New silencers take noise from below-deck heaters

by Nancy Knudsen on 23 May 2014 When you're below decks it's the unusual noises that you want to hear, not the usual ones. This means that any silencing of your standard systems on board has to be a positive. So it's good news to hear that the new powerful Webasto marine air heaters Air Top Evo 3900 and 5500 are now available in extra-silent kits.

Not that the Webastos were ever very noisy, and the sound of warm air rushing into the boat is enough to make you feel warmer, even before the warmth has time to spread. Still, as a long-time user and fan of the Webasto heating systems for sailing boats, I can see the merits of the new development.

The air heaters offer heating performances of 3.9 kW and 5.5 kW, respectively, and run either on 12 V or 24 V. The heater kits include high quality stainless steel parts and accessories. For increased comfort, the kits now include a more efficient air intake silencer and new 90° noise suppression parts for the fuel line. The additional elements have been designed to decrease combustion air noise by 6 dB and any associated pump noise by 10 dB.

The result: We still benefit from fast, efficient and compact Air Top Evo heaters while experiencing less onboard noise at the same time.

Marine specific kits have been developed to specifically match the unique needs and demands of the marine market.

Here are the areas where you'll notice the difference in the new models:

Extra low noise applications (extra silent dosing pumps, vibration clacking brackets)
Exhaust and air intake silencers

As well, you will notice:

External temperature sensor, which is obligatory for marine applications
Quick and easy installation thanks to new organization of kits and included installation overviews

If your local marine outlet doesn't stock Webasto, go to their website to find the nearest dealer.