INTRODUCTION:
Having a heater in your boat is essential if you plan to enjoy your boat year-round. A heater will keep you warm even in the worst weather and it will help to dispel the dampness and humidity that occurs in our boats during the winter. Diesel fired heaters are quiet, efficient and offer a wide range of thermal outputs to meet the needs of your particular boat providing reliable and comfortable warmth.
As with central heating in your home there are two kinds of systems in marine use; forced hot air and forced hot water (hydronic) systems.
FORCED AIR:
In operation, these bear a striking resemblance to the units used in houses. A typical unit is fitted with an electrically powered fuel pump, flame ignition device, forced draft combustion chamber and heat exchanger, fuel metering pump, and integrated control unit. Hot air is circulated via flex tubes to vents, generally in the saloon and staterooms. A thermostat controls the temperature, turning the system on and off automatically like those in a house. The effectiveness of the systems is determined by the power of the heater, and distance to vents. Picking the right unit involves a critical evaluation of the boat’s power system to compare the amount of additional electricity necessary to operate a heater’s fuel pump and blower to existing demands for energy.
THERMAL FLUID:
An alternative to forced air heating is a system that circulates heated fluids to heat exchangers. Heated fluid is transferred from a combustion chamber through a sealed loop routed to various parts of the vessel. At each location, a heat exchanger equipped with a small blower provides a flow of heated air. This type of installation is often easier on a smaller boat than finding room for an air duct. The combustion parts of these systems are similar to the forced air heaters but use an air-to-water heat exchanger. In addition to producing clean heat, these systems generally offer two additional advantages: hot water from the heater can be plumbed into the heat exchanger of an existing hot water heater, thus also producing hot water for galley and head. In cold climes, the hot water may be used to heat the boat’s engine block, easing starting and reducing the draw on batteries.
BTU is also a key measurement of the rate at which water flows through the boat, called “water throughput,” which is measured in gallons per hour. A second measurement is fuel consumption, compared to alternative heating methods.
Our heaters provide fast, direct interior heating and are compact because on a boat space is at a premium. The ducting for the warm air system can be routed behind panels and through interior lockers. As the ducts pass though holds and interior lockers the heat given off provides addition drying for all the hidden corners beneath the cabin floors.