Richard, I have a Dickinson Newport stove installed on my boat with a
stainless steel day tank directly behind the stove. The tank has a stainless
steel heat shield with air space between it and the stove. The tank has a
sight  gauge on the side and is filled with an automotive type diesel fuel pump.
The  tank has a vent on top which is simple a tube with a 180 degree bend
to keep  anything from falling in and contaminating the fuel. It also has a
stainless  steel tray below it that has a drain going to a gallon jug in the
bilge for that  just in case filling error.

The system works well. It was installed prior to my purchase of the boat so
it apparently meets inspection standards as my surveyor was pretty
competent.  (IMHO)

The tank is filled by simply pulling a switch near the heater which turns
on the pump. The fuel level is easy to see in the sight tube. Topping off is
a  dry, easy operation. The only change I might make is to make the fuel
pump  switch a hold to pump switch, which would make it harder to accidentally
leave  it on. There is no need for a return line. The vent on top lets air
escape and  enter during filling and use.

I use my Webasto hydronic heater for routine heat, but there just isn't
anything like the Dickinson stove for ambiance on a cold and rainy day.

Ken

In a message dated 8/25/2011 8:01:52 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
trawlers-request@lists.trawlering.com writes:

From:  Richard E Packard rpackard43@gmail.com
To:  trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: T&T: heater day  tank
Message-ID:
CAKCKiQfhDaGXzjpFdQ_QT_GaosWL0QE1X9J37iH24nKGjrKb2w@mail.gmail.com
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I plan to install a dickinson heater on  my boat. I wonder if list members
can describe how they fill a day tank if  used as the fuel supply for these
heaters. It seems to me that if you fill  the tank with an electric pump one
would necessarily have to plumb a return  line back to the main fuel tank to
avoid spills when accidentally  overfilling. Alternatively one could have an
automatic switch to turn off  the pump when the tank is full, but that is
subject to a messy spill if the  switch fails. If I used a manual pump
situated on the flying bridge near  the day tank then I am committed to
standing out in the rain (I am in SE  Alaska) to fill the tank every day.
Any  suggestions?

I would say put in an overflow return line.

On our Dickinson stove (which we love) we have a 5 gal day tank on the coach
roof, and only a feed line.  I ended up using was an oil-tolerant 'Float
Vent' valve to prevent overflows when filling the tank.  It works well, but
does at times spit a bit of fuel out. (just enough to make kind of a mess
over the top of the tank).

If you could put in a return line that drops back into the top of your main
fuel tank it might also act as the air vent to the day tank.  Much tighter
overall solution I think.

-al-

From:  Richard E Packard rpackard43@gmail.com
To:  trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: T&T: heater day  tank

. . . .  I wonder if list members can describe how they fill a day tank if
used as the fuel supply for these heaters. It seems to me that if you fill
the tank with an electric pump one would necessarily have to plumb a return
line back to the main fuel tank to avoid spills when accidentally
overfilling.. . .

Another thought... install a filter in-line. We've always had them for our heaters and stoves, so I can't say if problems would have developed without them. We prefer not to take the chance. I'm sure that any diesel rated filter would work,  but we use Racors smallest filter- I think its a 110.
 
We also installed a shut off valve in the vent line, just in case. The vent line is also installed ship-like... a loop at the top to keep water out, unless of coarse we take a knock down, then the shut off valve could prove useful.
 
Rudy
Briney Bug, Panama City,. Fl.

--- On Sun, 8/28/11, Al Thomason thomason.al@gmail.com wrote:

From: Al Thomason thomason.al@gmail.com
Subject: Re: T&T: Dickinson Stove
To: trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
Date: Sunday, August 28, 2011, 11:59 AM

I would say put in an overflow return line. 

On our Dickinson stove (which we love) we have a 5 gal day tank on the coach
roof, and only a feed line.  I ended up using was an oil-tolerant 'Float
Vent' valve to prevent overflows when filling the tank.  It works well, but
does at times spit a bit of fuel out. (just enough to make kind of a mess
over the top of the tank).

If you could put in a return line that drops back into the top of your main
fuel tank it might also act as the air vent to the day tank.  Much tighter
overall solution I think.

-al-

From:  Richard E Packard rpackard43@gmail.com
To:  trawlers@lists.trawlering.com
Subject: T&T: heater day  tank

. . . .  I wonder if list members can describe how they fill a day tank if
used as the fuel supply for these heaters. It seems to me that if you fill
the tank with an electric pump one would necessarily have to plumb a return
line back to the main fuel tank to avoid spills when accidentally
overfilling.. . .

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