Its getting dark and cold up here...

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causeway

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Anyone live aboard in northern UK this winter? I'm right up on the tip of Northern Ireland and the nights seem to be drawing in quicker and quicker.

I survived last winter (just about) in my Vega and this year I have slightly more habitable quarters (Dufour 35).

I was just pondering about things to keep me cosy and damp free this winter.

So far my plans are:

*Get eberspacher fixed for instant heat.
*Electric blanket for bed is arriving tomorrow.
*Oil heater on timer for mornings and arriving home from work.
*Insulated hatch covers for outside (normal hatch covers but with a couple of layers of bubble wrap or similar.
*Thick curtain between galley and saloon.
*Stainless covers for silly draughty vents which only make sense in tropics.
*boom tent v2.0 so I can have a smoke without getting soaked.

Does anyone else think of these sorts of things at this time of year, or is it just me?

Incedentally my electricity bill for last year including ALL my heating was 500 quid, which I actually consider pretty good.
 
I think I'll run it on kero as I have a separate tank i can use. I will run it flat out, at least until its roasting hot.
 
The Eber will cost loads more to run than electric heaters. Half a litre and hour or so may not sound much, but I was amazed how quickly I got though 150 litres of fuel. Use the oil filled rads as much as possible.
 
Hmmm, I didn't realise they used quite as much as that! It will certainly eat up the budget. Like I say I'll use that as my quick warm up heat, should also help shift stale air from the boat?
 
Neither did I!

That's the flat out fuel consumption of a DL3C, others may vary. When it's seriously cold, ours runs flat out for most of an evening, so can easily guzzle 3 litres of diesel if it goes on at 1800 and off at midnight. Do that on week nights and you've burned 15 litres Monday to Friday. Add on maybe 10 hours per day of running for the time you're on the boat on weekend days, and you've used another 10 litres. So, you're up to 25 litres a week. After the shock of finding the tank nearly empty after a few weeks, we went mainly electric, and the saving was pronounced.

As you say though, the Eber is good for a fast boost and air change.

Tip with the oil filled rads, most don't have a true thermostat. That is to say, the don't regulate themselves based on room temperature, but on the temperature of the radiator itself. Rather annoying as it makes the stat almost useless for maintaining a constant room temperature. At least if you're aware of it, you can modify your expectations to suit though.
 
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Just another thought. There are arguments for and against the use of dehumidifiers, but we've found one to be a good thing. If you go for one, a dessicant type also heats the exhaust air and doesn't use a great deal more power than a compressor type, so you almost get something for nothing.
 
Simondjuk said:
Neither did I!

That's the flat out fuel consumption of a DL3C, others may vary. When it's seriously cold, ours runs flat out for most of an evening, so can easily guzzle 3 litres of diesel if it goes on at 1800 and off at midnight. Do that on week nights and you've burned 15 litres Monday to Friday. Add on maybe 10 hours per day of running for the time you're on the boat on weekend days, and you've used another 10 litres. So, you're up to 25 litres a week. After the shock of finding the tank nearly empty after a few weeks, we went mainly electric, and the saving was pronounced.

As you say though, the Eber is good for a fast boost and air change.

Tip with the oil filled rads, most don't have a true thermostat. That is to say, the don't regulate themselves based on room temperature, but on the temperature of the radiator itself. Rather annoying as it makes the stat almost useless for maintaining a constant room temperature. At least if you're aware of it, you can modify your expectations to suit though.
Click to expand...

Well that's £100 pcm but cheaper than being in house without a view :D
 
Didn't find my Eber used that much----about half of that,I think,in Largswinter of 2009/2010. 35FT boat,centre cockpit,good fitting cockpit tent. Access to aft cabin from cockpit,air drawn from aft cabin,heated then distributed to 3 outlets,aft cabin ,saloon and forwardvent which could be angled to heads/shower/fo'c's'le. Boat insulated to hell and gone (foil backed bubble wrap in addition to standard) ,All pipe runs insulated so heat goes where intended (except where it passes through the wet locker----warm,dry, oilies on a cold wet day.
Oilfilled rads good though,especially if leccy free! but the Eber keeps the boat dry,and you can't put a price on that!

You may care to note my long term solution to the cold problem> Viva Espana/Portugal!
 
I lived in crosshaven / cork for 3 years aboard a 30 footer,,,damp damp damp,,,,good old Ireland.
You need enough fresh air coming in to keep the condensation down.
If you fit a Eber make sure the facet type pump is away from the bedroom as its ticking drove me up the wall,
and run a separate tank for it as they don't like dirt.
Electric blankets are just fab ,,,,toasty,,
make sure your batterys are getting a constant good charge as the Eber can be thirsty

P/s its pissing down here in devon too
 
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