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Cabin Heaters for the WS42

  • November 25, 2012 7:11 AM
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    Reply # 1145432 on 1144279
    Anonymous member
    Jay,

    I forgot to mention propane tankage.   I carry 2x 20 pound tanks in the lazarette.   We go 3-6 months on a tank for cooking use. Thus when one tank runs dry, we have lots of time to find a place to buy more.

    I've yet to figure out how long a tank will last when used for heating too.    

    That lazarette compartment is sealed off from the rest of the boat and it has its own drain to the sea, so it is leak safe.  I also carry gasoline and lamp oil back there.

    20 pound propane bottles make purchase and/or exchange very simple. They are steel bottles, but I can exchange them for new ones any time, so rust is not a consideration.


  • November 25, 2012 7:53 AM
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    Reply # 1145455 on 1144279
    Anonymous member (Administrator)
    I like the sealed lazarette - and your full sized bottles would make refilling very workable...

    Thanks
    Jay
  • November 25, 2012 10:25 AM
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    Reply # 1145505 on 1144279
    Anonymous member
    Check to see if your diesel heater will operate properly on kerosene.  If it will, then go to a local small airport and buy Jet A fuel, which is a very refined kerosene, that will burn clean without soot.
  • November 26, 2012 5:41 AM
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    Reply # 1145996 on 1144279
    Deleted user
    Thanks Bud.  I tee'd my heater fuel line so it's easy enough to hook up a small portable "Jet A" tank.  I love the "Diesel" heater because it is warm and DRY.  Propane is wet, wet, wet unless of course it is vented outside which is another issue too.  In any event if Jet A solves the soot problem then I am a happy guy.
    I don't know why the propane was "wetter" than the diesel.  Maybe because the diesel was drawing air from inside but vented outside?  At low temps the outside humidity will be lower which on a cabin drawing outside vented unit will "dry" the cabin more effectively?  The moisture output of all the burnt hydrocarbons are about the same.  So I suppose a properly built propane unit (vented properly) should be just as dry.  You use propane for cooking so at least propane is already on your list of must haves.  I like the idea of diesel heat just for the ability to use the "big" tanks".  The Jet A idea is great when you're just doing a weekender I suppose.

    As always Bud knows.........
    Last modified: November 26, 2012 6:31 AM | Deleted user
  • November 26, 2012 3:04 PM
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    Reply # 1146386 on 1144279
    Deleted user
    If you burn propane you get co2 and water, the heater should be vented outside,so no problem but for cooking lots of moisture , you need venting or you get co  and water, and that's not good.
  • November 29, 2012 9:19 PM
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    Reply # 1149241 on 1144279
    Deleted user
    I had heard that using alcohol to get the diesel heater's started also substantially reduces sooting.  So maybe that would also work.  My flues apart so I cannot try these solutions right now but when I do get it back together I'll happily report back on Jet A and alcohol on start-up.
  • December 01, 2012 9:52 AM
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    Reply # 1150212 on 1144279
    Anonymous member

    Above is a picture of my Force 10 cabin heater in use.  Note the 1 inch vent chimney.  I now calculated my fuel use rate -- 0.33 pounds of propane per day using this heater on minimum setting for about 4 hours per day.  In other words, 12 hours of use per pound of fuel.

    By the way, owners of Force 10 stoves should be outraged.  The burner tops on those stoves rust away.  For nearly 10 years now, Force 10 has been telling customers that the burner tops are sold out and can not be replaced.   But they still sell this cabin heater with an identical burner top.  


  • December 01, 2012 10:37 AM
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    Reply # 1150230 on 1144279
    Anonymous member
    How do you fit two 20's in the Laz?  Any pics would be great. We only have on in our's and running out of cooking fuel does not make the chief happy.

    Thanks
  • December 03, 2012 7:19 AM
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    Reply # 1151148 on 1144279
    Anonymous member
    Dave,

    Here are some pictures.  The first looks down from the top, starboard left, the tiller in the foreground.  I carry one 20 pound tank port, one starboard.  In the picture I have the port tank removed for refill, so you can see only the starboard tank (white) in place. 



    Below, is a view seen from the starboard side.  From bottom right to top, see the starboard tank (white), a 2.5 gallon lamp oil tank (green) and the wooden platform for the port side propane tank. The platform (plus a strap), holds the tanks securely, and it raises the tank an inch or more off the floor.  That keeps the tank out of seawater most of the time.   The drain in this compartment is frequently under water, thus washing the floor with seawater.




    The propane hose fitting (lower right) has enough slack that I can simply turn it port or starboard to connect to either tank. When one tank runs dry it only takes a minute or two to switch.

    I have a few more pictures here.


     
  • December 04, 2012 4:56 PM
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    Reply # 1152556 on 1144279
    Anonymous member
    Ah,  Now I understand. Sorry, Dick; I didn't recognize you and I know you have a 32. Much more room there. As an aside, you unless you've sealed off the Laz you have that locker open to the engine room. IMHO a rather dangerous condition should something in the bottle not work correctly.

    Ciao