Any recommendations on a heating system? I was "told" to ask about Webasto or Esbar? Thanks in advance!
heating system
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Hot water vs. forced air.
Ann: When you look into these systems there are other options too. One option besides brand names is forced air vs. hot water heat. I see a big advantage of circulating how water around the boat vs. blowing hot air and dust. There are also reverse cycle AC units that will allow you to have cooling and heat. I have neither but have considered the heating portion of a system and always felt that the hot water would be a better alternative. Now the question is how WELL does it work.
Ann: When you look into these systems there are other options too. One option besides brand names is forced air vs. hot water heat. I see a big advantage of circulating how water around the boat vs. blowing hot air and dust. There are also reverse cycle AC units that will allow you to have cooling and heat. I have neither but have considered the heating portion of a system and always felt that the hot water would be a better alternative. Now the question is how WELL does it work.
Boat size?
I think a lot depends upon the space that you want to heat. Many owners of my H37C have run duct work for their heat pump(AC and heat). I am on the boat right now and quite comfortable with the unit blowing from under the nav station. It keeps the entire boat cool(or warm) with help from a small fan. The thermostat is in the q-berth and the v-berth gets cold or hot before the q-berth without the fan. I was not willing to give up storage space for the duct work. This is a long-winded way to say that for my boat at least a diesel unit mounted on the salon bulkhead would be more than adequate. Probably would go with a Dickinson. So long as the water is at least 50 degrees the reverse cycle is fine. But it requires shorepower or a good generator.
I think a lot depends upon the space that you want to heat. Many owners of my H37C have run duct work for their heat pump(AC and heat). I am on the boat right now and quite comfortable with the unit blowing from under the nav station. It keeps the entire boat cool(or warm) with help from a small fan. The thermostat is in the q-berth and the v-berth gets cold or hot before the q-berth without the fan. I was not willing to give up storage space for the duct work. This is a long-winded way to say that for my boat at least a diesel unit mounted on the salon bulkhead would be more than adequate. Probably would go with a Dickinson. So long as the water is at least 50 degrees the reverse cycle is fine. But it requires shorepower or a good generator.
Heaters,
Ann, I have a Force10 propane heater. It's mounted on a bulkhead in the saloon. It warms the boat quickly and uses about 1lb of propane every 3 hours. My cabin vloume is compareable to a 37 Cutter, mabey alittle larger. There is an outlet on the web for Force10 where they sell for discounted prices. The other big attribute is the 1" flue and small hole in my deck.
Ann, I have a Force10 propane heater. It's mounted on a bulkhead in the saloon. It warms the boat quickly and uses about 1lb of propane every 3 hours. My cabin vloume is compareable to a 37 Cutter, mabey alittle larger. There is an outlet on the web for Force10 where they sell for discounted prices. The other big attribute is the 1" flue and small hole in my deck.
Ann...We have decided on Webasto for our Catalina
We did a lot of research, and it seems that hot water systems are very popular in the Northwest where they use them most of the year. I like the idea of only drilling holes large enough for a 1" hose and the ability to control the heat in any cabin. There is very low amp draw. You also have the advantage of hot water when you are on the hook. The folks at Sure Marine have been most helpful and will send you Webasto manual to review.
We did a lot of research, and it seems that hot water systems are very popular in the Northwest where they use them most of the year. I like the idea of only drilling holes large enough for a 1" hose and the ability to control the heat in any cabin. There is very low amp draw. You also have the advantage of hot water when you are on the hook. The folks at Sure Marine have been most helpful and will send you Webasto manual to review.
Depends on usage, boat size, and budget
Hi Ann - I've had a propane bulkhead mounted Force 10, a standup Dickinson diesel, Espar forced air, and two Webasto hydronic heaters. Oh yeah, and I once had one of those portable units that use sterno alcohol too. There are many variables to consider, but here's a brief rundown, from my experience: Propane bulkhead (like Force 10): PROS: minimal space, easy installation (relatively), low cost, small stack for vent, minimal electricity (only solenoid for propane) CONS: relatively low BTUs, venting sometimes not adequate, danger factor (should not leave on overnight, even though theoretically the thermocoupler should kill the propane flow if the flame goes out), propane creates moisture in the air = more condenstion Standup diesel: PROS: relatively inexpensive, nice ambience, plenty of heat if centrally located, simple maintenance CONS: take space, only one heat source (no remote heating in ends of boat), can be sooty and dirty, requires larger stack Forced air (Espar or Webasto): PROS: Thermostatically controlled, heat to entire boat (although less BTUs the further from the heater), dry heat, unit typically located in machinery space (not in living areas) CONS: noisier, larger duct for air (4") takes away from storage, pricier, (Espars in my experience are a little more maintenance prone than Webastos), heat not as even as hydronic Hydronic (Webasto or Espar): PROS: Very even heat, water hoses smaller (1"), more control over heat (can install different temp zones), ability to plumb into domestic water for showers etc, very durable, heater doesn't cycle as much (water cools slower than air), warm hoses keep back of cabinets warm and dry CONS: noisy, very expensive, complicated to install, higher current draw (indicidual heat exchangers require electricity), extra water tank (Everhot, acts as heat sink) takes more space Hope this helps, Trevor
Hi Ann - I've had a propane bulkhead mounted Force 10, a standup Dickinson diesel, Espar forced air, and two Webasto hydronic heaters. Oh yeah, and I once had one of those portable units that use sterno alcohol too. There are many variables to consider, but here's a brief rundown, from my experience: Propane bulkhead (like Force 10): PROS: minimal space, easy installation (relatively), low cost, small stack for vent, minimal electricity (only solenoid for propane) CONS: relatively low BTUs, venting sometimes not adequate, danger factor (should not leave on overnight, even though theoretically the thermocoupler should kill the propane flow if the flame goes out), propane creates moisture in the air = more condenstion Standup diesel: PROS: relatively inexpensive, nice ambience, plenty of heat if centrally located, simple maintenance CONS: take space, only one heat source (no remote heating in ends of boat), can be sooty and dirty, requires larger stack Forced air (Espar or Webasto): PROS: Thermostatically controlled, heat to entire boat (although less BTUs the further from the heater), dry heat, unit typically located in machinery space (not in living areas) CONS: noisier, larger duct for air (4") takes away from storage, pricier, (Espars in my experience are a little more maintenance prone than Webastos), heat not as even as hydronic Hydronic (Webasto or Espar): PROS: Very even heat, water hoses smaller (1"), more control over heat (can install different temp zones), ability to plumb into domestic water for showers etc, very durable, heater doesn't cycle as much (water cools slower than air), warm hoses keep back of cabinets warm and dry CONS: noisy, very expensive, complicated to install, higher current draw (indicidual heat exchangers require electricity), extra water tank (Everhot, acts as heat sink) takes more space Hope this helps, Trevor
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