Forward Heater

The Dickinson Alaska heater in the forward part of the boat. This heater puts out about half as much heat as the Lofoten heater in the pilothouse. There are 24 volt (Issuma’s electrical system is 24 volt) computer fans on the wall that blow the warm air off the chimney into the boat. The plywood wall is covered with sheet aluminum to keep heat away. A strip of aluminum foil is hung from the ceiling to reflect heat back into the main part of the boat (this is only used on cold days in the winter at the dock). Not shown in the picture is a barometric damper, which injects room air into the chimney, so less heat is wasted going up the chimney and out of the boat. Putting in the barometric damper made the heater put 30-40% more heat in the boat than it did when running without the barometric damper (this is partly because there is a tall stack–about 3m in total). To be installed soon is a grating that protects things from touching the hot chimney.

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