> From: <[email protected]> > Running kerosene periodically will not really clear the burner. Soot is > essentially pure carbon. > Any process of 'burning off' the soot requires much higher heat than > normally produced in a correctly burning furnace like Webasto, Espar or > Hurricane.
I hear your logic, and the science behind it. Webasto and Espar both recommend burning kerosene "periodically"--especially in the United States--to keep the burner cleaner. Anecdotal information seems to indicate that it works. NFI. > Why not simply get a large enough tank to last a while and always run your > furnace from it? Because I'm cranky about adding a fourth fuel to my regular stock (diesel, gas, lamp oil), I don't want to have to route another deck fill or regularly carry fuel into the cabin, and I only have space near my fuel manifold for about a gallon or so. YMMV. > Don't get me wrong. For heat away from the dock nothing beats diesel > fired heaters - whatever the brand. But fan and pump driven systems use > electrical energy to run. That's why I prefer the forced air over hydronic systems. Even temperature in the boat gives forced air the nod over bulkhead heaters, as does keeping the deck clear. I haven't found the electrical demand of the heater to be all that significant. Every load of course does constitute a drain on the battery, but refrigerator/freezer and computers are bigger loads on my boat. > A simple resistive heat element in an oil bath > and convection [sic] air flow to dissipate the heat is still the least > wasteful > in terms of converting stored power into heat. Ignoring a bit more challenge getting an even temperature and presuming adequate shore power capacity I agree. > You added a third component. Namely going sailing in winter. Not really > practical inland in Lake Cayuga. I did indeed, for the specific purpose of ensuring clarity on the point that my choice may not be the right choice for someone who stays at the dock during cold weather. On Lake Cayuga I would be out sailing during the winter. If the water temp really stays above 39F there WILL be good sailing days. 'bella, who has posted on this thread, bravely went sailing with me and other friends on a check sail (new genoa) one February day when the air temperature was 19F. We broke skim ice in the fairway until we got out into Back Creek. Oh - +1 on the beard experience. > Alan Lewis > "Victoria" said > Condensation was a constant, but workable, problem. My solution has been to keep the boat temp up to the point that even the hatch and portlight frames (Lewmar Oceans) stay warm enough to remain above the dew point. That is usually about 72F on my boat. I open the companionway slide when I shower or cook (head and galley are both at the base of the companionway respectively to port and starboard). That works fine for me and also adds a surge of fresh air a couple of times each day. I don't use my microwave very often at all. It may come out this Fall. sail fast and eat well, dave S/V Auspicious _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
