Mfc1955
New member
I have a Maxum 3000 berthed with shore power and am thinking of putting a 'frostwatcher' type heater into the cabin. Will this help with any dampness, or make it worse due to lack of ventilation? Any help is appreciated, thanks
Winter Heating
- Thread starter Mfc1955
- Start date
wheneverIcan
New member
I have a 32 ft Nimbus so a similar size - i use a three foot tube heater in the engine bay (180w) on a thermostatic plug in adapter set to 3 degrees and then a frostwatcher heater (500 watts) in the lower cabin set to its mid range and then on another thromstatic plug in adapter set to turn on at 3 degrees (I don't trust the frost stats on those heaters!!)
Then in the galley (upstairs on the Nimbus) i use a dehumifier turned on to its mid range and then draining down the sink - this is on from October through to around March and the boat is bone dry. Its the first year I have used the heater configuration but the dehumifier worked well last winter with no nastly mould spots everywhere.
You can get the thermostat plug ins from TLC-direct - http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Heating_Index/Therm_1/index.html
Do you use your boat during the winter (antifreeze in the sea water inlet?)
Simon
Then in the galley (upstairs on the Nimbus) i use a dehumifier turned on to its mid range and then draining down the sink - this is on from October through to around March and the boat is bone dry. Its the first year I have used the heater configuration but the dehumifier worked well last winter with no nastly mould spots everywhere.
You can get the thermostat plug ins from TLC-direct - http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Heating_Index/Therm_1/index.html
Do you use your boat during the winter (antifreeze in the sea water inlet?)
Simon
tr7v8
Active member
Mines 25 feet and I have one 120W in the cabin on a timeswitch and a pair in the engine bay on a stat set at 5ishC. So far doesn't feel damp and seems to be OK.
Jim
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Jim
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Teddy
Member
All these sound brilliant ideas. I have done similar. BUT BE WARNED, the electricity supply could fail. I've just had a call from my marina to say the electric has tripped off due flooding. The boat is floating, but not the electrics.
Tristan30
New member
Living in Finland has given me some practical experience on these matters. I think one important aspect is that the variation in the temperature (inside the cabin, in this case) may be a bit harmful. When the air warms up and then cools off again, moisture is condensed in cold surfaces and then causing problems.
If heaters are used in the cabins, it might be wiser to try to maintain the temperature constant rather that letting it vary a lot (like when using a heater and a time switch would cause).
If the boat is not used during winter months, I think that sub-zero temperatures in cabins are not harmful (if you don't have spare six-pac of beer in the boat or something else that can explode). Our boat has been in the cold storage every winter for five months and there has not been problems caused by cold circumstances (-38C last week). The key is having as much ventilation as possible.
Or am I missing the point here? Is there some other reason to try to keep the cabins warm?
If heaters are used in the cabins, it might be wiser to try to maintain the temperature constant rather that letting it vary a lot (like when using a heater and a time switch would cause).
If the boat is not used during winter months, I think that sub-zero temperatures in cabins are not harmful (if you don't have spare six-pac of beer in the boat or something else that can explode). Our boat has been in the cold storage every winter for five months and there has not been problems caused by cold circumstances (-38C last week). The key is having as much ventilation as possible.
Or am I missing the point here? Is there some other reason to try to keep the cabins warm?
Anchorite
Member
Re: Beer talk
Six pack of beer does not explode when frozen and those in the know keep
cans in the deepfreeze at home to "start off" the fridge when they go sailing.
They take 24 - 36 hours to unfreeze (but you can accelerate this process in
case of need)
But soft drink cans will burst, champagne will push it's cork out if you forget
about it, wine merely freezes solid and can be thawed out and consumed (though
Mouton Rothschild tends to lose its nose).
Six pack of beer does not explode when frozen and those in the know keep
cans in the deepfreeze at home to "start off" the fridge when they go sailing.
They take 24 - 36 hours to unfreeze (but you can accelerate this process in
case of need)
But soft drink cans will burst, champagne will push it's cork out if you forget
about it, wine merely freezes solid and can be thawed out and consumed (though
Mouton Rothschild tends to lose its nose).
Tristan30
New member
Re: Beer talk
Hmm... Using frozen cans of beer for that purpose sounds like a good idea BUT, does it affect the taste of the beer once it has melted again?
Hmm... Using frozen cans of beer for that purpose sounds like a good idea BUT, does it affect the taste of the beer once it has melted again?
Anchorite
Member
Re: Better beer talk
Taste is certainly improved to judge by usual comments on the first beer of
the day (sun over the yardarm unless exceptional circumstances).
Going a stage further: in the Greek islands we used to buy frozen chickens
to feed...the fridge. Most food stuff is about 90% water so there's a lot of
cooling capacity included in the price.
Taste is certainly improved to judge by usual comments on the first beer of
the day (sun over the yardarm unless exceptional circumstances).
Going a stage further: in the Greek islands we used to buy frozen chickens
to feed...the fridge. Most food stuff is about 90% water so there's a lot of
cooling capacity included in the price.
jon_bailey
New member
You are, of course, checking that the condensate is not freezing down the sink?
adarcy
New member
Re: Good point
Hmm freezing in the sink
but many dehumidifiers don't work much ? at all I think when it is near zero and, as long as it is reasonably closed up, there won't be that much extra to condensate out when it is that cold.
In general, I think heaters are the WRONG way to go - we have this discussion every winter - it's the damp and actual condensation that causes the trouble. I agree one can leave the boat well ventilated but then heating needs to be more than a little tube warmer. Sealed up and heated may mean dry engine compartment but surely condensation elsewhere regardless of whether the heat is constant or intermittent and this is what causes the trouble.
Very much better IMHO is to dehumidify only
Hmm freezing in the sink
but many dehumidifiers don't work much ? at all I think when it is near zero and, as long as it is reasonably closed up, there won't be that much extra to condensate out when it is that cold.
In general, I think heaters are the WRONG way to go - we have this discussion every winter - it's the damp and actual condensation that causes the trouble. I agree one can leave the boat well ventilated but then heating needs to be more than a little tube warmer. Sealed up and heated may mean dry engine compartment but surely condensation elsewhere regardless of whether the heat is constant or intermittent and this is what causes the trouble.
Very much better IMHO is to dehumidify only