If you have a Wallas stove + heater (blower) ...

A forum for discussing topics relating to MacGregor Powersailor Sailboats
Post Reply
User avatar
rsvpasap
First Officer
Posts: 241
Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2013 2:05 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Seattle, WA

If you have a Wallas stove + heater (blower) ...

Post by rsvpasap »

My boat really needs a non-electric heater when away from the dock.

- I know I don't want an alcohol heater, inverted ceramic pots, electric blankets only or a Mr. Heater. (I have a Mr. Heater, but not on the boat. I also have a Mr. Heater portable shower, which is awesome, but I use the heater part only in the cockpit.)

- I've considered propane - Sig Marine, Dickinson and Propex. I would never do this without detectors, a solenoid and a solid tank rail-mount or a vented propane locker re boom-boom or asphyxiation.

- I've looked at diesel - Espar, Webasto. Candidly, I'm concerned the clicking of the fuel pump would drive me to distraction on a boat this size. Maybe I have mild misophonia or something, but I find it way annoying.

- I've extensively looked at the Dickinson Newport diesel bulkhead heater with a gravity fed tank, but mounting this in a 26x seems very challenging. It also seems like it would be easy for guest or kids to accidentally touch.

So I paid a visit to the US Wallas dealer (there is only one, Scan Marine).

Apparently the 800t/220 single burner kit that burns kerosene (paraffin) will be discontinued this year (2017). The replacement, Wallas 800D, is diesel. https://goo.gl/26FjQ1 . I have heard it described as "maybe not yet ready for prime-time, but they're working on it, I'm sure it will eventually be great." Nonetheless, it seems it's currently coming to market in Europe and pricing is (only) about 5-10% more than the 800t/220. It also seems very similar to its predecessor and uses the same blower lid (the 220). https://goo.gl/CErFeq

The new 800D with a 220 blower/lid looks very appealing to me. It seems expensive, but it's really equal or less than a properly installed forced air propane or diesel (w/ tanks, etc.)

QUESTION: For those of you that already own a Wallas stove (800t or Nordic two-burner), can you hear the fuel pump (dosing pump) click-click-clicking whenever the stove is in use? I raised this question with the dealer, but I would really appreciate some input from experienced owners. If the answer is "yes," is the volume of the sound of the pump comparable to a Webasto or Espar?
User avatar
BOAT
Admiral
Posts: 4969
Joined: Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:12 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Oceanside, CA MACMJ213 2013 ETEC60

Re: If you have a Wallas stove + heater (blower) ...

Post by BOAT »

I have the diesel fired turbine Espar in my Sprinter van RV that I tow the boat with. Since the Sprinter is a diesel engine the Espar It came with the truck from Germany as standard equipment, the unit is very small and fits under the drivers side headlamp and uses a glow plug to start the turbine. There are issues with gas fired turbines.

*If you do not fire up the turbine for a long time the glowplug dries out and stops working - it needs to be saturated with fuel so the unit must be fired up every 2 to 3 months to maintain the glow plug.

*The turbine exhaust is not real quiet - it's a whining sound like the APU on a jetliner - the exhaust has a small muffler and as long as it's routed to the outside (in the case of the Sprinter the exhaust is in the drivers side wheel well), then the noise is not noticeable in the cabin. There is a clicking sound as the fuel pump primes the turbine for startup but once the turbine gets up to RPM the pump drops out because the turbine creates all the power it needs once it going.

*The espar puts out a LOT of btu in a real hurry - it will warm up my engine temp from zero to 180 degrees in 4 minutes. The turbine is very powerful. I use it for heat - the dash heater needs hot water in the engine but if the engine is not on the Espar will heat the water in the engine and that water can be used to make the dash heater warm up the van. Because the Espar heater SO fast and so hot I only need to run it once every 40 minutes or so to keep the whole van warm in 30 degree weather. So, you get noise, but only for 5 minutes every hour or so.

I do not think I would use the Espar on my boat - too many fuels to deal with - as it is I have gasoline in the cockpit and alcohol in the galley and now add diesel?? If you can get your stove to heat your boat that would probably be better.
User avatar
ris
Captain
Posts: 703
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2015 4:27 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Frostproof Florida

Re: If you have a Wallas stove + heater (blower) ...

Post by ris »

Chinook has a Wallas stove/heater send him a pm in case he is busy. He had a little trouble with his on the loop. He has had his for a couple of years.
User avatar
Max Entropy
Engineer
Posts: 114
Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 4:03 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
Location: Saanich, British Columbia, 2008 26M 70hp Suzuki

Re: If you have a Wallas stove + heater (blower) ...

Post by Max Entropy »

I have the Wallas 1300 paraffin heater (smallest one), and there is a bit of clicking when it starts up, but after that it's very occasional & I don't notice it at all. The sound of the blower I certainly notice, but I don't know how you'd avoid that with a forced air system on a small boat. Sure like the heat it gives out.

:macm:
C Buchs
Captain
Posts: 605
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:49 pm
Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
Location: Camas, WA 98607

Re: If you have a Wallas stove + heater (blower) ...

Post by C Buchs »

I have a Wallace stove like Chinook's. It was purchased by a previous owner when my 2001 :macx: was almost new. I don't think the previous owners used it very much. I sent it to Scan Marine to have it serviced when we purchased the boat two years ago. I think it cost me $300. It has worked great for us. We took a trip where the morning temperatures reach 34 degrees F and it warmed the cabin right up. We would have been miserable without it.

Jeff
Post Reply