I installed myself a Webasto heater back in 2017... worked perfect for the first two years then had constant issues! Recently, I have been using a Chinese heater (all in one package type) for heating my shed/office over the winter months. The things i've learnt are both need regular maintenance to work well and having good access to them makes it very quick and easy to clean. I find heating oil works best and is cheaper at about £1 per litre!. This year, I have pulled the Webasto out and started looking at a solution to make a heater more easier to access! On the boat I only use the heater at anchor so thinking about something portable that would sit in the cockpit when at anchor!
Will have to see how it develops the, exhaust needs to be sealed as its inside the boat and would leak fumes into the cabin. Maybe there is some kind of tap I could install but it wouldn't be hard to disconect the exhaust from the unit and drain it there if it becomes necessary so I would probably rather have a sealed system that I can disconect when needed rather than a tap or valve that could fail and leak carbon monoxide. If you have any suggestions though I would apreciate it. Also as an FYI I installed Carbon Monoxide detectors at both vents in the cabin.
Watching this video has confirmed two of my theories. 1: Tim is a masochist. 2. Every boat owner needs to have a short, slim contortionist as a best friend! Did I spot Jo in the background doing an impression of somebody from a vintage horror movie in her lovely white suit? The pair of you are certainly making progress on getting her ready for that first trip and I'm looking forward to that as well.
Is your Etap the one with the closed-cell foam hull by any chance? I hear the Etaps dont have condensation issues thanks to the hull foam insulation and looking into buying one to sail into really cold waters (Norway) so if you have any clue I'd be grateful on how your boat handled the heater and if you had any condensation issues.
Sorry for the slow reply, the heater works great and keeps it toasty warm. Hattrick isn't great on condensation tbh but I think in general the Etaps are very good when it comes to warmth and condensation for the reasons you point out. I think we just have a few leaky deck fittings which I have yet to track down. One downside of the double skin is tracking down leaks, as where the water appears inside isn't neccessary related to where its getting in.
Tim just one thing I think the exhaust should have water traps on the two low spots. These do work well just that horrible click but I have see an all electric super quiet pump on another youtube channel .
Once running the pump and heater did quiet down a lot. The condensate drain issue is an interesting one. With the pipe insulated I am not sure if it will be a major issue as the heat of the exhaust should clear anything out. I really don't like the idea of any drain that would allow exhaust liquid to drip into the rear locker so would need to be collected which could also be a mess waiting to happen. Moisture in the unit isn't a concern either as due to a hatch leak the unit completely filled with rain water. I stripped and rebuilt the heater and other than a slight issue with one of the fan motor brushes it showed no ill effects. Ultimately we will have to see how well/reliably it works and adjust from there. My main concern is carbon monoxide so have installed multiple sensors in the cabin which should detect issues there at which point we would stop using it.
You might be ok with the insulated exhaust sounds in theory that it will be fine . People with a lot more knowledge than myself nearly always say if exhaust goes uphill it needs a trap.. Biu I am with you on the now I have something else to catch and manage somehow. Another box with bilge pump in it. Where dose it end.. I have only fitted heaters to vans and my garage so downwards exhaust only.
We have this heater as well. Works really well
I installed myself a Webasto heater back in 2017... worked perfect for the first two years then had constant issues! Recently, I have been using a Chinese heater (all in one package type) for heating my shed/office over the winter months. The things i've learnt are both need regular maintenance to work well and having good access to them makes it very quick and easy to clean. I find heating oil works best and is cheaper at about £1 per litre!. This year, I have pulled the Webasto out and started looking at a solution to make a heater more easier to access! On the boat I only use the heater at anchor so thinking about something portable that would sit in the cockpit when at anchor!
Tidy job again 👍when the heaters up to temperature and running it all quietens down, it does sound like at 747 on the run up😂
Very neat installation, little surprised you didn't add a condensation drain though?
Will have to see how it develops the, exhaust needs to be sealed as its inside the boat and would leak fumes into the cabin. Maybe there is some kind of tap I could install but it wouldn't be hard to disconect the exhaust from the unit and drain it there if it becomes necessary so I would probably rather have a sealed system that I can disconect when needed rather than a tap or valve that could fail and leak carbon monoxide. If you have any suggestions though I would apreciate it.
Also as an FYI I installed Carbon Monoxide detectors at both vents in the cabin.
@@timmy20135 Google Chinese heater condensation trap, they're available for about £30. I fitted one on my own boat and they're very good
Watching this video has confirmed two of my theories. 1: Tim is a masochist. 2. Every boat owner needs to have a short, slim contortionist as a best friend!
Did I spot Jo in the background doing an impression of somebody from a vintage horror movie in her lovely white suit?
The pair of you are certainly making progress on getting her ready for that first trip and I'm looking forward to that as well.
Is your Etap the one with the closed-cell foam hull by any chance? I hear the Etaps dont have condensation issues thanks to the hull foam insulation and looking into buying one to sail into really cold waters (Norway) so if you have any clue I'd be grateful on how your boat handled the heater and if you had any condensation issues.
Sorry for the slow reply, the heater works great and keeps it toasty warm. Hattrick isn't great on condensation tbh but I think in general the Etaps are very good when it comes to warmth and condensation for the reasons you point out. I think we just have a few leaky deck fittings which I have yet to track down. One downside of the double skin is tracking down leaks, as where the water appears inside isn't neccessary related to where its getting in.
Tim just one thing I think the exhaust should have water traps on the two low spots.
These do work well just that horrible click but I have see an all electric super quiet pump on another youtube channel .
Once running the pump and heater did quiet down a lot.
The condensate drain issue is an interesting one. With the pipe insulated I am not sure if it will be a major issue as the heat of the exhaust should clear anything out. I really don't like the idea of any drain that would allow exhaust liquid to drip into the rear locker so would need to be collected which could also be a mess waiting to happen.
Moisture in the unit isn't a concern either as due to a hatch leak the unit completely filled with rain water. I stripped and rebuilt the heater and other than a slight issue with one of the fan motor brushes it showed no ill effects.
Ultimately we will have to see how well/reliably it works and adjust from there. My main concern is carbon monoxide so have installed multiple sensors in the cabin which should detect issues there at which point we would stop using it.
You might be ok with the insulated exhaust sounds in theory that it will be fine . People with a lot more knowledge than myself nearly always say if exhaust goes uphill it needs a trap.. Biu I am with you on the now I have something else to catch and manage somehow. Another box with bilge pump in it. Where dose it end.. I have only fitted heaters to vans and my garage so downwards exhaust only.