Reading all the excellent replies to "Cabin Heater Revisited" has prompted me to as if anyone has ever recaptured the heat from the hot engine coolant by running it through a small radiator with a fan attached before sending back out? Aaprt from the obvious limitation of only working while the engine is running, one of these might be an alternative to burner type heaters.
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Cabin heat
I've installed a "bus" type heater as you describe in my 37 cutter. The heater is tapped into the loop connecting the heat exchanger and the hot water heater, which also uses waste heat from the engine. The heater/fan assembly is available from retail marine supply houses, and heater hose is available from automotive parts stores. System works fine, but it's important to purge all air from the heater loop. I located the heater under the starboard settee, aft end.
I've installed a "bus" type heater as you describe in my 37 cutter. The heater is tapped into the loop connecting the heat exchanger and the hot water heater, which also uses waste heat from the engine. The heater/fan assembly is available from retail marine supply houses, and heater hose is available from automotive parts stores. System works fine, but it's important to purge all air from the heater loop. I located the heater under the starboard settee, aft end.
Prepares the Cabin
Colin, Good idea. I also plan to install this type of system to "preheat" or "warmup" the cabin before setting the hook. I usually prefer to set the hook using the motor to get a hard set. If started early enough, this heating system might warm up the entire cabin before kicking on the "heater".
Colin, Good idea. I also plan to install this type of system to "preheat" or "warmup" the cabin before setting the hook. I usually prefer to set the hook using the motor to get a hard set. If started early enough, this heating system might warm up the entire cabin before kicking on the "heater".
Radiators
Jay: West Marine sells a unit with a fan built in that would fit under the alcove in the aft berth. They sell a large and a smaller unit and both have multi speed fans. I think if you built a box out of wood and drill a couple holes in the bulkhead for the hoses to feed water to the unit it would work great.
Jay: West Marine sells a unit with a fan built in that would fit under the alcove in the aft berth. They sell a large and a smaller unit and both have multi speed fans. I think if you built a box out of wood and drill a couple holes in the bulkhead for the hoses to feed water to the unit it would work great.
Heat Added
We installed the smaller West Marine unit Steve refers to on our H-34 last summer. It is plumbed into the water heater heating circuit, and works very well. I used a three way valve so that it could be turned out of the engine hot water circuit during the summer. It really makes a difference on those cold rainy fall days. I'm sure it would make the cabin comfortable in below freezing weather. You know, I have often wondered why the smallest, cheapest cars get a competent heating system, and expensive (even Hinckley) boats require a custom reengineering to use the engine as a source of cabin heat. These units should be standard equipment on all cruising boats sold in the U.S.
We installed the smaller West Marine unit Steve refers to on our H-34 last summer. It is plumbed into the water heater heating circuit, and works very well. I used a three way valve so that it could be turned out of the engine hot water circuit during the summer. It really makes a difference on those cold rainy fall days. I'm sure it would make the cabin comfortable in below freezing weather. You know, I have often wondered why the smallest, cheapest cars get a competent heating system, and expensive (even Hinckley) boats require a custom reengineering to use the engine as a source of cabin heat. These units should be standard equipment on all cruising boats sold in the U.S.
West Marine?
can someone (Steve?) give me the catalog page number or the part number of the unit Steve is referring to? I can't find it... Thanks, MC
can someone (Steve?) give me the catalog page number or the part number of the unit Steve is referring to? I can't find it... Thanks, MC
3 way heating
I fitted a Diesel fired water heater linked to 3 fan assited radiator units drawing .6 amp each max. (1 forward, 1 central, 1 aft) I connect into the pipework from/to engine calorifier. I therefore have stand alone cabin heating, can provide domestic hot water at anchor and can pre heat the engine on icy days. Valves allow restriction of the water flow which I'm told is important when running the engine to avoid the engine running permanently cool.
I fitted a Diesel fired water heater linked to 3 fan assited radiator units drawing .6 amp each max. (1 forward, 1 central, 1 aft) I connect into the pipework from/to engine calorifier. I therefore have stand alone cabin heating, can provide domestic hot water at anchor and can pre heat the engine on icy days. Valves allow restriction of the water flow which I'm told is important when running the engine to avoid the engine running permanently cool.
Radiator Heaters
The radiator type heater extracts a fair amount of energy from the engine, I've been told. For most sailboats with their small engines it is recommned that one use the smaller single fan type radiator heater. The larger type takes so many BTUs from the engine that it has a difficult time running at the proper temperature. A turbo engine might be an exception since these tend to produce more heat. This is what I found out when talking to a salesman at Doc's in Seattle.
The radiator type heater extracts a fair amount of energy from the engine, I've been told. For most sailboats with their small engines it is recommned that one use the smaller single fan type radiator heater. The larger type takes so many BTUs from the engine that it has a difficult time running at the proper temperature. A turbo engine might be an exception since these tend to produce more heat. This is what I found out when talking to a salesman at Doc's in Seattle.
Decisions, Decisions
Thanks to all for the great input and advice. After weighing all the options for installation, equipment purchase, value, space use, time of use, number of uses per year vs. permanent installation, engine warm-up time, water heater capacity vs. length of a cold night on the boat, power consumption, running all night vs. extinguish at lights out, etc. etc., I have elected to go with the Zodi Hot Vent. Engineer says it runs at 0.8 amps and is more than sufficient for 1530 cubic feet of space in the H31. I will take pictures of it's use, size, and storage and post with results in the future. thanks again!
Thanks to all for the great input and advice. After weighing all the options for installation, equipment purchase, value, space use, time of use, number of uses per year vs. permanent installation, engine warm-up time, water heater capacity vs. length of a cold night on the boat, power consumption, running all night vs. extinguish at lights out, etc. etc., I have elected to go with the Zodi Hot Vent. Engineer says it runs at 0.8 amps and is more than sufficient for 1530 cubic feet of space in the H31. I will take pictures of it's use, size, and storage and post with results in the future. thanks again!
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