Reliable Boat Heater

[pcatterall]

Maybe this is a difficult question to answer: what is the most reliable boat heater?
I would like to restrict the answers to "blow heaters" (as opposed to solid fuel or "drip" heaters) and to opinions supported by data, rather than simple preference.

Does anyone know?

Buy 2 Chinese heaters for less than £250 but fit decent quality exhaust and fittings. The first one may last years but if it fails fit the spare!

 

[Kelpie]

Buy 2 Chinese heaters for less than £250 but fit decent quality exhaust and fittings. The first one may last years but if it fails fit the spare!

Even less than that. Two heaters= £170, stainless skin fitting=£40, length of genuine Eber exhaust hose=£25.

 

[CLB]

Even less than that. Two heaters= £170, stainless skin fitting=£40, length of genuine Eber exhaust hose=£25.

You also need some proper fuel lines, some proper lengths of ducting, decent hose clamps for the exhaust and a proper, sealed silencer. If you can buy a heater kit for around £75 (their current price), you can turn it into a decent marine heater for around £200-250. If it needs replacing, it then costs just £75 each time.