Catalina 34

General Activities => Main Message Board => Topic started by: mark_53 on January 15, 2021, 10:22:07 AM

Title: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on January 15, 2021, 10:22:07 AM
Anyone install a diesel heater?  I had a very old one in the port lazarette but went tits up.  I'm trying to find a better location for a new one since the exhaust run would be longer than spec.  Where did you locate and how many duct openings?
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: ErikN on January 16, 2021, 07:55:46 AM
I just replaced the ancient (dead) Espar diesel heater with a new model (Espar D4L). It's mounted inside the hull, essentially behind the instrument panel. I put the new unit in the existing mounting bracket, so I didn't really choose the location, but it works.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: waughoo on January 16, 2021, 08:04:45 AM
Erik, How was access for working in that installation area?  Did you go through the instrument hole or the lazerette?
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: ErikN on January 16, 2021, 08:10:24 AM
I went through the helm locker. I had to remove the propane box and bracket, then squeeze myself down into the space. (I'm 5'7" and just fit in the space.) It is cramped, but I could do everything with hand tools. The photo shows the old heater.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on January 16, 2021, 10:39:52 AM
Quote from: ErikN on January 16, 2021, 08:10:24 AM
I went through the helm locker. I had to remove the propane box and bracket, then squeeze myself down into the space. (I'm 5'7" and just fit in the space.) It is cramped, but I could do everything with hand tools. The photo shows the old heater.

Erik, how was the exhaust run?  Was it higher than the unit?  How did you deal with condensation in the exhaust tube?
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: ErikN on January 16, 2021, 11:30:23 AM
The exhaust is the hose covered with white insulation. It exits the bottom of the heater then curves around and above before heading out through the transom. There's a pigtail pipe just after the exhaust leaves the heater—condensation can drip out. We kept pretty much the same setup with the new unit. We also kept the existing ducts and vents: one in the quarterberth, one under the hanging locker by the nav station, and one under the drawers in the v berth.

I can post some additional photos (probably tomorrow).

Update: a couple of photos attached. One shows the new fuel pump near the forward end of the fuel tank, viewed through the undersink cabinet door in the head (I installed it by working through the removable panel in the quarterberth). The other shows the new controller mounted above the nav table. Espar's "marine kit" included an extra-long wire harness, which runs between the heater, fuel pump, and controller. It also connects to the battery, with a couple of fuses in between, via buses installed in the hanging locker by the nav station.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on January 17, 2021, 01:40:57 PM
Quote from: ErikN on January 16, 2021, 08:10:24 AM
I went through the helm locker. I had to remove the propane box and bracket, then squeeze myself down into the space. (I'm 5'7" and just fit in the space.) It is cramped, but I could do everything with hand tools. The photo shows the old heater.

I don't see a muffler on the exhaust.  Is it very loud?  Also, why is the hot air outlet facing aft?  Seems like it should be facing forward.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: ErikN on January 18, 2021, 08:08:31 AM
The kit included a muffler, but I didn't install it (primarily due to the cramped space). It's pretty quiet--it just makes a whooshing sound outside, kind of like a quiet vacuum cleaner. We don't hear it inside the boat, but we use the quarterberth for storage so we don't know if it might be annoying there. If you live in a cool climate (like the Pacific Northwest), you can walk through any marina that allows liveaboards and you will hear the diesel heaters.

The black hose facing aft is the air intake, i.e., for the air that will be heated and blown into the boat. The outlet is hard to see in the photo, but it comes out of the forward end of the heater and runs over the diesel tank. The smaller black hose hanging vertically below the heater is the combustion air intake. That hose has a "silencer" on it, which is just some foam insulation.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on January 18, 2021, 04:41:08 PM
Thanks for the details.  The "silencer" is probably and air intake filter.  Where does it draw air to be heated from?
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: ErikN on January 19, 2021, 09:15:18 AM
It draws air from that area under the helm--the end of the intake hose is just below the bottom edge of the photo.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on February 04, 2021, 04:46:22 PM
The fuel line looks like it runs a long way. Does it come off a pickup on top of the tank and run forward to the fuel pump the back aft to the heater?  Any problems moving fuel that far?
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: LogoFreak on February 05, 2021, 05:05:13 AM
That is exactly where I'm moving my espar to, it is currently installed inside the port lazarette. A "pro" shop installed it there, probably the quickest and easiest way for them to install it, it was a pro install and they used duct tape (I think they took the name far too literally) to secure every heater hose connection... needless to say not a single hose was actually attached and it had come apart. Also instead of using a high quality ducting, some simple house ducting from home depot was used. DONT TRUST PROS! LOL
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: ErikN on February 05, 2021, 07:01:14 AM
Quote from: mark_53 on February 04, 2021, 04:46:22 PM
The fuel line looks like it runs a long way. Does it come off a pickup on top of the tank and run forward to the fuel pump the back aft to the heater?  Any problems moving fuel that far?

That is exactly how it runs. Espar gives fairly specific limits on distance, angle, etc., in the manual (you can obtain one for a specific model before you buy it). Our installation falls within those limits, and it works well. The kit included a new standpipe, but we are using the one that was installed for the previous heater. It only extends about 1/3 of the way to the bottom of the fuel tank, so you will have 2/3 of the tank to get to the fuel dock. I don't think this was mentioned in the manual, but it's something to keep in mind.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on April 07, 2021, 09:36:17 AM
Quote from: mark_53 on February 04, 2021, 04:46:22 PM
The fuel line looks like it runs a long way. Does it come off a pickup on top of the tank and run forward to the fuel pump the back aft to the heater?  Any problems moving fuel that far?

I finished my heater install in the aft locker. It's drawing air to be heated from the aft locker however, I'd rather draw air from the main cabin.  Has anyone routed intake air from the main cabin to the aft locker?  If so, how so?  I'm thinking penetrating the aft cabin aft bulkhead and drawing air.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: pjcomeau on April 07, 2021, 08:10:02 PM
Mark do you have pictures of your install?
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on April 08, 2021, 10:51:30 AM
I don't have the return air duct installed yet. Right now it's drawing air from inside the aft locker and works fine except for the locker order. The plan is to draw return air from the aft berth.

Unfortunately the site doesn't like iPhone pics. I'll have to post when I get back to my laptop.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: pjcomeau on April 08, 2021, 11:21:23 AM
Thanks,

I caught this thread just in time. I like this location better then in the cockpit locker where I was getting everything ready (have a nice looking mounting base put together).

Is your unit at an angle or just the photo making look that way? How did you mount the bracket to the hull? I going to partly use the mount I put together - actually will just be a piece of wood with bolts in from the back recessed then use 5200 to mount that piece of wood, then bolt the stainless angle bracket I picked up to it. (I think 5200 should do the job).
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on April 08, 2021, 11:34:02 AM
Quote from: pjcomeau on April 08, 2021, 11:21:23 AM
Thanks,

I caught this thread just in time. I like this location better then in the cockpit locker where I was getting everything ready (have a nice looking mounting base put together).

Is your unit at an angle or just the photo making look that way? How did you mount the bracket to the hull? I going to partly use the mount I put together - actually will just be a piece of wood with bolts in from the back recessed then use 5200 to mount that piece of wood, then bolt the stainless angle bracket I picked up to it. (I think 5200 should do the job).

The photo makes it look like more of an angle than it is. I mounted using JB Weld because YouTube videos showed good strength on metal, plastic, and wood.  It also is thicker than 5200 which I hear is runny.  I purchased a stainless bracket on Ebay from Butler Tek in the UK and mounted it to 3/4" plywood square about 4"x4".  If I was to do it again, I'd probably glass the plywood to the hull just for the piece of mind.  The pump makes a ticking sound so I mounted it aft of the fuel tank.  Three registers in the main cabin gets plenty of hot air through.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: pjcomeau on April 08, 2021, 11:45:46 AM
Thanks,

I got a bracket from them too. Nice solid stainless L bracket. Your right that 5200 might be a little runny even with just the weight of the board and two bolts (without bracket at that point). I will have to pick a method this weekend  :D . I will post pictures of what I did once all done.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: mark_53 on April 08, 2021, 12:17:08 PM
Quote from: pjcomeau on April 08, 2021, 11:45:46 AM
Thanks,

I got a bracket from them too. Nice solid stainless L bracket. Your right that 5200 might be a little runny even with just the weight of the board and two bolts (without bracket at that point). I will have to pick a method this weekend  :D . I will post pictures of what I did once all done.

I'm not sure what your 2 bolts recessed into the back of the board are for.  Maybe unique to your heater? I used 4 stainless wood screws to attach the bracket to the board.
Title: Re: Diesel Heater
Post by: pjcomeau on April 08, 2021, 03:16:43 PM
Mark,

I meant 4 bolts permanently there (then slide bracket on them and put nut and washer) versus 4 screws. Sometimes I overthink things :) .