Frostguard Heaters

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Old Bumbulum

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The boat's about to come out for the winter so it'll need frost protection inside.

It's a heavy displacement GRP 35ft sailing boat with long deep keel. Fuel and water in keel/under floor. Water drained, of course - as well as can be done which is never 100% or anything like it.

What sort of heater? Fan or tube? Is one enough? Where to put it/them? Under the floorboards? One under and one above?

What do forumites think?

I also see that most thermostats on these devices, as well as standalone stats seem to start at 5'c. That's not much use for frost control as nothing's going to freeze at that temp, and as much of the winter will be between 0 and 5 the heater will be on unnecessarily for a lot of the time.
Source of genuine frost-stats perhaps?
 
Last edited:
Old Bumbulum said:
Source of genuine frost-stats perhaps?
Click to expand...

I use a proper frost thermostat in the stable to control trace heating on the water pipes. It's a Salus FT100 (https://salus-controls.com/uk/product/ft100/) and has worked well for some years. Note that it will only switch about 8A resistive load, OK for small tube heaters. If you want something which can run a 13A load, the Corgi STTRFSN-C is a contender.
 
Old Bumbulum;6987837[COLOR="#FF0000" said:
]The boat's about to come out for the winter so it'll need frost protection inside.
[/COLOR]
It's a heavy displacement GRP 35ft sailing boat with long deep keel. Fuel and water in keel/under floor. Water drained, of course - as well as can be done which is never 100% or anything like it.

What sort of heater? Fan or tube? Is one enough? Where to put it/them? Under the floorboards? One under and one above?

What do forumites think?

I also see that most thermostats on these devices, as well as standalone stats seem to start at 5'c. That's not much use for frost control as nothing's going to freeze at that temp, and as much of the winter will be between 0 and 5 the heater will be on unnecessarily for a lot of the time.
Source of genuine frost-stats perhaps?
Click to expand...

Why?

If the engine is properly prepared for winter, ie drained or filled with antifreeze and the domestic water system is either drained or filled with propylene glycol antifreeze why do you need frost protection inside. You are not going to be able to protect any residual water in the keel tanks .

I have never put any sort of heating inside my boat and nor do others laid up in the same yard. There is only limited power available for occasional use of small power tools, specifically not for any boat heating.
 
I only have heaters working on board when I'm on board. Once the water systems are drained correctly there shouldn't be any problem. It's also something less to worry about in my view.
 
My winters drop to about -25C or lower .... I have no heating in the boat.

I do these :

1. The raw water cooling of my Perkins has neat Anti-Freeze run through it ... I run the engine with seacock closed and pour it into the open filter.
2. Lift the auto bilge pump OUT of the bilge to avoid it freezing in any residual water .... they tend not to work after if they do !
3. Pump a small amount of Anti-Freeze through my Baby Blake ... and leave a drop in the bowl !

My FW tank is a heavy gauge stainless steel job and is never full .. so that tends to stay as is .. after 12 yrs here ... its not split yet !

I could put Anti-Freeze in the bilge as well come to think of it .. but haven't so far.

I do have a Dimplex Coldwatch 500W convector heater in the boat at moment as I haven't run AF through the engine yet ... had trouble with starter then found battery had split. Once I get AF through the engine ... heater will come out.
 
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Well, thanks guys. I have to say that isn't what I was expecting but it makes sense. My Mediterranean time hasn't prepared me for this.

Thanks for the input.
 
The only frost damage my unheated boat has suffered during over 30 winters ashore has been, on a few occasions, cracks and subsequent leaks from the mechanical (Whale's type) foot pumps in galley/heads.
Evidently tiny amounts of water left in confined spaces in these can be harmful. Now I always vigorously pump air through them for 20 seconds or so to make sure they are dry enough. Antifreeze would be another option.
I wouldn't worry about a few litres left at the bottom of the water tank, though.
 
VicS said:
Why?

If the engine is properly prepared for winter, ie drained or filled with antifreeze and the domestic water system is either drained or filled with propylene glycol antifreeze why do you need frost protection inside. You are not going to be able to protect any residual water in the keel tanks .

I have never put any sort of heating inside my boat and nor do others laid up in the same yard. There is only limited power available for occasional use of small power tools, specifically not for any boat heating.
Click to expand...

+1
 
VicS said:
Why?

If the engine is properly prepared for winter, ie drained or filled with antifreeze and the domestic water system is either drained or filled with propylene glycol antifreeze why do you need frost protection inside. You are not going to be able to protect any residual water in the keel tanks .

I have never put any sort of heating inside my boat and nor do others laid up in the same yard. There is only limited power available for occasional use of small power tools, specifically not for any boat heating.
Click to expand...

Maybe the OP keeps his boat in a location more prone to significant frost compared to your location?
 
Old Bumbulum said:
The boat's about to come out for the winter so it'll need frost protection inside.

It's a heavy displacement GRP 35ft sailing boat with long deep keel. Fuel and water in keel/under floor. Water drained, of course - as well as can be done which is never 100% or anything like it.

What sort of heater? Fan or tube? Is one enough? Where to put it/them? Under the floorboards? One under and one above?

What do forumites think?

I also see that most thermostats on these devices, as well as standalone stats seem to start at 5'c. That's not much use for frost control as nothing's going to freeze at that temp, and as much of the winter will be between 0 and 5 the heater will be on unnecessarily for a lot of the time.
Source of genuine frost-stats perhaps?
Click to expand...

Where is the boat located?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Looking out of the window this morning I feel the use of frost protection heaters is justified.
 
Refueler said:
Long time since I left Estonia !! Been living in Ventspils Latvia for many years now ...

Lowest temp I've seen here is -32C .... but most of the winter is about -10C with occasional days in the mid -20's or lower.
Click to expand...

I wasn't sure if you lived in Estonia or Latvia. Lost track of you over recent years. Fairly near to each other aren't they?

I remember a photo of Super Ann almost covered in ice and the thermometer outside your kitchen window reading an incredibly low temperature.

Do you still have the photo(s) available or has Photobucket screwed you up as well?
 
VicS said:
I wasn't sure if you lived in Estonia or Latvia. Lost track of you over recent years. Fairly near to each other aren't they?

I remember a photo of Super Ann almost covered in ice and the thermometer outside your kitchen window reading an incredibly low temperature.

Do you still have the photo(s) available or has Photobucket screwed you up as well?
Click to expand...

PB ... still carrying photos ... will have a look.

I have to say that cruising Baltic is something else ... no tides, water is brackish .... I never anti-foul now ...
 
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