I have the
Dickinson Newport diesel heater installed. When operating it does not smell. There is a little fan in the unit that positively moves air through the burner chamber and up out of the chimney stack.
- - I ran the supply line from the main diesel system in the
engine room through the cabin to the forward bulkhead where the heater is located. There is a small
electric diesel
pump in the line so that I did not have to install a small gravity tank by the heater. Using
stainless steel plates standing off the
teak bulkhead and also between the bulkhead and the chimney stack keeps all radiant heat off the bulkhead. They sell a fitting that you install in the cabin top to insulate the chimney stack as it passes through the cabin top. The fitting also has a screw cap so that when the heater is not used the cabin top is flush and water-tight. They also sell the wind-proof flue caps that only require a foot of pipe above the cabin top outside.
- - All in all, the diesel version fits my needs as I don't have to use any other fuel. Propane is consumed to quickly and other solid fuels introduce all sorts of problems with storing the fuel inside the boat, especially wood which brings with it many 6 or more legged critters living in/on the wood. Keeping insects and bugs out of the boat is a high priority along with dirt, dust, and other pollutants.
- - With a properly installed heater - any type - you should not be able to smell anything associated with the heater. If you do, you are also probably getting carbon monoxide fumes inside the cabin which can be deadly as the volume of breathing air inside a boat cabin is rather small.