boat heater options

[Poignard]

I would go with the hot water bottles and good duvet, ...

Well that's ok when you're in your bunk but a decent heater will allow you to be comfortably warm at any time

 

[colvic987]

Well that's ok when you're in your bunk but a decent heater will allow you to be comfortably warm at any time

true enough, but unless in a marina or access to shore power at a pontoon, not sure he has many options with a £200 budget, even a decent electric b and q heater will cost half of that.

any heater which is cheap wouldn't have a flue, so carbon monoxide fumes would be my first consideration.

 

[jerrytug]

I beg to disagree,I just won a working Webasto 4kw diesel heater on ebay,£104,no computer to go wrong,just a clockwork start-up timer!
They are out there,just need finding,good luck Jerry

 

[Poignard]

true enough, but unless in a marina or access to shore power at a pontoon, not sure he has many options with a £200 budget, even a decent electric b and q heater will cost half of that.

any heater which is cheap wouldn't have a flue, so carbon monoxide fumes would be my first consideration.

That's very true. His only hope is a second hand one.

 

[TradewindSailor]

It all depends on the size, type, and insulation of your boat .... and how long you need heat for: just a few hours in the evening? or all night?

I have adequately heated a drafty 45' boat with a Taylor's drip pot paraffin heater, but I don't like them because they can soot up the deck if over-damped and can over-flow the drip pot sending lighted paraffin onto ...... hopefully ... the protected cabin sole.

The engine can also form a source of heat for a quite a while after running.

The pilot light in a gas stove can also take the edge off ..... and turning the oven on the lowest setting may even be too hot.

Try a paraffin lamp, hurricane lamp, or ship's oil lamp. They chuck out quite a bit of heat. I wouldn't try candles though ..... too dangerous.

As with all combustibles, you do need to ensure that you have good ventilation and there is no chance of spillage. I wouldn't leave them lit and unattended either.

 

[Halo]

I bought SWMBO some electrcially heated socks for Xmas (jokey stocking filler) each ran on a D cell in a pocket on top of the socks. If you are solo on the boat why not rig up a 12 v electric vest to keep you warm rather than warming the whole boat - most batteries would cope with this I think. I believe there is some winter motor cycling gear with a similar arrangement.

 

[SimonD]

If you're planning to use anything that burns fuel, spend £20 to £30 of your budget on a Carbon Monoxide detector. It simply isn't worth risking your life not to.

 

[chrisbitz]

If you're planning to use anything that burns fuel, spend £20 to £30 of your budget on a Carbon Monoxide detector. It simply isn't worth risking your life not to.

Absolutely - Already got one... ideally I'm looking for something with a flue or exhaust, rather than open... but got one just in case.

 

[No Regrets]

+1 for the LPG fuelled Propex!

Buy a working used one off Ebay, and note the electric consumption is very low on these.

They are simple, reliable (Unlike Diesel Ebers!) and easy enough to fit.

Usual precautions apply, LPG and CO alarms required to be on the safe side, but once correctly fitted there is virtually no chance of being poisoned...

 

[Laundryman]

I went the Propex route. Reliable, clean and cheap. Mine works very well. Recommended. eBay often has bargains in your price band. Thanks. Alan