How to heat a little 26 footer!

[Searush]

But Our Ellen wasn't "just circumnavigating" was she? She was "racing against time" as she titled her book. She was waking at regular intervals to tweak/ change sails & check the weather conditions.

It all depends on what you are doing & where you are doing it.

 

[Ric]

Why waste energy heating the boat? You won't look back after investing in an ex MOD arctic sleeping bag.... trust me

Trust me, if you knew what those Royals had been doing in it before you bought it, you would definitely look back.

 

[Poignard]

But Our Ellen wasn't "just circumnavigating" was she? She was "racing against time" as she titled her book. She was waking at regular intervals to tweak/ change sails & check the weather conditions.

It all depends on what you are doing & where you are doing it.

Whatever you say

 

[upthesolent]

Oxygen Use

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Campingaz-BlueCat-Heater/dp/B000ZJ97C8

I've used these in Tents and boats work well and no flame and a CO gas monitor cheap at B and Q

Bit late on parade here, but I have been researching these catalytic heaters with an observant eye on the safety aspects of their use in confined spaces. From what I have ascertained so far, it is the use of oxygen that appears to be of concern and the Quote is copy & pasted from a review on a Coleman's product though the same will apply to Campingaz as well.



................."However, catalytic heaters do use oxygen, and because the heat is produced through a chemical reaction and not from a burning flame, a catalytic heater can operate in situations with much lower oxygen levels. This can lead to hypoxia, or oxygen deficiency. Also, the lower the oxygen level, the less efficient the catalytic heater is at converting oxygen and propane to carbon dioxide and water. This allows unprocessed propane hydrocarbons to accumulate, exacerbating the risk of hypoxia".........

 

[Signed Out]

OK, more power sucking, but...

On motorbikes, electrically heated clothing and grips are popular- I use glove liners and insoles (Keis- http://www.keisapparel.co.uk/ the ad actually shows a man on a yacht deck), and these use only a small current. Similar concept I suppose to an electric blanket, although I don't know how much power these use. Perhaps warming the bunk you sit on will make more comfortable.

Thinking about insulation again though (sorry, I know your's is done thoroughly; I'm hijacking somewhat), my last boat was steel, with a lifting keel, and the box in the saloon was the worst heatsink possible, and cladding it made a great difference. I know your's doesn't have this, but perhaps the stainless posts and even the engine (although presumably the sound insulation will help) sap some heat.

Interested in insulation materials though; Nathan uses some expensive foam that Roger T used also, but the guys taking their Halberg Monsun (?) up the NW passage (recently asking about weather routing) use camping matress foam, that seems a good, cheap idea. It's closed cell and buoyant- some are same foam as used for floats for learner swimmers.

The Norwegian couple sailing Bika (CO26) around don't mention heating or insulation, but the importance of lack of condensation- slatted cushion bottoms and replacing cotton sheets with fleece.

 

[Searush]

I have a very old catalytic heater & wouldn't leave it on over night, but it is fine for first thing in the morning to get dressed by & on a low level in th eevening, but I leave the hatch ajar above it & have a full cockpit tent which it also warms. By morning, there are frozen drips all over the underside of the canvas where the condensation has gathered & frozen.