diesel heater

Jul 25, 2016
36
england
Boat Info
2005 280/315 sundancer
Engines
single Volvo kad 300 diesel
Hi - I am thinking of installing a diesel heater on my 2005 280/315 sundancer.
The type that is similar to ebaerspacher ones.
Has anyone done this already as I am looking for advice on where to fit.

Many Thanks
Jon
 
Jon, I used to have a '96 330 Sundancer that I put a 12,500BTU Webasto heater in. The 13 gallon diesel tank (with deck fill) was put in the engine room, the heater itself was put down below the helm seat with the exhaust vented out through the side of the boat, and there were (IIRC) 3 heater vents. One was just to the portside of the heater, two went down into the cabin. One vent must be of a type that cannot be shut off.

Diesel heat in a gas boat makes absolute sense. The heat is very hot and very dry and the heater had a very short run cycle to keep the interior of the boat dry and warm.

Loved it.
 
Every fall I am tempted to do this. That and a full camper enclosure.

Mike- do you recall what the whole install ran you? Thanks
 
No, sorry. That was about 20 years ago. Hell, I can hardly recall what I had for dinner last night and what the bill was.

If I were to do it again in a similar boat I would not put a huge (13 gallon) diesel tank in again. Waste of space in a compact engine room. The Webasto was so fuel efficient I think a 4-5 gallon would be plenty.

For a 330 I'd probably put in a smaller (lower BTU) unit. The 12,500 BTU would heat the cabin up in a heartbeat then sit there for a long time.

The heat ducts were run along the stbd side and were hidden above the cabinets that were above the dinette. The company that put it in did a great job. You couldn't see the heater, the ducts or any part except the vents. The vent in the cockpit came out from beneath the helm seat. One in the cabin was down low, just a few inches above the floor near where the walkway was between the entry steps and the dinette and was aimed in the direction of the cabinet beneath the sink. The other one in the cabin was above the forward dinette sink and aimed toward the v-berth. That one could be shut off. The other one in the cabin could not be closed off.
 
Hi Jon

I am facing the same dilema; have you decided the best route to fit the heater and ducting?

I am based in the UK and have the same boat. Happy to share notes.
 
No, sorry. That was about 20 years ago. Hell, I can hardly recall what I had for dinner last night and what the bill was.

If I were to do it again in a similar boat I would not put a huge (13 gallon) diesel tank in again. Waste of space in a compact engine room. The Webasto was so fuel efficient I think a 4-5 gallon would be plenty.

For a 330 I'd probably put in a smaller (lower BTU) unit. The 12,500 BTU would heat the cabin up in a heartbeat then sit there for a long time.

The heat ducts were run along the stbd side and were hidden above the cabinets that were above the dinette. The company that put it in did a great job. You couldn't see the heater, the ducts or any part except the vents. The vent in the cockpit came out from beneath the helm seat. One in the cabin was down low, just a few inches above the floor near where the walkway was between the entry steps and the dinette and was aimed in the direction of the cabinet beneath the sink. The other one in the cabin was above the forward dinette sink and aimed toward the v-berth. That one could be shut off. The other one in the cabin could not be closed off.

Thank you
 
You are right it doesn't take much heat. We have this small vertical electric heater and it keeps the cockpit comfortable until about 38 deg/ 3 deg Celsius, then it can't really keep up much below that. We only use it when we are plugged in at a marina.

heater.jpg
 
I had an Espar on a previous boat. Put out an amazing amount of heat. Nice thing was you could run it while the boat was on blocks for the winter. Nice to be able to work on things in Feb in a warm boat.
 

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