12v Heaters?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

On the 12v heating idea, I’ve not tried this, but electric blankets or bed warmers should work. And there is an array of 12v heating items in the motorcycle world (gloves, jackets, shirts, pants, etc) which I suspect might work on a boat’s 12v system.

Faced with a 600 miles trip on a motorbike one February I bought a heated jacket. Set off and 30 minutes later had to turn down the control because despite freezing temperatures and travelling at speed I was too hot. Brilliant bit of kit that even the stator on the bike was able to supply.

Something like this:

https://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/...vest-x10/black

At night make up a hot water bottle.

Pete

[rsvmille]

While I agree that electric heat is not going to be cost effective off the grid...

A diesel forced air heater is far from the only safe, efficient, and reliable option.

Some options include:
Diesel forced air
Diesel hydronic
Diesel bulkhead (Dickinson, Refleks, etc)
Kerosene
LPG forced air
LPG catalytic
Solid fuel

- What you choose may depend on your needs, preferences, budget etc.

[Franziska]

Get one of the cheap Chinese diesel heaters.

https://m.pt.aliexpress.com/i/100500...gloPc2braMsite

Also available via Amazon.

Advantage for service you only disconnect from piping and wires and put it on the workbench.
Install is super easy, connect power and outlet hoses and that's it.
We did link it to a bigger external tank though.

Mine claims it has 8kw, even though it might be a bit less.
I paid 140€ including a remote, now in winter prices are a bit higher.

Works flawless and heats our 35 cat.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Get one of the cheap Chinese diesel heaters.

https://m.pt.aliexpress.com/i/100500...gloPc2braMsite

Also available via Amazon.

Advantage for service you only disconnect from piping and wires and put it on the workbench.
Install is super easy, connect power and outlet hoses and that's it.
We did link it to a bigger external tank though.

Mine claims it has 8kw, even though it might be a bit less.
I paid 140€ including a remote, now in winter prices are a bit higher.

Works flawless and heats our 35 cat.

Yes I’ve installed a few of those

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Get one of the cheap Chinese diesel heaters.

https://m.pt.aliexpress.com/i/100500...gloPc2braMsite

Also available via Amazon.

Advantage for service you only disconnect from piping and wires and put it on the workbench.
Install is super easy, connect power and outlet hoses and that's it.
We did link it to a bigger external tank though.

Mine claims it has 8kw, even though it might be a bit less.
I paid 140€ including a remote, now in winter prices are a bit higher.

Works flawless and heats our 35 cat.

Interesting... How noisy are they while operating?

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Interesting... How noisy are they while operating?

Not very if you do install the outlets not to close to the head of a bunk.

Slightly smelly in the first seconds but than odorless.

One more, get a cheap spare control panel too (=20€ approx). I was told that they fade over time if left on all the time.
Our heater has a connection to the switch board and we cut power to it when not in use, so for us that is not an issue.

[skipperpete]

I installed a Planar diesel heater and it works perfectly. The exhaust makes a noise but not audible inside the boat. The fuel pump clicks were annoying even though it’s in the engine space so I wrapped it in soundproofing and put it in a little box, problem solved.

[Rustic Charm]

I’m a thumbs up for the cheap diesel forced air heaters. I’ve just installed one on my boat.

Benefits -
Cheap to purchase (unless you get a Webasto)
Economic on diesel fuel (though fuel is currently not cheap)
Easy to install.
Quite operation (dependent on where you install it)
Safe - if it leaks, diesel fumes can make you sick but rarely will kill you like propane or butane. No chance of fire if installed correct,y.
No smell.

On my first boat I installed a genuine 2000 webastoe at $2000. My $200 Chinese one is just as good.

[GILow]

Regarding electric blankets...

No need to buy some weird expensive 12 volt version. The standard mains powered blankets only draw about 65 watts per side. They'll run off a cheap small inverter. Add 20% for the inefficiency of the inverter and you are still looking at less than 100 watts, run for all of half an hour before bed time.

So 5 amp hours on a 12 volt battery bank gets you a warm, and more importantly, DRY bed.

Got me through winter at 42 degrees south.

[Tenedos]

+1 to cheap (i.e. Chinese) diesel heaters. I installed one to our previous boat and it kept us toasty for an entire winter season in PNW. You can install one for less than $200.

[boat driver]

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

You will need at least 1,500W of power to heat the boat to what I think is your expectations. !.5KW at 12V is 125A. Your boat's wiring won't support that at all, even if your generator can deliver it. If your generator has 120V output and delivers it to a conventional duplex outlet like the ones ashore, you could use a conventional shoreside electric "plug in" heater. That would bring your temperature below decks to something like 50 or 55 degrees Fahrenheit, PROVIDED you keep the ship "buttoned up". Open a port 'ole, let alone a hatch, for a minute or two and you are back to ambient temperature.

The only SAFE and reliable way to get adequate heat in the boat for a longer term is to install a diesel fueled "truck heater" like a Chinese "knock-off" of the Webasto or Espar, unless you wish to pay the money of a "good one". A knock-off you should be able to get at an auto supply store like NAPA for somewhat under a thousand dollars.



If you have the knowledge and the tools to install one, good. Else you must obviously pay what it costs to have it done professionally.

It's unlikely that you can either do the job yourself or have it done professionally before your scheduled departure date but going to sleep below with any kind of a liquid fueled heater going might well result in an early arrival at Fiddler's Field!

Best just to dress appropriately. Or to wait for spring :-)!

TrentePieds

Be aware - the truck heater is fine except not marinized for salt water.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by boat driver

Be aware - the truck heater is fine except not marinized for salt water.

None of them are really so.

[MVDarlin]

I have a Force 10 2x burner vented propane furnace in my 34 c&c located in Ketchikan Alaska. It is very nice! No power required. DC/battery powered heaters are not efficient. Another option is to replace your galley stove with a vented diesel. Leave it in low and produce a constant warm dry heat.

[JBP]

You can get battery powered marine air conditioners/heat pump systems. While these still need a lot of power, they are more efficient than electric resistance heaters. They are quite expensive, but you also get air conditioning for the same price.

You could instead get one of the new portable battery powered air conditions and use the exhaust vent as heat. That would work for short term needs like one night at anchor if you can recharge it the next day.

[MJH]

Originally Posted by Starfish 2018

12v Heater?

Is there an opinion on 12v heaters from the forum? I am planning a trip from Annapolis to Kill Devil Hills, NC the first week of December and would like to hear about my options.

My boat: 2005 Catalina 350. Yes, I have a Honda Gen that I can run the onboard heater, but would rather use a 12v, IF available.

Thanks for your thoughts. Ed

In a word NO!

You already have capacity for a heater with your diesel engine...think of your car heater. In preparation for our voyage to Alaska I installed a REAL 5414 Hydronic Heater (26,000 BTU) in the salon that runs off the engine cooling system. Installation was simple and overall costs very reasonable. Made my wife very happy. No, I don't run it when we are anchored but by that time its time to have dinner and go to bed. It works for us.