In article ,
Courtney Thomas wrote:

I'm told that there are at least 2 types of boat heater, both of which
burn diesel; one using a blower to disperse the heat and the other
heating a circulating liquid.

What are the experiences of the group with both, please ?

Thank you,
Courtney

the project i'm working on at the moment has an ITR Hurricane
system which circulates hot water with a pump from a diesel-fired
boiler out through heater cores (with thermo controlled fans) and
then back to the boiler.

however...

i don't think any one system type is "better" so much as they are more
suited to different circumstances.

the forced air system is easily the simplest in terms of
hardware and such, but if the vessel is very large, getting
good coverage gets to be difficult and the ductwork can
consume a lot of space.

the ITR hot-water system is much more complex but it
more readily covers a much bigger vessel and also helps
make hot water for hotel use. the plumbing is also
much smaller, although there is a lot of it once you
see it laid into the hull. (grin)

both systems can provide good service if well-designed
and installed, and both systems can cause untold headaches
if not well-designed and installed.

i know the ITR folks are very willing to work with customers
to help insure their success and i assume the other suppliers
will as well for the same reasons.

i'd chat with several suppliers, describe the project in
detail and from each get their recommended system design and a bid.
then read all the documents for the proposed systems - installation,
operations and maintenance.

you will then be in a position to decide which system suits your vessel,
style of use, the system complexity, and cost you're willing to deal with
in an on-going fashion.

cheers,
-mo

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
every boat I have been on -- except one -- that had the blower-type diesel
heater had had serious, and damned expensive, maintenance issues, issues
that
were not fixable in the field. That single boat that had had no problems
had
the heater installed only the previous month.

Would be nice to know what brand that was.

Worked fine, but ran a fully charged, brand new Group 27 battery flat dead
by
about 2:00 in the morning, every morning.

A Group 27 battery is a pretty small batery for anything but powering
some lights. A forced air diesel heater is a pretty heavy hitter. Mine
draws 17A while starting (maybe a minute) and 5-7A while running.

I'm told that there are at least 2 types of boat heater, both of which
burn diesel; one using a blower to disperse the heat and the other
heating a circulating liquid.

What are the experiences of the group with both, please ?

Thank you,
Courtney
--
s/v Mutiny
Rhodes Bounty II
lying Oriental, NC
WDB5619

Would be nice to know what brand that was.

Espar.

Mine
draws 17A while starting (maybe a minute) and 5-7A while running.

that is one hell of a lot of amps overnight. Even a much greater bunch of amps
if you don't move the next day.

btw, you might wish to actually measure just how many amps your system *really*
burns. That brand new system on the boat would run out the about 50 to 60 amp
capacity of the brand new Group 25 in less than about 5 hours. (note a Grp 27
rated in about 105 amps, gives up about half that before it is effectively
dead. That is the way battery ratings work.)

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
Would be nice to know what brand that was.

Espar.

Mine
draws 17A while starting (maybe a minute) and 5-7A while running.

that is one hell of a lot of amps overnight. Even a much greater bunch of
amps
if you don't move the next day.

Not really, it only runs maybe 10 minutes every hour. 20-30 AH per day for
heating is not too bad. Not sure what moving has to do with anything unless
you mean moving towards a warmer climate.
..
btw, you might wish to actually measure just how many amps your system
*really*
burns. That brand new system on the boat would run out the about 50 to
60 amp
capacity of the brand new Group 25 in less than about 5 hours. (note a
Grp 27
rated in about 105 amps, gives up about half that before it is effectively
dead. That is the way battery ratings work.)

I know. Such a small battery is not suitable for any forced air heating
system. Perhaps a Force 10 or Dickinson would be a choice for a boat
that does not support a serious battery bank.

ah, yessssss. 3,000 amps of battery capacity is about right.

btw, ***10*** ??? minutes per hour of run time for a heater? The outside temps
dropped to, what, 68*? Most people don't turn on a heater until overnight
temps go below 50*.



From: "Doug Dotson" AMcom
Date: 12/12/2004 3:45 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:


"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
Would be nice to know what brand that was.

Espar.

Mine
draws 17A while starting (maybe a minute) and 5-7A while running.

that is one hell of a lot of amps overnight. Even a much greater bunch of
amps
if you don't move the next day.

Not really, it only runs maybe 10 minutes every hour. 20-30 AH per day for
heating is not too bad. Not sure what moving has to do with anything unless
you mean moving towards a warmer climate.
.
btw, you might wish to actually measure just how many amps your system
*really*
burns. That brand new system on the boat would run out the about 50 to
60 amp
capacity of the brand new Group 25 in less than about 5 hours. (note a
Grp 27
rated in about 105 amps, gives up about half that before it is effectively
dead. That is the way battery ratings work.)

I know. Such a small battery is not suitable for any forced air heating
system. Perhaps a Force 10 or Dickinson would be a choice for a boat
that does not support a serious battery bank.

That is the way battery ratings work.)

I know. Such a small battery is not suitable for any forced air heating
system.

doug, a brand new, fully-charged Grp 27 battery will give up about 50 to 60
amps before it is dead. Even more when going to flat dead. That Espar ran
that brand new, fully-charged Grp 27 battery flat dead in about 6 hours. Flat
dead.

of course, it was not 68* outside. More like low 40's.

We generally turn it on when outside temps go below 50 or so. Boat
is well insulated so heater doesn;t have to run much to keep inside
in the 60s.


"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
ah, yessssss. 3,000 amps of battery capacity is about right.

btw, ***10*** ??? minutes per hour of run time for a heater? The outside
temps
dropped to, what, 68*? Most people don't turn on a heater until overnight
temps go below 50*.



From: "Doug Dotson" AMcom
Date: 12/12/2004 3:45 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:


"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
Would be nice to know what brand that was.

Espar.

Mine
draws 17A while starting (maybe a minute) and 5-7A while running.

that is one hell of a lot of amps overnight. Even a much greater bunch
of
amps
if you don't move the next day.

Not really, it only runs maybe 10 minutes every hour. 20-30 AH per day for
heating is not too bad. Not sure what moving has to do with anything
unless
you mean moving towards a warmer climate.
.
btw, you might wish to actually measure just how many amps your system
*really*
burns. That brand new system on the boat would run out the about 50 to
60 amp
capacity of the brand new Group 25 in less than about 5 hours. (note a
Grp 27
rated in about 105 amps, gives up about half that before it is
effectively
dead. That is the way battery ratings work.)

I know. Such a small battery is not suitable for any forced air heating
system. Perhaps a Force 10 or Dickinson would be a choice for a boat
that does not support a serious battery bank.

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
That is the way battery ratings work.)

I know. Such a small battery is not suitable for any forced air heating
system.

doug, a brand new, fully-charged Grp 27 battery will give up about 50 to
60
amps before it is dead.

I suspect you mean amp-hours since amps is not a measure of capacity.

Even more when going to flat dead. That Espar ran
that brand new, fully-charged Grp 27 battery flat dead in about 6 hours.
Flat
dead.

50-60AH at the 20 hour rate which is normally how batteries are rated. A 5
or 6
amp draw is much higher than the 20 hr rate. More like a 10 hr rate or
worse.

of course, it was not 68* outside. More like low 40's.

Depends upon what temperature the thermostat is set at, the outside temp,
how well the boats is insulated, etc. Sorry, a Group 27 battery just isn't
suited
for a forced air system. Isn;t really suited for much of a refrigeration
system
either.

doug, I certainly hope no one takes your advice. You are all over the place,
and giving advice your simply don't know is contradictory. Please be quiet.
If you fail that simple thing, I ask anyone who hears your advice to triple
check it with someone who has actually been there.

3,000 amps in battery capacity, dougies. geesh.

From: "Doug Dotson" AMcom
Date: 12/12/2004 9:07 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:


"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
That is the way battery ratings work.)

I know. Such a small battery is not suitable for any forced air heating
system.

doug, a brand new, fully-charged Grp 27 battery will give up about 50 to
60
amps before it is dead.

I suspect you mean amp-hours since amps is not a measure of capacity.

Even more when going to flat dead. That Espar ran
that brand new, fully-charged Grp 27 battery flat dead in about 6 hours.
Flat
dead.

50-60AH at the 20 hour rate which is normally how batteries are rated. A 5
or 6
amp draw is much higher than the 20 hr rate. More like a 10 hr rate or
worse.

of course, it was not 68* outside. More like low 40's.

Depends upon what temperature the thermostat is set at, the outside temp,
how well the boats is insulated, etc. Sorry, a Group 27 battery just isn't
suited
for a forced air system. Isn;t really suited for much of a refrigeration
system
either.

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
doug, I certainly hope no one takes your advice. You are all over the
place,

I have been all over the place. And have been toasty warm in all of them.

and giving advice your simply don't know is contradictory. Please be
quiet.
If you fail that simple thing, I ask anyone who hears your advice to
triple
check it with someone who has actually been there.

Anyone should double or triple check any advise from another, especially
anything you might suggest.

3,000 amps in battery capacity, dougies. geesh.

Battery capacity is not measured in amps bozo.


From: "Doug Dotson" AMcom
Date: 12/12/2004 9:07 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:


"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
That is the way battery ratings work.)

I know. Such a small battery is not suitable for any forced air heating
system.

doug, a brand new, fully-charged Grp 27 battery will give up about 50 to
60
amps before it is dead.

I suspect you mean amp-hours since amps is not a measure of capacity.

Even more when going to flat dead. That Espar ran
that brand new, fully-charged Grp 27 battery flat dead in about 6 hours.
Flat
dead.

50-60AH at the 20 hour rate which is normally how batteries are rated. A 5
or 6
amp draw is much higher than the 20 hr rate. More like a 10 hr rate or
worse.

of course, it was not 68* outside. More like low 40's.

Depends upon what temperature the thermostat is set at, the outside temp,
how well the boats is insulated, etc. Sorry, a Group 27 battery just isn't
suited
for a forced air system. Isn;t really suited for much of a refrigeration
system
either.