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Jerry
 
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Roger,

I have that very same heater in question. I installed it last year, not the
easiet to install, but not the hardest either.
Slow down, figure out before hand how you want to install it, then once
you've devised your plan, have at it. The biggest hurdle was installing the
exhaust pipe, and that was only because I had to bend it.

I use the 2 gallon remote tank. I didn't want to tie it off directly to the
fuel tank for a variety of reasons, including the effort involved, expense,
diffuculty etc.... And, since I only planned to burn Kerosene in the unit
(we'll use diesel if we have to) it didn't make much sense from that
standpoint either. The two gallon remote tank also has some advantages as
well, it's completely self contained and self sufficent. We don't need to
use shore power, or ships power to use the unit. We can use it underway, at
anchor, docked, etc.... In a pinch we can siphon off diesel from the main
tank and use that if need be.

Pumping it up by hand with a bicycle pump is a pain in the butt. However,
shivering is also and besides I've gotten use to pumping it up. You need to
pump it up more often when the unit is fullest. After the unit has burned
off some fuel there's more capacity in the tank to hold air, and the more
air you have the less you have to pump. But to make life a little easier I'm
going to look at 12 volt, or battery operated air pumps for the unit. But
pumping it by hand has some advantages; you get a little bit of exercise.
And you're usually pumping up the unit because there's a chill in the air,
however the pumping usually warms you up while your waiting for the heater
to catch up.

The heater will keep our 30 foot boat nice and toasty, in fact we often have
to turn the unit down to keep from over heating. It burns about a gallon on
fuel in a 24 hour period. If you install it correctly then there's little if
any smell. And it adds to the looks of the boat.

Personally I'd gladly go this route again. Yes there are some cons with this
type of unit. But in my opinion the pros outweigh them.

Hope it helps
Jerry Price



"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
I just saw a neat looking little Force 10 diesel or K1 heater. It has
a very simple mechanism that you prime with alcohol in a cup to heat
up the burner. Brass construction, very compact with a 1" flue and an
outlet that would work well in the place I would have to put it. It
would be an awkward spot to have a typical stove Charlie noble.

Can anyone report their experience with this kind of unit? A big
attraction for me would be to pipe it off the engine fuel supply. I
know there will be a bit more odor and maintenance burning diesel
instead of kero but, will this unit work with it?

--

Roger Long