kerosene and kleen heat with no appreciable difference in performance. There are just two caveats: the exhaust temperature is high and one has to be careful about where the outlet is pointed when fendering or mooring, I almost melted a hole in a fender one time. The system is loud when it starts up, almost like a small jet spooling up. Those are insignificant to me, just factors to be aware of.
 
Well‚ I read through every post in those links and I‛m more confused than ever.

I‛d just about embraced the Espar and Webasto when I read those reports of sooting‚ coking and fuel sensitivity.

I especially like the idea of ducted heat down at floor level. That‛s a Wallas weakness...cold feet.

Just to muddy the waters a bit more‚ I offer this thread‚

Force 10, or Dickinson P9000 fireplace?

http://livingaboard.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3295
 
I have had 2 Espar systems, a D8 and a D12 (yes, there is indeed a D12 even if you won't find much mention of it) obviously both on larger boats. The D12 performed flawlessly. The D8 initially had issues. That unit was in a Nordic Tug 32 which was in Connecticut, used year round, and not winterized so the heater was critical. I had a number of glow plug failures. My dealer, Ocean Options, Tiverton, RI suggested that the failures were due to high voltage. The only possible source of high voltage was during the high charge cycle of the battery charger. I removed the Charles C-Charger and installed a Xantrex Tru Charger and the problem was resolved. We ran this unit many, many hours over 6 years with great success. Every couple of years, I did have a preventitive maintenance service performed on it given the amount of useage it was getting and the critical nature of its use on an unwinterized boat. My current boat will get a diesel heater at some point. It will be an Espar, likely a D4 as my Espar experience has been excellent.

Jim
 
As the Espar and Webasto are both actually long haul truck sleeper cabin heaters, when I need service, I will ask at the local truck stop, not at a marine dealer...
 
Pat Anderson":30bitaad said:
As the Espar and Webasto are both actually long haul truck sleeper cabin heaters, when I need service, I will ask at the local truck stop, not at a marine dealer...
Click to expand...

Just as a side note, they are also used a lot in school busses. I don't know about commercial passenger busses (coaches).

I think they are very well suited to daily use, and that pattern helps keep them clean and free of soot, which would be more likely to built up with infrequent and short term (in hours) use. This is probably true of any internal combustion machine or engine.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Just installed my Espar D-2 last year. No problems yet. The Espar D-2 comes with a rubber mount for the fuel pump which holds down the noise from the fuel pumps operation. The Espar has some subtle refinments that the Webasco does not according to the Espar dealer. I think both are good heaters. Both the Espar and the Webasco are German designed heaters for buses originally I think. After the initial purchase of about 1000 dollars, ended up with another 1000 in the install. The additional items I needed were a fuel tank, through hull for the exhaust,some hole saws, a sheet of marine plywood, some teak to make a new matching door as ours went where the refrigerator used to reside, hinges, latch,master on off power switch,stainless steel exhaust hose with drain, white cover for exhaust covering, extra ductwork to go over the exhaust, aluminum for a suitable mount. Stainless bolts and locknuts,3M 5200,extra clamps for the combustion exhaust. I'm sure you can do it cheaper. Pictures in a sub album in Will-C album. We have a controller that sets to a temperature range. I think our heater puts out about 7500 btu's. You leave the back door open and be pretty comfortable on chilly mornings floating on Yellowstone Lake with water temps at about 57 degrees. We are happy as a clam with our Espar.
D.D.
 
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