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.

Roger,
We have a Dickinsen Pacific in my boat (Truant 33):
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...15779639vNsHyY
that keeps the entire boat very warm. It is also our cook stove. In
the summer we use an alcohol stove on top of it when it is too warm to
light the Dickinsen. It is gravity fed from a 6 gallon day tank and
works at all normal angles of heel in all weather. The day tank is fed
from a small 12v pump led off the main tank. The stove will run for a
week continuously from the day tank before it needs refilling. (I guess
that makes it a week tank)

The Dickinsen line of heaters and stoves is very respected by folks
here on the west coast. I have seen various models in everything from
fish boats to tugs. I have a bigger one, the Dickinsen Beaufort, in
Oriole (the 102' ketch I am Master of). I have several friends who run
Alaskas and the other straight heater models. In fact I almost bought
an Ontario 32 with one. They are a terrific, trouble free source of
loads of heat. Kind of like a wood stove in a cabin.

I love ours.
Gaz