Boy, do I Miss Slant Fin

Mad Dog_2

As many may know, Slant Fin was bought out by Mestek which owns Embassy Baseboard about 2 years ago. I was very sad to see this happen, but what are you gonna do? Slant Fin had this great and easy to use Compact Disc for your computer called the HYDRONIC EXPLORER. I got very comfortable with it and it was very accurate. Somehow, I lost the old disc when I changed computers and try as I may could not get a replacement. I called Embassy the other day and spoke to a very nice gentleman and explained what I was looking for. In no uncertain terms, he told me that they don't and will not come up with a similar, easy-to-use Heatloss Program, period. I was kind of in shock and told him that they really should consider this. Good luck. Slant Fin was very big on education and had countless Free and VERY cheap seminars and classes on every thing from Boiler controls, Radiant Heating strategies, to Heating salesmanship. They also had a great BBQ out back every summer. You always left with a bag full of great shirts and stuff. They treated you like Fambly! (John Steinbeck). Phyliss Finkle always answered the phone with style and class, "Hello...Slant FIN!!!!" The guys in Tech support were super smart and helpful. Noel Murdough RIP and Larry. Amir Amir in the engineering Dept and the great trainer and gentleman, Jim Earhart. Boy, do I miss Slant Fin! Mad Dog

Jamie Hall

Sorry about all that -- but not surprised. Slant/Fin was great, but Mestek -- makers of SpacePak etc. -- are really pretty bad. Good enough products, but they seem to think that that's more than enough.

Mad Dog_2

Unfortunately, they bought up ALL the baseboard companies except Haydon. Mad Dog

pedmec

Too much competition and not a big enough market. Its only going to get worse with the push for electrification.

The Steam Whisperer

I think they were the last family owned cast iron boiler manufacturer. Everyone else is now just part a some giant corporation. They were the only company I ever dealt with that actually paid for labor on factory defect issues...everyone else just dumps these now huge and rapidly growing costs on the contractor. I no longer have any brand loyalty anymore....pretty much treatly poorly by every corp. There are still a few good tech guys left, but probably not anymore in a couple years.

Mestek had really jacked up thier price of the Dunkirk product line. The residential steamers are nearly the cost of Peerless.... particularly with needing two risers on nearly all the sizes and the Peerless needing only one.

Steamhead

@Mad Dog_2 , if you copy the Slant/Fin folder on your old computer (probably called slantfin) to the new one, and create a shortcut to the HEATLOSS.EXE file in the Hydronicexplorer2 folder, it should still work.

Jersey2

Are Slant Fin boilers not manufactured anymore?

Mad Dog_2

I have a feeling, no. Embassy kept only the residential baseboard as far as I know.  Mad dog

Docfletcher

I think there is an App for HYDRONIC EXPLORER. You can try going to the Google play store to see if it's still there.

Docfletcher

Also... www.hydronicexplorer.com

Mad Dog_2

Hmmm. Thanks. I'll check that out.  Mad Dog 🐕 

Long Beach Ed

Slant Fin was a good, local company. Ah, the relentless hand of time...

Mad Dog_2

I know...they treated you like Fambly.  Mad Dog

GGross

@Mad Dog_2

I wouldn't throw mestek under for slant fin going away. Mestek bought the baseboard line years ago and didn't change anything. What you are seeing currently with slant fin boiler going away, and subsequently their apps and training, is due to a botched buy out deal with US boiler company.

gyrfalcon

Does anybody have a second go -to , after Slant Fin?  In my few years of homeownership , boiler room observations and contractor interrogations, I have had several quotes and opinions given mostly for Lochinvar modcon and a navien or two as well. Cast iron ranging from 1 US/Burnham,  1 Weil McLain, 1 Utica and 1 Slant Fin .  Now that Slant Fin is done and others maybe dealing with supply chain issues,  I’m happy to keep my old Slant Fin girl going a while longer.  Maybe late 70s early 80s were really good quality and even though the boiler isn’t piped to today’s standards, it’s lasted this long!!  What are contractors and home owners going to do?  Just deal with it and move on I suppose. 

hot_rod

Unless you plan on purchasing and installing it yourself? I would go with the contractor you trust decision . I would guess in these times you get what is available, not necessarily preferred.
I don’t see light years of difference between US cast iron brands, or even mod cons for that matter.
The basic sections or mod con HX seem to come from a handful of manufacturers. Same with gas valves, inducer fans, microprocessors, limit and safety switches, vent dampers and circulators
Jackets and control functions are the main difference

Mad Dog_2

Mr Gross:  That's a big leap you took there 
With what I said.  Politely and humbly  Airing my disappointment with Mestek's policy, and waxing nostalgic about the great Slant fin hardly qualifies as "throwing them under (the bus I suppose you mean?)"   A little criticism is in order.  They are obviously a much larger corporation than Slant Fin was and one would think that since they sell so much baseboard, they would assist homeowners and contractors in purchasing the correct amount of their product.  Is that too much to ask?  Taco has Circulator sizing programs and Burnham has their radiator sizing system and Amtrol has tank sizing systems.  Its pretty common in our industry.  Respectfully,  Mad Dog 🐕 

JohnNY

@Mad Dog_2 Whaattt!! When did Noel Murdough pass away? Smart dude. He helped me out many times. I actually first met him at Dan's house in Long Island back in the '90s.

gyrfalcon

@hot_rod, I’ve considered a diy install but there’s really no reason to, short of fulfilling my own gumption.

 I think what this really comes down to is how we treat each other. From raw material and production to  corporate to the local supply house to the contractor to the install crew to the homeowner, there is a continuity of respect and it goes both ways.  This type of thing is easily lost and hard to find. 

Robert O'Brien

The Steam Whisperer said:

I think they were the last family owned cast iron boiler manufacturer. Everyone else is now just part a some giant corporation. They were the only company I ever dealt with that actually paid for labor on factory defect issues...everyone else just dumps these now huge and rapidly growing costs on the contractor. I no longer have any brand loyalty anymore....pretty much treatly poorly by every corp. There are still a few good tech guys left, but probably not anymore in a couple years. Mestek had really jacked up thier price of the Dunkirk product line. The residential steamers are nearly the cost of Peerless.... particularly with needing two risers on nearly all the sizes and the Peerless needing only one.

ECR owns Dunkirk, not Mestek. 

Mad Dog_2

Noel passed away from a heart attack about 3 years ago, I'd say, John. Yes, he was extremely intelligent, experienced and helpful. Got me outta few jams! Miss his sharp and witty intellect. Mad Dog

The Steam Whisperer

Robert O'Brien said:

The Steam Whisperer said:

I think they were the last family owned cast iron boiler manufacturer. Everyone else is now just part a some giant corporation. They were the only company I ever dealt with that actually paid for labor on factory defect issues...everyone else just dumps these now huge and rapidly growing costs on the contractor. I no longer have any brand loyalty anymore....pretty much treatly poorly by every corp. There are still a few good tech guys left, but probably not anymore in a couple years.

Mestek had really jacked up thier price of the Dunkirk product line. The residential steamers are nearly the cost of Peerless.... particularly with needing two risers on nearly all the sizes and the Peerless needing only one.

ECR owns Dunkirk, not Mestek. 

I thought Mestek bought ECR a number of years ago.

Mad Dog_2

Its too confusing to follow.  Like pharmaceutical companies...every few years they buy eachother out and hyphenate and then change their names.  Mad Dog

Jersey2

I figured Slant Fin boilers were popular and find it odd that they just stopped making them. Last April for my conversion the hvac company installed a Slant Fin. That must have been just prior to their boiler division closing. Parts should always be available, right? There aren't very many parts on the thing.

Jersey2

I searched the obituary for Noel Murdough but didn't find anything. I think I found his nephew's obituary though

https://holtwoodburyfh.com/index.php/march-2022/orry-e-murdough-march-11-2022

JohnNY

Jersey2 said:

I searched the obituary for Noel Murdough but didn't find anything. I think I found his nephew's obituary though

https://holtwoodburyfh.com/index.php/march-2022/orry-e-murdough-march-11-2022

....In case this could be more depressing.
Oh man.

MaxMercy

Jersey2 said:

There aren't very many parts on the thing.

I have a three year old Intrepid. I think I'll find a chamber for it and keep it in stock. I can't think of anything else I would need.

WillieJ

Docfletcher said:

I think there is an App for HYDRONIC EXPLORER. You can try going to the Google play store to see if it's still there.

The Slant Fin app is gone from the Apple App Store. Tried to re download it to my iPad just now and it said “no longer available”.

Jamie Hall

Mad Dog_2 said:

Noel passed away from a heart attack about 3 years ago, I'd say, John. Yes, he was extremely intelligent, experienced and helpful. Got me outta few jams! Miss his sharp and witty intellect. Mad Dog

He helped me get started understanding steam getting on for 20 years ago now. Good man.

Mad Dog_2

He was super-sharp with EVERYTHING heating- Period.  We had some great times figuring out rough jobs and drinking Ice Cold Buds on my front porch.  Mad Dog