New heater

The Aga propane heater for the circulating water convector system started acting up after some 30 years of operation.

I have some doubts about propane in a boat and, secondly, the consumption of propane fuel was substantial during colder nights. Therefore, I looked at other heaters and ended up trying the smallest Glembring 1.5 kW oil heater. It is a free standing basic diesel fuel burning stove and requires no electricity (well, a little for the circulating pump), and the heating effect seems sufficient for the application.

The model has a closed combustion air and flue gas circulation. I installed it into the 'balanced draft' chimney of the Aga heater; and the first trials went ok. The flue gas and intake ducts have 75/50 mm reduction pieces which seems to cause no functional harm at low effect settings used by now.

I also added an 'Alde' heat exchanger from the engine to the heat circulation; to give some initial warming to the convector water circulation and to make the heater's work a little easier. Getting the last air bubbles out from the heat exchanger and the connecting hoses was a bit of a challenge, but now it works ok.

The existing propane feed line will later be used to take diesel fuel from the main tank to a 5 l. day tank at the heater. Now I'm burning kerosene in the heater.

I installed the heater in the same spot where Aga was earlier. It is a tight installation, close to the toilet seat and the holding tank. I added heat shields made from 1mm alu to the bulkhead behind the heater and the flue gas pipe to protect the finish of the wooden surface, and another towards the toilet seat, for obvious reasons !!. 

The heater has now been used in chilly nights. It works ok with the lowest setting, keeping the forepeak comfortable. Igniting it is a bit tedius, because I ordered the, for space saving reasons, the flue gas duct installed on the top of the heater.

I'll report more later on.

New and old heater

Takaisin: Mods - interior |  |