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Messages - Bob Kuba

#121
Main Message Board / Cabin Heater
January 09, 2005, 06:31:41 PM
The fan is wired to a 3 position switch, Off, Low, and High. I didn't see the need for a thermostat, since it really wasn't designed to be a "furnace". I use it as a source of supplemental heat to take the chill off while under way.

When dockside, and plugged into shore power, my a/c unit functions as a reverse cycle heat pump, and heats the entire boat. Now that is wired to a digital thermostat much like you would see in a house.

In the summer, even though hot water is flowing through the heater core, very little is dissipated into the cabin. In fact, to gives you some basis for comparison, it radiates less heat than the hot water heater. It's not even noticeable.

Bob Kuba
Quiet Island
#1292  1994
#122
Main Message Board / Cabin Heater
January 08, 2005, 04:05:59 PM
I've had this installation for 2 years, and been through through some 100+ days, and it hasn't really added any additional heat to the cabin. But as long as you could ensure a good flow rate in a parallel setup, it should work fine as well. I'd be interested in seeing your results with that setup. Keep us posted.

Bob Kuba
Quiet Island
#1291  1994
#123
Main Message Board / Cabin Heater
January 08, 2005, 01:12:28 PM
On checking the West Marine Catalog for 2004, I see they no longer list this heater. But it indeed was made by Heater Craft, and is the 5H model.

I also considered the area forward of the water tank, under the settee, but I didn't want to draw any intake air from the bilge area and blow those  aromas all around the cabin. I suppose one could add an intake duct to take air directly from the cabin, but it seemed like more work. But I wound up building a cabinet for my heater, so I wound up doing some extra work too.

In any case, it's a good unit, and a good project.

Bob Kuba
Quiet Island
#1291   1994 C34
#124
Main Message Board / Cabin heater
January 06, 2005, 01:06:09 PM
Ray,

I installed a cabin heater very similar to the setup you're describing. I purchased a unit from West Marine that was a package setup. It had a small radiator attached to a 2-speed blower motor and a grille for the exterior mounting.


The unit is mounted under the nav station, and draws fresh air for the blower from an area at the top rear of the cabinet I built for it. I chose this location to avoid drawing air from the sometimes smelly bilge area.
I installed a teak lip on the top of the cabinet to create a handy storage shelf, that otherwise would have been wasted space.


I tapped into the water line that was going to the hot water heater, and ran the line around the back of the engine, and the along the port side up to the compartment that contains the holding tank. Two holes drilled through the bulkhead allowed the inlet & outlet heater lines access to the radiator. The hardest part was bleeding the system to ensure there was no trapped air anywhere in the system. The black water line you see in the picture is there to provide a "high point" in the system where I added replacement anti-freeze to top off the system and to make sure there was no trapped air.


Here is a diagram of the plumbing.


The heater works like a charm when motoring. When we brought the boat from Cleveland to Chicago in the early spring, The outside air temp was in the 40's, but the heater kept the cabin at a luxurious 80 degrees! And it provided a place to shake off that bone-chilling cold! In the summer, very little heat is even noticeable coming from the unit. And the extra run of heater line reduces the temp at the faucets a few degrees from blistering hot, to just scalding hot. I was afraid it would take even longer to heat up the hot water, but it really isn't noticeable, compared to the benefits of having a place to get warm while underway.

A warm crew is a happy crew!

Bob Kuba
Quiet Island
#1291  C34 1994
#125
Main Message Board / Cockpit floor insert photos
January 06, 2005, 11:34:46 AM
Here are a few photos of the cockpit floor inserts I made using Dan's plans. Everyone who's seen the finished effect, cannot believe the difference! Thanks for all those measurements Dan!


The small insert piece at the stern has since been changed to mahogany as well. I originally didn't think I needed it, but last summer we used the swim platform extensively to board the boat from the dinghy.


The flooring is very easy and sure-footed on bare feet, dresses up the boat very nicely.


I also built a ramp for easier boarding from the dinghy while at anchor. It was primarily intended for easier access for the dog, but it was sturdy enough to handle some visiting full-beamed cruiser friends as well. When not in use, it folds up, and is bungeed to the aft rail. But first it is removed using quick disconnect pins, the swim ladder retracted, and then re-pinned into position and folded up to the rail. The black pattern is adhesive anti-skid material to provide traction on those wet days.


Bob Kuba
Quiet Island
#1291 1994