I have been wanting to add a cabin heater to my boat for a couple of years now. For the last few years, I spend a week wintersailing--usually January--and while I can actually tolerate the indoor temperatures in the high forties, a real cabin heater is the desire of the day. Nothing electric, and propane makes it wetter inside than out. I am considering a bulkhead heater. It burns charcoal, even wood. And what is your opinion on the placement in a boat this size? I am looking for experience and opinions here. Mark+
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Interisting
I did a 1 week sailing/camping on my h23 during a winter once. Kept the boards down and heated the cabin with a hair dryer - but that use electricity. I am a little concerned about the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning with burning anything on board. I guess you can remove the dropdown table and install your heater there. However, where will you plumb the exhause? Keep it safe brother!
I did a 1 week sailing/camping on my h23 during a winter once. Kept the boards down and heated the cabin with a hair dryer - but that use electricity. I am a little concerned about the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning with burning anything on board. I guess you can remove the dropdown table and install your heater there. However, where will you plumb the exhause? Keep it safe brother!
Interesting
I did a 1 week sailing/camping on my h23 during a winter once. Kept the boards down and heated the cabin with a hair dryer - but that use electricity. I am a little concerned about the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning with burning anything on board. I guess you can remove the dropdown table and install your heater there. However, where will you plumb the exhause? Keep it safe brother!
I did a 1 week sailing/camping on my h23 during a winter once. Kept the boards down and heated the cabin with a hair dryer - but that use electricity. I am a little concerned about the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning with burning anything on board. I guess you can remove the dropdown table and install your heater there. However, where will you plumb the exhause? Keep it safe brother!
Which Heater?
Just curious, which kind of heater are you considering that will burn coal and wood? Thanks, Gary
Just curious, which kind of heater are you considering that will burn coal and wood? Thanks, Gary
heater
there are lots of posts in the archives about heaters on board 23s, one of the most popullaar involved clay flower pots and candles, I found on line a heater that is propane with a flexible dryer type vent , basically the propane part where the actual combustion takes place would sit in the cockpit and so out of the cabin the flexible vent runs from there in to the cabin and has a fan that is battery operated, it looked like it would work , it was made for tents campers etc, I have a coleman catalitic heater I have used a lot in tents years ago but would not want to use in someting as tight as a boat, hope this helps some , good luck Mike
there are lots of posts in the archives about heaters on board 23s, one of the most popullaar involved clay flower pots and candles, I found on line a heater that is propane with a flexible dryer type vent , basically the propane part where the actual combustion takes place would sit in the cockpit and so out of the cabin the flexible vent runs from there in to the cabin and has a fan that is battery operated, it looked like it would work , it was made for tents campers etc, I have a coleman catalitic heater I have used a lot in tents years ago but would not want to use in someting as tight as a boat, hope this helps some , good luck Mike
Heater
I have a Hunter 22 and I have pondered that same question. I have a propaine heater but I keep ventilation moving into my cabin by keeping a screen on my hatchboard open (I have an interesting modification to my hatch boards). I also added a smoke detector and CO2 monitor into the boat because of this. I am still somewhat nervous about using this heater while I sleep at night. I think that I will buy an electric heater that will plug into shore power and just sail to marinas to spend the night. Btw, If anyone is interested, I can take some photographs of my hatchboards and post them.
I have a Hunter 22 and I have pondered that same question. I have a propaine heater but I keep ventilation moving into my cabin by keeping a screen on my hatchboard open (I have an interesting modification to my hatch boards). I also added a smoke detector and CO2 monitor into the boat because of this. I am still somewhat nervous about using this heater while I sleep at night. I think that I will buy an electric heater that will plug into shore power and just sail to marinas to spend the night. Btw, If anyone is interested, I can take some photographs of my hatchboards and post them.
CO testing I've done
I've tested both propane and alcohol heaters on my 23.5. The alcohol heater makes more moisture and more CO than the Propane heater. Both were non vented models. My experience is that in NC when it is cold the air is dry so the added moisture from the heater combustionproducts does not raise the humidity in the boat significantly. I found that the alcohol heater would make dangerous levels of CO after about 2 hours with the boat sealed up tight. A half inch crack of the hatch cover would reduce the level down to safe levels. I never could get dangerous levels of CO with the propane heater in less than 3 hours. You results may vary. You can do your own testing with a good monitor with a read out. I'd definately get a battery operated CO monitor and use it whenever you are burning anything in a boat. All in all I like the largest sized coleman catalitic heater best for a trailerable boat, but I wouldn't use any heater without a CO monitor that works well.
I've tested both propane and alcohol heaters on my 23.5. The alcohol heater makes more moisture and more CO than the Propane heater. Both were non vented models. My experience is that in NC when it is cold the air is dry so the added moisture from the heater combustionproducts does not raise the humidity in the boat significantly. I found that the alcohol heater would make dangerous levels of CO after about 2 hours with the boat sealed up tight. A half inch crack of the hatch cover would reduce the level down to safe levels. I never could get dangerous levels of CO with the propane heater in less than 3 hours. You results may vary. You can do your own testing with a good monitor with a read out. I'd definately get a battery operated CO monitor and use it whenever you are burning anything in a boat. All in all I like the largest sized coleman catalitic heater best for a trailerable boat, but I wouldn't use any heater without a CO monitor that works well.
Mike Bacome
I hope to God that your posting was just a typo. From reading your post it seems that you are actually putting exhaust gases into the cabin! You would be a lot safer if you place the heater inside and venting the exhaust outside! The issue of carbon monoxide is not one to take lightly. I cannot begin to count the number of incidents we experience in the winter months as people try to stay warm. Frank Ladd's approach is the way to go. Get smoke detectors and by God, use a carbon monoxide detector if you are going to burn anything inside your cabin. I will get off my soap box now. Good luck all and stay alive!
I hope to God that your posting was just a typo. From reading your post it seems that you are actually putting exhaust gases into the cabin! You would be a lot safer if you place the heater inside and venting the exhaust outside! The issue of carbon monoxide is not one to take lightly. I cannot begin to count the number of incidents we experience in the winter months as people try to stay warm. Frank Ladd's approach is the way to go. Get smoke detectors and by God, use a carbon monoxide detector if you are going to burn anything inside your cabin. I will get off my soap box now. Good luck all and stay alive!
bob
I just re read my post, I think what it says is the heater portion where the combustion actually takes place is in the cockpit. and it has a hose that forces heated air into the cabin, maybe I was not clear , good luck Mike Bacome
I just re read my post, I think what it says is the heater portion where the combustion actually takes place is in the cockpit. and it has a hose that forces heated air into the cabin, maybe I was not clear , good luck Mike Bacome
hatch boards
Hey Bad Obsession...........I'd love to see a picture of your hatch boards. I'm considering venting mine with louvers to keep out rain too. Or send them to mikeepp@mindspring.com thanks PS........high CO ratings with alcohol stove is interesting. I'd always liked the clay pot on the stove idea. Sounds like cooking with a closed up boat could be a problem as well.
Hey Bad Obsession...........I'd love to see a picture of your hatch boards. I'm considering venting mine with louvers to keep out rain too. Or send them to mikeepp@mindspring.com thanks PS........high CO ratings with alcohol stove is interesting. I'd always liked the clay pot on the stove idea. Sounds like cooking with a closed up boat could be a problem as well.
More about my hatchboards
I will try to get the pictures of the hatchboards tomorrow. It is a cool modification. The pervious owner of the boat did this and I think that it is one of the coolest things that I have seen. The first thing that he did was to turn the old hatchboards into a frame. The middle of the hatchboards were cut out so that there was a two inch border left. Then he put screen in the cut out area and he used thin strips of teak to hold it in place. After that he took a teak board that was slightly bigger than the opening and attached that with a hinge so that it opened upwards. A metal piece was attached to this so that the opening could be adjusted and the board could be actually locked and locked in place. Finally, he put a piece of weather stripping at the top area where the hinge was to keep water from coming in. Like I said, I will attempt to get some good pictures of the hatchboards tomorrow when it is light and I will post them here for all to see.
I will try to get the pictures of the hatchboards tomorrow. It is a cool modification. The pervious owner of the boat did this and I think that it is one of the coolest things that I have seen. The first thing that he did was to turn the old hatchboards into a frame. The middle of the hatchboards were cut out so that there was a two inch border left. Then he put screen in the cut out area and he used thin strips of teak to hold it in place. After that he took a teak board that was slightly bigger than the opening and attached that with a hinge so that it opened upwards. A metal piece was attached to this so that the opening could be adjusted and the board could be actually locked and locked in place. Finally, he put a piece of weather stripping at the top area where the hinge was to keep water from coming in. Like I said, I will attempt to get some good pictures of the hatchboards tomorrow when it is light and I will post them here for all to see.
In Regards To Cabin Heating
With the incredible rise in the price of home heating oil, here in the North East, I have been actively exploring home heating alternatives. One of the most exciting finds has been "pellet fuel" and "pellet stoves". For those unfamaliar with pellet fuel, this is a wood based (I think saw dust) pellet, a little larger then rabbit food pellets, and is a renewable resource. These stoves burn incredibly clean with incredible efficiency. Stove units the size of a TV set put out up to 40,000 BTU's and heat 2,000 square foot houses. I know I am dreaming here but you asked for opinions. Can you imagine how small a unit can be to heat only 50 square feet of cabin.
With the incredible rise in the price of home heating oil, here in the North East, I have been actively exploring home heating alternatives. One of the most exciting finds has been "pellet fuel" and "pellet stoves". For those unfamaliar with pellet fuel, this is a wood based (I think saw dust) pellet, a little larger then rabbit food pellets, and is a renewable resource. These stoves burn incredibly clean with incredible efficiency. Stove units the size of a TV set put out up to 40,000 BTU's and heat 2,000 square foot houses. I know I am dreaming here but you asked for opinions. Can you imagine how small a unit can be to heat only 50 square feet of cabin.
Sleeping and Heaters Don't Mix
Sleeping and heaters on small boats with a relatively small confined space do not mix. Even marinized CO sensors can fail. If you want stay warm during the day while awake, by all means use a heater. Want to stay warm while sleeping? Then use a sleeping bag. Where I am today it is 10 below zero Farenheit: a nice temperature to head out on the snowmobile for some winter camping and do a little ice fishing on the lake. - Kevin.
Sleeping and heaters on small boats with a relatively small confined space do not mix. Even marinized CO sensors can fail. If you want stay warm during the day while awake, by all means use a heater. Want to stay warm while sleeping? Then use a sleeping bag. Where I am today it is 10 below zero Farenheit: a nice temperature to head out on the snowmobile for some winter camping and do a little ice fishing on the lake. - Kevin.
Moving air
If you want to move all this heated air and don't want to blow yourself away as is the case with most fans, you may want to consider a computer case fan. They run on 12v dc, move a fair amount of air, and are very low amperage.
If you want to move all this heated air and don't want to blow yourself away as is the case with most fans, you may want to consider a computer case fan. They run on 12v dc, move a fair amount of air, and are very low amperage.
Gas catalytic heaters
From Coleman: "Gas catalytic heaters have been around for a long time and have been used by shipping companies, cargo ships and the military to keep men and material warm. Size restrictions, technology barriers and weight have kept this technology out of civilian hands, but not anymore. Coleman now offers a line of catalytic heaters that are safe to use in an enclosed area, and are made specifically for car camping when things get cold." ((Should work nicely in a sailboat too.)) "That doesn't mean that you can't get into trouble. Anything that gets to close for to long can melt and items that are readily flammable can be ignited. We recommend placing it on top of a cooler so it is safely off of the floor of your tent. If you're going to use a catalytic heater while you're sleeping (this is NOT recommended), make sure when you roll around that your bag or you skin won't come in contact with the heating element. You're better off using the heater to warm things up before going to bed and warming things up when you wake up in the morning." "Because the BlackCat is flameless, it doesn't produce huge amounts of Carbon Monoxide, a silent and deadly killer. That doesn't mean you don't have to have any ventilation for your tent. When you are camping you should always leave a vent or window open to allow moisture and stale air to flow out. In the end things will be warmer by removing some of the natural dampness that builds up through the night. If you seal off your tent completely, you can run a risk of exposing yourself to dangerous levels of Carbon Monoxide. " (Again, sounds feasable if you use your head.))
From Coleman: "Gas catalytic heaters have been around for a long time and have been used by shipping companies, cargo ships and the military to keep men and material warm. Size restrictions, technology barriers and weight have kept this technology out of civilian hands, but not anymore. Coleman now offers a line of catalytic heaters that are safe to use in an enclosed area, and are made specifically for car camping when things get cold." ((Should work nicely in a sailboat too.)) "That doesn't mean that you can't get into trouble. Anything that gets to close for to long can melt and items that are readily flammable can be ignited. We recommend placing it on top of a cooler so it is safely off of the floor of your tent. If you're going to use a catalytic heater while you're sleeping (this is NOT recommended), make sure when you roll around that your bag or you skin won't come in contact with the heating element. You're better off using the heater to warm things up before going to bed and warming things up when you wake up in the morning." "Because the BlackCat is flameless, it doesn't produce huge amounts of Carbon Monoxide, a silent and deadly killer. That doesn't mean you don't have to have any ventilation for your tent. When you are camping you should always leave a vent or window open to allow moisture and stale air to flow out. In the end things will be warmer by removing some of the natural dampness that builds up through the night. If you seal off your tent completely, you can run a risk of exposing yourself to dangerous levels of Carbon Monoxide. " (Again, sounds feasable if you use your head.))
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