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Post by Andyberg on Oct 13, 2016 20:58:42 GMT
anyone any experience of keeping a bubble stove in all winter? i run a bubble with back boiler for CH but find after I clean and ensure I have full diesel flow, stove runs fantastically for x amount of time then I suddenly get up to a tiny flame and a soothed up burner pan, no reason, no idea why? Normally lasts about 2 weeks, I have a spare burner pan that I change over when this happens but ffs...I expected better!!
anyone any advice / experience?
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Post by peterboat on Oct 13, 2016 21:23:37 GMT
I have had a bubble stove for years the first was a bit iffy it was the the box at the back that was faulty kept having to adjust high/low flame screws this stove in new boat been great from the beginning never touched the screws in 6 years. A have to say i like my bubble stove much cleaner than the rayburn and probably the same cost to run
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Post by JohnV on Oct 13, 2016 21:45:36 GMT
I have a Bubble PJ boiler but there are two guys on this mooring with Bubble 2 stoves (one with back boiler one without), both rate them very highly and as far as I know neither has trouble keeping them running right through the winter. The guy with the one fitted with the back boiler is a pernickity old bugger and takes the thing apart for cleaning every summer. He owns this boatyard and I'll see him in the morning and tell him your symptoms and see if He has any ideas.
Why not phone Bubble and ask them what they think, I found them extremely helpful and knowledgeable (and it helps that they own a dutch barge !)
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Post by peterboat on Oct 13, 2016 21:57:54 GMT
I have a Bubble PJ boiler but there are two guys on this mooring with Bubble 2 stoves (one with back boiler one without), both rate them very highly and as far as I know neither has trouble keeping them running right through the winter. The guy with the one fitted with the back boiler is a pernickity old bugger and takes the thing apart for cleaning every summer. He owns this boatyard and I'll see him in the morning and tell him your symptoms and see if He has any ideas. Why not phone Bubble and ask them what they think, I found them extremely helpful and knowledgeable (and it helps that they own a dutch barge !) The barge is for sale John, Terry is poorly bad heart i am afraid i chatted to him this year at crick but i have known him for many years as he only lives down the road, he is a very helpful guy and a mine of information i to rate the bubble stove very highly
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Post by JohnV on Oct 13, 2016 22:06:22 GMT
I have a Bubble PJ boiler but there are two guys on this mooring with Bubble 2 stoves (one with back boiler one without), both rate them very highly and as far as I know neither has trouble keeping them running right through the winter. The guy with the one fitted with the back boiler is a pernickity old bugger and takes the thing apart for cleaning every summer. He owns this boatyard and I'll see him in the morning and tell him your symptoms and see if He has any ideas. Why not phone Bubble and ask them what they think, I found them extremely helpful and knowledgeable (and it helps that they own a dutch barge !) The barge is for sale John, Terry is poorly bad heart i am afraid i chatted to him this year at crick but i have known him for many years as he only lives down the road, he is a very helpful guy and a mine of information i to rate the bubble stove very highly Oh wow !!! I am so sorry to hear that, When I went to the factory (I wanted to see a PJ boiler before buying one) I arrived when they were closed for their summer break but they were there catching up on some bits and pieces. They welcomed me in and gave me a cup of tea followed by the grand tour. It was the first time I had made a long drive after a serious illness and operation and I sat talking to Anne for ages over another cup of tea. Really lovely people.
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Post by bills on Oct 13, 2016 22:06:27 GMT
Kabola Old English - 8 years - all good.
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Post by Saltysplash on Oct 14, 2016 6:57:58 GMT
anyone any experience of keeping a bubble stove in all winter? i run a bubble with back boiler for CH but find after I clean and ensure I have full diesel flow, stove runs fantastically for x amount of time then I suddenly get up to a tiny flame and a soothed up burner pan, no reason, no idea why? Normally lasts about 2 weeks, I have a spare burner pan that I change over when this happens but ffs...I expected better!! anyone any advice / experience? I've never had a bubble stove but my last boat had a Refleks which we also ran 24/7 through the winter. When we first started using it it would be fine for a couple of weeks then similar symptoms to yours would occur, flame would reduce and the insides would soot up and eventually the flame would go out. Took me ages of messing around with the regulator and pipes and cleaning till I finally worked it out. The stove was fitted midway along the boat and the diesel tank was at the back. Once the fuel level in the tank got to around half full, there wasnt sufficient pressure/gravity to allow the fuel to flow up, out of the tank and along to the stove. As soon as the tank was topped up, even if it was just 25 litres, the stove would be back to full working order again. It always had me stumped because when i dipped the tank, there was always plenty of fuel in there so I couldnt understand why the stove would keep lit. Doh!
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Post by Andyberg on Oct 14, 2016 7:24:49 GMT
Thanks for that Salty...I've thought of this maybe being the reason myself. My diesel has to flow upwards of 30foot from the tank and I've often wondered if its just a lack of pressure for it to suddenly die down, once it starts to soot up the pot it soon kills the fire down to a simple small flame at the diesel drip. I've rearranged my ballast to lift up the rear end an inch or so (a job that's needed doing since day 1 ) this summer and am going to fill up to the brim this weekend when Ambush the fuelboat passes by so hopefully this will go some way to improving matters! Ill keep you informed!
Just like to add, when its working as should I couldn't ask for anything more, so easy and safe to manage, safe to leave unattended for days on end and so hot plus very clean and hassle free!
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Post by kris on Oct 14, 2016 7:30:01 GMT
I've thought about a diesel stove but have always thought them expensive to run. So with all this wealth of experience, what are the running costs? I know this depends on how hot you have it, but roughly.
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Post by JohnV on Oct 14, 2016 7:49:44 GMT
I have just asked in the boatyard office....... (better known as the grumpy old mens tea hut) and I am afraid neither of the two owners of Bubble 2's had any idea, neither having had that problem themselves ..... they wondered if it was something to do with flue height ...... I left them arguing Kris As regards consumption .... I haven't got a clue ........ last year being poorly I just needed it to stay warm but I don't think it was much more expensive than anthracite in the Rayburn. (as I said, it was not relevant, as I couldn't have carried the anthracite anyway) My consumption figures would not apply to a narrow boat because of Sabina's size but probably not too much different from a short boat. I bought a 1,000 litres last year but I still have some left in the tank. Also don't forget mine is a pressure jet boiler system not a drip pot like the Bubble stoves
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Post by Saltysplash on Oct 14, 2016 7:50:21 GMT
I've thought about a diesel stove but have always thought them expensive to run. So with all this wealth of experience, what are the running costs? I know this depends on how hot you have it, but roughly. The memsahib loved the refleks as it was on all the time and she never had to touch it. I just remember the cost of the diesel but it really was a great, simple piece of kit. I am now happily back to a solid fuel stove and have just bought 30kgs of coal from B&M at £3.99 per 10kg which we stretch out with free wood so are saving quite a bit compared to what we used in diesel. The downside is keeping it going and cleaning. As to running costs i never worked it out proper but 50 litres of diesel would last 2 weeks on setting 'tickover' pumping up the volume when it got really cold and those 50 litres would only last a week or just over and this was a couple of years ago when diesel was at quite a high price. eta....it was a widebeam
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Post by JohnV on Oct 14, 2016 8:04:56 GMT
I've thought about a diesel stove but have always thought them expensive to run. So with all this wealth of experience, what are the running costs? I know this depends on how hot you have it, but roughly. The memsahib loved the refleks as it was on all the time and she never had to touch it. I just remember the cost of the diesel but it really was a great, simple piece of kit. I am now happily back to a solid fuel stove and have just bought 30kgs of coal from B&M at £3.99 per 10kg which we stretch out with free wood so are saving quite a bit compared to what we used in diesel. The downside is keeping it going and cleaning. As to running costs i never worked it out proper but 50 litres of diesel would last 2 weeks on setting 'tickover' pumping up the volume when it got really cold and those 50 litres would only last a week or just over and this was a couple of years ago when diesel was at quite a high price. eta....it was a widebeam When I was fit enough to carry coal and cut and split logs, I used to enjoy having solid fuel heating. Combination of advancing years and illness forced the change for me. However I have really noticed how much cleaner everything stays ........ the amount of dust and dirt that flies around with solid fuel heating astounded me. Although both the log burner and the Rayburn are still installed (The Rayburn looks good and would be soooooo much hassle to remove) and are a back up if I ever need them, I would really miss the convenience of a thermostatically controlled central heating system. (Cost is not too important as I am planning my demise to co-incide with a zero bank balance )
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Post by kris on Oct 14, 2016 8:06:30 GMT
Thanks for the replies, I can see the convience of the diesel stoves. But I think for me being able to find free wood out ways convience by a Yorkshire mile. Your right John the amount of soot and dust solid fuel stoves create is amazing, I always think I must be breathing that in. I imagine it's nice not having to carry coal and cut wood though.
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Post by Andyberg on Oct 14, 2016 9:31:13 GMT
The convenience of being able to leave it on unattended is the biggest plus for me as I'm often away working for a couple of days at a time. I had a Kabola boiler on my wide beam, it worked absolutely perfectly all the time I owned it which is what prompted me to get the bubble for my front room. Hopefully things will be different this winter when I light it with the change in tank hieght
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Post by JohnV on Oct 14, 2016 10:05:05 GMT
Well I am off for the weekend doing a bit of sailing on a friends old yacht...... no central heating ..... in fact no bloody heating at all
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