Anyone considering one of these may wish to consider what Mainesail has to say about them ..............
Maine Sail Wrote ". I have seen companies like Excell before where they make all kinds of misleading claims"
Can you please tell me the Misleading Claims Excell has made?
Joe
Click to expand...
The quote below is one I find quite amusing and, yes, misleading. It is geared to make one think that if you have enough "ventilation" then installing this is perfectly fine on a boat, it is not if you follow
current US
marine safety standards.. New builders CAN NOT install one and even DIY's, who technically could, may get flagged under an
insurance survey and then need to yank it. They don't mention that ANYWHERE but are more than happy to take your hard earned
money. They then link you to West
Marine, who does not even sell "vent-free" LPG heaters, wonder why
, nor even addresses that in the article they linked to. Here's the link and NO mention of LPG appliance venting LINK.
Why don't they quote a some relevant standards that are applicable to LPG
appliances on boats such as the ABYC A-26 standard instead of an article on boat ventilation that has nothing to do with LPG
appliances? I am sure buyers would want to read the most
current set of marine safety standards we have for the marine market when making this important decision..
From Excel:
"Perfect for Sailboats and
Cabin Cruisers with active ventilation systems in place. For More info on adequate ventilation practices for boats , RV's and mobile homes please link to:
Parts, Sailing, Kayaks, Paddleboards and Marine Electronics | West Marine In West Advisor use the Searchword: Ventilation"
"Perfect for Sailboats and
Cabin Cruisers with active ventilation systems in place."
They might want to add "uninsured, used sailboats or cabin cruisers", to be less misleading, because new builders CAN'T install these and if you have a competent marine
survey, and a marine
insurance policy, they are going to flag it. No amount of "ventilation" changes the fact that it is a vent-free device which does not meet the ABYC standards.
That is what I consider misleading! They sell it for use in boats yet it does not meet the safety standards of largest body we have for setting safety standards in the US marine industry, the ABYC.
From ABYC A-26
26.5.1 LPG and CNG fueled appliances shall not be installed in spaces containing internal combustion engines, their
fuel tanks, or joints and fittings of their
fuel systems.
26.5.3 Appliances shall meet the combustion requirements of ANSI Z 21.57 Recreational Vehicle
Cooking Gas Appliances.
(This standard also covers water heaters)
26.5.4.1.1 venting of combustion products from the appliance.
26.5.8 The design and installation of LPG and CNG appliances and systems shall provide for the
consumption of air and the venting of
exhaust products.
26.5.9 Pilot lights and other automatic ignition devices shall be permitted only in appliances with room sealed combustion systems.
(The Excel is automatic ignition)
26.5.10 Unattended appliances shall incorporate a room sealed combustion system.
(The Excel by definition is an "unattended appliance")
26.6.1 Exhaust products shall be ducted to the exterior of the vessel and designed to minimize water entry, back
draft, and exhaust re-entry through any
hull openings, ventilators, opening
ports, hatches, windows.
(The Excel is vent-free and does NOT duct to the exterior of the vessel)
26.6.2 Flues shall be routed and sized to ensure complete discharge of the products of combustion outside the craft, and shall not be obstructed by an accumulation of water.
(The Excel does not even have a flue so CAN NOT completely discharge the products of combustion to outside the craft)
26.6.2.1 The flue system shall be continuous and sealed from the appliance to its terminus outside the craft.
(Nope does not meet this either)
26.6.2.2 Flue terminus shall not be positioned within 20 inches (500mm) of a refueling fitting or
fuel tank vent.
(Well, the good news is that it won't be within 20" the bad news is the flue terminus is non-existent),
27.6.2.4 The flue system shall be accessible for
inspection.
(very hard to meet this without a flue)
Definitions:
Unattended Appliance - appliances intended to function without frequent attention by an operator, and that may cycle
on and off automatically, such as refrigerators, thermostatically controlled cabin heaters, and water heaters.
Room Sealed Combustion System - a combustion system in which incoming air, the combustion chamber, and the outgoing products of combustion are sealed from the boat
interior.
Or you could read the
whole thread here