my H40 has Compressed natural gas stove which I am happy with. I want to extend the season a bit and am looking to add a cabin heater. can Anyone recommend a natural gas boat heater ? I'd rather not do propane and have to carry another fuel. Also dont want the trace smell of diesel heater
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diesal heater?
Bob, I digress... I am interesteed in adding a heater also and thought to install a diesal heater later this season. I was unaware of the residual smell of the fuel. is this a problem with all of them? I was thinking of the one in the link... any thoughts... J&R
Bob, I digress... I am interesteed in adding a heater also and thought to install a diesal heater later this season. I was unaware of the residual smell of the fuel. is this a problem with all of them? I was thinking of the one in the link... any thoughts... J&R
Most boaters don't use natural gas
because even though it is safer (its lighter than air and doesn't accumulate in the bilge), and has a lower moisture content than propane, it is normally not compressed as is LPG, and requires much larger tanks for much less fuel. So when you run out it's hard to find refill stations. Being safer doesn't do you any good if your tanks are empty (and your tanks are going to be empty if you use them for cooking and heat). Thats why most of us use propane, with sniffers, alarms, solenoids, and bilge blowers to compensate. Your stove could be converted to LPG just as easy as a propane heater can be converted to gas. And to J&R, I believe the answer is yes to some degree. The odor is reduced a great deal if you use a separate day tank and burn kerosene (Like I have been doing in my furnace). It burns cleaner also and reduces maintenance requirements, but at the current price of about $7/gal it's expensive. BTW I have both a Volvo and An Espar Furnace. The Espar is 6000 BTU bigger than the Volvo.
because even though it is safer (its lighter than air and doesn't accumulate in the bilge), and has a lower moisture content than propane, it is normally not compressed as is LPG, and requires much larger tanks for much less fuel. So when you run out it's hard to find refill stations. Being safer doesn't do you any good if your tanks are empty (and your tanks are going to be empty if you use them for cooking and heat). Thats why most of us use propane, with sniffers, alarms, solenoids, and bilge blowers to compensate. Your stove could be converted to LPG just as easy as a propane heater can be converted to gas. And to J&R, I believe the answer is yes to some degree. The odor is reduced a great deal if you use a separate day tank and burn kerosene (Like I have been doing in my furnace). It burns cleaner also and reduces maintenance requirements, but at the current price of about $7/gal it's expensive. BTW I have both a Volvo and An Espar Furnace. The Espar is 6000 BTU bigger than the Volvo.
Diesel Stove Trap
When I bought my B390 it had a Dickinson diesel stove fitted. Love it now that I know it needs a very good dissembly/cleaning each year. If any of you should consider a Dickinson, watch the fuel type very carefully. On the carb is a letter stamped which shows if the stove takes No 1 or No 2 diesel. Fill with the wrong kind and be prepared for black smoke and soot everywhere. Mine takes regular diesel same as the engine. Great stove on cooler nights and no odor at all.
When I bought my B390 it had a Dickinson diesel stove fitted. Love it now that I know it needs a very good dissembly/cleaning each year. If any of you should consider a Dickinson, watch the fuel type very carefully. On the carb is a letter stamped which shows if the stove takes No 1 or No 2 diesel. Fill with the wrong kind and be prepared for black smoke and soot everywhere. Mine takes regular diesel same as the engine. Great stove on cooler nights and no odor at all.
Espars
I also have an Espar. It runs well now that I have had it serviced and the little internal screen replaced (do each two years). The main problem is the crappy little VW fuses which I replaced with proper GM truck fuses and the unit has run flawlessly for over three years.
I also have an Espar. It runs well now that I have had it serviced and the little internal screen replaced (do each two years). The main problem is the crappy little VW fuses which I replaced with proper GM truck fuses and the unit has run flawlessly for over three years.
If I recall thestorage and working pressures of CNG
are much higher than those of propane. The fuel is indeed lighter than air and will dissipate in the air rather than pool but it's safety rests more in the narrow ratio of fuel to air in which it will ignite. Propane has won the competion against CNG for portable tank operated consumer appliances because of performance, cost and availability. Boaters are a minority and the standarts are set by Grilling Joe. With the hand writting on the wall that CNG tank filling and CNG fueled appliances are going to dissapear we may as well start planning for the future. I would not spend any additional moneys on CNG components; I would start thinking conversion. If you have a good stove and at present a convenient way to refill your tanks you can continue to use it but when adding a heater consider the future fuel tou will be moving to. Also consider that the longer you postpone conversion the likely the more it will cost you. If you have some difficulties in finding CNG then be done with the aggravation and do the conversion now. Propane is the most convenient fuel and if properly installed and operated it has proven to be quite safe. Some of the newer diesel heaters are smoke and odor free and you will have diesel anyways.
are much higher than those of propane. The fuel is indeed lighter than air and will dissipate in the air rather than pool but it's safety rests more in the narrow ratio of fuel to air in which it will ignite. Propane has won the competion against CNG for portable tank operated consumer appliances because of performance, cost and availability. Boaters are a minority and the standarts are set by Grilling Joe. With the hand writting on the wall that CNG tank filling and CNG fueled appliances are going to dissapear we may as well start planning for the future. I would not spend any additional moneys on CNG components; I would start thinking conversion. If you have a good stove and at present a convenient way to refill your tanks you can continue to use it but when adding a heater consider the future fuel tou will be moving to. Also consider that the longer you postpone conversion the likely the more it will cost you. If you have some difficulties in finding CNG then be done with the aggravation and do the conversion now. Propane is the most convenient fuel and if properly installed and operated it has proven to be quite safe. Some of the newer diesel heaters are smoke and odor free and you will have diesel anyways.
Hi Bob, see the link below that connects you...
to an article I wrote about what I did to extend our cruising season. Very happy with the results. Scan Marine is the North American distributor in Seattle, WA. Google will find their site for you. Terry
to an article I wrote about what I did to extend our cruising season. Very happy with the results. Scan Marine is the North American distributor in Seattle, WA. Google will find their site for you. Terry
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