[C320-list] Forced air heater ducting

[Ade Bateman]

Thanks, everyone. Air conditioning in the Pacific Northwest isn't really needed (the handful of days it would be useful wouldn't justify the cost). On the other hand, the boats are in the water 12 months of the year and so having a heater that works without shore power has the potential to make winter sailing a lot more comfortable.

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list <c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com> On Behalf Of David Hayes via C320-list
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2023 3:50 PM
To: C320 Assn Forum <c320-list at lists.catalina320.com>
Cc: David Hayes <davidhayes1 at hotmail.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Forced air heater ducting

I installed a diesel heater last year.  I placed the heater unit in the aft port corner locker, just aft of the fridge compressor unit, sitting on the same shelf.  The exhaust goes out through the hull almost directly above the engine exhaust.
Getting the ducting from back there into the cabin was a bit of a challenge.  I had initially thought there would be space underneath the fridge but alas that is blocked off, so I found a way to get it through underneath the galley floor as you suggested, and it comes out under the nav station table.
>From the aft locker you can poke the ducting outside (port) of the large lazarette, there is a space about 6 inches wide with some other cabling etc.  Then if you go into the aft berth and lift up the board on the forward port side you can access that same space.  From there I was able to poke it and pull it down through under the galley floor and up into the cupboard under the sink, and put a vent on the forward side of that basically directly below the sink tap.  It blows hot air forward into the cabin and we find that is the only outlet we need...the whole saloon area warms up in no time, and we only have a 2.2kw unit.
We went with a cheaper "Tuit" brand which is made in China, but bought through a marine supplier that also provided marine exhaust piping etc to suit.
We fed the fuel line from the heater unit through into the after berth where the engine fuel line comes through, and connected it into the engine fuel line just before the first fuel filter, with a T, and the small fuel pump is located under the aft berth.  The whole thing works really well.
I put the switch on the port side near the stereo etc, and ran the wires under the floor across to the batteries.
Getting the ducting through tight spaces was by far the hardest part but the end result is excellent!  The heater uses about 0.2 amps and about 0.25 litres of deisel per hour, amazingly efficient.

__________________
David Hayes
Mobile: 0478 956 056<tel:0478%20956%20056>
20 Cooks Outlet Road
Loch Vic 3945
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Subject: C320-list Digest, Vol 4429, Issue 1

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Today's Topics:

   1. Forced air heater ducting (Ade Bateman)


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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 15 May 2023 03:10:34 +0000
From: Ade Bateman <ade.bateman at outlook.com>
To: "C320-List at Catalina320.com" <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Forced air heater ducting
Message-ID:
        <CO3P220MB0768EE0CFCFDC4511F57B02EE2789 at CO3P220MB0768.NAMP220.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM>

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Hi all,

I am researching installing a diesel forced air heater in the aft port lazarette. This seems like a reasonable location to be able to route the exhaust and easily access the fuel tank. What I am wondering about is how others have routed the ducting into the cabin. Ideally, I would like to have separate vents for the aft cabin, main living space, head, and v-berth. The aft cabin is easy and I'm wondering if I can feed ducting under the galley floor to bring it out under the sinks. I'm not sure how feasible it is to get to the head and v-berth, so I'm looking for ideas.

I'm looking at the Wallas Viking Air, which I've read operates very quietly and which can switch between circulating air from the cabin back through the heater and bringing in fresh air from outside. Any feedback on the Viking Air would also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Ade.
#257 (1995)


End of C320-list Digest, Vol 4429, Issue 1
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