Heater Suggestions

K

Kristen

.
Oct 30, 2019
12
Hello All!

I am new to the group and very new to Albin Vega's. (Just bought it today - S/V Shiva, Sail number 1707).

The one modification I need to make is installation of a proper heater, as I am in Alaska. I have a lead on a nice used dickinson newport diesel unit, with day tank/etc. Has anyone installed one of these before? The 4' stack minimum length seems to be the major issue if installed on the main bulkhead.

Anyone have any suggestions? Good, dry cabin heat is vital in this part of the world.
 
T

tiempo2010

.
Sep 24, 2008
346
I have lived aboard with a Dickinson Newport heater and was pleased with
it, not in a Vega but on a 35' boat. I had more than enough heat in the
coldest temperatures I encountered. You may want a smaller heater for a
Vega. This one from SigMarine is smaller than the Newport and as far as I
know the smallest of its type available and will provide plenty of heat for
a Vega. http://www.sigmarine.com/SIG-100.html SigMarine is a Dickinson
owned company - same address and phone number.

If you have to one solution is to extend the stack when at the dock by
enough to get the 4' recommended. With good stack height you shouldn't need
the fan except for start up.
 
A

av715

.
Aug 24, 2009
14
Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the group! I do not have any pearls to offer regarding your need for heat. Pretty sure someone else does. You will love the boat, Merry Christmas.

Andrew J. Dalton
s/v Victory, V715
Hampden, Maine
 
P

pjacobs55

.
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Hi, and welcome to Vega ownership, you've been chosen by a great little ship!
I have a Force 10 Cozy Cabin propane heater in mine and (living on lower Vancouver Island) don't think it would be adequate for Alaskan weather. I agree with Brian: a Diesel heater would be better. I'm looking at one for my Albin Ballad 30, when it's finally ready for launch. I looked at Diesel for my Vega but was deterred by the installation requirements. I didn't look at the Sig-100 though ... certainly worth investigating (thanks Brian).

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
 
K

kgrieser1230

.
Oct 31, 2019
5
Well I was fortunate last night and had a friend with a good used kerosene "Force 10" heater from Dickinson--complete with pressure tank, I just need a new deck fitting.

One thing I do read on these heaters is that the pressurized tank is only good for an hour or two before it needs to be re-pressurized. I would like to be able to burn it for 9 hours straight, and the tank is certainly big enough. I am thinking a small air tank (like a scuba pony bottle) with a regulator to get it down to the proper pressure, and connect it to the tank to keep it evenly pressurized, and would allow it to extend the burn time between pumping up on cold nights.

Has anyone tried this before?
 
G

groundhogyh

.
May 30, 2006
1,075
Hi Kristen,
Due to some life changes... I am now ... "a man that lives alone on a boat" lol.

For the winter, i installed a Tiny Tot coal stove. Not sure what to say about it. I am surely learning how to run a coal stove. The fabricators are out of michigan and the stove has been in existence for a long long time. The lady told me they used them to keep milk from freezing on deliveries.

This stove is only 6 inches in diameter. I have it in a self constructed firebox just forward of the bathroom in the forepeak.

Coal is very nice heat. But one problem I have learned about, is a coal fire needs its owner to wiggle (rake) the coals every 2-3 hours because as it burns, the ashes can clog up the air and choke out the fiwer.
So, if I wish to come home to a warm boat, I must route my travels so that I can loop back to the boat every few hours...

Guess thats all i can say.

Oh, I also dont believe I have fired it up to its max heat capability yet.
But so far I am thinking it may not put out enough heat for alaska, but i am not sure. Maybe others have experience with coal heating in a boat.

groundhog
 
T

tiempo2010

.
Sep 24, 2008
346
Kristen

I have owned several of these types in the past. I think 2 hours can be
exceeded quite easily. Do not put too much kerosene in the tank - it leaves
less room for air pressure. With a normal size tank I wouldn't fill more
than about 50% or 60%.
 
V

vega1755

.
Jan 2, 2006
2
Hello from Finland,
I have in my Vega a Wallas 2400 paraffin heater. It works well even in hard and cold conditions.

www.wallas.fi

Front page

Boat heaters, boat cookers, boat ovens and cottage heaters for off-grid environment.
www.wallas.fi
Pekka (Vega1755)________________________________
From: groundhog groundhogyh@...
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2011 7:53 PM
Subject: Re: [AlbinVega] Heater Suggestions



Hi Kristen,
Due to some life changes... I am now ... "a man that lives alone on a boat" lol.

For the winter, i installed a Tiny Tot coal stove. Not sure what to say about it. I am surely learning how to run a coal stove. The fabricators are out of michigan and the stove has been in existence for a long long time. The lady told me they used them to keep milk from freezing on deliveries.

This stove is only 6 inches in diameter. I have it in a self constructed firebox just forward of the bathroom in the forepeak.

Coal is very nice heat. But one problem I have learned about, is a coal fire needs its owner to wiggle (rake) the coals every 2-3 hours because as it burns, the ashes can clog up the air and choke out the fiwer.
So, if I wish to come home to a warm boat, I must route my travels so that I can loop back to the boat every few hours...

Guess thats all i can say.

Oh, I also dont believe I have fired it up to its max heat capability yet.
But so far I am thinking it may not put out enough heat for alaska, but i am not sure. Maybe others have experience with coal heating in a boat.

groundhog
 
T

tiempo2010

.
Sep 24, 2008
346
If you want a furnace type of system I second Wallas. Quietest in my
experience and reliable. Not the roaring exhaust you get from an Espar or
Webasto. I install Wallas and 3 days ago we installed a 40 DT on a large
Sea Ray. More expensive than a Dickinson or Sig type though.
 
P

pjacobs55

.
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Re: Kerosene heater.
I had one, and after a couple of seasons could not get it to burn with a clean blue flame. In all fairness it was old when I got it.
A little digging turned up an outfit that sells new burners to fit for around $80,
My unit would burn for quite a while before requiring re-pumping, not sure how long but it was never a problem.

There's a conversion kit to turn it into a propane unit avaiable at http://www.sigmarine.com/SIG-CCH.html It's an easy swap.
They also have the deck fitting you need.

I mentioned before that I didn't think it would provide enough heat for Alaska conditions. That said, it does make the boat comfy inside even in the coolest weather here, but you can still see your breath when down below!

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
 
S

sailshiva

.
Jun 6, 2007
132
Kristen,
Congratulations on buying Shiva...We owned her for 21 years before selling her to Shane, and then purchasing a slightly larger boat. She's a good old boat! Is the Wallas Stove still installed in the galley? If so, that is both a cook surface, and a very safe heater. (Start the stove, then close the lid, and the blower comes on and keeps the boat toasty. The stove takes a whack out of the battery when you start it up, but then it is very frugal. If the Wallas is still on board, email me and we'll give you more details on using it.

Sheila
 
S

sailshiva

.
Jun 6, 2007
132
My husband and I owned Kristen's boat, Shiva, for 21 years. It has a Wallas Stove already installed--or at least it did in Jan 2009 when we sold it. There is no better, safer heater on the market.

Sheila
 
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