Wallas 1300 Paraffin Heater in a BayCruiser 23

[Paul Beardsell]

Does anybody have any thoughts about fitting the Wallas 1300 Paraffin Heater in the BayCruiser 23? There seems to be nothing in these forums about these or even the popular but expensive Webasto or Eberspacher diesel heaters.

Paraffin is a lot safer but potentially much messier than gas. This particular heater only draws 0.4A from the battery to keep the paraffin burning, so that's many hours from the moderate sized battery already found in most BC23s, and solar charging might mean one isn't limited there. Consumption is 7 hours per litre and the heat output is 1200W. A 5 litre tank would keep one toasty warm for perhaps a week of chilly nights. I have a diesel heater of this type in my campervan, of unknown brand, factory fitted, and it's really nice.

https://www.kuranda.co.uk/product/1300-paraffin-heater-kit/

I like the idea that one needn't worry about the very deadly CO carbon monoxide or even CO2 carbon dioxide and not even condensation with this style of heater. The CO and CO2 and H2O problems with other style of heaters are discussed elsewhere here in other forum topics, and at length.

I thought the heater and the paraffin tank might go in the starboard cockpit locker with the heat output ducted from there through the bulkhead into the cabin. It would be nice to keep the paraffin out of the cabin. Alternatively heater and paraffin tank might all go under the BC23 sink. 

The problem with both installations is where does the exhaust get routed? If the heater is in the cockpit locker perhaps the exhaust is best routed into the footwell? If the heater is under the sink then best to route the exhaust vertically on to the deck?

What am I not considering?

[Martijn]

Hi Paul,

I think both options (cockpit locker and under the sink) will most likely not work.
According to the manual the heater uses gravity for fuel to return to the tank through a return tube. So the heater must be positioned higher than the fuel tank. It makes a point of mentioning that the fuel tank must be placed high enough so that it always – also under heeling - lies below the heater bottom level. Of your 2 options the cockpit locker would be your most likely candidate.

Considering the heater itself is small and can be mounted directly underneath the deck, have you considered doing just that? It only requires a height of app. 300 millimeters, see also the image below.
You won't need an exhaust hose, just the through hull (or deck)

[Paul Beardsell]

That's useful input, thanks. I think that the tank might fit under the heater in both of my originally suggested locations, under the sink and in the starboard locker. Martijn's suggestion of having the heater up against the cabin roof  is a good and practical one. I know the specified deck exhaust is close-able. Perhaps up against the port sidedeck wall where the sink is?

More generally, do people think the idea nuts? :-) I'm thinking spending less than 5% of the (new) boat cost to extend one's sailing season by 20%+ seems like a bargain to me.

[PYoung]

I am also thinking of installing a heater when I finally get my BC23. I was looking at the options, and this seems like an excellent option. Defo worth the money to extend the sailing season.

My marine engineering experience is zero, but I was also trying to think of places to install and vent such device. Could it be positioned above the V berth, mounted behind the anchor locker. Then it could be vented into the anchor locker. (locker door might have to be bungeed open when in use). Then could you stuff the paraffin bottle down where the porta-poti goes?

Maybe a daft idea, but from my experience of sleeping in V berths they are always freezing and last to get heating!