Having a Fireplace Onboard

[Dame.n.Jess]

We are thinking of retro fitting a small wood fire into our yacht. We wanted to know if anyone here has fitted a fire to their boat. Our boat is fibreglass and we our currently unsure of insulation requirements etc. We are also keen to know if running a small fire onboard creates more condensation or moisture.

[Jentine]

Please clarify - fire or stove?

[YourOldNemesis]

I've had a fire on-board. Condensation or regulatory requirements were the least of my problems

[capngeo]

I suppose we need to make a leap of faith that the OP was referring to a fireplace or the like!

[Paul Lefebvre]

I assume you are talking about a small wood stove like the "Little Cod"

LITTLE COD INFO & SPECS.

The picture gives you an idea about the insulation requirements, but each stove will have clearances and shielding requirements indicated in their installation manuals.

A wood stove will not add moisture to a room because the products of combustion (water vapor) exit up the flue. It will however reduce condensation due to the rise in cabin temperatures.

[Ozbullwinkle]

Installing a fireplace in a 28 foot boat (or any size boat for that matter) would be ridiculous - apologies for my frankness but really. There are a myriad of reasons against it like obviuosly the risk of setting your yacht on fire , insurance issues (like being uninsurable) and what would other boaters think when seeing a yacht with smoke coming out of it - naturally they would think you were in trouble and on fire. Stick to approved and much safer ways to heat your boat and keep the fireplace in your loungeroom at home where it belongs.

[Pete7]

Your not getting quite the answers you were looking for are you. Still try this:

Wood Stove advice - installation, maintenance, problems

and how about something like this:

BENGCO MARINE HEATERS

Pete

[tager]

I have a "COLE STOVE" I use wood, charcoal, and sometimes rolled up newspapers. It definitely helps to dry out the cabin. You will need to install insulation if you want to do any serious heating. Some kind of "thermal ballast" is a good idea too.

This is on a 26' so you can go ahead and chalk up one satisfied "ridiculous" person.

[Mark1977]

I have used a small wood stove on previous boats and would do it again. Further north you just can't beat it at anchor or dockside. I have used a stove that was built here for years at the Lunenberg foundry's. they were originally built for heat on board fishing vessels years ago. Installed properly they are great, but if you mean an open fireplace then no for obvious reasons.

[Wotname]

I have been on board a couple of Tassie yachts with small fires (OK stoves for those up-over) so as others have posted, it is not that ridiculous but it is unusual for mainland Aussie boats.

[glenn.225]

Or if you like propane or diesel you could try one of these. I really like the glass fronted ones. There is a wood verson too, it's also the best priced.

Dickinson Marine - Quality Marine Heaters and Stoves Since 1932


Glenn

[atoll]

we have used a morso squirrel multi fuel stove for the last 5 years in the uk,no issues safety wise,just creats a lot of dust,currently replacing it with an almost identical diesel stove that has a back boiler to enable us to run radiators and heat cabins as well without the hassel and mess of lugging coal and wood onboard,and dumping the ash.

[tager]

I will probably replace my woodstove with a diesel model when it runs to the end of it's useful life. Aluminum foil can only seal so many cracks!

[h20man]

Originally Posted by atoll

we have used a morso squirrel multi fuel stove for the last 5 years in the uk,no issues safety wise,just creats a lot of dust,currently replacing it with an almost identical diesel stove that has a back boiler to enable us to run radiators and heat cabins as well without the hassel and mess of lugging coal and wood onboard,and dumping the ash.

Is that a home built ferro using the brick technique in the photo?

You appear to have tons of space in the bilges.... What type of draught is your boat?


Looks nice....

[sarafina]

I have a friend on the slip who has a stove similar to this and loves it. She burns all her paper products and chunks of wood about 5" x 3" Traditional Cast Iron Marine Stoves by Navigator Stove Works,Inc.