Wood Burners and Fiberglass Boats

[GlenBlk]

Hi can anyone advise if it is possible to install a wood burner into a fiberglass boat to a standard that will satisfy the boat safety standards or is it a plain and simple no no?

 

thank you.

[Guest]

Never done it personally but have seen several that have such stoves aboard, so it most be doable.

[Naughty Cal]

It is doable there are enough about. Wouldn't fancy it myself.

[W+T]

I cant see any problem what so ever with a stove on a GRP boat, a lot say and think its dangerous for some reason, aslong as its fitted properly as it should be on a steel boat then there is no problem, the only time there is a problem is when the user isnt carefull when using a stove on ANY boat.

 

From what i remember about fitting stoves on boats is that there should be a min 25mm cavity between the hull and ply, then fire board of a certain thickness before tiling with fire cement.

 

Also for the BSS there is certain amount of air flow needed, look online or you can buy the folder with all the info on there for the BSS requirments, i no longer have the folder so sorry cant help on the details.

 

Just be sensible on the use and you will be fine, its the contents on boats that set on fire with stoves, not the hull in most cases.

 

 

 

wolly

[RLWP]

From what i remember about fitting stoves on boats is that there should be a min 25mm cavity between the hull and ply, then fire board of a certain thickness before tiling with fire cement.

 

wolly

 

There's a nice guide here: http://www.soliftec.com/Boat%20Stoves%201-page.pdf

 

I'd check that the trim of the boat is OK after fitting the stove too

 

Richard

[W+T]

Good info there Richard, for GRP though i would go for the extra cavity depth, just to be that bit more peace of mind. so i can sleep at night, not sink lol

[The Bagdad Boatman (waits)]

A large insulating plate around the chimney and bricks or stone flags underneath and bricks between the wall and fire. Ask yourself if the fire accidentally gets red hot what would ignite near it.

[ditchcrawler]

I know of a Wilderness trail boat with one

[Phil Ambrose]

No problem with stoves on GRP boats, many pals living aboard on the Broads had them and none went up in flames. I myself had a Glembring diesel heater so same really with flue etc again no problems inc with BSC.

Phil

[Neil2]

A lot of SF heaters in grp boats are home made - an old propane gas cylinder makes a good shell apparently.

 

Main problem is most popular woodburners are a bit big/heavy for a grp cruiser, but you can get dinky ones like this http://www.windysmithy.co.uk/woodburners

 

You might also consider a charcoal burner like the famous Hampshire - they are popular in yachts where space is always tight.

[Phil Ambrose]

I have never seen a SF stove made from gas cylinder all the people I know with stoves have Squirrels,Villagers and such plus offerings from Machinemart.

Weight is not an issue on GRP boats afterall many live-aboards like us had auto washing machines and all the other stuff that makes life comfortable aboard.

 

Phil

[geoffwales]

I had a gypsy stove from ebay to fit on mine, with vermiculite on the walls surrounding

[W+T]

Here is a little cracker i found a while back, good size for a cruiser, could be to small for an overnight burn

 

http://www.salamanderstoves.com/docs/52/the_pipsqueak__stove/

[GlenBlk]

Many thanks for all the help.

[OldGoldy]

I have never seen a SF stove made from gas cylinder

 

Using Google search or Google Images, search for "gas bottle wood burner"

[Neil2]

I have never seen a SF stove made from gas cylinder all the people I know with stoves have Squirrels,Villagers and such plus offerings from Machinemart.

Weight is not an issue on GRP boats afterall many live-aboards like us had auto washing machines and all the other stuff that makes life comfortable aboard.

 

Phil

Here's a few http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p3872.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.Xgas+bottle+woodburner&_nkw=gas+bottle+woodburner&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

The one's I've seen aren't quite as tidy as those, mind.

 

I've often thought of making one for my garage but I'd be afraid of not getting all the gas out before attacking it with an angle grinder...

 

I must admit when someone on this forum refers to grp boats I tend to think of narrow beamers like Dawncraft, Norman, Viking, Nauticus etc. where weight and space might be more of an issue. You sacrifice a lot of room on a small boat for a SF heater, though I would still have one.

 

Quite a few Highbridge cruisers have them.

[Naughty Cal]

Here's a few http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p3872.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.Xgas+bottle+woodburner&_nkw=gas+bottle+woodburner&_sacat=0&_from=R40

 

The one's I've seen aren't quite as tidy as those, mind.

 

I've often thought of making one for my garage but I'd be afraid of not getting all the gas out before attacking it with an angle grinder...

 

I must admit when someone on this forum refers to grp boats I tend to think of narrow beamers like Dawncraft, Norman, Viking, Nauticus etc. where weight and space might be more of an issue. You sacrifice a lot of room on a small boat for a SF heater, though I would still have one.

 

Quite a few Highbridge cruisers have them.

Why when diesel or gas are much more convenient, cleaner and take up much less space?

[Phil Ambrose]

Yup,Phylis is so right, for a smaller non-live aboard a SF seems a waste of time as small diesel heaters are so much better, such as Reflex, Glembring etc.

Phil

[madcat]

Gas freeing cylinders,this is how we do it. Take out the valve,it unscrews fairly easily from the blue cylinders which are the ones we used. Fill cylinder totally full with water and leave for a day or two. Pour out the water,it will be a bit manky. Cut the cylinder to suit.

[kevinl]

 

There's a nice guide here: http://www.soliftec.com/Boat%20Stoves%201-page.pdf

 

I'd check that the trim of the boat is OK after fitting the stove too

 

Richard

I was looking at the advise on the soliftec link as I'm putting a new fire in soon and the bit I didn't get is in the bottom right corner, the little panel that says "flue pipes should be joined socket end up" i.e. the lower pipe fit over the higher pipe not inside it. I haven't misread it at there is a picture showing it that way round. I would have expected it to be the other way round, lower piece of pipe fits inside of the higher pipe anyone agree?

[Neil2]

Why when diesel or gas are much more convenient, cleaner and take up much less space?

I was born opposite a coal mine. It's genetic.

[RLWP]

I was looking at the advise on the soliftec link as I'm putting a new fire in soon and the bit I didn't get is in the bottom right corner, the little panel that says "flue pipes should be joined socket end up" i.e. the lower pipe fit over the higher pipe not inside it. I haven't misread it at there is a picture showing it that way round. I would have expected it to be the other way round, lower piece of pipe fits inside of the higher pipe anyone agree?

 

How odd

 

The reality of this is eventually you are stuck with what you can get. So if it assembles the 'wrong way around' that's what you do

 

Richard

[David Mack]

I was looking at the advise on the soliftec link as I'm putting a new fire in soon and the bit I didn't get is in the bottom right corner, the little panel that says "flue pipes should be joined socket end up" i.e. the lower pipe fit over the higher pipe not inside it. I haven't misread it at there is a picture showing it that way round. I would have expected it to be the other way round, lower piece of pipe fits inside of the higher pipe anyone agree?

 

There shouldn't be any leaks in the flue joints, but if there are, socket end up ensures that any condensate stays within the flue, rather than creating messy staining down the outside of the pipe.