Groundhog

I don't think there's a way of using a 12v alternator on a 24 v system. The 24v could be 2 12v batteries in series or it could be 4 6v, 12 2v etc. Apart from the advantage of volt drop being half the problem it is on 12v systems solar is much cheaper when it comes to buying a controller. A 30amp MPPT controller feeding 24v can support 700watts of solar panels, a 60amp controller would be needed on a 12v system. If I was designing a system from scratch I'd give serious consideration to using 24v.

I have a friend who is 20 stones plus, he's 6'7" tall and about as wide. I've told him he can come boating if he dresses like a Viking.

I did some scumble work in the back cabin of my previous boat. It looked like a dirty protest

Thanks, I will. I'm at the boat over the weekend, take a measure of things and think about placements and start a thread.

Those forum links of yours have given me a few hours well spent pete. I think I'll stick with the squirrel, fit a back boiler and run 2 perhaps 3 gravity fed rads. If I can get that working it looks like by far the best way of doing the job. A fun project as well.

I'm certain the squirrel will have enough grunt for the job and my current thinking is to keep it and fit a back boiler. I've had 3 boats in my time and they've all had squirrels. They must be the most popular stoves on the cut but that doesn't mean there aren't improvements to be had. I went straight to the links in your signature. That's my bed time reading taken care of. Thanks!

My boat is currently fitted with a Morso Squirrel with no back boiler. During the course of this year as part of the changes to the boat before I leave the marina for good I want to get radiators in the bedroom and bathroom. I could get a back boiler fitted to the existing stove or I could swap it out for a new one. I've seen stoves with a top oven in them but I don't know who they were made by. This feature would be nice but not critical. There will be a lot of work involved in running pipework for the radiators I'm approaching this with the "do it right, do it once" ethos.