www.dickinsonmarine.com/shop5/categories-heaters.asp
I have a
John B. Van Zwieten February 2002
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I have a Dickenson Antarctic and find it runs very dirty.....nice heat though. A fan ....12 volt or a Caframo (?) on the stove makes all the difference. The nicest heater I have seen in the same price range is the Faball....never hear complaints on that one
Denis Beaudry February 2002
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Todd,
We have a
Bruce Walasek
February 2002
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Denis,
Is that dirt (soot) inside the boat or
on the cabin top? I was considering buying the same stove as the one you
have installed.
Jim Grant February 2002
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When you go on a boat with the Faball.....the heater itself stays very clean...inside and around it. Boils water on top very nicely also. My Antarctic won’t do that. I have a friend who actually built his own (one of the nicest I have seen) for his last boat and currently has the Faball on his new boat.
He loves it. I don't believe I get as complete a combustion as the Faball. The fan on top is a must. I have a 12 volt fan on the bulkhead above and notice the difference within minutes, especially at a few degrees below zero.
Denis Beaudry February 2002
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I have a Dickerson Chesapeake on my V-42. It feeds off of the main
diesel tank using an impulse pump that keeps the pressure in the line to the
heater at a given pressure. It works quite well - on cold days in
John B. Van Zwieten August 2002
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I am using the same heater "Antarctic "and have a 2 gallon tank that feeds the heater by gravity. I have an electric fuel pump to fill this 2 gallon day-tank… easy as flipping a switch. Same pump as is used to fill my Racors....which means I have a spare.
Denis & Patti Beaudry S/V Tayana August 2002
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We're getting ready to install a Dickinson Chesapeake diesel fired cabin heater and I would like some recommendations about supplying fuel to it. The most convenient way would be to use an electric pump to supply fuel directly from the main tank. The low tech option would be gravity feed from a "day" tank.
The electric pump option avoids having
to find a place to put the day tank and the inevitable fuel spills that would
occur (in the cabin) when filling it. However, if the pump fails to cut off, it
could pump the entire contents of the main tank into the bilge via the cabin.
With the gravity feed option, the
worst spill would be a couple of gallons. However, there would always be the
drips from filling it.
A small tank and a manual or
momentary-on electric pump seems to be the best way to avoid spills, but at the
complication of having both a tank and a pump.
Has anyone had any experience with any
of these methods? Are there alternatives? Can the direct feed method be made
reliable enough that spills are extremely unlikely?
Coleman Blake Traveler T-37
#328 October 2003
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Prudence has a vintage
I live onboard 24/7 and even though I'm
in
The flue is rather large at 4 inches,
but it draws nicely and I haven't had a bit of trouble with the entire unit. If
I were to replace it I would certainly look at a
There was also a small 12 VDC fan
bolted to the underside of the heater, as an assist I assume to complete
combustion. Since it didn't work I removed it to simplify the heater and I
haven't missed it at all. Of course if I were headed to the real arctic
(meaning north) I would certainly install a new assist fan.
John Kalpus Prudence Tayana 37
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Our T37 came with the Dickenson Arctic heater. Learning curve for us. It must be clean, clean, clean when you first fire it up. Follow the owner’s manual. Ours just had 'a little soot' in the area of the burner hole. My wife fired it up the first time. Started easily, looked nice and went downhill from there. (Diesel smoke is very oily for the uninitiated) More checking showed a few potential problems. We are gravity feed from the bow tank. it runs through an automotive type sediment bowl/filter then a pressure regulator. Those all needed to be cleaned. Then the 'carburetor' needed cleaned. Not really a carb, but a float bowl/needle valve regulator. After all that and several internal soot cleanings it seems to be working OK, with the exception of a slow drip at one of the copper connections between the regulator and the stove. Hard to get the copper bent sharply enough to make it all fit. I'm sure it will fit, just need to hold your mouth right when assembling.
We put a Webasto forced air diesel
heater in our other boat and like it real well. Our only sailing at this
time is in the
The Webasto is easy to install and
maintain, runs on a thermostat and is out of the way. We ran the ducting
through the lockers with outlets strategically placed where my wife’s cold feet
can always find them. Warm porcelain in the morning can be a good thing.
If the Dickenson continues to belch
out diesel soot, it's gone and a Webasto will take its place.
Michael Kahler S/V Liberation PH 37 October 2003
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Thanks for all the information and experiences regarding the diesel and propane heaters. Ours is actually a Chesapeake II model. It came (uninstalled and unused) with the boat. The manual mentions two ways to supply fuel:
1) gravity feed from a storage tank 12" above the oil metering valve (I am not crazy about that being located in the hanging locker) which the manufacturer prefers, and
2) an impulse pressure pump to supply diesel from the main tank (for us aft amidships between the galley and nav station). The manual also warns that, while this is the simplest method, the pump cannot pressurize more than 3 PSI or "dangerous flooding may result."
We don't know exactly how old
the unit is, but it's not much newer than the boat, an '83). Perhaps there have
been technological improvements in pump reliability and technology since the
manual was printed?
In any event, the yard will do the
installation. They said that the most common installation is the pump from the
main tank, but they are going to research and make suggestions and ultimately
install it however we decide....
It all comes down to the "what
ifs"....bright idea - maybe I should check out a
mfgr website and see if there is any worthwhile info. In the meantime, all
comments are greatly appreciated.
And yes, the heater may be a bit of
overkill for the
Sandra Blake T37 Traveler
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Sandra/Coleman:
We also have a
www.dickinsonmarine.com/shop5/categories-heaters.asp . If this is true, I would say that this would tip the balance in favor of a separate gravity-feed tank over the fuel-pump option in my book. Good luck.
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We've got a
copy of the
Sandra Blake T37 Traveler
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Sandra,
I just got off the phone with
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I have the Dickinson "Antarctic". It
sure keeps the boat cozy. I have a 2-gallon tank for gravity feed. The tank is
filled by way of a diesel pump. Owners with the "Faball" heater feel
it burns much cleaner than
Denis Beaudry S/V Tayana October 2003
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For those that live in colder climates, I was wondering what type of
heating systems are being used. Presently, I have a
Dennis Rampe Seasmoke (hull #534 -
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Hi,
I just installed a Dickinson P1200 propane fireplace (purchased through
Sailnet) on our T-37. The unit is installed at the end of the starboard
settee on the side of the hanging locker. It has a built-in fan and
really cranks out the heat. A very easy installation. We used it
this past weekend in Port Townsend and it kept the cabin over 70 degrees on the
"low" setting. On our trip back (up
I still have a
installation-yet-to-be-completed Espar hot water boiler system. I'll still
finish the installation- but doubt that we'll use it much now with the propane
fireplace.
You can see a picture of the
installation at
http://groups.msn.com/ObliosPlace/heartsday.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=90
Steve SV Victoria Rose T37 #384
Sailing out of
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All,
It appears that Sailnet does not carry diesel heaters. So I 'm publishing the below info.
Go2marine is running a sale on Dickenson heaters at $499. Seems like a very attractive price.
http://www.go2marine.com/frameset.jsp?servletPath=/g2m&action=GoBPage&id=20001F&WT.mc_id=em3
I'm curious to know why prices vary so much. Quality can be a factor, but almost $1k more? Wow.
fyi, John Celtic Dream November 2004
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Hey Group...
My Prudence has a classic
Granted,
Regards, John Kalpus
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Just a note, Dickinson Antarctic also sells a model with a water heating coil inside the heater, works great...
Bill McMullen January 2005
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Jordon,
Here's my experience with the
Cleaning is less frequent if a good medium hot fire is used. The major reason for most cleanings is the soot build up on the walls of the fire chamber. The carbon will cover the 20 or so vent holes which will cause an improper air to fuel ratio and the fire can go out if this is allowed to continue for long.
We aren't hesitant about leaving the stove going while we are away
during the day. Maybe we should be, but we feel we've learned the stove well
enough to know if things are OK or not. We burn about 1 1/4 gallons in 24
hours. It's a great stove for the
Bill Laughlin CT37 FALCON
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Nick,
Oh boy! That was a good one. About a
week before my main sailing vacation this year I figured I'd top off my tanks.
Then an error made during the calibration of my new fuel sender resulted in my
filling all the way to the deck. No big deal. A couple of squirts of dish
detergent and the hose was enough to clean that up.
Now I went down below and heard running water, or so I thought. A sound we are
all tuned to recognize immediately. %$^&***** The diesel was pouring out of
my Newport diesel heater, which I love by the way but that's one for another
topic, over the starboard forward cushion covers. Like every installation
design, it has to be considered under all conditions. I had not taken into
account that the standing column of fuel in deck filler would
reverse-pressurize the 1/4" copper return line to the heater control
valve. Fortunately I have valves on every line and was able to shut the system
down but not before I dumped the diesel onto my cushions.
I drained the standing column of fuel out using the fuel filters then proceeded to remove the diesel out of the cushions via gravity before washing them repeatedly with hot water and dish soap. Then I tried clothes detergent. All to no avail - the cushions and lee cloth, even to my acetone, epoxy, anti-fouling, teak dust damaged male olfactory nerves still stank. Then I hit up on the EPA site and their idea worked a treat. In my opinion, the vanilla smells a little like diesel but much nicer. Hence the reason it masks so well.
Even with my nose up against the
cushion covers, 3-months later the cushions do not smell at all. Alternatively,
perhaps I smell like diesel and therefore don't notice the smell any longer.
James Hambly November 2005
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John,
I am happy to provide photo's of
the Hurricane install. As far as the maintenance goes the
The Hurricane seems to be very well designed and very clean burning. I have not had it long enough to swear by it yet but so far so good. A family member has had a hurricane aboard now for a year and a half with no issues, just a once a year burner pot cleaning. No smoke and super quiet operation with no smoke.
BJ Benson T-37 NelleBly Port Ludlow
www.familyyachtclub.com
September 2006
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Mike, John Keefe,
You have both been asking about
heaters.
ftp://tognews.com/Heater_Dickinson_JHambly/
I installed the Dickinson Newport
diesel heater with water coil and combined a fuel polisher system using Rich's
ideas. Thanks Rich. The water side I have not used but as a convection heater I
love the unit. Low maintenance but does require 12-volts for the pump (unless
you use gravity feed) and to burn cleanly the 12-volt, built-in fan used to
create an increased updraft really needs to run on at least low. So as you've
guessed, the heater is not silent when in operation.
I also noticed the deck head heats up
to the point where the fiberglass is very hot to the touch if a fan is not run
to blow the hot air back down and away from the head lining. I've been using a
110-volt AC unit for now as the heater is only run in the winter time on
shorepower but will be installing one or two 12-volt fans to remove the shore side
dependence. Perhaps a stack with a good heat sink would be an improvement and
would not require a fan to remove the heat. Still, the warm air needs to be
circulated around the cabin otherwise the area around the heater is toasty and
the remainder of the boat takes a long time to heat up.
There is some soot buildup in the
bottom of the burn chamber but over two winters I have only had to clean the
inside of the door so that I can see the flame burning nicely on those chilly
winter nights. The deck has some staining around the stack but it's not too
bad. When wrapped for the winter I run the heater with a 3' galvanized
extension pipe out through a piece of ply sealed into the shrink-wrap.
The only failure has been a bearing in
the built-in fan. A replacement unit was mailed quickly although I have yet to
install the new unit. To replace the fan I think that the entire heater will
have to be removed.
A word of warning if you use your main
fuel tank as fuel source: turn off the heater's 1/4" return line when you
fill your tanks all the way up. The fuel will siphon out when under pressure
back to the heater.
James Hambly September 2006
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James,
Nice installation job. We have the
same model of
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