I have the newport dickenson installed in my atv trailer... it is a great heater with a high heat output, but it is NOT an install-it-and-forget-it type of device, like a hydronic or forced air furnace...
there is a very simple mod that i will tell you about in a minute that can be done to it to make it much more trouble free.
the black on the glass is due to it burning a bit rich.. this means its not running as efficient as it could be.... induce some air in to it with the induction fan. there is nothing quick about noticing any changes when they are made, so be patient. but there is no real harm or danger in it burning rich except for the soot build up.
when the stove is cold it can create soot which is normal, but when its hot it should stabilize, and can even burn the soot off the glass.
once the stove starts putting out some heat, turn the induction fan off. it is unnecessary once the natural draft gets going good.
if you have the right bonnet/charlie noble on the stack, it works well in the wind and underway, this is providing the stove is mounted in the correct orientation so that the float it not lifted off the needle seat in the valve due to the heel of the boat.... see owners manual for correct orientation.
the other problem with the stove is that it is definitely NOT a unit that can be stopped and started quickly or efficiently... when it is stopped and started, it needs cleaning much more frequently, which can be a dirty job, depending on your install.
it usually needs a cleaning after every couple of light ups, UNLESS you add a setteling bulb to fitting below the burner where the fuel feeds from.
what happens is the soot will settle down the fuel feed hole and fill it completely up to the burn chamber... it will back up into the feed line that comes from the valve as well... and it can be a PITA to clean it out if it gets impacted.
the fix it to install a settling bulb... you remove the 1/4" pipe plug in the center at the buttom/underneath the burner assembly, and install the bulb there.
what I did was take a piece of 2" metal pipe, cut a short piece 1.5" long, then weld a cap on both ends to make a sealed "bulb".... then I drilled a hole in one of the caps and welded in a steel 1/4" npt nipple.... this allows the bulb to screw into the stove plumbing....
in addition I welded a fitting in the side of the bulb so that I could have two openings to clean it out from when necessary.
this lets the soot have a place to fall into without plugging the plumbing of the stove... and its a much quicker and cleaner service procedure than it was before.... just shut off the fuel, unscrew the bulb (firmly hand tight with sealer) and empty it out.... then reinstall(with sealer on the threads).
shortly after I installed mine and saw the soot issue, I was disappointed also. but after adding the settling bulb and learning the tricks, im very happy with it, and there is no other heating device around that is so compact, yet will put out so much heat.... I have has mine running red hot for a couple hours at a time, but I dont think its really that healthy for the stove to get that hot for so long... but it still looks new after 7 years of use.
I have cooked the solder out of the safety shut down also, but that was when it got really hot...
a fan blowing over it has a couple good effects.... it allows the heat to be circulated thru the space better, and at the same time it allows the stove to be opened up a bit to create more heat, because with the air blowing over it, it carries the heat away and keeps the stove from overheating.... and the air movement throughout the space keeps all the corners of the space warm and much dryer.
they do put out an impressive amount of heat... the space im heating is almost 1500cf, and uninsulated construction trailer. with a small fan blowing across the stove, it will heat the space to a sustained 70+degrees in 23 degree weather... for a 30-40ft boat, running it full time on 1 or 2 should be all one may ever need.
on my 34, I decided to go with a wallas 30D forced air diesel heater... its clean, dry, warm, efficient, and has electronic one-touch ignition, but it does not compare in any way to the heat output of the newport... but it still works well for the amount of space im heating.