Heat - What Works, What Doesn't ?

[ahnutts!]

Its gettin fricken cold out there! I wanna know:

1) What you use
2) how much boat it heats
3) how much you're spending on fuel
4) pros and cons
5) are your toes warm?

I have a Sig Marine 180 diesel heater in the salon. When at the dock I also use 2 portable electric heaters. When on the hook I use a propane tent heater in my aft cabin and if necessary sleep in -20ºc sleeping bag. I find the Sig 180 does OK by itself down to 0ºc but lacks the ability to deal with freezing temperatures to my liking. I'm considering pulling the Sig in favor of a Little cod woodstove. I'd like to hear from anyone who's had one.

Aye aye, and good bye

[SailFastTri]

The catalytic propane tent heaters throw off H2O as a by-product. That will create a lot of extra condensation in the cabin (not good). They're OK for occasional use but not a full time solution. You need outside-vented or electric heat sources.

[ahnutts!]

Originally Posted by SailFastTri

The catalytic propane tent heaters throw off H2O as a by-product. That will create a lot of extra condensation in the cabin (not good). They're OK for occasional use but not a full time solution. You need outside-vented or electric heat sources.

Cooking with propane throws off a ton of moisture as well but the diesel heater takes care of it

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by ahnutts!

Its gettin fricken cold out there! I wanna know:

1) What you use
2) how much boat it heats
3) how much you're spending on fuel
4) pros and cons
5) are your toes warm?

I have a Sig Marine 180 diesel heater in the salon. When at the dock I also use 2 portable electric heaters. When on the hook I use a propane tent heater in my aft cabin and if necessary sleep in -20ºc sleeping bag. I find the Sig 180 does OK by itself down to 0ºc but lacks the ability to deal with freezing temperatures to my liking. I'm considering pulling the Sig in favor of a Little cod woodstove. I'd like to hear from anyone who's had one.

Aye aye, and good bye

I am docked in a marina, so I have AC electric. I use a SMALL (less than 1' sq) ceramic heater, and it works well to temps of 45. It is not expensive to operate. If I were to sail overnight in the winter I'd just get a good sleeping bag.

[Vasco]

There is a solution to cold weather.

[svWindfall]

Having lived in the Pacific NW with it's cold-rainy-snowy-foggy-and partial sunny weather, our problem with keeping a warm boat was condensation. The hatches and windows would drip endlessly till my wife found a great solution (and cheap). We purchased the window shrink-wrap that you install and use a hairdryer to shrink it so it fits very tighlyt. I'm sure you can find this at any hardware store. Be sure not to make the inside so airtight you don't have any fresh air coming in. Springtime we would remove the wrap. Now, we're in tropic Panama and the problem is mold! If it's not one thing it's another... time to get the vinegar out..again.