Here's my two bits:

The plat Cat heater is (Rather, was..) the only heater on the market that
was near-ideal for us Westy owners.

It is safe to use, as it vents it's combustion products.

It uses very little current, so it is compatible with single battery
vehicles - like a normal Vanagon.

It does not burn with a flame, so it is not a serious fire hazard

It uses fuel that is readily available

It produces the right amount of heat for our needs

Further info can be found at:

http://www.tiu.net/~des/vw/garth/index.html

While there - check out the home-made hot water system - it's ingenious!

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy

-----Original Message-----
From: James Creech <jacreech@VISUALLINK.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Sunday, October 22, 2000 6:41 AM
Subject: Re: Vented Plat Cat Heater

>Thanks, Robert, for your kindness and expertise in this which you are
>offering to listmembers.  However, some like me are probably novices in
>camper heating.  So could you give us a brief summary of how this heater
>works, where it can be installed, a rough estimate of cost, etc.?
>
>Jim Creech
>87 Westy 2.1
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Robert Keezer <WarmerWagen@AOL.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 5:44 AM
>Subject: Re: Vented Plat Cat Heater
>
>
>> Hey - I have a Plat Cat also, on the closet wall. It is real nice to turn
>a
>> thermostat on and sit back-besides being warm and dry, you breathe easier
>> also. the power venting makes several air changes inside the van per
hour.
>>
>> I have been lurking&waiting to ask the list some questions about this
very
>> heater/Now that Harald and Nancy have warmed up the subject and
>themselves,
>> and since cold weather is actually here for most of us, here is what I
>want
>> to say.
>>
>>
>>  I have been corresponding with Arnie Lind of A&L Enterprises for a year
>now.
>> I installed one of the last cats made by Thermal systems, which also
>happened
>> to be my first installation.
>>  I bought and sold several used cats to Listmembers, and saved one for my
>82
>> Westfalia, which was installed earlier this year. It really heats well,
>mine
>> is the 6,000 Btu model. I believe this is a good choice for the Vanagon,
>> considering the efficiency of catalytics, and the low power usage.
>>
>> Most of us need a camping heater, and the clay pot though cheap, is
really
>> not recommended (you know that label that says "not for comfort
>heating"?)I
>> must admit- I first used the stove to warm up the Westy-but boy was it
>> dripping wet inside.
>>  Many of our northwest winter days are 100% humidity as many Wetwesties
>will
>> testify, hence the name.
>>  Not only do you get to pop the top like a clam, but you get to feel l
>like
>> one too!
>>
>> . So the stove or vent-less heater can make you as damp inside as it is
>out.
>> Not as big of a problem in a desert.
>>
>>   How many of us are interested in Plat Cat heaters?  Harald and Nancy
>> mentioned these can be made to order -- which are 110 units that can be
>> converted to 12 Volts.
>> I believe it is a very fine product with a high degree of engineering in
>> it-much easier to use than the Olympian that I started out on. Certainly
>the
>> Olympian kept me warm-and wet.
>> How many Listmembers would like a Platinum Cat?
>> I don't know a price yet, but when the minimum number of ten Listmembers
>is
>> reached that can be calculated.
>>
>> Please post to the list or to me-not to Arnie as he is very busy getting
>> ready for a presentation to a midwest manufacturer. I am volunteering for
>> this, so any one who wants to help you are very welcome.
>>
>> Though we are not the largest group of potential buyers, we do have
enough
>> members to be considered for "Vanagon Specific" production.
>>
>> If you have an idea for design or installation, I would like to know it.
I
>> will take this info to him when I go to Spokane later this month. I have
>made
>> some heat shields and I asked him to look at my installation to
>> evaluate/study other locations/heater designs. We could have several
>> different Vanagon models.
>>
>> Thanks for your ideas and interest. I have benefited much from this list,
>so
>> I would like to contribute also, and this is a unique opportunity to do
>so.
>> All I can say about the cat is-you'll like it!
>> Savor those last moments of coldness.
>>
>> Robert
>>
>>
>> 1982 Westfalia
>> 1983.5 Sunroof Vanagon
>> 1980 Westfalia
>