Heaters for Boats

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

How do most of these heaters work that boat manufacturers put in the boat stock? Are they stright electric with fans? Do they draw heat from the engine through transfer somehow?

KyleT · Outlaw Joined: 21 Aug 2005 Posts: 119 City: Fort Worth

iirc they have a heater core in a box and hot engine water circulates through it and a blower blows it out. at least that is how the system in one of the boats we looked at a while back when we were in the market was.

wesgardner · Posted: Nov 07, 2005 5:05 am Post subject:

Hey gene3x,

I'm in the process of DIYing one...I got a heater core off ebay for $15 and I'll use a bilge blower for about $25 and build some sort of aluminum box...Yes, they use hot water tapped off the motor, just like a car. I'll post up pics once I get the parts all in one place. Mine will be installed on the spotter's side up inside the kick panel, I'll just use a switch on the dash for on/off.

Wes

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

Thanks for the feedback guys. Do you know what the common problems are with these types of Heaters?

Geoff Standish · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 843 City: Calgary

gene3x, I can't think of too many problems with my heater. My biggest thing is that I have my outlets in the walk through to the playpen bow and that makes the pull out sections only accessable to the passengers in the observer seats. It would be nice to have an outlet near the back of the boat (I might be dreaming). I know mastercraft mounts their heater in a different spot and they have lines running toward the back so I know it is possible.

Another thing I've heard people running into is forgetting to winterize their heaters and then having the heater core crack.

Other than that, I can't picture owning another boat without a heater. They help make cold weather riding easy.

Good Luck...

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

Ahhhhh yes. Just drain the water out right? Can't be that much water in there huh? Mainly in the lines going to it, right? I was thinking of mounting one in front and one in back.

wakeboarder89 · Addict Joined: 15 Jun 2003 Posts: 637

wesgardner, when you are done with yorus post instructions, i am interested on doing one myself. I already have the siwtch in the dash and the water lines form the engine from my previous heater that the core went bad on.

wesgardner · Posted: Nov 09, 2005 5:46 am Post subject:

Hey wakeboarder89,

Will do...the biggest challenge at the moment is either finding a ready-made box that'll house the core and the blower or building one from aluminum sheet...

If your blower till works you may be able to find what core HeaterCraft? uses and just replace it or maybe get one off e-bay that'll fit? I've not seen a Heatercraft heater up close and personal so I'm not certain how they are built...I am pretty sure I don't want to spend $400 for something I can make for under $100...yeah I'm a cheap ghetto kinda guy...

Wes

Geoff Standish · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 843 City: Calgary

gene3x, I drained all the water out of mine and filled it with antifreeze. I'm not sure what the dealers do, I imagine that draining it would probably be enough. I'm just on the better safe than sorry kick.

RWB42C · Newbie Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 38 City: St. Charles

I believe dealers also fill the system with antifreeze to keep anything from rusting.

BTW, this is my first post Smile

- Rick -

wakeboarder89 · Addict Joined: 15 Jun 2003 Posts: 637

wesgardner, it was one that came in the boat, i believe that it is heatcraft i would have to take a closer look at it.

WakeTech · Addict Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 949 City: Edmonton

wesgardner,

Check out automotive auxillary heaters, We have a place here in canada called princess auto they make a tight little package with two fans. Everything is mounted in one box. I'll try to find you a pic if I can.

WakeTech · Addict Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 949 City: Edmonton

Oh these are lquid fed not 12v powered heat so you can use the engine water

WakeTech · Addict Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 949 City: Edmonton

This is the best I could do but the one I saw looks very similar to the actual heatercraft modules.....see link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-RED-DOT-AUXILLARY-HEATER-BUS-RV-TRUCK-MARINE-R-2020_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33548QQitemZ8033538866QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

mneal · Outlaw Joined: 28 Jun 2003 Posts: 120 City: St. Petersburg

If you place one of these in the engine compartment and the blower is not igintion protected you will voliate the CG rules and be unsafe...just FYI to think about when choosing location for the fan portion.

WakeTech · Addict Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 949 City: Edmonton

Place the heater were most others are in the front of the boat somewhere