Roger, one option to avoid the need for 12V (at least the continuous use
of 12V) would be to put a daytank above the heater for gravity feed, and
then fill the daytank occasionally using a 12v pump.

bob

Roger Long wrote:
I want to put a bulkhead mount diesel heater in our Endeavor 32 and am
going round and round on the type. I’d like to hear some thoughts and
actual experience.

I like the idea of a pipe running from the main fuel tank so that the
heater will simply run as long as there is fuel. However, all the
units that can be piped up this way seem to depend on 12 volts being
available and are a current draw.

The idea of the heater being completely independent from electric
power is attractive but this seems to involve pumping up pressure
tanks. The idea of getting up in a cold boat in the middle of the
night to pull out a loose can of fuel, refill a tank, pump it up, and
get the heater going again doesn’t appeal.

The only thing I’m sure of is that I don’t want a drip pot burner set
up like I saw so many of on the West Coast years ago. I understand
they are heel sensitive and I’d like my boat to be warm and toasty
when I go below after sailing it hard. I'd also like it to not be too
warm and toasty. I've seen what happens when drip pots go wild.

I’m looking ahead to trips up around Newfoundland and Labrador so
reliability is important. I also plan some very late season sailing in
Maine with long periods aboard so I would like the heater to run long
periods with minimal attention.

I think nearly everyone who has responded is missing something, unless
I am.

As I understand from what I have reviewed on manufacturer's web sites,
there are three options:

1) Pot burner.

No power required. Would work from a gravity day tank with either 12
V or hand pump.
Downside: Erratic at large heel angles. Can flood an produce large
flames, or so I've heard. The horror stories I know are 30 years old
so maybe they've gotten better.

2) Pressure by air. The fuel is put into a small pressure tank and
pumped up with a small internal pump sort of like a camp stove.

3) Pressure by 12 volt pump. This runs all the time that the stove is
running. Not a big draw but, no power, no heat.

I'm leaning towards #3 because maintaining power is pretty vital for
other reasons. I also like the idea of being able to shut off fuel
delivery with a switch. If a pipe or fitting broke with the pressure
tank set up, diesel would be spraying everywhere, perhaps on the
heater.

Being a gadgeteer, I might look into a hybrid where fuel can be pumped
into the small tank from the main fuel tank and then pressurized by a
small air pump. I wouldn't try to make this automatic but it would
save schlepping fuel around the boat in cans. An emergency air bleed
vent to the outside would shut the stove off quickly in an emergency.


--

Roger Long



"RW Salnick" wrote in message
...
Roger, one option to avoid the need for 12V (at least the continuous
use
of 12V) would be to put a daytank above the heater for gravity feed,
and
then fill the daytank occasionally using a 12v pump.

bob

Roger Long wrote:
I want to put a bulkhead mount diesel heater in our Endeavor 32 and
am going round and round on the type. I’d like to hear some thoughts
and actual experience.

I like the idea of a pipe running from the main fuel tank so that
the heater will simply run as long as there is fuel. However, all
the units that can be piped up this way seem to depend on 12 volts
being available and are a current draw.

The idea of the heater being completely independent from electric
power is attractive but this seems to involve pumping up pressure
tanks. The idea of getting up in a cold boat in the middle of the
night to pull out a loose can of fuel, refill a tank, pump it up,
and get the heater going again doesn’t appeal.

The only thing I’m sure of is that I don’t want a drip pot burner
set up like I saw so many of on the West Coast years ago. I
understand they are heel sensitive and I’d like my boat to be warm
and toasty when I go below after sailing it hard. I'd also like it
to not be too warm and toasty. I've seen what happens when drip
pots go wild.

I’m looking ahead to trips up around Newfoundland and Labrador so
reliability is important. I also plan some very late season sailing
in Maine with long periods aboard so I would like the heater to run
long periods with minimal attention.

Also, I asked one of the manufacturers and they do not know of a 12
volt pump that can supply the fuel at the proper pressure and
consistency of flow that the pressure tank can. They've been looking
because lots of people have asked.

Too bad because I like the looks of the heaters that used this system
better than the others. Evidently, the ones that use 12 volts have a
different kind of burner and atomization set up.

--

Roger Long

I use an electric fuel pump from NAPA, and a fuel pressure regulator to
feed our Dickenson (it's a pot burner) - works ok.

But if you are looking for air circulation and quiet (!! very important,
if you are a live-aboard as I am), then I would highly recommend the Wallas.

bob

Roger Long wrote:
Also, I asked one of the manufacturers and they do not know of a 12
volt pump that can supply the fuel at the proper pressure and
consistency of flow that the pressure tank can. They've been looking
because lots of people have asked.

Too bad because I like the looks of the heaters that used this system
better than the others. Evidently, the ones that use 12 volts have a
different kind of burner and atomization set up.

Roger Long wrote:
I think nearly everyone who has responded is missing something, unless
I am.

As I understand from what I have reviewed on manufacturer's web sites,
there are three options:

1) Pot burner.

No power required. Would work from a gravity day tank with either 12
V or hand pump.
Downside: Erratic at large heel angles. Can flood an produce large
flames, or so I've heard. The horror stories I know are 30 years old
so maybe they've gotten better.

2) Pressure by air. The fuel is put into a small pressure tank and
pumped up with a small internal pump sort of like a camp stove.

3) Pressure by 12 volt pump. This runs all the time that the stove is
running. Not a big draw but, no power, no heat.

I'm leaning towards #3 because maintaining power is pretty vital for
other reasons. I also like the idea of being able to shut off fuel
delivery with a switch. If a pipe or fitting broke with the pressure
tank set up, diesel would be spraying everywhere, perhaps on the
heater.

Being a gadgeteer, I might look into a hybrid where fuel can be pumped
into the small tank from the main fuel tank and then pressurized by a
small air pump. I wouldn't try to make this automatic but it would
save schlepping fuel around the boat in cans. An emergency air bleed
vent to the outside would shut the stove off quickly in an emergency.


Roger,
You forgot the gravity feed. The setup on the Dickinsons if installed
properly precludes flooding and flame ups. The carb has a float in it
and when the feed is too fast the float rises and stops the flow well
back from the burner. If the heater/stove is mounted near the ceterline
of the boat with the day tank above it it will work fine except on
extreme days with in excess of 45 degrees of heel. I have laid my boat
over with the stove on (50 -60 degrees) and nothing happens.
Check it:
http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/shop5...p?catalogid=25
For installation manual see the bottom of the page.

Gaz

Thanks,

I thought these were pot burner heaters but I see that they are a lot
more sophisticated. I like the looks of this after reading through
the manual.

--

Roger Long

Roger Long wrote:
Thanks,

I thought these were pot burner heaters but I see that they are a lot
more sophisticated. I like the looks of this after reading through
the manual.

I am very impressed with how simple and functional mine is. I went down
their today, lit the stove and 20 minutes later was sitting in my shirt
sleeves having a pleasant read while the endless rain pounded the boat.
I last filled the day tank in early Dec but i only light the stove for
a few hours each time I go down to the boat (a couple days a week). It
seems to last forever. I used to burn stove oil in it but recently
switched to diesel and it burns just as clean but now I pull fuel
directly from the main tank. The switch was as simple as adjusting one
screw on the carb to allow the diesel to flow faster because it is more
viscous than stove oil.

Warm dry heat.

Gaz

RW Salnick wrote:
Roger, one option to avoid the need for 12V (at least the continuous use
of 12V) would be to put a daytank above the heater for gravity feed, and
then fill the daytank occasionally using a 12v pump.

bob
Great idea!

Gaz