Quote:
Originally Posted by Lemsteraak
We might be overthinking this one. She is talking So Fla so it isn't really cold :-) My though it to go old school and get an Aladdin Lamp. They throw off an amazing amount of heat for their size. They take the chill off. You can get an old style brass one that will work as as hanging trawler lamp or on the table as a heater. The mantle system makes it burn very clean and no scent, quietly with a nice romantic light.
I'm building up an old boat right now and looking at putting in some old kerosene lamps and my wife objected because of the kerosene "smell". Then I reminded her we cruised with nothing more than an old Aladdin for five years and she loved the old lamp.
We had ours wired to the hanging bracket so we could take it from it's hook and set on the table when moored. We never ran it when sleeping because it isn't vented. You will want to be careful with kids so they respect it.
They tend to be a tad expensive but if you get an alloy one with a "shelf" base and add their tilting hanging bracket with smoke bell you can get in for less than $200 or find an nice pre loved one on an online auction.
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I cruised SW
Florida for years, and it can get pretty cold. Our boat had reverse cycle AC and so on really cold nights we would go into a marina, hook up to
shore power, and run that. As I write this, it's 9C/49F in Naples which is, well not cold, but pretty chilly.
The OP has small
children, including a newborn, so I think heat is mission critical, even in S.
Florida. I would install a proper heater, if I were he. I don't know his wife, but if she's like most mothers of young
children, then if that sailboat starts to look like a threat to the kids'
health, good bye sailboat. He's lucky she wants to sail with him, and my
advice to him would be to make her comfort, and the kids'
health, an absolutely top priority. Keep them warm and cosy.
I would not burn a kerosene lamp below with hatches closed, even just me, much less with small children.