Force 10 - cozy cabin heater

[ejessen]

My 1987 Hunter 31 comes with a "Force 10 - cozy cabin heater".

Even after reading the manual, I am still not sure how to use it, and the previous owner of 3 years, had never used the heater himself.

Anyone has a youtube or details description of how to operate the thing?

The header is sitting in the main cabin. I is connected to a cylinder in the port lazarette. The cylinder has a (pressure?) gauge and what looks like a valve to add air with a tire pump.

What is not clear to me is how/where to add kerosine and how much pressure the cylinder should have.

 

[Stu Jackson]

You'll need alcohol under the burner to get it hot enough for the main to light the kerosene, which is hand pumped as you said with a bicycle pump. Start at when it starts to be hard to pump, assuming you've got about half a tank or more.

Put the alcohol in the cup under the burner and light it, with the main knob off.

Once the alcohol burns off, light the main by opening the knob.

I find mine kinda noisy and rarely use it. A fan overhead would help distribute the warmer air through the cabin.

We got a catalytic space heater, much easier.

 

[Terry Cox]

Cabin Heat

Just a bit more into the mix. Our first boat, an H28, came with a Wallas kerosene forced air heater. Wonderful little piece of machinery. A fuel sipper, quiet, with very low DC power consumption. Highly recommend it for a small to mid sized boat. All you have to do is flip a switch and the rest just happens.

Here is a link to this little miracle of a device for boaters who want to extend their cruising season.

http://www.wallas.fi/index.php?id=47

 

[JHoward]

Anything new on this topic? I am seriously considering using a Honda camping generator while anchored out so I can use my 110 ceramic heater. BTW, I too have the Force 10 kerosene which I've not used yet. It is a 1980 unit.

Had one on a H34 years ago, fired it up as previously discussed, didn't like it, never tried it again.

 

[kloudie1]

Don't have to use a heater much, but I am happy with the Buddy:
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F23...0290722&sr=8-1&keywords=mr+heater+buddy+mh9bx
Has a few safety features like low oxygen shut off and tip over shut off. Noiseless and easy to use. Have used it a few times when outside was 30F. Not something to leave on at night but it works to warm the cabin before bed and early in the morning. Store the unused cylinder outside.
Get a good CO detector too
Honda 2000 is going to have a problem with a ceramic drawing 1500 watts continuously

 

[Maine Sail]

My 1987 Hunter 31 comes with a "Force 10 - cozy cabin heater".

Even after reading the manual, I am still not sure how to use it, and the previous owner of 3 years, had never used the heater himself.

Anyone has a youtube or details description of how to operate the thing?

The header is sitting in the main cabin. I is connected to a cylinder in the port lazarette. The cylinder has a (pressure?) gauge and what looks like a valve to add air with a tire pump.

What is not clear to me is how/where to add kerosine and how much pressure the cylinder should have.

Are you sure it is K1? Sounds like the LPG model..