Tube heaters - What length/power?

[AllanG]

Hi,

Thinking of using a tube heater in the cabin (31ft cabin cruiser) this Winter when my boat is unattended.

What length / power rating of heater would you recommend? Also, do you use a timer switch?

Cheers, Allan

 

[Ripster]

FWIW I use a 120w 4ftr down in the engine bay. A 40w 1ftr next to the calorifier and pipe network and 500w oil rad in the cabin/bedroom/galley area. Each one is connected through a thermostatic plug (in the area concerned) set at +2degC so they only come on if the temp fall to this level and switch straight off as it heats back up. I also put 6 moisture traps around the place to keep thing nice and dry.

 

[andy59]

Same as ripster plus a dehumidifier on a timer 2 hrs a day .

 

[rafiki_]

I use 2 x 120 w in the engine bay, and 1 x 120 w + 1 x 60 W in the saloon/cabin area. Rafiki is a similar size to your boat. I use thermal plugs set to +5C. Even when ambient outside was -16C last winter, the engine room was +2C. I also use a sleeping back to cover the engines, and bung up the intake vents. I don't use a dehumidifier, but dessicant trays in the saloon. Tthese have worked very well to date.

 

[Bbroomlea]

I've a similar set up to everyone else on our S24.

2X80w tube heaters mounted under the engine in the engine bay and one near the calorifier.

In the cabin I use a 500w oil filled radiator and leave the heads door open so that gets some heat too.

All are set to come on at 5 degrees with plug in thermostats from B&Q.

I've bought a dehumidifier this year though due to a bit of a damp issue caused by a previous leaking window. I plan to have it running 4 hours a day.

The cost of this last year was about £50 which I didnt think was too bad considering the temperatures and that the marina was frozen solid for 4-5 weeks.

 

[AllanG]

Many thanks to all for your replies, which are most helpful.

Allan

 

[AllanG]

All are set to come on at 5 degrees with plug in thermostats from B&Q.

Do you have to have a separate thermostatic plug for each tube heater, or can one plug handle two heaters?

Cheers, Allan

 

[rafiki_]

Do you have to have a separate thermostatic plug for each tube heater, or can one plug handle two heaters?

Cheers, Allan

I use an extension lead from the thermo plug, thus running 2 tubes of the same thermo plug. No probs to date.

 

[Ripster]

For what they cost I use a sep one on each as they are all in diff locations on the boat. But as Rafiki says, two from one should be OK provided the stat can handle the current draw ok.

 

[Bbroomlea]

Do you have to have a separate thermostatic plug for each tube heater, or can one plug handle two heaters?

Cheers, Allan

I have a B&Q one and seems ok with two 80w ones plugged into an extension lead. I think the max load is rated 13amp(2) and 120w (3). I dont know what the numbers in brackets are but they worked fine last year - as did the 500w oil filled radiator.

The ones I bought are about £20 each and worth every penny.

I'm going to the boat tomorrow to do some jobs and take the dehumidifier over - I've just tested it at home on an electronic timer and it doesnt restart once switched off

 

[Teddy]

Be warned of using digital plug in thermostats like ET05's or similar which are branded in a variety of different makes.

My experience is that they are unreliable and can either "crash" ON or OFF. I used to use 4 in different parts of the boat. Having set them at +5, and using a couple of max / min thermometersI was able to record their performance. Quite clearly some had failed early in the OFF state and one had stuck ON judging by the excessive temperature and electricity used.

If you do have them, you must monitor them very regularly.

I now use mechanical thermostats which are impossible to now find in a plug in form. I have made up a box using a bisquit tin and a central heating thermostat. Not neat, but I know it works.