Useful Boat Heating Information

Eberspächer Boat Heating Information

Why Heat A Boat?

Homes are centrally heated, so why not your holiday home: the boat! If you,ve boated in Spring and Autumn you,ll know how chilly it can be.ve En summer has its moments, particularly at night! Or maybe you,ve not bothered and laid the boat up instead and only dreamed of being out there on those still sunny winter days.

But more than all of that is the problem of damp that convinces you to fit a heater. Inside, boats are naturally damp. Damp linings, fabricsd, amp clothing. It's not only uncomfortable, but creates mould and will even affect the boat's equipment.

Fitting an Eberspacher heater will make time afloat that mch more enjoyable.

The water heater system has become the preferred option with narrow boats. Much like central heating at home. The Eberspacher diesel burning boiler feeds a pipe system through the boat. Domestic hot water via a calorifier and space heating by radiators or fan blowers.

Space is at a premium on a boat. The miniature size of an Eberspacher reflects this. The heater is usually fitted in a stern or cockpit locker and the exhaust led away to the transom, or in motorboats hull side aft. In the centre cockpit sail boat the heater may be in the engine area, and the exhaust led to the cockpit combing, aft of the winches.

Modern motor cruisers offer a high level of luxury and comfort. Heating will be a priority. Most will have adequate domestic water heating from engine fed coil in the calorifier and shore AC. So a warm air system may be the preferred choice.

However, if you are not marina based and have no generator then an Eberspacher water heater system will be essential for domestic hot water, heated towel rails and space heating through under berth fan blowers.

Why Eberspächer?

Warm Crew - Keeping skipper and crew warm is a must, particulary if the crew are family and young children. The Eberspacher is easy to control and easy to understand. The unit is well away from the living areas and all you see is the cabin controller and feel the warmth of the heat from the cabin outlets.

Dry Locker - Heat from natural convection of the principal components is a good side benefit of fitting Eberspacher. Those hidden places that, left to their own devices, become damp, smelly and pretty horrid. By passing hot ducts or water pipes through these, natural heating currents are set up that move air and combat the damp.

Indirect - Eberspacher heaters are "indirectly fired" diesel burning units. This simply means that the products of combustion pass to the outside and do not contaminate cabin heating. All skipper and crew feel is fresh warm air.

Self Regulating - All heaters in the Eberspacher range self regulate over a number of heat levels. This avoids boiler "cycling" or on/off switching and makes for an improved, even temperature in the cabin. Electrical consumption is greatly reduced with this style of operation.

Safety - Eberspacher heaters are strong, robust units. Fail safe and protection for correct operation are engineered to give confidence.

Service Network - There is a full national network of factory trained service centres. There will be an Eberspacher expert near to your boat to give advice, service and reliable support.

Fully Compliant - Every Eberspacher kit fully complies with both the British Waterways and Environmental Agency Boat Safety Scheme and the European Recreational Craft Directive.

Airtronic Boat Heating Information:

Heater Location:

The heater will be mounted in a cockpit locker, lazerette, or engine area. The heater's miniature size makes it easy to tuck away out of sight.

Fuel System:

The fuel metering pump draws fuel from the main boat tank via a purpose designed standpipe. All fuel lines and clips are included in the kit. The Airtronic uses minute amounts of fuel: e.g. D4 Airtronic 0.38 litres/hr on high setting.

Exhaust:

The products of combustion are passed to atmosphere through a flexible twin wall stainless tubing, pre lagged and over sleeved and then through a specially designed hull fitting.

Electrics and Switch:

The heater requires a 12v or 24v battery supply: usually taken through a suitable fuse from the main auxiliary batteries or suitable auxiliary point. Current draw is minimal and all harnesses are pre cut, sleeved, and plugs connected for easy installation. Either a simple On/Off switch with temperature control dial or digital timer regulate the temperature in the boat.

The Duct System:

Flexible ducting carries the hot air to outlets in cabin fascias, such as seat or locker fronts. The ducting has been carefully chosen for its layers of integrated insulation and high flexibility without compromising air flow.

Hydronic Boat Heating Information:

Exhaust:

The products of the combustion are forced from the heater to a hull fitting. This is a straight through skin fitting for a steel narrow boat, or an air cooled fitting if it is passing through a GRP or wooden hull. The hull fitting is connected to the heater by a flexible twin wall stainless tubing, which is insulated for sound and heat and then over sleeved for safety.

Calorifier:

This is the tank for domestic hot water and fed by the pressurised cold water circuit. Through the calorifier runs a coil that carries heated water from the Eberspacher. This transfers its heat to the domestic water, which feeds basins and showers.

Fuel:

The heater's fuel metering pump draws the diesel that needs directly from the boat's tank, via an independent standpipe. It is not connected in any way to the engine system. The fuel is delivered to the burner at a pre set rate to be mixed with the combustion air. The fuel pump contains a filter in its intake side.

Space Heating:

On narrow boats this is achieved by a traditional radiator system: usually running down one side of the boat. As an alternative, fan blowers can be used, located under berths or locker fascias. Heated towel rails are a great way to extend the system into the bathrooms/heads.

Heater Location:

The hydronic is usually installed in the engine area or aft locker.