Generator idea.

As others have said, it is terribly inefficient. Petrol>ICE>electricity>outdoor IR heaters. Much better to buy a gas patio heater which is designed for that very purpose. Otherwise, put a 230V alternator onto the engine - you don't need accurate frequency control for heaters. That worked nicely on a Broads cruiser I hired some years ago.
 
Yes John sometimes I hate myself for these comments but sometimes I just can't resist.
The warm water is nice but the weed growth is horrendous. Perhaps I am really fussy but would give the underwater hull a scrub at least once per week. Consequently the A/f lasts about 8 weeks before the white patches of hull are showing through.

I am going to help a friend today to clean his hull. He is from UK and not such a confident swimmer. What he doesn't realise is that his hull has doubled it's size over the last few months while he thought it was clean. I'll bet he wondered why it wouldn't sail to wind ward.

And the down side. This weekend we revert from Summer time to normal and the sun is getting up later. Mornings are too cold for swimming but afternoons OK. With only winter to look forward to.
(Time for a trip to the antipides) (thats UK to you) Well maybe next year. Have a great spriong and summer season olewill
 
I have a Dean 38 cat. This is all very interesting and very relevant as i have put the purchase of a diesel generator on the top of my wish list. This so i can use my electric heaters when off grid and the batteries get low. At the moment i would have to use the inverter when disconnected but clearly using bags of juice from the service bank.

The price of the MARINE generators is too much so i'm looking at a standard 3kw aircooled model, and adapting where necessary. It will go in one of my engine bays where there's bags of room so I guess i'm looking at a remote start, through hull exhaust and direct feed from the engine diesel supply. Does this sound realistic or impracticable?

btw. Buying a genny is gonna cheaper than getting an Eber/Web heating system!!?
 
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