New heater/defroster for Tomcat

Gene Morris

New member
We spent the weekend installing a new heater/defroster on Reefmadness. I believe this will solve the condensation/heating problem for good. The install consisted of a Webasto TSL 17 heater with a Real Heat 8462 six outlet heater/defroster unit and a Real Heat 6242 four outlet heater. The 6 outlet heater/defroster was mounted in the berth using 3 outlets for defrost and the other 3 heats the helm and berth. The 4 outlet heater is mounted behind the refer with outlets to front, rear and side of the seat. The expansion tank was mounted in the head to keep it warm and dry. The water lines were mounted around the berth under the mattress using Sch 40 PVC , this should control the condensation and keep the mattress dry. The TSL 17, Water pump and fuel pump were mounted under the sink. We are also installing a 12 gal fuel tank which will be shared by the Wallas. If I could figure out how to post the photos in this topic I would. However, I'll post photos of the units in our photo album.

Gene
 
Nice job! I don't think I've seen a hydronic heating system in a C-Dory before. Here's the photos.

TSL17.jpg
DSCF1063.sized.jpg
DSCF1062.sized.jpg
 
Thanks Roger;

It was a pretty involved job but, I think it will do what we were wanting it to. Did you get the e-mail re. documentation? Are you selling Dreamer? I'll post photos of the entire install when I get a chance to take them.

Gene
 
Gene this is impressive. You are probably better equipped for the Arctic than the Kulluk is! 17,000 BTU, is going to make it really toasty!
Great installation. I am sold on hydronic heaters.

What did you do for the thru hull/air/exhuast? As I understand it, this is a truck unit (as was the one I used on my Cal 46).
 
Dr. Austin wrote:

What did you do for the thru hull/air/exhuast? As I understand it, this is a truck unit (as was the one I used on my Cal 46).

I mounted the thru hull in front of the exhaust port on the Wallas. They call it marine heater it has a different model number than the truck unit. However, they look identical.

Moxie wrote:

Is the circulating fluid in the system some type of anti-freeze?

The solution is a 50/50 mix of water & antifreeze. Most of the liquid transport is a pump thru heater hose. However we used PVC under the berth's mattress.

Gene
 
I am curious if you feel the PVC through the mattress ?

The reason I ask is that I can feel the cross bar on a hide-a-bed that is under the mattress.

Bill Kelleher

The solution is a 50/50 mix of water & antifreeze. Most of the liquid transport is a pump thru heater hose. However we used PVC under the berth's mattress.
 
I had also wondered about the use of PVC--did you make a platform above the pipes? In our Cal 46 we used heater hose for the transport to each of 3 zones, but used copper tubing under the head floors, in the closets and under towel bars for heating in other spaces, not heated with the computer fans in the radiators.

Where did you put the exhaust?--Air intake is ambient?
 
Bill K wrote:
I am curious if you feel the PVC through the mattress ?

The PVC runs port, starboard and along the forward wall. It will not be noticeable when sleeping. The berth entrance doesn't have the pipes running across the front. When I get the boat home we'll see how efficient it is. It is possible that I may need to run the lines under the berth but, I'm hoping that it will work good where they are. I will post photos of the completed job when she gets back home.

Dr. Austin wrote:
Where did you put the exhaust?--Air intake is ambient?

We put a thru hull exhaust fitting forward, two inches from the Wallas' exhaust outlet.
The head is heated by the expansion tank installed in the head. This may be in the way, if so I will remount it into the hanging locker and run lines to the head and fabricate a radiator at the bottom and behind the toilet.


We also tied the lines into the domestic water heater, so we have hot water without being on 110V.

Gene
 
nice heating system but wouldn't it be easier to just continue to do your cold weather boating on the Tootsie II ? :)

take care, catch ya later
 
Good morning Ken,

We will be transporting Tootsie to KTN this year for Bud. However, we in Eureka are blessed with cold weather boating all year. Many of our summer days are colder than the winter days. Will you be at the Cove this Year?

Gene
 
cool, that should be a fun run if the weather behaves.

10-4 on the cove, I figure I had better do a few more years. see ya there
 
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