winter background heating

actionoptics

actionoptics

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617
Location
Southill, Weymouth. DT4
www.actionoptics.co.uk
We are keeping our boat, an LM 30, in the water this winter and have already had 3 great weekends but we would like to keep the boat a little bit warm and dry when moored. We have access to 240 volts so any suggestions please as to the wattage required if left on 24/7 and any recommendations as to the type and or make of heater.
 
I use a dehumidifier and a Honeywell thermostatically controlled fan heater.

It removes a huge amount of moisture and keeps the boat comfortable.

Cost last winter for electricity was about £30.


Tony.
 
Ventilation, insulation & dry heat are what's required. If you have adequate ventilation & insulation, there's not much point IMO heating the boat while you're not there. Could use one of those greenhouse tube heaters, low wattage, just to keep the cabin above freezing & plug in an oil filled rad when you get there, maybe a 1.5kw, you'd be surprised how quickly that will raise the temperature. I use a 1.5kw oil rad living aboard FT & it's more than adequate (27ft Vega). Better than a fan heater, I didn't like the noise & it going cold when it cycles off. Enjoy...:)
 
A 100 watt tube heater at either end of the boat on a plug type thermostat
like the one at
http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMET05.html?source=adwords&kw=&gclid=CILKncDBmbQCFePHtAodEm8AFQ
( no connection and many other sources available)
Set the thermostat to 5 degrees and make sure the thermostat is lower than the heater
If you can afford a dehumidifier put this on a timer for 4 hours a day place in middle of baot and seal her up as best you can - empty kettle , cover karzi, block vents etc etc
She will be dry, feel good and not use masses of electricity
 
Halo said:
If you can afford a dehumidifier put this on a timer for 4 hours a day place in middle of baot and seal her up as best you can - empty kettle , cover karzi, block vents etc etc
She will be dry, feel good and not use masses of electricity
Click to expand...

I'm not saying that you are wrong, but I'm just curious why 4 hours a day to run demumidifier?
 
Playing with a dehumidifier, I've also come to the conclusion that 4 hours a day on a timer seems to be about the optimum on an unoccupied boat.

Mid day as its warmer and therefore more moisture in atmosphere.
 
These are the best. Better then oil filled IMHO as they can be placed vertically or on their sides and provide instant heat. Also very compact, lightweight and easy to store.

Great thermostatic control as well. We keep ours on board and even use it when we are on board in winter. Why burn diesel when you can use the marina electricity?

We set ours to number 1 or two and the temperature in the boat stays above 5 degrees even if it is snowing.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dimplex-500w-Coldwatcher-Heater/dp/B002TVIJXS

With one of these and some ventilation you do not need a dehumidifier as well.
 
Last edited:
actionoptics said:
We are keeping our boat, an LM 30, in the water this winter and have already had 3 great weekends but we would like to keep the boat a little bit warm and dry when moored. We have access to 240 volts so any suggestions please as to the wattage required if left on 24/7 and any recommendations as to the type and or make of heater.
Click to expand...

Try Dunelm mill in Fareham, they have some very good offers on oil filled rads at the moment.

http://www.dunelm-mill.com/shop/other/fans-and-heaters/

I've bought the small one, 600w and has thermostat.

2 of them should take the chill off nicely.
 
srah1953 said:
I'm not saying that you are wrong, but I'm just curious why 4 hours a day to run demumidifier?
Click to expand...

When I ran it full time things seemed to get over-dry - e.g. Quavers in packet got more brittle and dry so i figured it may not be doing wood work any good and may be burning electricity for no good reason.
 
500W x 168hrs a week =£11 a week if it's going 24/7
Typical dehumidifier is 300W.

Here in Portsmouth, it's often not cold but very damp. A thermostat at 10degC only comes on at night and keeps everything dry. To get it dry in the first place, a dehumidifier helps.
The main thing though is to have dry bilges, other wise the heat will just evaporate that water for it to condense on whatever is the coldest bit.
When doing any work on the boat, a 2kw fan heater is about the minimum.
 
lw395 said:
500W x 168hrs a week =£11 a week if it's going 24/7
Typical dehumidifier is 300W.

Here in Portsmouth, it's often not cold but very damp. A thermostat at 10degC only comes on at night and keeps everything dry. To get it dry in the first place, a dehumidifier helps.
The main thing though is to have dry bilges, other wise the heat will just evaporate that water for it to condense on whatever is the coldest bit.
When doing any work on the boat, a 2kw fan heater is about the minimum.
Click to expand...

You don't run 500W at 500w 24/7. That's what the thermostat is for.

I doubt if we spend £60 for the whole winter, including the battery charger.
 
The manufacturer of my desiccant dehumidifier strongly advised against using it on a timer rather than letting it decide when it needed to operate so I leave it on all winter. I also have a small tube heater (200W?) in the engine compartment. Along with other electric use cost about £50 for the winter months.
 
Ex-SolentBoy said:
You don't run 500W at 500w 24/7. That's what the thermostat is for.

I doubt if we spend £60 for the whole winter, including the battery charger.
Click to expand...

Exactly, I was just putting a 'worst case' marker for the costs.
Sorry if that was not clear.
 
Another vote for 450W oil filled radiator and dehumidifier.

Keeps our 26 footer nice and dry and no danger of pipes freezing. Radiator sits under the bottom companion way step to ensure the engine bay is kept above freezing too.

Feels drier on board than in Summer sometimes! :cool:
 
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