Using diesel heater over the winter

[wipe_out]

Does anyone use their diesel heater to keep the boat from freezing and above dew point over the winter while up on the hard?

 

[MikeBz]

I did so for a week last winter during the worst of the beast from the east. Easier than draining the calorifier and all the pipe work for the very occasional freeze that we get.

 

[prv]

Personally I wouldn't be at all happy leaving the heater running while the boat was unattended. In any case it would no doubt flatten the batteries in short order.

We generally stay in the water over winter, and now that most of the refit work is done, stay in commission for the odd nice day's sailing. If there's a particular cold snap I might pump some non-toxic antifreeze through the head and engine raw-water system, and drain the freshwater system - you don't need to totally empty the hot water tank, just get some airspace in there for expansion. I would certainly do those things if we were putting the boat ashore.

If you have 240v supply, one of those low-power tube heaters is a better bet, and if you don't then you can't sustain blown-air heating for weeks on end anyway.

Pete

 

[johnalison]

It sounds a poor option. Better to use a tube heater if you must, but I find that leaving a dehumidifier and draining the boat is the safest and most economical method.

 

[Tim Good]

It sounds a poor option. Better to use a tube heater if you must, but I find that leaving a dehumidifier and draining the boat is the safest and most economical method.

I agree with this. The dehumidifier will keep the temp high enough whilst keeping things from going mouldy.

Besides, at least electricity from the grid is partly, and increasingly so, generated by renewables. Burning diesel, when alternatives are available, in my view, is iressponsible.

 

[pcatterall]

Don't know which heater you have but many Eberspacher type heaters are not 'good' with very low temperatures. they tend to run at modest heat ok but then switch off rather than reduce further.
I test these heaters and they should cycle on and off but sometimes cut out and don't restart.
As stated there is always risk with leaving heaters on. I have used a 'greenhouse type' fan heater which can be set just to come on at freezing and run for a short time. I used it in the engine compartment

 

[Malish]

a very good chance of them sooting up too I would have though.

 

[MikeBz]

Agree with most of the above, I only did it as a last resort for a short period.

I assume northcave drives an electric car (or no car at all)

 

[NormanS]

I agree with this. The dehumidifier will keep the temp high enough whilst keeping things from going mouldy.

Besides, at least electricity from the grid is partly, and increasingly so, generated by renewables. Burning diesel, when alternatives are available, in my view, is iressponsible.

But you're the woos that wants hot water while at anchor, (see another thread) presumably by burning diesel.

 

[Tim Good]

I assume northcave drives an electric car (or no car at all)

No car.... But just because you decide to do one thing that is bad for the environment doesn't mean you're suddenly exempt from doing anything else. That's as bad as saying "well there is no point in trying to act responsibly as my impact alone won't change anything" or "i'm not going to vote as it won't change the end result"

 

[scottie]

How else do you justify the 60/40 split

 

[Daydream believer]

How else do you justify the 60/40 split

Our friends at the HMRC could not argue much against it whilst the boat was on the hard though. More like 0/100 split I would say.

 

[V1701]

Would need to be a dessicant (not compressor) dehumidifier if it's going to be effective at lower temps...