I need Heat. Help.

S

Suspicious Behavior

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Sep 18, 2016
25
Beneteau Oceana 31 Orange Beach Al
Beneteau 31. This is my first winter on the boat. Last month I got out to the Marina. Turned the heat on and it seemed to work.
Today. After being gone for 3 weeks I thought it was working fine earlier today But turned it off for a few hours, now. I'm not so sure.

No water is coming out of the exit port on the side of the boat
I had the water intake closed when I left 3 weeks ago, forgot to open it right away earlier today. But did on Second attempt.
Pulled the water bowl/ filter apart then replaced full of water. It seemed to be full when I took it apart. I don't think it was caviting.

Should water be coming out of the boats exit port for the heater ?
Should the air coming out of the vents be hot instead of kinda warm ?
Do boats heaters get the boat really warm or just so so ?
All help is appreciated
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,211
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
If the unit is a heat pump (heating and air cond) then the water should be coming out of the same port that it comes out of when the air conditioner is running.. If the water valve was off, it may have tripped a safety switch or a breaker.. The water pump is usually a magnetic drive pump so it may (?) be OK .. turn off the unit on the control board then turn it off from the breaker on the electric panel.. Turn breaker back on then turn the unit on then select "Heat" then turn thermostat up to 75 ish.. it should come on and heat the boat.. it will take 5 minutes or so for the heat to feel really warm at the vent and it should heat the cabin well.. If no water is coming out the exit port, don't let the compressor run more than a minute or so.. the pump may have taken a hit from running with the water valve closed..
 
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capta

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
5,072
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
The first year I had this boat I spent the winter in Rhode Island, in the water. If you have a reverse cycle air conditioner/heater, the heater will not function if the water is too cold, around 39 degrees, I believe. Don't mess with it, just go buy yourself an electric one. Come spring all will be well again.
 
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shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,984
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
I was told by my AC/heat technician not to expect it to heat the boat very much when the water temperature is under 50 degrees. I think he said 50 anyway. That was almost 10 years ago. We slept on the boat, in the water during the winter, and after the first weekend brought an electric heater with us.
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
The issue for heat pumps is there is a thermal limit to the exchange. Cold to hot or hot to cold. When the water is 39 and the limit if exchange is say 30 degrees the most your heat pump will put out is 69 degree warm air. That is if it is working perfectly. You will not freeze but you will not feel warm. Capta is right. Get a heater. Electric or Put in a diesel unit like Wallas, Webasto, or Dickerson. There are several on the market. I installed a Wallas on my boat and I was toasty warm over the past weekend. Inside my uninsulated leaky salon was a comfortable 70 while the clear night air outside was 27. I'm pretty sure I was producing a thermal image on satellite infrared cameras.
 
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DougM

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
Typical heat pump. If you plan to live aboard, install a good diesel heater. The basic concept of a heat pump is good, but they don't work when you need them most. The principal is that the pull heat out of the air or the water. If its too cold there is no heat to pull. Even residential heat pumps have ane electric heating element in them (like the inside of an electric oven).
 
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jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
DougM said:
Even residential heat pumps have ane electric heating element
Click to expand
The electric element is quite large and when the temps drop below 40 it kicks in replacing the heat pump system. That is when your heat bill exceeds your mortgage.
 
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S

Suspicious Behavior

.
Sep 18, 2016
25
Beneteau Oceana 31 Orange Beach Al
Thank you all for your help. For some reason I literally gave up on it about 11 pm.
Woke up freezing at 3 a.m. Cabin at 57 degrees, So very motivated to try again.

Reprimed the system by pulling filter and bowl off again. It was full and clean. Put back on loosely, turned pump back on, tightened glass bowl on again slowly, waited for a minute,
Hit the bleed valve wide open for a good 30 seconds, then just for the hell of hit closed and opened the thru hole vale quickly.

Well one of those worked. I had heat in 5 minutes. Asleep in 10. Cabin got to 72 degrees by this morning !

Awesome. Thank you guys.
 
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kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,211
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Yeah ! Good to know, Mr. Behavior.. The pump needs water in it to work.. some (like mine) have a filter bowl below the pump level which will not prime the pump even with a full bowl.. Pump will sometimes get an air bubble in it that has to be bled out before it will pump again.. sounds like you had that and got the air out.

Guys, where he is in Orange Beach, Alabama, the water rarely gets below 65 ish, and thank Goodness.. does not get hard.. .. Diesel heater not necessary..
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Kloudie. Never looked at his location. If it's 65 here we open the doors and let the heat inside. :biggrin:
 
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