Block Heater for the Peninsular

[cahoots5]

Happy New Year !! So I called the Peninsular today and was talking about my starting smoke and he told me that there is a engine block heater on all Peninsular engines ?? I looked and was not able to find it. I called back and they had closed I gess. I was told that its a Y plug that needs a end that plugs in to the heater. Can you tell me the location of that heater ?? as I can not find it? Have a safe new year eve. Steve on Bella

[DougSea]

I have a block heater on mine but didn't know it was a standard factory item. I'll be honest, I haven't tracked back from the plug, which looks like it was added by the prior owner, to the actual heater on the engine. I'll try and take a look (and bring my camera) over the next couple of days.

I will tell you that it made a HUGE difference when I last used the boat in November. I was able to keep the boat in a slip for a couple of weeks prior to hauling, I'm normally on a mooring, and I decided to try the heater out. I switched it on before I left for the evening and when I came back the next night you'd have though I'd just shut the engine down an hour or two earlier, it was that warm. Cranked her over and she fired up with practicly no smoke and a lot less rattling than I'm used to.

I don't know just how much power the heater draws but I'd guess it's a fair amount. Don't know if I'd leave it on all the time unless I was expecting very cold weather.

[cahoots5]

Doug: Thanks, if you can find it that will be a great help. I looked Peninsular told me there in all there engines ? My boat is on a trailer and I can pre heat it befor I head for the ramp. Thanks Steve on the left coast.

[DougSea]

Steve,

Got down to the boat this afternoon, took a couple of pictures. The block heater is on the left side of the engine (therefore the starboard side of the boat given the reverse mounting of the motor) about in the middle of the block. The first picture shows the DC grounding block and the insulated 120v lead, the second shows the block heater itself. I pulled the starboard side deck box out to take these. Feeling a bit old today so I didn't actually crawl down next to the engine, the shot of the heater I took by reaching down with the camera and snapping the picture. I'm guessing there's a pair of screw terminals under the orange cover seen here.







I had a shorepower line hooked up for about an hour, I could feel some warmth on the starboard side valve cover about an hour after turning the heater on, figure you'd want to switch it on a few hours before heading to the ramp. For reference, it was about 45 degrees out when I took these.

Let me know if you have any other questions - I was happy to learn something about my own boat while checking this out for you!

[jcollins]

Doug,
Is the other end of that lead connected to a switch on your panel? Or does it plug in to outlet?

[cahoots5]

Doug: Thanks, I think my heater was removed at the last overhaul, In this location, there is just a brass plug best I can see. Thanks for your help, I'm going to find a GM block heater an install it in that same location. Steve on Bella

[DougSea]

Doug,
Is the other end of that lead connected to a switch on your panel? Or does it plug in to outlet?

It's plugged into a female socket mounted to the end of a piece of marine grade 120v cable. There's a seperate breaker on the bottom of my AC pannel, which looks like it was added later, that controls the heater.

[tomcat rio]

...the manual doesn't mention one. my engine is a 2006 which is made by american general and not GM...so it may be different. still, the manual leaves a lot to be desired.