Visit our Popular Forums

**hummingway** · 20-11-2010, 11:31

We are headed for a couple of cold nights here. Last year I was living aboard during any cold weather but I am not this year. It might go down to -8C (about 18F) over night. The water temperature is 9C ( about 48F) and tidal current will keep that steady. Right now I have portholes open for ventilation but wonder if I'd be better closing the boat up for a couple of days?

**capngeo** · 20-11-2010, 12:46

Hmmm... down here just add 40*F to all the temps and I could pose the same question LOL!

**hummingway** · 20-11-2010, 12:54

I wish I had that problem

My concern here is that the water pipes might freeze.

IdoraKeeper · 20-11-2010, 13:30

In the past winter I have kept lot's of heat on Idora and periodically open her up and ventilate. The theory is that warm air holds more moisture than cool air and carries that moisture away with it. Since I started doin this I have had no condensation and no mildew.

Knock on wood.

Todd

klem · 20-11-2010, 13:34

In an ideal world, you would close the boat up as soon as the air temp outside goes below the air temp down below. In general, closing the boat up will be a better bet for these times because you want to minimize the heat transfer to the cold air and hope that the water on the hull keeps things warm.

The other strategy would be to try to quickly winterize things. Are you done sailing for the season? If so, an hour or two spent now will save a lot of worrying everytime it gets cold.

**hummingway** · 20-11-2010, 13:44

I sail all winter so don't want to winterize. Maybe what I'll do is close it up until the cold snap passes. It doesn't go below freezing often, or for long, here.

**boatman61** · 20-11-2010, 13:45

In the UK thermostatic control greenhouse heaters are very popular..... if your tied into shorepower.... once the temp drops below 5c they switch on for a short while...

I've a couple I use on my 21ftr for heating alongside.... its just a radiant bar with a thermo control... kept me toastie in Viviero, Spain one Dec when anyone over 400ft alltitude was snowed in,,, mind headrooms only 4'6"s...

Parasene 593 Frost Fighter 2kW Heater

The above are the modern versions... mine are around 20yrs old now....lol

delmarrey · 20-11-2010, 14:00

The object is to keep the inside warmer then the outside so condensation doesn't accumulate anywhere inside fuel tanks especially.
If your tied to a dock with 110v then you can burn lights, which is the cheapest immediate solution.

All winter and spring I burn 3-4 250 watt clamp on lamps. It keeps the boat dry and above freezing all winter. I open up cabinets/hatches to the fuel & water tanks to keep them above freezing and outside cold.

The average humidity here in the PNW is 60-80% and up to 90% on those nasty days. You can't get rid of the moisture but can keep it at bay.

aaronupnorth · 20-11-2010, 14:40

If you happen to be on the mainland and want a small portable space heater for our occasional un-BC-like days let me know, I have a couple of extras kicking around I am sure....
Aaron

**hummingway** · 20-11-2010, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaronupnorth

If you happen to be on the mainland and want a small portable space heater for our occasional un-BC-like days let me know, I have a couple of extras kicking around I am sure....
Aaron

That's really kind Aaron. I'm actually tied to a mooring ring this year so ho shore power. Last year I ran an oil filled electric heater which was marvelous.

This year when I'm on the boat I have the coolest heater I've ever come across. A fellow here on Gabriola patented them and makes them sells them. Very labour intensive. He calls them stone heaters. They are granite and heat with tea lights (votive candles - whatever their called).
It's impressive how much heat they put out burning cheap parrafin candles.

Default

Won't work when not on the boat though

aaronupnorth · 20-11-2010, 15:08

Ahhh I didn't realize you were off power!
I really like those stone heaters, I'm going to email the guy about them!
Aaron

zeehag · 20-11-2010, 15:32

the best advice i can give ye is---

SAIL SOUTH

seriously-- can you place a timer on an invertor so the re is a light/heat device that goes on every so often for trying to keep the boogie freeze out of the pipes?? would have to have enough incoming power to make it work...

SurferShane · 20-11-2010, 15:32

Closing the boat up you always have the danger of carbon monoxide build-up/poisoning from fuel heaters etc…, It’s a painless way to go were death creeps up slowly. If using any such things you MUST have ventilation.

**hummingway** · 20-11-2010, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeehag

the best advice i can give ye is---

SAIL SOUTH

seriously-- can you place a timer on an invertor so the re is a light/heat device that goes on every so often for trying to keep the boogie freeze out of the pipes?? would have to have enough incoming power to make it work...

Both are great ideas Zee. Unfortunately no south for me this winter. I don't think we're getting enough lumens right now for the solar panels to offer much power replacement unfortunately, although the cold should bring some sun.