barrowpete Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 (edited) I have a morco db61 water heater on my 1991 narrow boat from the pictures right from its original build it has had a water heater flued through a mushroom. Although this does not set off either of the two mox detectors on the boat resent surveys have rejected this type of flue (there is a slight yellowing of flame on max burn). They (the surveyors) have all suggested that all it needs is a morco marine flue top. Any hints on issues with this retro fit, I can see that the dam thing will continually get caught in the centre rope which due to the boat being a light 32 footer I use at every lock. Edited April 29, 2022 by barrowpete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 3 minutes ago, barrowpete said: I have a morco db61 water heater on my 1991 narrow boat from the pictures right from its original build it has had a water heater flued through a mushroom. Although this does not set off either of the two mox detectors on the boat resent surveys have rejected this type of flue (there is a slight yellowing of flame on max burn). They (the surveyors) have all suggested that all it needs is a morco marine flue top. Any hints on issues with this retro fit, I can see that the dam thing will continually get caught in the canter rope which due to the boat being a light 32 footer I use at every lock. Such are safety regulations. Your choice, comply or don't get a BSS certificate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrowpete Posted April 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 I'm not trying to beet the regs but as with all things on an old boat things are not easy. The surveyors seemed to think all I needed to do was to remove the mushroom top an fit the flue. They do not understand the difference in diameter of a flue terminal and the mushroom the slope of the roof etc. Has anyone had this work done and what are the results? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatmanblue Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 My boat (also 1991) had this arrangement, albeit with a Paloma heater. It failed the first BSS in my ownership (over 20 years ago) for this and a few other bits. I bought a Morco type flue, cut the flange off the base and fitted the rest of the base (now a cylinder) into the base of the mushroom vent and secured it with a couple of self-tapping screws. I think I had to bore out the base a little. I then shortened the actual flue and shaped it so it would fit vertically onto the base. It's been there for twenty five years or so with no problems, and is easy to remove for very low bits (Froghall). Obviously mushrooms vary in size so this may not work for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrowpete Posted April 29, 2022 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 thanks I'm going to try a few things least its nice to know I'm not the only one. The bit about taking it off for Froghall is one of my worries as we plan to do that soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 (edited) I installed mine in an awkward position in terms of fitting the flue through the roof, but just cut a hole and had a short section of steel pipe welded in which the aluminium flue goes through. The chimney/flue vent on the outside can just be lifted off for cruising if required. Makes it easy to clean the spiders out too! If you've already got a hole for the mushroom vent with the flue fitted underneath it should be pretty easy to adapt it to fit your chimney. Edited April 29, 2022 by blackrose 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 (edited) 2 hours ago, barrowpete said: I can see that the dam thing will continually get caught in the centre rope which due to the boat being a light 32 footer I use at every lock. If you haven't done so already, consider having a centre rope running down each side of the boat to the helm. Even on a small boat it means much less hassle than trying to flick the rope over from one side to the other and it getting caught on things. Edited April 29, 2022 by blackrose 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 11 minutes ago, blackrose said: consider having a centre rope running down each side of the boat to the helm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 9 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: Sorry to go off topic but do you think those vents would let in less smoke from neighbours' stoves than mushrooms vents? Any other advantages/disadvantages? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 9 minutes ago, blackrose said: Sorry to go off topic but do you think those vents would let in less smoke from neighbours' stoves than mushrooms vents? Any other advantages/disadvantages? Leaves and debris get in under the stainless steel cover, and you can't easily clean them out, meaning they stay in there, get damp, and the rust starts on the steel roof. There are some photos on here from about 3 years ago showing the horrors revealed beneath when I removed mine. I have standard mushroom vents now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 27 minutes ago, blackrose said: Sorry to go off topic but do you think those vents would let in less smoke from neighbours' stoves than mushrooms vents? Any other advantages/disadvantages? I really do not know - never had any problems with them, but never had smoke coming in mushrooms either. I have had them on several boats (both inland and offshore) never had any leaks or blockages although some folks do seam to suffer with them. A much better proflie for line handling and walking about around, I'd always choose them over mushrooms, but, mushrooms would not stop me buying a boat. I have 2 on the saloon roof and 2 of the forward cabin roof / deck on my cruiser, and despite having seas breaking over the bow they have not (yet) let water in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard10002 Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 4 hours ago, Tracy D'arth said: Such are safety regulations. Your choice, comply or don't get a BSS certificate. He asked for help with hints or issues. Not sure how you read it as not wanting to comply? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 Which regulation did it fail on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 2 hours ago, David Mack said: Leaves and debris get in under the stainless steel cover, and you can't easily clean them out, meaning they stay in there, get damp, and the rust starts on the steel roof. There are some photos on here from about 3 years ago showing the horrors revealed beneath when I removed mine. I have standard mushroom vents now. Thanks, that's worth knowing. 1 hour ago, Alan de Enfield said: I really do not know - never had any problems with them, but never had smoke coming in mushrooms either. I have had them on several boats (both inland and offshore) never had any leaks or blockages although some folks do seam to suffer with them. A much better proflie for line handling and walking about around, I'd always choose them over mushrooms, but, mushrooms would not stop me buying a boat. I have 2 on the saloon roof and 2 of the forward cabin roof / deck on my cruiser, and despite having seas breaking over the bow they have not (yet) let water in. Thanks. I imagine it would be easy enough to change from one to the other or back again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted April 29, 2022 Report Share Posted April 29, 2022 31 minutes ago, MtB said: Which regulation did it fail on? I'm not sure if it's a fail or just an advisory? This is probably out of date by now as it's from the BSS essential guide 2nd edition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrowpete Posted May 1, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2022 Thanks everybody great help an tons of ideas. From a safety point of view I've always used two centre ropes but even with only mushrooms you can still get them tied up if your as clumsy as me., that was my real fear. We do tend to do long distances in a short time which bucks the canal ideal, but commitments and life always seems to get in the way, there is so much to see! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted May 1, 2022 Report Share Posted May 1, 2022 On 29/04/2022 at 20:00, blackrose said: I'm not sure if it's a fail or just an advisory? This is probably out of date by now as it's from the BSS essential guide 2nd edition. Yes, obviously. I was asking which one out of that lot the examiner said it failed to comply with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrowpete Posted May 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 Think it would have been the operating efficiently (yellow flame poor combustion) , which by this is advisable. As a ex BT guy who was used to checking my guys could gas test and ensuring they knew the three types we encountered. Especially as we had an airport on our patch where mox testing was an issue, I may be a little bit paranoid. The morco flue top is smaller diameter than the mushroom the top of which unscrews easily think I can get away with a 110 to 100 flu reducer which should fit over the inner of the mushroom and then take the morco flu top. Just need to modify the reducer slightly so the flue is vertical not at some silly angle and the whole new section can be removed for tight bridges tunnels etc and the mushroom top re inserted for water protection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackrose Posted May 3, 2022 Report Share Posted May 3, 2022 On 01/05/2022 at 21:20, MtB said: Yes, obviously. I was asking which one out of that lot the examiner said it failed to comply with. Yes obviously. We all know what you were asking. I just posted for the OP's benefit as it may have been an advisory rather than a fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrowpete Posted June 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 Thanks again everyone I have just had the BSS guy and the flue worked great passed a smoke test ( the morco water heater failed still a yellow flame and I got a don't use slapped on it, but after fitting a new burner the best blue flame I've ever had out of the beast appeared) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_fincher Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 And I reckon that there is a very good chance that if you were to revert from the custom Morco vent back to the "mushroom" that you would still have a clean burn with a good blue flame. On a previous boat, owned for about 10 years, we only ever had a mushroom vent covering the flue outlet, and it passed 3 consecutive BSS examination without it ever getting a mention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 2 hours ago, alan_fincher said: And I reckon that there is a very good chance that if you were to revert from the custom Morco vent back to the "mushroom" that you would still have a clean burn with a good blue flame. On a previous boat, owned for about 10 years, we only ever had a mushroom vent covering the flue outlet, and it passed 3 consecutive BSS examination without it ever getting a mention. Until a few years ago there was a special non-closing brass mushroom available (from Davey IIRC), designed specifically for use as a flue terminal. I've fitted them to every boat I've ever owned except the last two, when it ceased to be available. I'd expect any ordinary closeable mushroom vent used as a flue terminal to be an instant fail. I also suggest that the OP would probably have got their nice blue flame back had they just run the old burner assembly through a dishwasher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Brooks Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 25 minutes ago, MtB said: I'd expect any ordinary closeable mushroom vent used as a flue terminal to be an instant fail. I doubt that as long as you spun a few nuts up the thread, so it was impossible to screw it right down. Certainly the Thames Conservancy was happy with that in the day. I would probably solder the last one up so none could be taken off easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnetman Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 (edited) Or drill across the nut and thread and knock a roll pin in there. That would lock it open nicely but be convertible back to closeable if needed in future by punching out the pin. Edited June 24, 2022 by magnetman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtB Posted June 24, 2022 Report Share Posted June 24, 2022 9 hours ago, Tony Brooks said: I doubt that as long as you spun a few nuts up the thread, so it was impossible to screw it right down. In which case it ceases to be the "ordinary closeable mushroom vent" I suggested would be a fail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Featured Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now