Installing new heater

[kenpreston46]

Now that the boat is back from Mexico I'm preparing to install a
cabin heater (kerosene fuel, externally vented). The External vent
is the point here. The heater will bolt to the main cabin bulkhead
and the vent is 1" diameter stainless pipe going through a clever
little fitting on the cabin top. What should I look out for as I
take saber saw in hand and start destroying the cabin? I think the
roof is foam cored there, so how is the right way to deal with (?)
sealing the foam? All suggestions welcome.
Ken Preston, V-2456, Seattle area.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi Ken

Most of the heaters I have seen installed in the Vega has been on the
starboard
side of the bulkhead in the main cabin and vented through the roof. It
seems to
miss all the conduit that takes the light cables etc. Just be careful and if
you have access to a wire sensor (the kind that finds wires in walls etc) then
use that first to determine where the conduit is. Works well and keep sthe
boat
warm, most here use a Blakes Heater which runs on diesel or parafin. Good luckSteve Birch Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

At 14:19 20/12/02 +0000, you wrote:

 

[chris20636]

Ken,

I've never done a job like that before, but here is how I would plan on doing it. You want to be able to seal the foam core from water intrusion. Most of the books, I've read, recommend an epoxy seal for any hardware mounting through fiberglass and fiberglass/foam. One idea is, after you cut the hole, use a nail in a drill, with (I'm guessing) about a 1/2 inch to 1 inch, 90 degree, bend. Use this to "route" out the foam between the fiberglass skins. Brush unthickened epoxy on the exposed fiberglass and foam. Then fill with epoxy thickened with a filler suitable for hardware mounting purposes. This will ensure that the foam is sealed away from water and will give you a hard surface for mounting any hardware associated with the vent pipe.

I'm sure that there are easier ways to go about it, such as using a good, permanent, sealant around the pipe/foam joint. Also the type of foam used on the Vega is supposed to be designed to prevent water from migrating through the foam. However, I have already seen one example of a Vega with completely saturated decks. This has made me slightly paranoid about keeping water out of the foam.

One other item that comes to mind. I don't have any clue what kind of temperatures the pipe gets to, or what kind of insulation is used around the pipe. I would try to get an some idea of the temperatures involved and then check with the epoxy manufacturer to make sure that any combination of epoxy resin/hardener/filler is suitable for that application.

Good Luck,
Chris Stevens
V-2933
Chesapeake Bay