John Curtis wrote up his installation in Draig y mor. It's in Nov 2001 technical topics.
To be honest I'm having it removed this winter to claim back the stowage space and tidy up the locker front. The heater whilst functional and fitted with an ingenious safety snuffer is not exactly decorative.
Dave
Peter,
We fitted a Wallas1800 paraffin hot air heater to Sea Miste in 1999 and had it overhauled for the first and only time in 2014. Sea Miste is an Uphams boat with the twin hanging lockers amidships. The unit is fitted in the aft locker on the bulkhead between the hanging locker and the saloon. The 10 litre tank is fixed in the bottom of the hanging locker. The concentric exhaust and air intake pipes pass through the deck head to a neat closable fitting on deck. Two hot air duct serve the galley and chart table and the mid ships section of the accommodation. A third duct feeds into the bottom of the forward hanging locker which has an air vent at the top served by a Vetus extractor fan fitted under a Tannoy vent on deck. It makes a really effective drying locker for wet clothes.
Fuel consumption is 5 hours per litre at full power and 10 hours per litre at half power. 12v draw is 0.5 amps. It is a very effective heater and the hot air is very dry.
Drawbacks are:
The hanging locker space which remains only allows for storage of the cockpit table and one or bits.
The unit produces modest fan noise and rhythmic clicking like a clock from the fuel pump. Early models like ours also whirr and rattle from time to time. Modern ones are smoother running.
Advantages are:
Excellent hot air distribution plus the ability to circulate cold air in hot weather which is quite effective.
The siting of the unit amidships warms the whole centre of the vessel from the heat radiated from the unit and the warm woodwork around it. Very cosy. Clothes dry well in the heated forward hanging locker.
Works well at sea.
Almost inaudible on deck. Does not roar as some others heaters do.
No hot elements to accidentally come into contact with whilst moving about the vessel. Deck vent is cooled by incoming combustion air. Heat exchanger is efficient so unit does not get too hot and in any case is tucked away in its locker.
A diesel version connected to the main tank is also available which some would prefer.
This type of installation would not be for everyone but I have not come across an ideal heating solution for a Twister. We live aboard in early and late season and at the flick of a switch soon have a very warm boat.
Hope this helps,
Philip
64
Kiwi Twister
3
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