Living Aboard in the Winter

[Capt. lulz]

Simple noob question: What are the issues and considerations for living aboard in the winter?

[canucksailor]

Uh...it's cold? Where exactly are you planning on doing this? It's one thing in Annapolis MD, another thing entirely in Toronto.

[Capt. lulz]

Originally Posted by canucksailor

Uh...it's cold? Where exactly are you planning on doing this? It's one thing in Annapolis MD, another thing entirely in Toronto.

Philadelphia, PA

[zeehag]

toobludicold. take the boat to pair a dice and be warm.

oh yeah--and welcome if i haven't said it prior.

[DeepFrz]

Better be well insulated, ventilated and heated.

[Capt. lulz]

Originally Posted by zeehag

toobludicold. take the boat to pair a dice and be warm.

I have no idea what language you're speaking, lady.

oh yeah--and welcome if i haven't said it prior.

Thank you

[Capt. lulz]

Originally Posted by DeepFrz

Better be well insulated, ventilated and heated.

few things

• how does one ventilate and insulate at the same time? (don't they conflict?)
• what is the best way to stay warm (I assume there are different heating sources)

[clsailor]

Icy docks, condensation on the inside of the boat, frozen waterlines, loss of electricity in storms, but it is still better than being a landlubber. Welcome aboard.

[jacob30]

Espar diesel heater or Dickinson heater.

[capngeo]

Originally Posted by Capt. lulz

I have no idea what language you're speaking, lady.


Thank you

Zeeglish!

[DeepFrz]

Ventilation and insulation don't conflict except in the fact that you have to draw dry cold air in to displace hot moist air. Very necessary, as it is in a house.

Insulation will stop a lot of the condensation that you are going to be battling daily. You must keep the air circulating constantly in all cabins and cabinets. Good fans are a must. Either a good diesel fired forced air heating system or diesel hydronic heating system will help although you can get by with a ventilated diesel stove and a good fan to circulate the heat. A diesel stove makes it more difficult to heat other cabins.

Computer fans mounted in the bulkheads of closets will help keep your cloths dry. There must be a vent for inlet air with the fan blowing out. Make sure the hull is insulated in closets or your cloths will get wet and moldy. Insulate your hatches.
Hatches and Port-lights will get wet with condensation.

What else do you need to know?

[zeehag]

ty, capngeo---LOl zeeglish...
when i lived aboard in a colder northern area,i used kerosene lamps with liquid paraffin as a medium and kept all my ports and hatches open .

if philly were closer to mazatlan you wouldnt need the dickinson diesel heater i am selling or trading....

[Doodles]

Assuming you are at a marina dock, a couple electric heaters with the occasional supplement from an Espar type heater. It's not very practical to consider running an Espar 24/7 when you've got shore power but its good to have when you lose power.

Be prepared for icy docks like someone said. Know how you're going to deal with them ... salt, etc. Also, be prepared to deal with snow ... on your tarp or canvas and in the cockpit. A small snow shovel is very useful.

[capngeo]

My live aboard time has all been in Florida.... But it got to the 20°s a few times. Follow the advise on condensation! I would add having an absorber towel or chamois for the shower too. If you're dockside (I would assume so, unless you ice-skate to the boat), I found electric heat to be best. My air conditioner reversed, and I had space heaters as well for when it got real cold.

[DaveOnCudjoe]

I lived aboard on the Ohio River for 7 yrs in a powered vessel designed for that purpose. Walls and ceiling were insulated with fiberglass batts, windows were double glazed and the doors were tight fitting with storm doors. I heated with wood and kerosene. Both heaters drew outside air for combustion and exhausted outside. Bilge vents were sealed in winter and at -20F water tanks would freeze unless a light bulb was left on in the bilge. Hull was steel and I would freeze in for about a month. Fiberglass boats used bubblers to keep the hull free of the ice. All below waterline thru hulls are closed and engine winterized but ready to go at a moments notice. Those years were the best of my life. Dave