This is the third time I have tried to say this and if it does not go
through then I'll deep six this site. There is a solid fuel heater
NEWPORT by Dickinson. It looks like any other propane or diesel heater
bulkhead mounted. I have one and use sterno which works fine. A friend
has one and uses selfstarting charcoal to start cannel coal, which is a
fireplace coal. We only haul our boats for maintenance and need some
BTU's in the winter months.

"tigerregis" wrote in message
oups.com...
This is the third time I have tried to say this ....


And this is the last time I will say this....stop the friggin cross posting.

In article .com,
says...


This is the third time I have tried to say this and if it does not go
through then I'll deep six this site. There is a solid fuel heater
NEWPORT by Dickinson. It looks like any other propane or diesel heater
bulkhead mounted. I have one and use sterno which works fine. A friend
has one and uses selfstarting charcoal to start cannel coal, which is a
fireplace coal. We only haul our boats for maintenance and need some
BTU's in the winter months.


We have had a Newport Dickinson solid fuel heater on the boat for
several years. Can't be beat. But if it's wood you plan to burn you
better have a huge woodpile. This thing will go through a twenty foot 2 X
4 in an hour while glowing cherry red and really heating up the place. We
eventually settled on a mix of real charcoal (avoid briquettes like the
plague -- what's in those things anyway?) and pea size anthracite coal.
We had to install a fan on the front of the ash drawer to provide a
forced draft to keep the coal burning. The fan is a Radio Shack computer
fan. The fire will burn for hours and generates very little ash. Just
poke it once in awhile and add bits of coal and charcoal. Fire tending is
in itself a relaxing occupation. And nothing equals the glow and warmth
of a real fire as compared to the anemic flame of a diesel fired heater.

Gogarty wrote:

We
eventually settled on a mix of real charcoal (avoid briquettes like the
plague -- what's in those things anyway?) and pea size anthracite coal.
We had to install a fan on the front of the ash drawer to provide a
forced draft to keep the coal burning.

Try larger coal - less draught restriction - and always coal that is
rounded not broken & flattened in shape (same reason & getting harder
to find). Either way it sounds like a dangerous idea; coal gas with
the inadequate natural draught from a short boat stack offers deadly
possiblitites.

In article .com,
says...


Gogarty wrote:

We
eventually settled on a mix of real charcoal (avoid briquettes like the
plague -- what's in those things anyway?) and pea size anthracite coal.
We had to install a fan on the front of the ash drawer to provide a
forced draft to keep the coal burning.

Try larger coal - less draught restriction - and always coal that is
rounded not broken & flattened in shape (same reason & getting harder
to find). Either way it sounds like a dangerous idea; coal gas with
the inadequate natural draught from a short boat stack offers deadly
possiblitites.

The coal won't keep burning without the forced draft and the charcoal. The
firebox is pretty small. The CO monitor is also close to hand and active.
We are not running a sealed room here -- lots of fresh air coming in and a
bulkhead fan to circuilate the warmed air.

We are especially mindful of the hazards of CO since two people died at our
marina two years ago when they left the engine running to run the
airconditioner.

Gogarty wrote:

The coal won't keep burning without the forced draft and the charcoal. The
firebox is pretty small. The CO monitor is also close to hand and active.
We are not running a sealed room here -- lots of fresh air coming in and a
bulkhead fan to circuilate the warmed air.

I know you are no dummy, but there inherent problems/dangers with
forced draught & coal, some of which lead to induced draught operation
in marine boilers. Doesn't take much of a gas leak to spoil your day.
Another F/D issue is higher explosion potential. Much of this (and the
rest) is long forgotten.

Burning coal today is often problematic as you describe (i.e, both
draught requirements & co-fuels needed). Coal commonly available today
isn't quite what it was in quality when it was a major home heating
fuel & very competitively marketed, nor are typical flues as tall or
grates as well designed for it. You'll find a higher percentage of
unburned fuel & clinker after firing today's coal in today's
appliances. It's also pretty expensive now, & none if its mess has
gone away.

You are right that charcoal briquettes are usually crap in a stove.
Coke would be much better if obtainable.

We are especially mindful of the hazards of CO since two people died at our
marina two years ago when they left the engine running to run the
airconditioner.

Cool way to die (not).

BTW, what is the present safety concensus about keeping E/R exhaust
running to insure negative pressure during motoring on yachts?