Webasto diesel heater forced air system

[baz]

Since the Webasto's fuel tank on the R-23 is attached to the outside of the cabin side wall under the Dinette table it's important for people to realize that drilling into the wall in this area should not be done as that could/will puncture the fuel tank. 😳

...and BTW, since talking about drilling, one should be very careful drilling anywhere into the cabin walls as wiring snakes behind the walls in varying places, as observed by me at the R-23 factory assembly area.

 

[VogonPoet]

Subject: Webasto diesel heater forced air system

Some questions...

1) How quickly does this heater produce useful heat ?

2) How noisy is the unit ? ... (especially during sleep time).

3) Is there any noticeable vibrations with the heater operating during sleep time; such as the internal fan and at the warm air exit vents ?

...

Adding my opinion to the first three questions, based on the R25sc we just sold:

1) Quickly. I think I was getting useful heat (fan kicked in) within a few minutes, it seemed really quick. It wasn't in order of seconds though - the system needed some time to heat itself up before fan kicks on.

2) Personally I wont say there was no noise. On the R25sc I could hear the fuel pump going. If you don't know that it's the fuel pump, your mind plays tricks, thinks it is the bilge pump, and leads to some restlessness before getting up to investigate... not experience or anything... so yeah, expect a little noise, but not too bad. You can also hear the fan (white noise, not annoying).

3) I don't recollect any vibrations on the R25sc.

 

[NorthernFocus]

Update with some data.

We just returned from our first trip of the season. We were on the water five days/nights plus a morning with temperatures in the 40s and pretty much nonstop rain. The Webasto ran about 16 hour per day. Having seen this thread just prior to our trip heater performance was on my mind. So here is a bit of real world data.

Re.fuel consumption: matched up pretty well with design specs. We have the AT2000 with indicated fuel consumption of .12-.24 l/hr. We run ours about mid-range on the tstat/control so call it .18l/hr. That equates to 3 quarts for 16 hrs of operation x 5 = 15 quarts. We used right about 4 gallons judging by eyeball in a 5 gal jerry can.

re.warm-up time: It takes 30 seconds or so from switch on to ignition (easily audible). Then within another minute or so the air exiting the vent is noticeably warm. I'd say near full temperature air within five minutes.

re.noise: on our R25 classic we have the heater unit mounted in the aft galley cabinet under the stove. There is definately fan/vent noise though not nearly as loud as the heater mounted under the helm position. Ours is a DIY install with the fuel pump in the starboard lazarette so the fuel pump noise is not noticeable with any activity in the cabin and barely audible at night( if one listens for it).

Relative to the OP I know this is not highly relevant as Baz has already made a decision on the new boat. But I thought the info might be useful to someone searching the forum for info.

 

[Cutwater28GG]

resurrecting this topic.

Whats the current draw with the webasto in real world usage.

reading the specs on the webasto website I see current draw around 1- 2.5amphr's

Do people run the unit all night when at anchor?

 

[NorthernFocus]

We often run ours at night. Have never measured the amp draw because it's pretty much a non-issue. When we run it with no other loads there's no measurable drop on battery volts overnight. It does draw slightly more if it cycles on/off because every time it fires up the glow plug activates for 30 seconds or so. When cabin temp hits set point and it shuts down the fan continues to run at low speed. Never does completely shut off unless control dial is in off position. Usually when we need it at night we also need things dried out so have plenty of ventilation open and it runs continuously.

 

[baz]

I've run our Webasto diesel heater over night on our R-27/OB and the experience was similar to Dan's (NorthernFocus).

The only objectionable noise is the outside exhaust noise when the heater is going full bore. However, strangely enough this noise is not really heard at all inside the boat and I'm actually puzzled by this.

 

[Seaquel]

We also run ours at night on anchor. Last February in the San Juan Islands the outside temp was low 40’s and we enjoyed cozy cabin temp of 70 degrees. Works really well, so well in fact we rarely run all night because it does not take long to heat up the cabin of our R27 “Classic”.

One caveat: the electronic controller is highly sensitive to low voltage. When all else worked perfectly (Garmin, lights, etc.) we would experience an “error” reading if voltage approached 12V. Since then, and because we boat/anchor year round, we added a 3rd battery to our “house bank” and also switched the dedicated thruster battery to tie to “house bank”, effectively doubling our available amp hours. End of problem.

 

[Salish Seaker]

Resurrecting this thread again. Caryn and I spent our 3rd night on the boat last night. The weather was beautiful but cold, therefore we needed the Webasto to run pretty much through the night. I didn't notice on our first two nights on the boat 2 months ago but last night I was very cognizant of the constant thumping of the fuel pump. It seemed very loud. Is this usual? It seemed way more noticeable last night. Perhaps I noticed it more because I couldn't fall asleep for some reason but on the other hand, I couldn't fall asleep partly because of the thumping. Normal or not?

 

[dencarst]

Talking to Andrew R27OB diesel tank is 5 gallons.

 

[NorthernFocus]

... I didn't notice on our first two nights on the boat 2 months ago but last night I was very cognizant of the constant thumping of the fuel pump. It seemed very loud. Is this usual? It seemed way more noticeable last night. Perhaps I noticed it more because I couldn't fall asleep for some reason but on the other hand, I couldn't fall asleep partly because of the thumping. Normal or not?

The thumping is normal. Sounds like it was just one of those things that once you started thinking about it you couldn't stop. There are some things you can do to quiet it a bit but it can't be eliminated completely. You can put additional/softer mounts under it and insulate the box that the pump is in with some sound deadening foam.

Or just wait and you'll get used to it 😀

 

[baz]

Resurrecting this thread again. Caryn and I spent our 3rd night on the boat last night. The weather was beautiful but cold, therefore we needed the Webasto to run pretty much through the night. I didn't notice on our first two nights on the boat 2 months ago but last night I was very cognizant of the constant thumping of the fuel pump. It seemed very loud. Is this usual? It seemed way more noticeable last night. Perhaps I noticed it more because I couldn't fall asleep for some reason but on the other hand, I couldn't fall asleep partly because of the thumping. Normal or not?

Hmmmm.... I'm trying to recall the last time I ran our Webasto heater throughout the nighttime..... If I recall the pumping/clicking sound was only apparent for the first few minutes after the heater was fired up. Once cumbustion chamber running at operational conditions the pumping/clicking sound stopped.

I go to my boat at least once every 30 days during the year, and more often during summer months. Each time I get on the boat I fire up the Webasto as it's recommended to do that every 30 days. I hear the pumping/clicking during startup and then it does stop after a while. I run the heater for maybe 20 mins and because it's a maintenance task the unit automatically turns itself off after 20 mins. The controller will have a pulsing pair of red lights indicating it requires the 30-day maintenance cycle be activated.

 

[NorthernFocus]

...Hmmmm.... I'm trying to recall the last time I ran our Webasto heater throughout the nighttime..... If I recall the pumping/clicking sound was only apparent for the first few minutes after the heater was fired up. Once cumbustion chamber running at operational conditions the pumping/clicking sound stopped...

If the heater was still producing heat then the pump was still running. It is true that once combustion starts the pump noise is somewhat drowned out by the noise of fire/fan but no pump, no fuel, no fire, no heat. The pump does slow down based on thermostat setting but never stops as long as the heater is producing heat. However these comments support the point I was trying to make earlier. One gets accustomed to it and it is not noticeable thereafter.

 

[baz]

Dan: I will check for the 'pumping' clicks when I next fire up my Webasto and wait for the sound to subside. 🙂

 

[Cutwater28GG]

i get continuous pump clicks

 

[Bruce Moore]

Our varies depending on heat setting. Still hear it, but pretty much used to it. Anyone try one of these kits? Webasto Silent Kit.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[Salish Seaker]

The thumping is normal. Sounds like it was just one of those things that once you started thinking about it you couldn't stop. There are some things you can do to quiet it a bit but it can't be eliminated completely. You can put additional/softer mounts under it and insulate the box that the pump is in with some sound deadening foam.

Or just wait and you'll get used to it 😀

I think you're onto something Dan. However, I swear the thump was louder. I didn't hear any click, just rhythmic thumping. My solution for next time...EAR PLUGS!

 

[NorthernFocus]

...However, I swear the thump was louder. I didn't hear any click, just rhythmic thumping...

Then again, maybe Long John Silver was thumping around in the cockpit on his wooden leg. 😀

The sound from the pump is different depending on where you are in the boat and how the sound is being transmitted. In my experience the closer you are to the pump the more distinct the "clicking" sound is. Farther away with the sound transmitted down the hull etc. it sounds different. It is also much louder and a more distinct clicking if/when the pump passes air through it such as when priming after running the tank dry. If you're listening you can distinctly hear the difference when the pump pulls fuel.

For several years we slept in a 22 C-Dory with the pump in a cabinet just a few feet from out heads. I was intimately familiar with the sound. Like a ticking clock it can either be a comforting sound or maddening depending on one's frame of mind. When I installed it on the tug I mounted the pump back in the starboard lazarette. On a still night I can still here a muffled thump if I listen carefully for it.

 

[Jacquesne]

My 2014 cutwater 26 did not have a webasto heater installed.
Any comments about trying to have one added?
Boat is located in Southern California and no trailer.
Thanks

 

[NorthernFocus]

If what you're asking is if it is doable while the boat is in the water, yes. The heater can be installed with the boat in the water. Based on your location it seems like overkill. Certainly if the boat has a Wallas combi stove/heater. If you do in fact decide to add a Webasto the 2000 model should be adequate.

 

[Jacquesne]

Thanks Northern Focus. Propane stove in cutwater 26 so no Wallass. Catalina has a chill at night so small heat is nice. Andrew seems to say c26 was not pre plumed or ducked and wired for Webasto. Looks like a st 2000 can be had for about $900 but Andrew thinks full install would run around $5000.
Too much for me.
Thanks anyway.