Heating boat when not on it.

[[178529]]

Bear with me as i'm sure there are dozens of threads on this, I just haven't found them.

I'm moving from a swinging mooring this year to a marina berth that has the unusual, for me, luxury of power. I've seen on lots of boats in marinas that people have the oil filled radiators that have got really effective over the last few years. I've got a couple in the garage.

What are people's views on having one in the boat and leaving it constantly on when not on board but on the lowest setting. Just to keep the damp away and the boat aired. Is this a significant fire risk or with modern stuff and RCDs is this a reasonable thing to do?

Thanks in advance and sorry if this has been answered loads of times before.

 

[pvb]

You don't say where the marina is, but in most reasonably temperate areas of the UK and northern europe, there isn't normally much need for heating. The best way of reducing damp is to ventilate the boat. If the temperature is forecast to drop below zero for a while, it may be worth heating the boat slightly, but usually only if it's ashore. Afloat, the inherent residual warmth of the water in the marina should protect it OK.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I use them (two), one in the cabin and one in the engine bay, plus a dehumidifier. We use the boat all year round so it's nice to come down to a warm dry boat. Ventilation is all very well but ideally you then have to clear all your stuff out; in the winter the boat will be ventilated with cold damp air.

 

[ip485]

Yes, I would agree, keep it warm and dry. I think any of the CE heaters are safe enough, personally I prefer blown air to add to some circulation but each to their own. My yacht is large enough to have a fully plumbed in domestic dehumidifier and this runs all winter. With good ventilation and non freezing conditions, I have a feeling little harm will come, but inevitably a dry and warm(ish) boat is much more pleasant and, I am sure, everything does a little better, expecially keeping any damp at bay. It is also worth opening the engine room etc if you can as I am sure good air circulation helps. We are off to the WIs soon and I know from experience that in warmer climes keeping the inside dry (with the high humidity) is just as important, so it isnt just in cold climates a dehumidifier is worth its weight. On that note get the biggest you can and try and make sure it is plumbed in as you may well be surprised how quickly the tank fills otherwise and it stops working. There are also two different types, one of which performs badly the colder it gets and which also consumes significantly more power. Worth having a read.

 

[Solent Sailor]

I have an oil filled radiator (small variety) in our aft cabin which is always cold in winter, plus a defumifier in the galley which drys the whole boat but also warms the saloon and fore cabins pretty well. Then two tube heaters, one beneath each engine in the engine room.

Does it make a world of difference? Probably some at least, and the price is not significant so it gives me peace of mind. Whenever I return to the boat, it is dry, warm and ready to use.

 

[Crazy-Diamond]

I've used the tube heaters designed for attics etc. Low power consumption, and you can get a few of different sizes for different spaces. I also use a dehumidifier. Yes, ventilation is important, but knowing that the fabric of the boat and everything in it is dry is something I am happy to spend a few quid for the electricity bills.

 

[srm]

Two different approaches:
* Hermetically seal the boat and run a dehumidifier into an overside drain (otherwise you are trying to dry out the global atmosphere).
* Ventilation through the boat so contents are aired plus a low wattage heater at the lowest point in the boat. (other than sealed bilges). Warm dried air rises through the boat, picks up moisture and exits through the ventilators.

I have used the latter approach for 15 years or so on two boats and keep boat in commission with bedding and sailing clothing on board all year round without damp problems.

Secondary problem I discovered with dehumidifiers (while looking after someone else's boat) is that many do not restart after a power cut. Result can be a cold damp boat possibly plus mold if left unchecked for any length of time. Intermittent power cuts seem to be part of marina life.