Background cabin heating - calorifier or radiator?

[jaminb]

I have an electric oil fired radiator that i use to keep the boat above freezing when I am not there. Not so much for the engine as this has coolant and seawater, which will never freeze on the south coast, but more for domestic water system. I forgot to turn the calorifier off the other day when I left and it got me thinking, is this a better solution than the radiator?

 

[Tranona]

Doubt it for 2 reasons. First a calorifier is designed to keep the heat in, second it is usually located under a bunk or even in the engine compartment. I use a tube heater which seems to work well.

 

[johnalison]

A calorifier may eventually fail, and I would rather it were a portable item such as a heater that failed. In any case, my calorifier is under the cockpit locker.

 

[V1701]

Assuming the boat is in the water, I think if you're on the south coast, water tank not full, pump off & taps open you have little to worry about. If there was going to be a predicted very very cold spell you could take precautions but, e.g. having a small rad on in the saloon is going to have no real effect on the temperature of the water in the water tank. FWIW I live aboard full time, the engine compartment, engine, fuel & water tanks are always about the same temperature of the water in the marina, whatever that is...

 

[geem]

Oil filled small electric radiator with a frost stat would work fine. Only comes on one you need it. The immersion heater will be clicking in and out with no temperature control

 

[PaulRainbow]

The calorifier won't stop the water in the cold tank freezing (if it was cold enough to freeze). Neither will any other type of heater in the saloon or anywhere other than right next to the water tank.

As post #4, boat in the water on the south coast, pump off, taps open, no problem.

Anyone with a transom shower, don't forget to turn that on.

 

[jaminb]

thanks everyone. With the uncertain weather I wont ditch the radiator just yet. Good point about the deck shower, haven't looked at that since last summer.