Heater trouble

[SeaDogAK]

I have a Defever 49 RPH with a 30+ year old Espar D12L forced air diesel heater. The old heater needs a new spark generator and glow plug. These heaters are out of production and all parts are getting hard to find. Even if I can find these parts, I’ll likely spend at least $600 for them. I’m thinking it’s not worth spending $600 to keep this old heater running.

The old heater has been great when it runs; it puts out 12k watts (something like 40K BTU/hr) which keeps the boat toasty warm. If I replace it, I’m trying to figure out what to replace it with.

I know lots of people love hydronic heat but I’m not eager to take on the work of installing water lines and radiators and such. I’d much prefer to plug in a new forced air unit that can use the same ducts etc.

I don’t see that anyone has a 12 kW forced air unit. The Espar D5 is 5.5 kW, and there’s a comparable size Webasto. A lot of people love Wallas heaters, but my last boat had a Wallas that was nothing but trouble. All of those seem to be in the neighborhood of $3,000.

I worry a little about going from a 12kW heater to 5 kW. I live in Alaska. On the other hand, I don’t use the boat in the winter, and I can always plug in an oil filled heater or two when the boat is at the dock in the winter. I never used the Espar on anything above half power and that was plenty to keep the boat warm while cruising.

I can get a comparable 5 kW Chinese heater for something like $200. There are Chinese 8 kW heaters, but the reviews suggest they really only put out 5 kW. I’m not sure why I would pay $3,000 when I can get a Chinese heater for $200. Even if the Chinese heater only lasts a couple of years, I could just get a new one every time it breaks down.

So these are my questions. Can anyone give me a good reason why not to buy a Chinese heater? Does anyone have a recommendation for a Chinese heater that is better than others? How easy would one of them be to install into the existing ducts, air intake, fuel lines, etc. from the old heater? Any other suggestions?

 

[koliver]

I went through the same angst when my Espar D7L failed for the umpteenth time. In the first 5 years I had this boat I spent more $ maintaining the heater than maintaining the 3 diesel engines, and it showed no sign of changing. I pulled it out and gave it away to a TF member for parts.
My replacement never happened, as I had changed out my propane 4 burner stove with oven for a diesel stove. No DC draw v huge for the Espar, silent v 747 imitations from the Espar, same dry heat, though the aft cabin has less of that heat, a deficiency that we welcomed.
Your DF 49 has the galley in the right place for the galley stove to supply ample heat to daytime spaces, and with your extra volume, perhaps a stand alone diesel heater in the night time spaces would complete the picture.
Just a thought.

 

[Lepke]

I have 2 China heaters I use in mild weather when I don't need to run the hydronic system. One is 5kw and the other 8kw. Both put out the same amount of heat...
If you want to find out a lot about these heaters John McK 47 on Youtube has several videos dissecting and testing Chinese heaters.

 

[BruceK]

A mechanically minded marina neighbor fitted a Chinese diesel heater, not to his boat but to a small RV. Worked well, a little noisy working hard to get to temperature but quiet after that.
Routing the hot exhaust on a boat could be difficult. Some expensive OE models solve that by running the exhaust tube inside the air intake tube, doubt $200 will buy you that system.

 

[Nomad Willy]

We had a Wabasto and liked it most of the time. But after several hundred hours it sooted up and gave significant starting issues.
Sure Marine (Seattle dealer) recommended using kerosene instead of diesel. Never a problem after changing to kero but it didn’t smell any better .. just different.
Some don’t like the noise but it was no problem for us. One should give considerable thought to the location of exhaust and furnace. I had a Wabasto on a 25’ Albin too. It had side exhaust and never burnt up anybodys fenders either.

I like the instant heat, small size and low burn rate.

 

[H2O_Doc]

I debated the Chinese vs. Espar a few years ago and decided that buying from China wasn't in-line with my values. It cost me $1500 for that decision, though.

Consider that your old Espar lasted 30+ years. That's impressive. I don't mind spending more money for things that last.