Kerosene Heaters

[lorenzo123]

I'm spring cleaning my apartment, and bumped into a "Kerosun" heater. Wondering if anyone's used one onboard (not underway).

The footprint is accommodating for the boat, and the thing really puts out some heat; it has an automatic shutoff, a no-spill tank, and has that homey fireplace look and feel so it's tempting. I've used it when I lived in a cabin in the woods, and loved the heat.

Any comments? lorenzo

[foamcore]

I wouldn't use something like that anywhere but tied to a dock in calm weather, with a hatch open/ Kinna dangerous, smelly, and dirty for a boat.

[atoll]

just got hold of one of these,to replace our old wood burning stove,runs on diesel,but shuld cost the same to run as the other but with out the hassel of lugging wood and coal and no dust.

[diama]

the fumes from that type of heater will kill you in the confined space of a boat.... fossil fuel heaters need a chimney vent and perferably an air intake vent as well.

[atoll]

the chimney flue on the old wood burner in the pics.

as a previous poster stated,running a stove that doent have a exteriour flue is highly dangerous,and would not reccomend it.

however if it does have a flue,they are very safe and clean.

[kenny chaos]

With proper ventilation and proper tuning, a kerosun will work real well.
It's very important to know how to keep one properly tuned for clean, efficient burning.
No shortcuts!

[lorenzo123]

Foamcore, thanks. It was just a thought prompted by sudden cold weather. I wouldn't have used it except at dock, and am aware that one needs to "crack" a window open (open a hatch). Probably just yard sale it.

[AnchorageGuy]

lorenzo, I use a Kerosene heater in the cabin while working on the boat all winter long. It does a great job of warming the cabin and as long as I use #1 kerosene, I have experienced no odor or soot. There are carbon monoxide detectors in all three cabins and none have ever gone off. Ours has a tip over cut off so it would probably not be good underway except in very calm conditions. The boat is shrink wrapped for the winter and the heater also allows me to do work on deck under the shrink wrap. I just have to be careful to not get it too close or the shrink wrap or it shrinks even more. Chuck

[lorenzo123]

Thanks all. I may just use it at berth (not underway) and also in cockpit with canopy overhead. I'm familiar with cleaning them (worked in my pop's hardware store where we sold and serviced them), and am well aware of ventilation issues and good fuel and wicks. out, lorenzo

[lorenzo123]

One more thing: funny (not?) how I started getting popups for kerosene heaters. It's like being stalked by a cyber marketer.