Tubular heater

[tidclacy]

Thinking of buying one for this winter. What wattage will I need for a 32ft Jeanneau and do I need a separate thermostat? Any idea of best buys?

Will also have a De-humidifier on board.

 

[rafiki_]

Try Dealec.

I have 2x 120W for the engine room in the Rafiki. A bit less in the saloon. I don't use a dehumidifier, as there have been reports of electrical fires, so use the a mix of a pingu and granules, which do the trick for me. No musty smells etc.

I also cover the engines in a blanket or old sleeping bag.

This worked ok for the past 3 winters.

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

I have a 135w one in my 26 ft Colvic and last winter it kept the temp inside at 4 - 5 c minimum. I don't use or have a dehumidifier but keep the forward hatch cracked open and the washboards have louvres in them, the throughflow of air seems to keep everything dry and 10 minutes with a 2kW fan heater gets me in a t-shirt on board so...

 

[boguing]

Since you have a de-humidifier, you don't need the heater, unless you are leaving water in places that might be damaged by icing. Stand it over the galley sink.

Even then, look at the Watts that it will consume - they will be available as heat anyway.

 

[Leighb]

Since you have a de-humidifier, you don't need the heater, unless you are leaving water in places that might be damaged by icing. Stand it over the galley sink.

Even then, look at the Watts that it will consume - they will be available as heat anyway.

I think that depends on the type of dehumidifier. Some will simply stop working when the temperature falls fairly low.

They are more effective in conjunction with a low watt heater to maintain a degree of warmth. All IMHO of course.

 

[maby]

I think that depends on the type of dehumidifier. Some will simply stop working when the temperature falls fairly low.

They are more effective in conjunction with a low watt heater to maintain a degree of warmth. All IMHO of course.

A dessicant dehumidifier works right down to zero, but once it has dried the interior out, it drops down to standby and consumes very little power. It will put a small amount of heat into the boat, but probably not enough to keep your pipes safe in really cold weather.

 

[little shack]

looking at this same issue myself as my boat dosen't have anything at the moment. will probably go the way of a tube heater as this looks like a reasonable cheapish way to do it will need to get a thermostat as well unless you can get em with one as part of it?

 

[exfinnsailor]

2 x 60w on all the time. Cost £35 last year for electric. Kept boat dry. Also used 3 of those granular damp collectors. All worked very well. Connected the heaters up with an extension straight to shore power and not through the boat electrics as we are normally afloat. 10m boat.