Boat Heating
Boat Project
Boat Systems
Choosing a Boat Heater (Part Two) | The Installation
Monday, February 27, 2017TheCambrians
When we arrived in the Pacific Northwest eight years ago, Cambria lacked one vital piece of equipment for cruising
the Inside Passage: a heater. So, one of the first things we did was
to rectify that. David started researching our options while we were still in California and by the time we rounded Cape Flattery, he’d made a decision.
Like
everything else on a boat, heating presents some issues that can be difficult
and expensive to overcome – available space for equipment and ducting, access
to outside air, multiple cabins to heat (to name just a few). But there are
several types of marine heaters on the market and choosing the right one is an
important step in overcoming these challenges. Back in January, I wrote a blogpost on some of the choices available to us: bulkhead-mounted diesel heaters,
forced air heaters and hydronic heaters.
In
the end, we made the decision to purchase a hydronic heating system for several
reasons: We wanted the flexibility of being able to heat different zones at different
temperatures, something forced-air systems don’t do. We also wanted a way to
heat domestic water without running our engine. And finally, Cambria couldn’t accommodate the large duct work forced air
heating systems require.
Once
the decision to go hydronic was made, we had to decide which brand to buy. The
choice wasn’t difficult for us. At the time we were looking, ITR (located in Richmond, British
Columbia)
was making their Hurricane H2 units to US military grade. Further research showed they were
less expensive than Webasto or Espar to maintain. And the latter two have a
reputation for being loud. The only problem was that if we wanted the unit to
be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, we had to have it installed by a
certified tradesman.
We
consulted two parties local to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington where we were moored at the time – Gold Star
Marine in Port Townsend and a self-employed installer in Port Orchard. Neither
one was able to give us a sound estimates, stating the total cost could be $5K
to $10K above the base figure – too big of a gamble as far as we were
concerned. And then David found a guy called Lance though Trotec Marine in Victoria, BC who was able to give us a set hourly rate within a
range of man hours needed for the job plus equipment costs. The exchange rate
was beneficial at the time, so we sailed over to Victoria Harbour and spent a
few weeks moored in front of the Empress Hotel during the off-season while
Lance when to work installing the heater –
not a bad deal.
The
installation wasn’t without its share of headaches. Relying on a third party to
do work can be frustrating and there were plenty of days we were ready to wring
Lance’s neck for being late or not showing up at all. But, to his credit, he
knew his stuff and we were very happy with the final result.
To
start the project, David made a template of the boiler unit so we could decide
where to place it. Ideally, that would have been close to the fuel source in
the engine room but Cambria doesn’t have enough space available, so we chose to place it behind
our bed in the aft cabin. During our first meeting with Lance, he devised an
installation plan and decided where everything would be located and what parts
to order for the job.
The
components were sourced through Trotec and included the following: a Hurricane
H2D 35,000 btu/hr boiler unit with control panels, five fan coil units, an
exhaust muffler (which had to be manufactured according to ITR’s specs),
through-hull fittings, ball valves, an anti-scald valve, air bleeds, three
digital thermostats, silicone heater hose, a miscellaneous control switch and
assorted fastenings.
On
the first day of the planned installation, Lance didn’t show up so we went to
work on soundproofing the compartment in the aft cabin and then waited five
days until we saw him again (I did mention it was a frustrating process, didn’t
I?). On the first day, Lance fit the fan coil unit in the galley which required
cutting into the cabinetry. The following day he returned with a helper and
they installed the thermostats and control switches throughout the boat (one of
each in the v-berth, salon and aft cabin along with the main control panel in
the galley).
The
next day, Lance and Robert installed the fan coil units in the salon and v-berth.
It was then the weekend, so David and I did the electrical work while we waited
for them to return on Monday when Lance returned to pull the silicone heater
hose through the boat and plumbing them to the fan coil units. He also mounted
and plumbed the engine heat exchanger. Work stopped until noon the next day when both he and Robert mounted,
plumbed and wired the aft cabin fan coil units. There were three more days of
work after that installing the exhaust system and completing the wiring to the
main control panel, combining for a total of seven days with an average of six
hours of work per day (though sometimes that included two people).
Apart
from wanting the protection of ITR’s warranty, David could have easily handled
the installation himself and has been able to maintain and service the unit
without any major problems or setbacks. ITR has been a wonderful company to
work with, as has Trotec. And every time we’ve had a question about the heater
or needed parts, they’ve been quick to respond. The installation was a trying
process. Bilges had to be emptied to pull hoses and wiring. Oftentimes, Lance
wouldn’t often show up until the afternoon and would work until 8 or 9 at night
which made living aboard difficult. But at the end of the day, we got a fully
functional central heating system that has made living-aboard and cruising in
higher latitudes more comfortable (all within the original estimate), making us
very happy with the decision and the end result.
