Unattended diesel heaters

[Sailing55]

I'm wondering what other liveaboards think about unattended diesel heaters on boats in marinas. I've known of three boats over many years that have burned due to diesel or propane heaters.
Other than the annoying noise of the exhaust, how do you folks feel about the safety issue of a potentially dangerous appliance running 24/7 with no one onboard.
Am I being paranoid??

[MWGDVC]

I have and use a forced air diesel heater. I only operate it when I am aboard or very near. In my view, too many possible scenarios of failure with catastrophic results. If the exhaust pipe came off the heater, I am sure the exhaust temp. is high enough to ignite GRP or wood. I use a CO detector in the cabin, which would hopefully alert me early enough if I was aboard or in earshot.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Sailing55

I'm wondering what other liveaboards think about unattended diesel heaters on boats in marinas. I've known of three boats over many years that have burned due to diesel or propane heaters.
Other than the annoying noise of the exhaust, how do you folks feel about the safety issue of a potentially dangerous appliance running 24/7 with no one onboard.
Am I being paranoid??

Agreed that every heater and all the power should be turned off when unattended with the exception of those engine room heaters that cannot ignite

[Windpilot]

Been using a forced air Chinese diesel heater for over 5 years now. Nothing bad has ever happened but I never have left it unattended. In fact I mostly just use it an hour or two in the evening and maybe an hour in the morning only. I've stepped off the boat while it's on but never out of site.
I don't think anything would happen but not willing to push my luck if it isn't necessary.

[massnspace]

What could possibly go wrong???

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by massnspace

What could possibly go wrong???

That picture is great marketing but it’s completely incorrect.

It can’t produce anything but fresh, warm air out the hot air outlet. No fire, no smoke. Nothing.

BUT… it could cause an electrical fire

[Sailing55]

Thanks for the replies...I have an older Dickenson pot type vented diesel heater that runs all the time in winter except when I leave the boat for more than 1/2 hr. or so. I just could not imagine letting it run with me away from the boat. I experienced a runaway incident one evening many years ago at anchor and believe me it is a sight to behold. Had I not been aboard to shut it down immediately it surely would have burned my boat.
Walking the docks in the evenings where I am currently, I am amazed at the unattended boats with the heater exhaust blasting away. Not liveaboard boats, but boats with owners far away at home.

I was curious to see if other folks thought it is an unsafe/dangerous thing to do.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Sailing55

Thanks for the replies...I have an older Dickenson pot type vented diesel heater that runs all the time in winter except when I leave the boat for more than 1/2 hr. or so. I just could not imagine letting it run with me away from the boat. I experienced a runaway incident one evening many years ago at anchor and believe me it is a sight to behold. Had I not been aboard to shut it down immediately it surely would have burned my boat.
Walking the docks in the evenings where I am currently, I am amazed at the unattended boats with the heater exhaust blasting away. Not liveaboard boats, but boats with owners far away at home.

I was curious to see if other folks thought it is an unsafe/dangerous thing to do.

I would be shopping for a new marina if I saw that on my dock.

It’s incredible that they are willing to put everyone’s boats at risk

[Sailing55]

My thoughts exactly re the danger to other people and boats...

[noelex 77]

Personally, I think the only diesel heaters that can be safely left unattended are drip fed heaters such as the Reflex. These have no electrical components such as fans or solenoid's to fail.

Don’t forget a CO alarm with any combustion heater.

However, sleeping is more comfortable when slightly cooler so turning off the heater when retiring for the night if you have reasonable insulation is perfectly comfortable even in the coldest climates.

[SailingHarmonie]

This discussion kind of begs the question: If there is an appliance, or even just a power circuit, you would not trust to leave running while you were not on the boat, how could you possibly leave it running while you were asleep?

If you have ever seen how fast a boat fire spreads, planning on waking up in time to do anything, including getting out, is very unrealistic.

It seems to me that any appliance that can not be trusted when I am not present in body, can not be trusted while I sleep, and should just never be on the boat in the first place.

[newhaul]

Don't leave my forced air diesel running if I'm gone for more than a half hour or so it's a waste of diesel to leave it running . The thermostat controls are mounted just above my sea berth so I can start it a half hour before I get up and shut it off when I go to bed. That's what goose down comforters are for.

[massnspace]

Beware!

[Windpilot]

Originally Posted by massnspace

Beware!

I've heard of and seen plenty of of fuel/engine , electrical and galley fires. Maybe you can point to a diesel heater causing a fire?
Your beware comments with a fire breathing unit (which they don't do) need some back up.
Do you even know how they work?

[wrwakefield]

Living in cooler climes, this is often a question/consideration.

In Alaska, most commercial [and recreational] boats have diesel fueled pot heaters as you describe having. Most often they are the heat source within the vessel’s cook stove [hobb].

Well installed and maintained systems are very reliable- until something goes wrong. Consequently, most [all?] harbors [including mine] have strict rules disallowing their use when the vessel is unoccupied. I know of a couple of vessels in other harbors who lost their ‘permanent’ slip over repeated infractions.

As much as we trust our Sig Marine bulkhead heater [and installation…] we turn it off when we are away from the boat- whether at anchor [majority of the time] or in a harbor; our conservative choice.

We have no qualms leaving our recent model Espar forced air diesel heater running during brief absences from the boat [2-4 hrs] in cold weather, however. We feel the risk is reduced since it is located in the engine room [isolated ventilation from the rest of the boat] which includes an automatic fire suppression system.

It is a personal choice which is sometimes driven by local rules/regs.

In case any of this is of interest.

Cheers, Bill