385/388 - Diesel exhaust

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Diesel exhaust - heater

Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 385/388
Forum Description: 385/388 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15003
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:40
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Topic: Diesel exhaust - heater

Posted By: Ken Haas
Subject: Diesel exhaust - heater
Date Posted: 21 February 2025 at 16:52

When I run the heater I get an odor of exhaust in the cabin. It is not a lot, but it is noticeable. Recently I ran the heater for a couple of hours (much longer than usual) and have felt the symptoms of diesel exhaust exposure. I plan to obtain a NO2 monitor to test the environment in the cabin, but it seems to me that there is an issue with the heater exhaust system, and I am wondering if anyone else has experienced any such problems?

Replies:

Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 21 February 2025 at 19:14

A small exhaust leak is always possible and easy enough to find. Another possibility is outside exhaust somehow finding its way back into the boat.

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Leon / ARCADIA
2018 Hanse 588
Sag Harbor, NY

Posted By: sgrhma2
Date Posted: 21 February 2025 at 20:21

Ken, as Arcadia says you need to check the exhaust pipe and it’s fitting to the heater and skin outlet. If the pipe has no pin holes or cracks in it, where it is attached at the ends can be loose. If that’s the case you should remove it and use a small amount of ordinary automotive exhaust joint paste on contact points and then tighten it.

It is entirely possible that there is nothing wrong and the cause could be the way the boat is positioned to the prevailing wind. If the exhaust outlet is up wind of the air vent inlet for the compartment where the heater is exhaust gases can sometimes get drawn back into the boat. This is especially true at heater start up where the fan speed is low to promote initial combustion, and consequently at startup exhaust velocity is also very low so doesn’t clear the hull so well.

Having said all that you do need to find out what is happening. Having experienced similar which turned out to be caused by the wind direction and slow fan speed at startup. To give myself a bit of reassurance, I installed a carbon monoxide detector, the view being that with the heater, the engine and a gas cooker onboard there were too many opportunities for a mishap in what after all is a small volume container.

Hope this is useful

Simon

Posted By: Ken Haas
Date Posted: 22 February 2025 at 02:58

Thank you Leon and Simon. I have a feeling that the wind channeling the exhaust into the cockpit and down into the cabin is the probable cause.

Posted By: alettaenmarcel
Date Posted: 22 February 2025 at 08:21

Some year ago I faced a problem with the heater.

I took it out off the boat and found out the exhaust was completely gone.

It wass helt together by its isolation around it.

Sins then I check it every year…..

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Kids Dingys 72-79 ,Several Windsurfboards 79-86 OK dingy competitions 86-92 , Trotter Pandora Race 92-98, Friendship 28 Sport 98-05, Hanse 370 06-......

Posted By: Ratbasher
Date Posted: 22 February 2025 at 09:44

I had exactly the same issue. I had the burner serviced at a Main Dealer where some parts were replaced and it's worked great since.

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H400 (2008) 'Wight Leopard' Gosport, UK